ICYMI: The reforms Sen. Chuck Grassley co-authored to reduce the excessive use of paid administrative leave at federal agencies is now law. The reforms are part of the National Defense Authorization Act, signed into law Dec. 23. The text is available here, Sec. 1138.
From December 8, 2016:
Sen. Chuck Grassley is the co-author of legislation that would reduce the excessive use of paid leave by federal agencies. Grassley developed the legislation after an in-depth investigation finding that agencies sometimes put employees on paid leave for years, either to avoid making tough management decisions or to sideline whistleblowers. The legislation, passed out of committee in February, is part of the National Defense Authorization Act conference report that the Senate passed today. The measure is now on its way to the President for consideration. Grassley made the following comment.
“This is a red letter day for everybody who cares about good government. Too often, managers put employees on paid administrative leave either out of convenience to them or as punishment for those who blow the whistle on waste, fraud and abuse. There are many examples, including Brandon Coleman, the whistleblower at the Department of Veterans Affairs in Phoenix who was sidelined but ultimately vindicated for trying to save veterans’ lives. Taxpayers are shortchanged when valuable employees are sidelined or problematic employees are paid to stay home instead of being fired. The reforms put strict limits on administrative leave. They make clear when other forms of paid leave are allowable and when employees should be on the job instead. Paid leave shouldn’t be a crutch for management to avoid making tough personnel decisions or a club for wrongdoers to use against whistleblowers. I hope the reforms will become law as soon as possible, and I look forward to overseeing their implementation.”
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