Meeting Recap
by Rick Osborn

Bob Gray, Chapter Board Member and retired Department of Agriculture Regional OIG, presented four case studies involving a number of human resource issues.

From Case #1, we learned that if you implement a Performance Improvement Plan, the supervisor does need to meet with the individual in question and monitor the Plan’s progress.

From Case #2, we learned that both the employee and the supervisor need to know the agency’s human resource policies and procedures.   Additionally, an individual needs to communicate and ask questions and try not to make decisions based upon assumptions.

From Case #3, we learned that you need to document, document, document, and be transparent about the basis for personnel actions and staffing decisions.

From Case #4, we learned that audit agencies, as far as the courts are concerned, are held to the “highest standards of professionalism and integrity and at least as far as this case, the supervisory review of workpapers must be documented.

A final suggestion from Bob was to visit http://www.mspb.gov and review the complaints file with the Merit System Protection Board. This may well assist you in not making the same “mistake” as some other supervision has.