Failure to Object to Scope of Appeal Barred Adjudication of Unreasonable Post-Restoration Position
A Postal Service employee appealing the agency’s failure to restore her to a position after she was injured and gained new medical restrictions argued that the position she was restored to was so unreasonable as to be an effective denial of her restoration, but her appeal was limited to the time period before she was restored.
Senate NDAA Provision Would Narrow Veterans’ Preference
The Senate’s Defense authorization bill for fiscal 2017 currently includes a provision that would narrow veterans’ preference in hiring efforts so that it would only apply to a veteran’s first job in federal service. The new provision would not factor in veteran status for any subsequent federal jobs an eligible employee applies for.
Legislation to Bypass Unions Moves on Senate Side
The Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee (HSGAC) voted unanimously to approve a new measure that would allow federal agencies to bypass employee unions when blocking access to webmail and other websites believed to be security risks.
MSPB Newsletter Highlights Adjudication Number for Fiscal Year 2015
On May 23, 2016, the Merit Systems Protection Board issued its Spring newsletter, which included its adjudication statistics for Fiscal Year 15.
Senate Bill Would Enhance Retirement Benefits for 30K Feds
Legislation introduced last week would ensure all federal law enforcement officers receive enhanced retirement benefits.
MSPB: Board Review Must Be Solely on Grounds Invoked by Agency
The Merit Systems Protection Board remanded a case to the administrative judge because the charges were not reviewed solely on the bases invoked by the agency.
This Week on FEDtalk: Prepping for the Presidential Transition
With election day only six months out, federal employees, agency heads, and many organizations in Washington are preparing for the upcoming presidential transition. Here to discuss this hot topic is a roundtable of representatives from organizations around the federal community who are looking at the transition from both the political and workforce viewpoint.
House Judiciary Committee To Hold Hearings On IRS Misconduct
The House Judiciary Committee will host two hearings in the coming weeks regarding alleged “misconduct” by IRS Commissioner John Koskinen.
House Oversight Chair Continues Crusade Against IRS Commissioner
Chairman Jason Chaffetz (R-UT) of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform is demanding to know where the IRS has found money to hire up to 700 new staffers for enforcement.
MSPB: Veterans Preference No Exemption from Preappointment Process
Despite a negative passover decision from OPM, the Merit Systems Protection Board found that the Agency’s subsequent withdrawal of a job offer from a veteran with a 10-point preference was not improper.
House Panel Wants To Make Federal Employees Happier At Work
In effort to discover what makes some federal employees happier at some agencies, the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform brought together representatives from agencies who have ranked high in the Best Places to Work in the Federal Government and one – the Department of Homeland Security – who has struggled at the bottom for some time.
Claims Court Dismisses Secret Service Scheduling Complaint
On March 17, 2016, the United States Court of Federal Claims dismissed, in part, a complaint brought by current and former Physical Security Specialists employed by the United States Secret Service, who claimed that the agency engaged in unlawful scheduling and recordkeeping practices in order to deny overtime pay.
Lawmakers Urge Administration To ‘Ban The Box’
Last week, Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-MD), ranking member of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, and 50 other House members issued a letter to the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) regarding “fair chance hiring” in government and to continue to ease hiring for formerly-incarcerated individuals.
This Week on FEDtalk: Recognizing Public Servants During PSRW 2016
Tune in this week to preview Public Service Recognition Week (PSRW) events with members of the Public Employees Roundtable.
FMA’s Manager of the Year Leads by Example
Last month, the Federal Managers Association (FMA) honored Sue Thatch as its Manager of the Year for 2015, in recognition of her efforts to promote excellence in public service. Sue has been lauded for originating the idea that became the Wounded Warriors Federal Leave Act, expected to help more than 45,000 disabled veterans over the next five years.
Software License Bill Moves Forward In The House
The House Oversight and Government Reform Committee unanimously approved the “Making Electronic Government Accountable by Yielding Tangible Efficiencies Act,” bipartisan legislation that would require federal agencies to maintain comprehensive software inventories and use them to track licenses and software usage to reduce duplication.
Board Grants Jurisdiction but Dismisses Appeal of 2009 Removal
A former federal employee’s confusion over what he was contesting in a disability retirement appeal did not entitle him to a finding of good cause for the lengthy delay in filing an appeal of his removal.