Perceptions of occurrences of most prohibited personnel practices are at an 18-year low, the Merit Systems Protection Board has said based on an analysis of recent survey data.
According to MSPB, employees observe less and less discrimination, coercion of political activity, obstruction of competition, coercion to withdraw from competition, granting an improper advantage, nepotism, retaliation for whistleblowing, and retaliation for exercising an appeal or grievance right.
MSPB says data from its 2010 merit principles survey shows a business case for avoiding PPPs rare as they are, namely that employees who perceive more PPPs and file more complaints are considered less engaged with their jobs and their work.
The report calls on agencies to educate in particular their executives, managers, supervisors and human capital staff about PPPs, and especially new political appointees who may not be familiar with the civil service and may not have previously operated within a merit system.
