An unpaid suspension of three days resulted from a social media post seeking donations. Image: chrisdorney/Shutterstock.com
By: FEDweek StaffThe Office of Special Counsel has announced settlements involving unpaid suspensions in two Hatch Act cases, one involving a political appointee and the atter a career employee.
In the former case, it said a Labor Department appointee “was both on duty and acting in her official capacity” during a teleconference with employees from a private organization when she asked one of them whom that person was supporting in the upcoming gubernatorial election in that employee’s home state and expressed her support for one of the candidates.
“The interaction violated the Hatch Act’s prohibition against engaging in political activity while on duty or in a federal room or building and the prohibition against using one’s official authority or influence for the purpose of interfering with or affecting the result of an election,” the OSC said, adding that the employee agreed to an unpaid 10-dat suspension.
An unpaid suspension of three days was agreed to in a separate case in which the OSC filed a complaint with the MSPB alleging that a VA employee violated the Hatch Act by soliciting a political contribution on a social media account.
“The social media post read, in part, “Give $20 NOW to [a candidate’s] campaign . . . I did! Join me . . . $20,” the OSC said.
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