Can I Be Fired if I File an EEOC Complaint?
Everyone has the right to work in a place free from discrimination. Unfortunately, discrimination in workplaces is still a widespread issue. What’s more, tens of thousands of workers lose their jobs, are forced to quit, are demoted, and endure harassment each year because they complained about discrimination. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) reports that, […]
What Should Whistleblowers Know Before They Act?
Whistleblowers are underappreciated heroes, and calling out wrongdoing in the federal workplace is a noble action. However, it is not something you should do lightly. Before you do anything, you need to know what a whistleblower is. On top of that, it is vital that you understand your rights as a whistleblower before you act. […]
How Do You Know If You Are Eligible for Disability Retirement Benefits?
Many people enjoy being a federal employee because of the benefits it offers. One of these benefits is a generous disability retirement package under the Federal Employee Retirement System (FERS). So if you have suffered an injury on the job, you might be considering applying for federal disability retirement. But knowing whether you’re eligible for […]
What is the Difference Between Social Security Disability and Federal Disability?
The difference between social security disability insurance (SSDI) and a disability under the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) isn’t straightforward. People confuse FERS disability retirement and SSDI all the time. If you think that you or a loved one may qualify for one or both of these programs, you need to understand the nuances of […]
Protect Your Rights: Your Guide to Filing a Powerful OSC Complaint
We’ll be diving deep into how you can file an OSC complaint under the whistleblower protection act. So, most of us would like to live in a world where whistleblowers are free from retaliation. However, the cold, hard truth is that whistleblowers come under attack all the time because of their efforts to clean up […]
Understanding Your Federal Employee Rights: A Complete Guide to Due Process
No federal employee ever imagines that they’ll face a possible suspension. Not only is it a black mark on your record, but it can also deprive you of pay for days, weeks or even months. And in most situations, a proposed suspension catches you completely off-guard. Federal employee suspension laws are complex, so you may […]
How to Report an Abuse of Authority in the Federal Workplace
We’ve all had bad supervisors in our careers. Yet sometimes the behavior of a supervisor can cross the line into illegal behavior. Abuse of authority is one of several personnel practices that are banned completely from the federal workplace by U.S. law. Understanding how to distinguish between legal and illegal behavior isn’t necessarily easy, however. […]
What to Expect at an MSPB Hearing
The law grants every federal employee the right to contest major adverse actions, such as suspensions over 14 days, demotions and removals. The Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB) is the government agency tasked with providing a venue for federal employees who wish to appeal an adverse action. If you’re appealing an adverse action, your MSPB […]
What to Do If You Were Wrongfully Demoted
Getting demoted at work can be a crushing blow to your career. However, it’s especially devastating and unjust when you know you were wrongfully demoted. Maybe your boss decided to demote you because of your skin color or gender. Or perhaps your boss demoted you because you made a complaint about a legal or ethical […]
FERS Disability Retirement and Severance Pay: What to Know
The federal government grants severance pay to employees who separate involuntarily from the federal service. Not all employees can receive severance pay, however. To qualify, an employee first has to meet several prerequisites. You should also know that severance pay plays an important role for those who are in the process of obtaining a federal […]