Advisory – Request a Union Representative

Kathy — Thu, 07 May 2009 14:38:44 +0000

Advisory – An employee has the right to have a union representative present during an OIG (Office of Inspector General) investigation. In December 2008, an employee of the Actuarial Branch was interviewed by OIG and did not have a union representative present at the interview. In February 2009, this employee was fired based on findings of the OIG investigation report. The Union found the report to contain significant errors. The moral to this story is: Do not believe that the OIG is your protector or friend and do not believe that all RMA managers care enough to do their own research or check out a report before taking an action that affects a person’s livelihood. The OIG is the official investigative department, but they do not always get it right.

This is not the first time an OIG report has reached out and caused an action against an employee. In 2004, OIG issued a report that found certain employees were remiss in performing their duties as Risk Management Specialists. An employee of the Research and Evaluation Division, currently the Actuarial and Product Design Division, was given a letter of reprimand as a result of the findings in this OIG report. The letter of reprimand was later rescinded, but only after a grievance was filed.

If an employee has a meeting with an OIG investigator, they have the right to ask for a Union representative. If the employee is denied the right to have a union representative present, they should contact the Union as soon as the meeting has ended. An employee should not sign anything at an OIG interview before having it reviewed by the Union or other representative of their choice.

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Advisory – Request a Union Representative