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Senate Passes Bill to Make Firing VA Employees Easier
[LI] After three years of constant problems at Veterans Affairs (VA) hospitals, the Senate passed a bill that will make it easier to fire offending VA employees currently protected by layers of bureaucracy. Fox News reported:The bill would lower the burden of proof needed to fire employees -- from a "preponderance" to "substantial evidence," allowing a dismissal even if most evidence is in a worker’s favor. The American Federation of Government Employees, the largest federal employee union, opposed the bill. But the measure was viewed as more in balance with workers’ rights than a version passed by the House in March, mostly along party lines. The Senate bill calls for a longer appeal process than the House’s version -- 180 days vs. 45 days -- though workers would not be paid during that appeal. VA executives also would be held to a tougher standard than rank-and-file employees. This legislation will allow the department "to take back an employee bonus or reduce a former employee’s pension, a move senators argue will help make sure the department isn’t on the hook to continue paying convicted employees." The leaders within the VA must "provide more training on whistleblower rights and be prohibited from firing employees who have filed complaints through official channels." Now the bill heads to the House. President Donald Trump wants "the House to act quickly" so he can sign the bill. Trump has long promised to clean up the messy VA.
Posted by: Besoeker 2017-06-08 |
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