Merit Systems Protection Board
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Two years ago, a federal appeals court ruled against a financial analyst and a military commissary employee who said they’d been summarily removed from their positions without being able to contest their agencies’ decisions before the Merit Systems Protection Board. At issue is a category of federal jobs called “noncritical sensitive.” Even though those workers don’t handle classified information, the government contends that airing their cases before MSPB could expose “sensitive” information — and the label now applies to about 200,000 Defense Department workers, according to two members of Congress who say they need more due process rights. Rep. Rob Wittman (R-Va.) and Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.) introduced a bill this week to make clear that MSPB is allowed to hear those employees' claims. Holmes Norton talked with Federal Drive with Tom Temin by phone about why the appeals court’s ruling needs to be overturned.
February 05, 2016 -
The second of two Department of Veterans Affairs senior executives had her demotion reversed by a Merit Systems Protection Board judge. Diana Rubens was demoted from her executive position by the VA for allegedly abusing her power for her own personal gain. Fellow SESer Kimberly Graves received a similar decision from a judge last week.
February 01, 2016 -
A Merit Systems Protection Board judge reversed the decision by the VA to demote one of its senior executives for alleged misconduct involving a relocation program. Reports also say another VA official demoted for the same reason is currently defending herself in a Philadelphia court.
January 28, 2016 -
Joe Carson, a 31-year federal employee and a prevailing whistleblower, explains why he believes the U.S. Office of Special Counsel withdrew its rule about contractor whistleblower disclosures.
January 18, 2016 -
Agencies don't have a common way to train and develop their Senior Executive Service members. The Merit Systems Protection Board spoke with 23 agencies about their training programs for SES. Half of them couldn't say how often their SES members get training opportunities. Tanya Page is a senior research psychologist and the project manager for MSPB's new report. She shared what prompted the agency to start this research now with Federal News Radio's Nicole Ogrysko, who stopped by to share those findings on Federal Drive with Tom Temin.
December 30, 2015 -
A new report from the Merit Systems Protection Board finds a gap between the training agencies say they'll give their senior executives, and the opportunities SES members actually receive.
December 22, 2015 -
The Office of Special Counsel, Merit Systems Protection Board and Office of Government Ethics haven't received authorization from Congress since 2007. But Congress says it wants to consider additional legislation and statutory changes before it issues new reauthorizations.
December 16, 2015 MSPB Chair Susan Tsui Grundmann took aim at a recent law and the legislation it's spawned. The year-old Veterans Access, Choice and Accountability Act of 2014 curtails the due process rights of Senior Executive Service members in the Veterans Affairs Department. Just recently, the House passed legislation to extend the measure to the rest of the VA's workforce.
August 14, 2015-
The house has passed a bill that makes it easier and quicker to fire Veterans Affairs employees. Some see Congress’ latest drive to hold government accountable as noble. Others see it as an impending civil rights violation. Susan Tsui Grundmann is chairman of the Merit Systems Protection Board. As Federal News Radio’s Emily Kopp report, she falls into the latter category.
August 13, 2015 -
The Merit Systems Protection Board has some big plans for 2015. That's according to Chairwoman Susan Tsui Grundmann. In part one of her conversation with Tom Temin on the Federal Drive, she discussed the board's annual report card for 2014. Today, she discusses her plans for the upcoming year. In addition to establishing an E-filing system for merit systems claims, Grundmann said she has two other main priorities to accomplish.
February 19, 2015 -
The Merit Systems Protection Board recently released its annual report card for 2014. It summarizes the agency's performance in the last year, and lays out some targets to try and hit in the current year. Susan Tsui Grundmann, chairwoman of the MSPB, joined Tom Temin on the Federal Drive with more on the report card — as well as what's hopefully in store for 2015.
February 18, 2015 -
Is the federal hiring process rigged? If so, is it even worth it to apply for a federal job? A recent report from the Merit Systems Protection Board says that, for the most part, federal hiring follows merit principles. Meaning, most jobs are filled through competition. But a commentator at FederalNewsRadio.com has a contrary view, and that's gotten our readers talking. Julia Ziegler is Federal News Radio's Web Manager. She joined Tom Temin on the Federal Drive to relay some of your comments on the matter.
January 30, 2015 -
Hiring in the federal government is supposed to be open, competitive and fair. But you get what you measure. The Merit System Protection Board recently released its annual Fair and Open Competition report. It's designed to ensure federal employees are hired based on their qualifications, not their connections. Allison Wiley is a senior research analyst at the board. She joined the Federal Drive with Tom Temin to discuss the report's findings. One of the key ones, she said, is that fair and open competition is still the standard in the majority of government hires.
January 28, 2015 -
Do federal managers know who they want to hire before even posting a job? Do they rig the process to the benefit of their candidate? And, is it worth it to even apply for a job at an agency given these barriers? Former federal HR exec Jeff Neal offers his candid advice based on his 33 years of experience.
January 23, 2015 -
Veterans Affairs whistleblowers reclaimed their jobs and reputations after supervisors tried to downplay claims of falsified performance reports, a delayed response to rape allegations against a VA employee and low staffing levels at VA medical centers.
January 20, 2015