Welcome to Leitner Varughese Warywoda Law, where we specialize in championing the rights of both current and former Department of Veterans Affairs employees facing workplace challenges. Read More »

In the case of Thurman v. United States Postal Service (July, 2022), the Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB) overturned their 2010 decision, Wynn v. U.S. Postal Service, regarding the abandoning of affirmative defenses. In so doing, the MSPB listed 6 new non-exhaustive factors that will be used to determine whether an affirmative defense has been waived or abandoned. Read More »

The Merit Systems Protection Board added a third member in May 2022, Cathy Harris, to its ranks to assist with the thousands of cases that have been pending before the Board. Read More »

According to Defense Department directive no. 1300.22, the remains of military service members are to be handled with “dignity, respect, and care of the deceased.” Read More »

In March 2022, the Merit Systems Protections Board (MSPB) issued its first precedential decision in 5 years. A civilian employee working for the Army Department, who had been fired in her second year of her probationary period, was reinstated by overturning the decision of an administrative judge. Read More »

If you have experienced a suspension of at least 15 days, a demotion, or termination that was undeserved or discriminatory, you could be able to submit an appeal with the Merit System Protection Board (MSPB). Read More »

If you are a current or former USPS employee dealing with a workplace legal issue, you’ve come to the right place. The attorneys at Leitner Varughese Warywoda Law have been vigorously defending United States Postal Service employees at the agency level, before Merit Systems Protection Board Administrative Law Judges and the full three-member MSPB panel. We are ready to fight for you! Read More »

Whistleblower protection under the PPP is provided to federal employees by the Civil Service Reform Act (CSRA) of 1978. Retaliation of whistleblowers is the eighth prohibited personnel practice (PPP) defined by the CSRA. Whistleblowing is considered a protected activity. Read More »

The MSPB, or Merit Systems Protection Board, is a quasi-judicial agency that makes up part of the Executive Branch of the Federal Government. The MSPB oversees Federal merit systems. It is authorized by the Civil Service Reform Act (CRSA) of 1978 to hear appeals of some, but not all, agency actions. Let’s take a look at some of the agency actions that may be brought to the MSPB and what you might expect from the MSPB appeals process. Read More »

If you’re a federal employee and you feel that your position isn’t appropriately classified, you may be wondering if you can file a Classification Appeal with the Office of Personnel Management (OPM). But first, you need to know what can be appealed and what can’t. Read More »

Whether you’re currently a federal employee or you’re just trying to get a federal job, you’re protected by law from discrimination based on your religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, pregnancy status, color or race, age, national origin, disability status, or genetic information. Read More »

Disability retirement benefits make an enormous difference to anyone. Read More »

When federal agency officials contemplate disciplinary action against a federal employee, they have many arrows in their quiver. For example, the officials may contend that the targeted employee is guilty of falsification. On the other hand, they may turn instead to a much more nebulous charge: that the actions of the employee exhibited a “lack of candor.” To many federal employees facing a charge which could result in suspension or even end their career, “lack of candor” sounds rather subjective. Indeed, is the standard too subjective? Read More »

Motives matter. Read More »