“Serving those who serve in government”
A recent report from Federal News Network (FNN) cast a spotlight on the rampant sexual harassment targeting military women. According to the report, the abuse is wholly pervasive. Nearly every woman in the military has experienced it, and they face it nearly...
Due to their work, firefighters face a much greater risk of cancer than other workers. Accordingly, 48 states have passed workers’ compensation laws that presume certain cancers, and other diseases, are work-related. These laws help firefighters qualify more easily...
The EEOC, OSHA and many other public agencies encourage whistleblowing. They want employees to let them know when their employers are engaged in dangerous, illegal or discriminatory behavior. But what happens after an employee blow the whistle on his or her employer,...
For more than five years, the Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB) lacked a quorum at its highest level. During that time, the board was unable to issue final rulings on cases. Its backlog grew to over 3,600 cases. All of these were unresolved appeals from earlier...
Two recent news items cast a spotlight on the federal hiring process and the different qualities that can make for good candidates. First, there was the report from Federal News Network that Congress has advanced a bill that would reform the federal hiring process....
What are disciplinary actions? Some of the actions that commonly come to mind are suspensions, demotions and removals. However, the truth is that while “discipline” means one thing in lay terms, it means something entirely different in the law. There are two key...
Federal agencies want to find and hire the best possible talent. However, they may be going about it the wrong way. A recent study suggests that a focus on raw talent or brilliance may result in gender bias. Published in Psychological Science, the report claims that a...
Applying for federal jobs can be a chore. USAJOBS cites ten steps to the federal application process. And, of course, you have the exhausting work of updating and tailoring your resume to address the skills and experience the position demands. But what happens after...
The Bureau of Prisons is responsible for keeping prisoners locked away. However, it may have locked away much more than that. The Bureau has long drawn unwanted attention for its culture of secrecy and coverups, and new cracks have exposed a scandalous series of...
For just over five years, the Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB) had gone without top leadership. This meant the board was unable to fully complete its work. But what is that work? What does it mean that the MSPB once again, finally, has a governing quorum of...