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Douglas Factors

Tips for Federal Employees Responding to Disciplinary Actions

FedSmith.com author Mathew B. Tully, Esq.By Mathew B. Tully, Esq.Sep 19, 2022 8:45 AM Categories Human Resources Leave a comment

This is a basic overview of how federal employees can respond to a notice of disciplinary action.

A Welder, a Shipyard, and the Path to Generic Discipline

FedSmith.com author Robbie KunreutherBy Robbie KunreutherMar 1, 2022 7:11 AM Categories Human Resources Leave a comment

The disciplinary process in federal human resources is often long and complex. A recent case took a simpler approach.

A Tale of Two Factors

FedSmith.com author Robbie KunreutherBy Robbie KunreutherMar 10, 2019 9:21 AM | Updated: Mar 20, 2019 9:02 AM Categories Human Resources Leave a comment
Supervisor having a meeting with one of his employees to correct a problem - discipline, human resources

The author says that federal HR advisors have gotten more cautious in their approach to discipline and often overlook the main focus of solving the problem.

Arbitration: The Seven Tests of ‘Just Cause’

FedSmith.com author Robert DietrichBy Robert DietrichNov 21, 2017 12:06 PM | Updated: Jul 7, 2019 10:55 AM Categories Human Resources Leave a comment
Policies and Procedures handbooks sitting on a desk

The author describes a seven part standard for analyzing the discipline or discharge of an employee which can help with upholding these types of decisions.

3 Ideas For Dealing With Problem Employees

By Jeff NealOct 26, 2017 11:51 AM | Updated: Sep 1, 2021 12:51 PM Categories Human Resources Leave a comment
Cartoon showing an angry boss' hand pointing at an employee in an act of discipline

Three recent reports raised the issue of dealing with problem employees. The author analyzes the reports and offers three steps he says would also help.

Bad Press Aggravates Agencies and Penalty Decisions

FedSmith.com author Mathew B. Tully, Esq.By Mathew B. Tully, Esq.Jun 6, 2013 9:32 PM | Updated: Mar 24, 2023 2:48 PM Categories Court Cases Leave a comment

Because of the Douglas Factors, federal employees that damage an agency’s reputation can face demotion or removal.

MSPB Trashes “Douglas” in Poorly Reasoned Decision

By Bob GilsonApr 17, 2013 3:58 AM | Updated: Mar 24, 2023 2:18 PM Categories Court Cases Leave a comment

The MSPB appears to have thrown a seminal decision into doubt in second guessing a deciding official who had considered the “Douglas Factors”.

Reconsidering Two Douglas Factors

FedSmith.com author Robbie KunreutherBy Robbie KunreutherApr 26, 2010 7:41 AM | Updated: Mar 24, 2023 2:19 PM Categories Human Resources Leave a comment

The author says it’s time to consider limiting the Douglas Factors to a smaller number.

Decades and the Douglas Factors

FedSmith.com author Robbie KunreutherBy Robbie KunreutherApr 20, 2010 7:33 AM | Updated: Feb 23, 2022 2:35 PM Categories Human Resources Leave a comment

For three decades, federal HR has been working with the 12 “factors” from an MSPB decision. However, much has changed since then.

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