For federal employees looking to file EEO complaints based on incidents of unlawful discrimination, understanding the EEO complaint process can be extremely difficult. With many Agency EEO Counselors still working remotely due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it can also feel even harder than usual to communicate discriminatory incidents to EEO counselors and check the statusRead More
Federal Employment
President Biden Nominates New MSPB Chair
On April 28, 2021, President Biden took a highly-anticipated first step towards finally staffing the long vacant board member positions with the Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB). President Biden nominated Cathy Harris of the law firm Kator, Parks, Weiser & Harris in Washington, DC to chair the MSPB. Ms. Harris has practiced employment law forRead More
Hope for movement to nominate board members to the Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB)
On April 5, 2021, Rep. Gerry Connolly, D-Va. and Rep. Jody Hice, R-Ga., the Chairman and Ranking Member, respectively, of the House Committee on Oversight and Reform’s Subcommittee on Government Operations, wrote to President Biden requesting that he prioritize nominating members to the Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB). We have discussed the lack of quorumRead More
American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 Provides up to 600 Hours Paid Emergency Leave
Included in the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, signed by President Biden on March 11, 2021, were provisions allowing many federal employees access to up to 600 hours paid emergency leave for coronavirus-related reasons. The emergency leave is similar to the former emergency paid sick leave provided under the Families First Coronavirus Response ActRead More
Actions Taken to Repair Federal Labor-Management Relations in President Biden’s First Week in Office
It has been less than a week since President Joe Biden took the oath of office on the steps of the U.S. Capitol, but the new administration has wasted no time in making efforts to repair damaged labor-management relations in the federal workforce. On Day 1, President Biden issued an “Executive Order on Advancing RacialRead More
Hopes and Expectations for the Biden Administration
It has been a rough four years for the rights of federal employees. From a gutted Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB), to a Federal Labor Relations Authority (FLRA) that has seemingly gone rogue, to a series of Executive Orders signed by President Trump weakening employee and Union rights, some of us who practice in federalRead More