Ask the Lawyer received the following question (paraphrased for easier reading and clarity) from a reader on a legal matter that might be of interest to the entire audience. Q: Currently, I am a GS-14, Step 5, with an agency in the D.C. area. I recently completed an interview for a competitive position within another federal agency in the same area. However, the position for which I interviewed is at the GS-13 level. I received initial indications from the hiring manager that I will be selected, but obviously I need to await official HR notification. Considering GS-14, Step 5, pay…

In this era of manager accountability under the No FEAR Act, any subordinate’s equal employment opportunity complaint against a manager should be taken seriously. The outcome of the complaint carries risk to the manager’s career. The reality is that managers have few rights in defending themselves against an EEO complaint. For the most part, they only have those rights that an agency might extend to them, in its discretion. To make matters worse, managers, just like other agency employees, who might be witnesses, have an obligation to cooperate fully in the agency EEO process. This means that a manager must…

Ask the Lawyer received the following question (paraphrased for easier reading and clarity) from a reader on a legal matter that might be of interest to the entire audience. Q: When I accepted my current position, I argued that my college education should have boosted my grade level, but I was shot down, even though management supported me. Now my year is up and I should have received the grade increase but have not. Workforce says everything has been submitted and approved ahead of schedule, but OMB says “it’s not an entitlement” and I’ll get it when they get to…

Ask the Lawyer received the following question (paraphrased for easier reading and clarity) from a reader on a legal matter that might be of interest to the entire audience. Q: I’m currently on a letter of requirement. I’ve been bringing my doctor notes to my boss and he has been accepting them. Now he wants me to start having the doctor state my illness or diagnosis for me or my family whenever I call out sick. Can he do this and not be in violation of my rights? A: Your supervisor may require that you provide sufficient medical information from…

Ask the Lawyer received the following question (paraphrased for easier reading and clarity) from a reader on a legal matter that might be of interest to the entire audience. Q: A supervisor decided to modify the work space cubicles of Federal employees by taking two Government employee cubicles and converting the office space of the two cubicles to a three (3) cubicle work space, therefore making the work space smaller and more restricted. This configuration forces Government employees to spend their duty day in a very restricted office space. Now, all the spaces are smaller for all Government Employees with…