EEO Mediation Process for Federal Employees

By John V. Berry, Esq., www.berrylegal.com

This is an article regarding the Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) mediation process for federal employees. Our law firm represents federal employees in discrimination, harassment, retaliation and sexual harassment cases before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and in individual federal agency EEO offices. Many retaliation, discrimination or sexual harassment cases that are filed through the EEO process go through mediation, but each has slightly different processes and procedures depending on the federal agency involved. This article discusses the EEO mediation process and the potential benefits associated with engaging in that process for both parties involved.

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Desk Audit Appeals for GS and FWS Employees

By Melissa L. Watkins, Esq., www.berrylegal.com

If you are a federal employee and believe that you are regularly asked to perform duties that are outside the scope of your grade, job series and title, there is a path to address such an issue. The procedure is referred to as a “desk audit” or a classification appeal. A desk audit is simply a process where the duties and position of a federal employee are evaluated to determine whether the employee’s position should be upgraded in terms of grade, pay level, title or classification series. 

Prior to a Desk Audit – Ensuring Accuracy of Position Description 

Before requesting a desk audit, the federal employee should make sure that their position description accurately identifies the major duties assigned and performed. If the position description is significantly inaccurate, the employee should try to resolve the problem first by discussing it with a supervisor and perhaps a representative of the human resources office. If the Agency is unwilling to correct the position description, the federal employee can still pursue a desk audit and the inaccuracies will be reviewed by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) later in the appeal process. 

Federal Employee Drug Use and Security Clearance Issues

By John V. Berry, Esq., www.berrylegal.com

One of the more common issues that arise in the context of security clearance investigations for federal employees is the issue of illegal drug usage and/or inappropriate prescription drug usage for federal employees. This issue is regulated by Adjudicative Guideline H for those federal employees holding or seeking a security clearance. This article discusses the issues that many individuals face with respect to drug usage and their security clearance.

Illegal drug use and abuse can be a major factor in maintaining or obtaining a security clearance. Security concerns regarding this issue arise under Adjudicative Guideline H, Drug Involvement and Substance Misuse of Security Executive Agency Directive (SEAD) 4. Adjudicative Guideline H is the section of the Adjudicative Guidelines which involves a federal employee’s use of illegal drugs or misuse of otherwise legal prescription drugs. Guideline H also evaluates the use of drugs by an applicant or clearance holder and its impact on an individual’s ability to obtain or maintain a security clearance.

Guideline H Rules for Federal Employee Clearance Applicants or Holders

Guideline H, Drug Usage, provides the following concerns for clearance holders and illegal drug use or abuse of prescriptions:

The Concern. The illegal use of controlled substances, to include the misuse of prescription and non-prescription drugs, and the use of other substances that cause physical or mental impairment or are used in a manner inconsistent with their intended purpose can raise questions about an individual’s reliability and trustworthiness, both because such behavior may lead to physical or psychological impairment and because it raises questions about a person’s ability or willingness to comply with laws, rules, and regulations. Controlled substance means any “controlled substance” as defined in 21 U.S.C. 802. Substance misuse is the generic term adopted in this guideline to describe any of the behaviors listed above.

Guideline H issues usually come into play when a federal employee has engaged in the use of illegal drugs or misused prescription drugs. The most common way in which this issue arises is when a federal employee is arrested, completes a new SF-86 (eQIP), or self-reports the drug use. If recent usage is involved, these types of issues tend to require more investigation prior to the issuance of a security clearance or may require a full clearance review.  The clear concern for federal agencies that evaluate security clearances is that illegal drug use can lead to the use of questionable judgment or the failure to control impulses, both of which are not considered acceptable for purposes of access to classified information.

Security Concerns Raised by Drug Usage

When issues arise involving illegal drug use or misuse of prescription drugs for federal employees, in the scope of a security clearance investigation or review, it is very important to take them seriously and to obtain legal representation experienced with these types of issues in order to minimize the potential damage to a security clearance. The Government, in addition to an overall evaluation of an individual who has admitted drug usage concerns, considers a number of mitigating factors in these cases. Keep in mind that most cases these days involve the use of marijuana in states where the use is legal, but where the federal government still considers marijuana use illegal by federal employees.

