Is It Worth Putting Your Job at Risk for $25?
There was enough evidence to convince the Postal Service that a supervisor had helped himself to a grocery gift card that belonged in the pile of undeliverable mail. This led to his removal.
Author: Susan McGuire Smith
What’s a Teacher to Do?
A first-grade DOD civilian school teacher fired for inappropriately touching students when disciplining them has won reinstatement from the appeals court.
Lying About Birthdate Leads to Losing FERS Annuity
A Department of Energy Employee was caught lying about his age and place of birth. Not only did he get into trouble with the law, he ended up losing his right to an annuity and he must repay more than $20,000 to OPM.
The Agency Gets Three Strikes Against It in this Court Decision
A letter carrier fired for “improper conduct” when he allegedly struck his supervisor, has been handed a victory when the appeals court threw out the case and ordered the Merit Systems Protection Board to go back to the drawing board.
Whistleblowing is Not a Slam Dunk Defense in Termination Action
An HR specialist who played fast and loose with the agency’s rules and procedures could not fend off his termination with a whistleblower defense where the agency proves it would have removed him despite the alleged whistleblowing.
No Constitutional Tort Suit Against Former DoD Secretary Rumsfeld
A U.S. citizen claiming to have been victimized by extraordinary detention and interrogation in Iraq will not be able to sue the former Defense Secretary personally for violation of his constitutional rights according to this recent appeals court decision.
Pay the Taxes or Lose the Job
A twenty-year IRS agent was not able to convince the appeals court to overturn his removal for willfully underreporting his income on his federal tax returns.
NFFE Successfully Challenges Forest Service Random Drug Testing Policy
The appeals court has tossed a Forest Service random drug testing policy that applied to Job Corps Center staff calling it a “solution in search of a problem.”
Call It “Extreme” Jury Duty?
An appeals court has no problem with a federal employee volunteering for multiple years to serve on a local county court grand jury and requiring her agency employer to continue paying her full salary.
Will an Agency Need a Crystal Ball In Order to Win a Removal Case in the Future?
The appeals court has sent an appeal back to the arbitrator with instructions to consider evidence that came up after the personnel action was taken in reaching his final decision on appropriateness of the removal penalty.
