Posted on Nov 21, 2015
In a time when penalties are sometimes enforced as a result of social media backlash, are these penalties sufficient?
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http://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/article/VA-official-forced-from-Philly-post-under-cloud-6646914.php
Unfortunately in this case the "Douglas Factors" for which the federal government must apply when taking administrative action may have resulted in a less than desirable penalty. And that fault would be the supervisors of these two managers.
Unfortunately in this case the "Douglas Factors" for which the federal government must apply when taking administrative action may have resulted in a less than desirable penalty. And that fault would be the supervisors of these two managers.
Posted in these groups: 
Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)
Investigation
Punishment
Fraud
Discipline
Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Investigation Punishment Fraud Discipline
Posted 9 y ago
Responses: 3
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The Secretary of the VA was given special authority by Congress to terminate Senior Executive Service (SES) employees for the expressed purpose of removing individuals in cases just like this.
I believe the Secretary is gun shy and did not want to pull the trigger so these two got a demotion and will retire with no impact to them since their retirement is based on high three, not last three.
The real damage is the signal this sends to the rank and file in the VA that have been busting ass to turn the agency around. Leadership has been preaching ownership and accountability but then this is how they demonstrate what they mean.
I believe the Secretary is gun shy and did not want to pull the trigger so these two got a demotion and will retire with no impact to them since their retirement is based on high three, not last three.
The real damage is the signal this sends to the rank and file in the VA that have been busting ass to turn the agency around. Leadership has been preaching ownership and accountability but then this is how they demonstrate what they mean.
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Sgt Spencer Sikder
SGT Shannon Wasielewski, while I hope the reason for the Secretary's actions are so that the criminal investigation can bring in a more severe penalty and hopefully reimbursement, given the agency's history I think you are on point. Particularly with how the rank and file will view the action.
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SGT Shannon Wasielewski
Sgt Spencer Sikder - I are probably your right, but I fail to see how a criminal investigation would halt had they been terminated.
I really feel like I have been stabbed in the back by leadership with this one. I pointed out abuse of power at my last Medical Center and received a reprimand and three years probation because I dared to speak up in a meeting with my superiors and they were offended by my message. Here we have to senior officials who purposely moved Director's out of their current positions so they could take those same positions.
I really feel like I have been stabbed in the back by leadership with this one. I pointed out abuse of power at my last Medical Center and received a reprimand and three years probation because I dared to speak up in a meeting with my superiors and they were offended by my message. Here we have to senior officials who purposely moved Director's out of their current positions so they could take those same positions.
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Sgt Spencer Sikder
Oh, I don't disagree. Never understood the premise either, especially since the administrative action of the removal isn't a criminal action. Maybe one of our more learned brothers or sisters on this site could provide some clarity as to why.
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Not even close to being sufficient since these positions are difficult to actually "punish" the way we would see it, or to remove them from the system completely... It sucks...
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