The Internal Revenue takes accessing taxpayer databases without an official business purpose seriously. The first offense can–and does–lead to removal. This 13-year federal employee was fired and the court upholds the removal.
If your agency is making changes and intends to notify its union(s), you will probably end up bargaining with the union. These tips can increase your leverage.
A Homeland Security official was fired for being less than truthful over a machete attack involving his girlfriend’s son. A GPS tag sowed he had visited the house of a gang member on a number of occasions. He was fired for multiple reasons including unauthorized disclosure of government information and personal use of an immigration database. He filed an appeal of his removal that went to court.
Should agencies have a policy to prohibit meetings in desirable locations? Most readers indicate their agencies do not have such a policy and most indicate the location of a meeting does not influence their decision to attend.
An amendment to expand federal employee benefits has again died in the Senate after passing in the House. The withdrawal of the amendment kills, at least for the moment, a proposal to provide credit for unused sick leave for FERS employees upon retirement.
The author says that two recent cases provide greater legal muscle for Federal and Postal employee in filing for Federal disability retirement benefits and represent needed legal refinements in the “evolving” process of law.
Misuse of government charge cards can lead to significant legal problems. Three people have pleaded guilty to participating in a scheme to fraudulently charge federal credit cards. The conspiracy charge carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and/or a fine of $250,000 with additional severe penalties for theft of government money.
The possible elimination of knowledge, skills and abilities (KSAs) in filling jobs has triggered a virtual avalanche of articles and discussion. Even OPM can’t wave a magic wand and make KSAs disappear, since the requirement to use them is embedded in law, so the question seems to be how, not if, they will be used.
A federal employee charged with kidnapping, sexual assault, and attempted rape of a child opted to retire when notified he would be indefinitely suspended without pay until the criminal charges were resolved. He opted to retire before an indefinite suspension was to take place. He then filed an appeal that went to federal court.
Secelia Joseph, 60, of Southfield, MI and former employee of the Social Security Administration, has been sentenced by US District Judge Nancy G. Edmunds to 15 months in prison after pleading guilty to defrauding the Social Security Administration of $77,437
