Search Tags:  MSPB

Court ruling could tie OSC's hands when it comes whistleblowers

The Office of Special Counsel is "deeply concerned" about the implications of a federal court ruling that stripped low-level Defense Department employees of their ability to appeal suspensions and demotions outside the agency. OSC, which filed an amicus brief earlier this month with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, is worried the ruling could have a chilling effect on whistleblowers.

Tags: oversight , workforce , OSC , whistleblower , Federal Drive , Tom Temin , Emily Kopp , Jack Moore

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MSPB exonerates Prouty for role in GSA's Western Regions Conference

Paul Prouty, the former GSA Region 8 commissioner, won his appeal of the agency's decision to fire him in the wake of the Western Regions Conference scandal last April. The Merit Systems Protection Board's administrative judge found "no evidence" of wrongdoing by Prouty.

Tags: workforce , Shakeup at GSA , GSA , management , Paul Prouty , Western Regions Conference , Jason Miller , exclusive

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Federal Drive Interviews -- Feb. 1, 2013

Sharon Roth of the Merit Systems Protection Board discusses a new survey on federal management. Lt. Cmdr. Jean Marie Sullivan of the Navy Office of Women's Policy talks about the new DoD decision to open up combat jobs to women. Greg Kutz, a senior audit executive with the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Audit, talks about a new report his agency released. Keith Lucas, vice president for AFGE Council 228, discusses a new contract his union signed with the Small Business Administration.

Tags: Sharon Roth , management , Jean Marie Sullivan , Navy , women in combat , DoD , DoD Report , Greg Kutz , hiring , IRS , TIGTA , Keith Lucas , AFGE , Small Business Administration , cybersecurity , Cybersecurity Update , Federal Drive

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Employees skeptical of managers' ability to cut deadwood

Federal employees are skeptical their managers are making effective decisions about the federal workforce, according to a new report from the Merit Systems Protection Board. Just 24 percent of the employees agreed that their agencies properly addressed poor performers, while 29 percent of respondents indicated their organizations eliminated unnecessary programs and positions, according to the survey of 42,000 feds from 24 agencies and departments.

Tags: Susan Tsui Grundmann , workforce , management , best practices , retention , Jack Moore

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MSPB eyes gaps in employee motivation

From tightened purse strings to a rapidly retiring workforce, federal agencies face a potential witches' brew when it comes to maintaining employee motivation, the Merit Systems Protection Board found in a new report. While overall motivation levels remain high, MSPB pointed to two potential gaps: Many federal employees do not feel all that motivated by the specific characteristics of their jobs, and they increasingly feel that job performance is disconnected from reward.

Tags: management , best practices , workforce , Jack Moore , employee motivation

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Supreme Court ruling allows feds to appeal some discrimination cases in district court

The Supreme Court ruled Monday that federal employees can appeal decisions of the Merit Systems Protection Board stemming from discrimination-related complaints in federal district court. The ruling follows earlier lower court decisions that required employee appeals to go solely through the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. The justices' decision applies to federal employees filing "mixed cases" — complaints involving both allegations of wrongful termination and job discrimination — under the Civil Service Reform Act.

Tags: workforce , Supreme Court , Civil Service Reform Act , NTEU , Colleen Kelley , job discrimination

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Major rewrite makes MSPB's regs more consistent, viable and transparent

The Merit Systems Protection Board completed the first major rewrite of its regulations in more than 30 years. Susan Grundmann, the MSPB chairwoman, said the changes fall into four categories. The board is giving its users six weeks to transition to the new rules.

Tags: workforce , management , Susan Grundmann , Federal Register , regulations , Jason Miller , exclusive

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Lawmakers unveil Hatch Act update

A group of lawmakers has proposed an update to the law governing federal employees' political activity that would exempt some state and local employees and allow for a range of penalties other than automatic suspension for minor violations.

Tags: Joseph Lieberman , Daniel Akaka , Elijah Cummings , Mike Lee , Hatch Act , Carolyn Lerner , OSC , workforce , Congress , Jack Moore

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Report: Federal whistleblowers don't sense letup in agency retaliation

Federal employees increasingly perceive less agency wrongdoing but that doesn't necessarily mean the threat of retaliation for reporting such misconduct has similarly decreased, according to a new Merit System Protection Board report.

Tags: Susan Tsui Grundmann , whistleblower , EPA , FDA , OSC , best practices , Jack Moore

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America's most dangerous job: Civil servant?

What are the most dangerous jobs in America? Lumberjack, tuna fisherman or cab driver, right? How about VA nurse or Social Security clerk - maybe even your job at the IRS, Senior Correspondent Mike Causey says.

Tags: Mike Causey , workforce , Federal Report , workplace violence

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