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

Some federal employees are political appointees, subject to the political whims of those who appointed them. However, most federal employees do not work at the political whims of others. They work for the United States public, and the law says that agencies must evaluate and treat these workers according to their merits. As the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) notes, the government’s merit-based principles aim to create a competent and productive workforce that serves the public interest. This means rewarding workers who do well, but it also means offering agencies the means to correct poo ..read more

Political conversation in the workplace can create a minefield for federal employees. With the Hatch Act's restrictions on political activity, federal workers must understand on-the-job boundaries of lawful political discourse. This issue has arisen in light of the understandable desire to discuss recent, deadly global conflicts such as the Russia-Ukraine and Israel-Hamas wars. Understanding the Hatch Act The federal Hatch Act attempts to create a neutral, nonpolitical federal workforce. The law covers most employees in the executive branch as well as some in civil service jobs. The Act attemp ..read more

The United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has existed for decades to help enforce federal employment laws. The organization investigates claims that companies discriminated against workers based on protected characteristics including race, color, sex, religion, national origin, age, genetic information and disability. EEOC laws apply to most companies with 15 employees or more, although the threshold increases to 20 employees or more for age discrimination concerns. Those who believe that their company discriminated against them when hiring them, choosing who to fire, se ..read more

On Jan. 11, 2024, members of the U.S. House Veterans Affairs Committee voted to subpoena records from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) that could shed light on the committee’s investigation of shocking allegations of sexual harassment at the highest levels of the agency. All but one representative on the panel voted yes, an overwhelmingly bipartisan statement that these members take their oversight responsibilities seriously. Allegations of harassment at ORMDI According to Government Executive, the subpoena will allow the committee to gather documents relevant to sexual harassment ..read more

The Devadoss Law Firm, a renowned advocate for employee rights, has consistently demonstrated its commitment to providing exceptional legal representation in the field of federal employment law. With a team of highly skilled attorneys and dedicated staff, the firm has earned a reputation for its unwavering dedication to protecting the rights and interests of employees nationwide. Building upon this legacy, The Devadoss Law Firm is thrilled to announce the promotion of four outstanding attorneys and two foundational staff members. The firm is proud to announce that the following lawyers will he ..read more

In an ideal world, federal employees would never face retaliation for blowing the whistle on wrongdoing in their agency. Ideally, federal employers know that good-faith reports by people in a position to know are fundamental to good government. The reality can be very different. Sometimes, federal employers have taken adverse actions against employees who blow the whistle, including firing them outright. Therefore, federal law now prohibits retaliation. Unfortunately, there are limits and those limits can be somewhat confusing. Before you blow the whistle, you need to be sure you’re following ..read more

The United States Postal Service (USPS) is often a great place to work. Because the post office plays an important role in our country’s daily operations, a position with the USPS often offers high job security. It also offers some flexibility. Those who enjoy working outdoors can pursue a career as a mail carrier, while those who prefer a more stable environment can work within the post office. Not only are there a variety of positions, but workers often have an opportunity for professional advancement. But what happens when you do everything right and it appears that opportunity for advancem ..read more

What happens when a federal agency launches an investigation into one of its employees? Many times, it will place the employee on paid leave while it conducts the investigation. Naturally, one would expect agencies to conduct their investigations in a timely fashion and end the paid leave. But that doesn’t always happen. As the Government Executive reports, hundreds of feds have seen their paid leaves continue indefinitely. Some have spent more than three years on administrative leave. This isn’t just a matter of wasteful bureaucracy; it is a violation of the Administrative Leave Act (ALA). An ..read more

Crisis narrowly averted. For now. At the time of writing, Congress just passed a temporary budget, funding the government for 45 days. While this stop-gap measure prevented an immediate shutdown, many wonder if we won’t find ourselves in the same situation within the next several weeks. Indeed, in recent years, the government has flirted with shutdowns on a shockingly routine basis. All this gives us reason to look at the history of government shutdowns. It’s also good reason for federal employees to understand their rights should we hit another shutdown. What is a government shutdown? Congres ..read more