Whistleblowers play an important role in maintaining transparency and accountability within federal agencies. Yet many fear the threat of potential retaliation if they were to step forward and voice their concerns or provide evidence of wrongdoing within their agency. If you are part of this group, know you are not alone. A recent study found that more than 80% of those within the financial industry who witnessed or suspected financial crimes happening within their organization have chosen to remain silent out of fear of retaliation. The findings support a change to help better ensure those wh ..read more

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), responsible for enforcing U.S. anti-discrimination laws in the workplace, has emphasized the need to prevent harassment in virtual work environments. It is important that federal agencies take steps to proactively address this growing issue as more federal employees engage in remote and telework arrangements. With the availability of remote work accelerated due to the pandemic, agencies are wise to address the following. #1: Set the expectation for a harassment free remote workplace Whether working remotely or in person, the same expectation ..read more

Sexual harassment remains a problem within federal agencies despite efforts to address it. Recent reports highlight the ongoing challenges and the serious consequences that stem from a workplace culture that fails to intervene and address instances of harassment. Report finds harassment in federal agencies “persistent” and underreported A recent Government Accountability Office (GAO) report finds that sexual harassment remains a longstanding problem in the federal workplace. According to the report, harassment is significantly underreported, and it has been the primary concern in employment di ..read more

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), historically known for its role in maintaining public confidence in the nation's financial system, has recently faced scrutiny over allegations of a toxic workplace culture. A recently released comprehensive independent report has brought to light systemic issues of sexual harassment, discrimination, and misconduct within the agency. What were the findings? Despite the FDIC's critical role in the financial sector, the report characterizes the workplace environment as a "good ol' boys club," where inappropriate behavior has gone unaddressed. The ..read more

Each federal agency is required to have procedures in place to better ensure federal employees do not suffer from retaliation for reporting wrongful activity. Many agencies also have whistleblower protection programs in place. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is one such agency, however its whistleblower protection program is relatively new and continues to evolve to better protect workers. Are whistleblowers protected at the IRS? In theory, yes. Protections against retaliation are available for federal employees at the IRS who report wrongful activity. In reality, the process is complicated ..read more

A recent memo from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) got media attention recently when it appeared to violate federal whistleblower protections. The name of the memo is enough to give reason for concern: The Prohibited Disclosure of Unclassified, Sensitive Information Without Proper Authorization memo. It states that ATF employees could face penalties including discipline, termination from employment, and even criminal charges for disclosing agency information. Although there are instances when agency information should remain private, federal workers also have the ..read more

Protections are in place to help better ensure superiors judge the work of federal employees based on performance. Schedule F, created by President Trump, put these protections at risk. As discussed in previous posts, this executive order established a new classification system for tens of thousands of federal employees. It was set to move these workers from exempt to non-exempt — meaning transferred workers would suffer a loss of these protections and the ability to appeal disciplinary actions through the Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB). Although rescinded by President Biden, the execut ..read more

Federal employees are the eyes and ears on the ground, often the first to recognize illegal, wasteful, or fraudulent activities. Providing this group of workers with whistleblower protections is important because it encourages federal workers to report misconduct without fear of reprisal. This works to better ensure federal agencies fulfill their role while also helping to maintain public trust in governmental institutions — and the system often works. Federal employees have utilized whistleblower laws to bring to light various issues, resulting in corrective actions and reforms. For instance ..read more

The U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) has rolled out a final rule updating the Pathways Programs, which are designed to enhance opportunities for early-career individuals to enter the federal government. This update represents a significant reform for the 14-year-old program. The new rule introduces skill-based hiring for various career programs, higher starting salaries for recent graduates, and an easier transition for interns to secure permanent federal positions. The OPM made these changes to increase the hiring of interns, fellows, apprentices, recent students and trainees, thus b ..read more

Workplace retaliation is illegal. Everyone knows that. At the same time, most people understand that retaliation remains a pervasive problem throughout the federal workspace. So, how can this be? The truth is that agencies, employers and managers often retaliate against workers who complain about discrimination or blow the whistle on worrisome practices. When these managers and decision makers are already engaged in illegal behaviors, they may view retaliation as a means to silence their workers. Indeed, the Department of Labor (DOL) notes that the fear of retaliation often has a chilling effe ..read more