Around the same time the MSPB issued its publication, acting VA Secretary Sloan Gibson issued a memo designed to encourage employees to blow the whistle and promising serious consequences for managers who retaliate against them.
Said the memo: “I expect workplace environments that enable full participation of employees. I expect employees to bring to the attention of their managers and supervisors shortcomings in the delivery of our services to veterans or any perceived violations of law or official wrongdoing—including gross waste, fraud, or abuse of authority. And I want to make clear that intimidation or retaliation against whistleblowers—or any employee who raises a hand to identify a legitimate problem, make a suggestion, or report what may be a violation of law, policy, or our core values—is absolutely unacceptable. I will not tolerate it.
“We all have a responsibility for enforcing appropriate workplace behavior. Protecting employees from reprisal is a moral obligation of VA leaders, a statutory obligation, and a priority for this department. We will take prompt action to hold accountable those engaged in conduct identified as reprisal for whistleblowing, and that action includes appropriate disciplinary action,” he wrote.
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