The mitigating factors for drug use, under Paragraph 26 of SEAD 4, include:

a. the behavior happened so long ago, was so infrequent, or happened under such circumstances that it is unlikely to recur or does not cast doubt on the individual’s current reliability, trustworthiness, or good judgment;

b. the individual acknowledges his or her drug involvement and substance misuse, provides evidence of actions taken to overcome this problem, and has established a pattern of abstinence, including, but not limited to:(1) disassociation from drug-using associates and contacts; (2) changing or avoiding the environment where drugs were used; and (3) providing a signed statement of intent to abstain from all drug involvement and substance misuse, acknowledging that any future involvement or misuse is grounds for revocation of national security eligibility;

c. abuse of prescription drugs was after a severe or prolonged illness during which these drugs were prescribed, and abuse has since ended; and

d. satisfactory completion of a prescribed drug treatment program, including, but not limited to, rehabilitation and aftercare requirements, without recurrence of abuse, and a favorable prognosis by a duly qualified medical professional.

Examples of Situations With Potential Security Clearance Issues for Federal Employees

Example A: Security clearance holder uses marijuana for the first time because his/her state legalized marijuana and he/she decided to experiment.

Example B: Security clearance holder borrows their daughter’s ADHD medication without a prescription to see if the medication would work effectively for them.

Example C: Security clearance holder purchases marijuana in a state where marijuana is legal for their spouse who is registered as a lawful medical marijuana user.

Example D: Security clearance holder is prescribed pain medication by their doctor but uses it more often than the physician has prescribed it for.

Cases Involving Guideline H Cases where a Clearance Was Denied                              

The following are 2 examples where individuals’ clearances was denied:

Example A: Applicant’s recent use of marijuana was deemed to be too recent to qualify for a security clearance.  Copy of decision is located here.

Example B: Applicant’s history of marijuana use has not been mitigated by sufficient evidence of abstinence. Copy of decision is located here.

Issues to Consider for Drug Usage Cases Under Guideline H

In security clearance appeals involving Guideline H, Drug Usage, it is very important to understand just how important it is that the federal employee understands and acknowledges, where appropriate, the misconduct they committed and to acknowledge that it will not happen again. This provides a strong basis for mitigation in many cases. Defending illegal use or an addiction problem only makes mitigation more difficult. It cannot be overstated that security clearance adjudicators take drug usage concerns seriously and are often looking for acceptance of responsibility and other steps in order to mitigate it.

The following are 20 items (not a full list, which is too long to provide here) that we often consider when handling Guideline H cases:

  1. How long ago was the last illegal drug use?
  2. How many incidents of illegal drug usage are there in the last 7 years?
  3. How many incidents of illegal drug usage are there over the federal employee’s lifetime?
  4. Has there been medical / counseling intervention for the drug usage?
  5. Has there been any drug treatment given or taken?  
  6. If there has been drug treatment, has it been voluntary or mandatory (i.e. part of a court order related to a criminal case).
  7. Is it important to get an independent review by a medical expert regarding the likelihood of recurrence of drug issues? An expert physician or psychologist may be needed.
  8. Has there been abstinence from illegal drug usage or abuse of prescription drugs (and for how long)?
  9. Was there any confusion about state laws on drug usage (typically with marijuana)?
  10. Has there been a change in illegal drug usage by the federal employee?
  11. Who could potentially testify positively about the federal employee’s drug usage and change in drug use behavior?
  12. What kind of documentation can be used for exhibits to show abstinence from illegal drugs?
  13. What kind of documentation can be used to show a change in behavior around illegal drugs or associates involved in illegal drugs?
  14. What types of organizations (Narcotics Anonymous, Church, Treatment Programs, Physicians, other groups) can be used to support the federal employee’s case that he or she avoids or has ended drug misuse?
  15. What types of evidence can be used to show how serious the federal employee takes the drug use issues? i.e. letters of support, character letters, etc.
  16. Is a letter of proposed revocation of a security clearance appropriate to add as an exhibit should illegal drug usage issues recur.
  17. Is there medical or treatment documentation available to potentially use as exhibits during the clearance proceedings?
  18. Has the federal employee stopped associating with others engaged in illegal drug use?
  19. Was there some medicinal use needed for the illegal drug (typically marijuana) or prescription drug?
  20. Did the use of unauthorized prescription drugs lead the federal employee to seek a lawful prescription for the medication?

