Our Response to Two Threats to Federal Employee Rights
Our EEOC and OPM oppositions are ready to read. Comment deadlines are next week.
Hey Feds,
Last week, I told you we were putting extra time into two major public comments. Both letters are now ready to read. Here’s what Southworth PC is fighting for, and how you can add your voice.
EEOC: Protecting your chance to make your case. The proposed rewrite would take away employees’ current option to request an administrative judge before the agency’s final decision on a discrimination complaint. Employees would have to appeal first, and the Commission would decide whether to order judge proceedings. Our 43-page opposition asks the EEOC to withdraw the rewrite and preserve a meaningful way to challenge an agency’s account.
Comment by Monday, September 28. Read our letter and explanation or submit your comment.
OPM: A real chance to respond and improve. OPM reopened comments on new separation data and a report from We the Doers. Our supplemental opposition explains why that material does not justify giving employees less opportunity to defend themselves. We’re calling for fair reply periods, useful help during performance improvement, and better training and support for supervisors. The government should get these decisions right before someone loses a career.
Comment by Tuesday, September 29. Read our OPM update and letters or submit your comment. Focus this comment on the new data or the We the Doers report.
Specific comments can put overlooked problems and practical alternatives on the official record the agency must consider. You do not need to write a legal brief to contribute.
And thank you for the feedback. A lot of you took time to tell us what helps and what you’d like us to change. We’re still working through your responses about the Briefing and our other content. A few excerpts, shared anonymously with permission:
- “I've left public comments after being shown how, thank you for teaching us how to get active.”
- “Made sure to go into my personnel file and get copies of every performance appraisal, SF-50, etc.”
- “the information you share has helped me survive the daily chaos”
Helping you understand your rights is part of our job. So is standing up for those rights when the rules are being rewritten. Thank you for reading and helping us make this work more useful to you.
With gratitude,
Shaun Southworth
Founder and CEO, Southworth PC
As always, this is general information, not advice about your individual case. Public comments do not extend your case deadlines.
Responses