Your Official Personnel Folder (OPF)

Take the Time to Check Your Official Personnel Folder Every federal employee should make time to check their Official Personnel Folder (OPF) at least once a year.  We also recommend you download a complete copy (it is an option). Since…

When to Settle an EEO Complaint

An EEO Complaint may be settled at any time during the entire process from Informal Counseling (precomplaint stage) to EEOC Hearing.  Many Complaints are settled between the formal complaint and the Final Agency Decision (Hadley).

Is the Federal EEO Complaint System Fair

Background Question I don’t think the federal EEO Complaint system is fair. I was considering filing a complaint but did some research and found less than 3% of people who file a complaint actually win at hearing.  Why is this…

MSPB eFile is a Preferred Method of Filing

The Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB) e-file, also known as “efile”, “e-Appeal” or “e-appeal online,” is an electronic method of filing your initial MSPB appeal, Pleadings, Addendum’s, as well as checking your existing case status. It is the most convenient…

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…