Illegal drug use and prescription misuse security clearance cases under Guideline H can involve many different types of variables and a number of mitigating factors specific to each case so hiring experienced counsel to represent and advise the individual involved is critical because each case is different. The key in representing federal employees in security clearance proceedings in this type of case is to be prepared.

Conclusion

In sum, when a federal employee is facing illegal drug-related or prescription misuse in reference to a security clearance, it is very important to have experienced counsel. If you need assistance with a security clearance case, please call us at (703) 668-0070 or contact us at www.berrylegal.com, our Facebook page or through this page.

Douglas Factor Mitigation for Federal Employees

By John V. Berry, Esq., www.berrylegal.com

There are two parts to a federal employee’s disciplinary case: (1) whether the federal employee committed the offense charged; and (2) if they committed the offense, what should the penalty be? One of the most significant issues in defending a federal employee in disciplinary cases involves arguing for mitigation of the penalty in a disciplinary case.  Arguing for mitigation generally means that we argue for the application of the Douglas Factors in attempting to mitigate (or reduce) disciplinary penalties issued in a case.

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Clean Record Agreements For Federal Employees After Executive Order 13839 are Possible

 

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By John V. Berry, Esq., www.berrylegal.com

Clean record agreements for federal employees in light of Presidential Executive Order 13839 (EO) still exist given the right circumstances.  There is significant confusion over this EO which attempts to bar clean or clear records, which is confusing for both federal agencies and federal employees. Federal agencies themselves often disagree with what the EO actually means and when it is applicable to settlement of cases. The negotiation of clear records for federal employees in the right situations is still viable and complies with the EO. Hopefully, this article will provide some context for how the EO and negotiations can still factor into settlements for federal employees.

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Avoid Politics in the Federal Workplace

By John V. Berry, www.berrylegal.com

The 2019 primaries and 2020 national elections are approaching soon. Our law firm often represents and defends federal employees in Hatch Act violation cases. The Hatch Act was meant to curtail partisan political involvement for federal employees. There are certain restrictions that prohibit certain political conduct, both on-duty and off-duty. As these elections approach, this article is meant to help federal employees avoid the problems of committing potential Hatch Act violations.   Continue reading

Early Retirement for Federal Employees

By Kimberly H. Berry, Esq.. www.retirementlaw.com

The Federal workforce is presently undergoing significant changes in size. Many federal agencies are shifting their workforce into other areas.  In some instances, this has led to the Federal government to provide incentives for Federal employees to retire early.  This article focuses on these incentives and considerations in accepting early retirement.

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Issues to Consider for Federal Disability Retirement

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By Kimberly H. Berry, Esq., www.retirementlaw.com

One of the more usual types of federal employee retirement matters that our firm handles involves the representation of federal employees in the disability retirement process before various federal agencies and the Office of Personnel Management (OPM). Federal employees thinking about filing for disability retirement should consider the following issues as they debate whether or not to proceed with an application for disability retirement.

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Representing VA Employees in Disciplinary Appeals Board Hearings

By John V. Berry, Esq., www.berrylegal.com

We represent and defend medical professionals before the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) through the Disciplinary Appeals Board (DAB) process, nationwide. The DAB is a unique hearing process and counsel is needed by a physician, nurse or other medical professionals when a disciplinary case like this is pending.  This article discusses the DAB process as it currently exists. Continue reading