Two Former DLA Employees Plead Guilty to Receiving Bribes
Two former employees at a Marine Corps base in Georgia have pleaded guilty to receiving bribes resulting in the loss of millions of dollars to the United States government.
Employee Relations
Stay informed on employee relations issues affecting federal employees, including workplace conduct rules, performance management, disciplinary actions, adverse actions, and HR policies that shape day‑to‑day federal employment. Explore updates on OPM guidance, MSPB decisions, labor‑management disputes, probationary employee rules, and best practices for handling workplace conflicts. Find clear explanations and timely analysis to help federal employees and supervisors understand the policies, rights, and procedures that govern employee relations across federal agencies.
MSPB Trashes “Douglas” in Poorly Reasoned Decision
The MSPB appears to have thrown a seminal decision into doubt in second guessing a deciding official who had considered the “Douglas Factors”.
MSPB Disagrees with Agency Decision, Changes Case Law in Response
In a reversal of 30 years of precedent and, arguably the view of the Federal Circuit Court of Appeals, the MSPB has changed its case law on an Agency’s obligations in removing employees when the employee refuses a directed reassignment. The author points out that this Board appears on a mission to limit agency discretion despite history and precedent.
Supreme Court Rules on a Federal Law Enforcement Officer Issue
The Supreme Court has broadened the circumstances under which agency can be sued under the Federal Tort Claims Act for so-called “intentional torts” committed by federal law enforcement officers, making those officers less likely to face suits against them in their personal capacity
Discipline, Behavior, Distractions, and Change
Will a person’s behavior change when getting a written reprimand? The author analyzes the disciplinary process and offers suggestions for those who may be involved in a disciplinary situation.
Did FLRA Make a Sneaky Decision?
In a recent case, FLRA appears to play fast and loose with the statute to retain its ability to decide whether or not a union proposal was an “Appropriate Arrangement”. While the Authority found four proposals non-negotiable, it did so apparently to retain control of such outcomes rather than address the Agency’s argument that the proposals were permissive. For practitioners, it’s worth a read.
Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) Certification
The author says that most of the time, managers should not deny FMLA requests, but he says there are some rare instances when it is prudent to do so.
Discipline and Firing in the Federal Service: What Can and Can’t be Done!
When Federal employees publicly act out, there’s generally a call for immediate action. As with most things Federal, it’s more complex than it should be. Over the last 100 years (almost exactly), Congress has passed numerous laws that complicate and make the accountability process difficult and time consuming.
Is MSPB Encouraging Firing Squads?
The author says that the MSPB is making the process for taking disciplinary and adverse action more complicated and legalistic.
FLRA’s Attempt to Gut Agency Head Review Goes to Court
The statutory right of an agency head to review an agreement before it is implemented has been eliminated by the FLRA. The case is now going to court.
