OPM Cannot Divest Board of Jurisdiction Until It Achieves True Status Quo Ante
An annuitant collecting a survivor benefit claimed she had not been returned to status quo ante following OPM’s unilateral rescission of its final decision during her MSPB appeal, and the Board remanded the case to determine whether true status quo ante had been achieved.
This Week on FEDtalk: Improving Design Standards Across Government
With the introduction of the U.S. Web Design Standards and similar initiatives, federal agencies are putting a greater emphasis than ever on creating the best digital versions of themselves. Yet the designers responsible for creating these experiences have felt like individual islands with little connection to counterparts at other agencies.
House Passes Presidential Tranasitions Legislation
As federal workers prepare for the upcoming Presidential transition, the House has passed a bipartisan bill intended remove the politics from this process.
Veterans Benefits Administration Fails to Rebut Whistleblower Reprisal Claim Despite Lack of Evidence of Motive to Retaliate
Although the Merit Systems Protection Board found little evidence of retaliatory motive on the part of the Agency, the Veterans Benefits Administration presented insufficient evidence to show that it would have canceled an employee’s duties as Program Manager regardless of her disclosure that she believed Federal Acquisition Regulations had been violated.
New Appeal Deadline Granted After OSC Reopened Case
An employee who produced new evidence to the Office of Special Counsel (OSC) and had a new case opened had a renewed right to an individual right of action appeal after OSC issued a new close-out letter, found the Merit Systems Protection Board.
Legislative Proposals on Whistleblowers and Inspectors General
Whistleblowers and Inspectors General are a popular lot on Capitol Hill, since they identify issues large and small at agencies. As like any human being, sometimes the two make mistakes – and those mistakes can have huge implications for employees, agencies, and government policy.
MSPB Reverses Suspension of Employee Charged with Creating Appearance of Conflict of Interest
The Department of Homeland Security (“DHS”) suspended a Contracting Officer Representative for 30 days after alleging that the employee created the appearance of a conflict of interest and failed to disclose an outside business venture, but the Merit Systems Protection Board reversed an administrative judge’s initial decision upholding the penalty, finding that no appearance of a conflict of interest had been created and that the employee had no prior duty to disclose the outside activity at issue.
House Bill Would Improve Pay And Protections For TSA Workers
Earlier this month, Reps. Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.) and Nita Lowey (D-N.Y.) introduced a bill to move more than 45,000 Transportation Security Administration (TSA) airport officers into Title 5 of the U.S. Code.
VA And House Veterans Affairs Push To Limit VA SES Appeal Rights
Last week during a budget hearing before the House Veterans Affairs Committee, Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Secretary Robert McDonald proposed moving VA Senior Executive Service (SES) members from Title 5 to Title 38 status.
AFGE Hosts Congress Members At Legislative Conference
At their legislative and grassroots mobilization conference, the American Federation for Government Employees (AFGE) announced they would push for a 5.3% pay raise for civilian and military personnel – much higher than the 1.6% in the President’s current budget proposal.
This Week on FEDtalk: Developing and Engaging the Workforce with FMA
The Federal Managers Association (FMA) will host its 78th annual National Convention & Management Training Seminar from March 13 – 16 of this year.
Fate Of FAA Reauthorization Uncertainty Over Air Traffic Control Privatization Proposal
Lawmakers are working on legislation to reauthorize the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
The Veterans’ Employment and Training Service
The annual veteran unemployment rate for 2015 remained lower than non-veterans for the fifth consecutive year, thanks in part to the hard work of the Veterans’ Employment and Training Service (VETS).
Increased Scrutiny Of IRS Continues
While the additional $290 million the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) received in this year’s budget will provide for the hiring of 1,000 seasonal workers, Congress continues to focus on accountability within the agency and ways to restrict spending.
How to Manage Through and After an EEO Complaint
Managers in today’s federal government perform an increasingly difficult job. With the strides that the government has made in recent years reducing inequality and discrimination in the workplace, the occurrence of Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) complaints has steadily risen.
‘Misguided’ SES Accountability Legislation
Reform legislation (H.R. 4358) promising to bring “accountability” to the Senior Executive Service (SES) has been reintroduced in the House by Rep. Tim Walberg (R-MI).
OSC Updates Guidance and Issues Advisory Opinion on Social Media Activity for Presidential Campaign Season
In anticipation of the 2016 U.S. Presidential election, the United States Office of Special Counsel issued updated guidance regarding federal employee use of social media and email concerning presidential candidates.
Roundtable on 2016 Predictions
What’s in store for federal employees in the second year of the 114th Congress and the last year of President Obama’s term in office?