Comment from Anonymous
AnonymousSupportIndividual
Summary: The commenter, a federal employee in labor and employee relations, supports the proposed rule to reform the Douglas factors. They argue that the current factors make it too difficult to remove detrimental employees and advocate for a system that better promotes the efficiency of the federal service.
I am glad MSPB finally recognizes what a mess the Douglas factors have made of the Federal workforce. I work in labor and employee relations and started with the Federal Government over five years ago. I can't tell you how many situations I have seen where the agency tried to fire an employee, someone who was clearly detrimental to the Government, only for them to get their job back on appeal. Grievance arbitrators applying the Douglas factors are the worst. It basically gives them carte blanche to second-guess the agency penalty determination by saying the agency didn't appropriately weigh the factors. Ta-da. The employee gets their job back. Congress said employees should be removed if it promotes the efficiency of the service. The current rules--especially the Douglas factors--make that incredibly difficult. Please finalize this rule.