Performance Rating for Federal Employees

We receive many inquiries surrounding a performance rating affecting a federal employee.  Some inquiries are ambiguous (i.e., “can they rate me an Excellent?”) and some are very specific (i.e., “what are the minimum number of days of observed performance required?”).…

EEO Claims and Bases Importance

As we discussed in many other articles and tell our clients in every initial briefing concerning EEO complaints, EEO complaints are unknowingly won or lost on initial contact with an EEO Counselor (informal stage). 

EEO Report of Investigation (ROI)

Establishing the Official Case Record Through the EEO Report of Investigation We previously covered the EEO Complaint process, which can be very confusing to the uninitiated.  However, to recap in context, the EEO Report of Investigation (ROI) follows the filing…

Excused Absence for Inclement Weather

With the recent outbreak of severe weather, we received many inquiries from federal employees concerning Excused Absence (also called “Authorized Absence” and even “Administrative Leave” by some agencies). 

Social Media in Fed Workspace

Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Snap Chat, and a host of other social media tools are increasingly becoming a topic of conversation and disciplinary assessment in many Employee and Labor Relations sections.  Many social media related issues are beginning to percolate through…

Leverage the EEO Process If Needed

Federal Employees Should Leverage the EEO Process This article is not intended to serve as a treatise on filing an EEO complaint.  It is intended to serve as an introduction to why you may want to leverage the EEO process rather than the…

Crime Provisions Affecting Federal Employees

Background Question “My agency proposed I be indefinitely suspended under the ‘crime provisions.’ What is that?” Response Office of Personnel Management (OPM) regulations (5 CFR 752.402(e)) permit agencies to place employees on indefinite suspension pending completion of investigation or criminal proceedings when…

Agency ELR Specialists (Agency Role)

Background Question “What is the role of the agency ELR Specialists?  What is their education level? What is their grade level ?” Response Agency ELR Specialists are specialized human resources personnel with a primary, if not only, specialization in the…

Reasonable Accommodation & Unexpected Consequences

This article is not intended to provide detailed instructions in applying for Reasonable Accommodation.  Each circumstance and set of facts is unique and instructions are specific in that regard as well as internal agency regulations. Instead, this article is intended to…

Change of Supervisor is Beyond Your Control

The Federal Services Labor Management Relations Statute, although somewhat “watered down” by years of case law, reserves a supervisory assignment, and most matters involving assignment of work in any regard, to the sole discretion of the agency.