For federal employees involved in an adverse job action because of whistleblowing, a hearing in front of the Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB) may be necessary. If the outcome of that hearing is not favorable, the employee may have to appeal their case to a federal court of appeals.
House bill will allow broader court review for whistleblowers
MSPB rules to reinstate disability retirement benefits of Department of Justice employee
Federal workers who suffer a physical or mental injury related to their employment, may no longer be able to perform assigned work duties. In some cases, an individual's injury may be deemed temporary in nature and he or she may apply to receive workers' compensation through the Office of Workers' Compensation Programs. In other cases, an injury may be more permanent in nature and the government employer may be unable to provide sufficient accommodation to allow the individual to continue their employment. In these types of cases, a federal employee may qualify for disability retirement.
Federal employees removed, disciplined under the Hatch Act
With primary elections approaching, now is a good time to reiterate a few rules under the Hatch Act. The federal law, which was most recently amended in 2012, forbids federal workers from doing a number of things, all of which are political. Federal employees are forbidden to take part in political activities while at work or on federal property; receive or solicit political contributions while on duty; and run for office in a partisan election.
Phased retirement still a ways off for federal workers
Two years ago, Congress approved a program that would give federal employees who are near retirement the ability to work part-time while they trained in their successors. But little movement from the Office of Personnel Management has left a number of employees wondering what the law is and where they fit into things.
