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Printer Friendly Adverse Action Articles

These articles were written for a report submitted to Congress in 2016. Some aspects of the law may have changed in the intervening years. Readers are strongly encouraged to consult updated statutes, regulations, and case law.

  1. A Primer in Pieces
  2. Second-Hand News Can be Misleading
  3. The Adverse Action Process - A Flowchart
  4. Performance-Based Actions under Chapters 43 and 75 of Title 5 - Similarities and Differences
  5. Different Types of Adverse Actions Use Different Rules
  6. Legal Sources for the Right to Notice and a Meaningful Opportunity to Reply
  7. Decision-Maker Must Listen and Have Power to Decide
  8. Connecting the Job and the Offense ("Nexus")
  9. Labels are Not Required, but if Used They Must be Proven
  10. Determining the Penalty
  11. How Employees Become Similarly Situated for Purposes of an Adverse Action Penalty
  12. Avoid Facilitating Prohibited Personnel Practices (PPPs)
  13. Agency Officials' Substantive and Procedural Errors and How to Fix Them
  14. Identifying Probationers and Their Rights
  15. The Limited Powers of the U.S. Merit Systems Protection Board
  16. Why Federal Employees Have the Right to a Hearing
  17. How a Hearing is Conducted
  18. Implementing or Challenging Initial Decisions
  19. Additional Resources
  20. Adverse Actions: A Compilation of Articles (complete report)