Civil Service & CSRS Disability Retirement - Office of Special Counsel (OSC)

Federal employees are protected under the Whistleblower Protection Act (WPA) from suffering an adverse employment action or retaliation for making a protected disclosure. A protected disclosure is one in which the employee reasonably believes that one or more of the following has occurred:

		A violation of a law, rule or regulation
		Gross mismanagement
		Gross waste of funds
		An abuse of authority
		A substantial or and specific danger to public health or safety

It is illegal for an Agency to take an adverse action, such as a removal, suspension, transfer, demotion or reassignment, because an employee made a protected disclosure. A complaint under the WPA is initiated by filing a claim with the Office of Special Counsel (OSC). The OSC is the federal agency charged with investigating claims of whistleblowing, among others. Following the OSC's investigation, the claim may be prosecuted directly by the OSC. Most cases, however, require that the employee file an Individual Right of Action (IRA) claim with the MSPB. Such claim must be filed within 65 days of the date that the OSC notifies the employee that it has declined to pursue the claim.

Flook & Graham, P.C. has experience pursuing claims involving whistleblowers and has pursued these claims in front of the MSPB. We welcome the opportunity to discuss your particular claim and help you evaluate and weigh your options.

Call or email our office today to talk to us about your case.