The Office of Special Counsel has announced it is currently investigating allegations of whistleblower reprisal from 37 VA employees across 19 facilities – including allegations of retaliation for disclosing improper scheduling practices and other threats to patient care.
OSC said the VA agreed to stay disciplinary action against three employees until OSC had a chance to investigate their reprisal claims.
According to OSC, it requested and obtained a stay of a proposed 30-day suspension without pay for a VA employee who reported the inappropriate and continuous use of patient restraints in violation of VA rules and procedures. In a second case, a VA employee at a different facility received a proposed seven-day suspension after communicating concerns to the IG about improper scheduling and coding procedures at the facility (OSC is looking into whether the employee’s reassignment and lowered performance evaluation could be related). In a third case, OSC obtained a stay of a demotion for a VA employee last December who was temporarily reassigned out of a position and then faced demotion after disclosing the mishandling of patient care funds.
