At least in the days of yore, when I was in school, the Study Hall was a period of only an hour. But in terms of governmental agencies, that period can be months, maybe even years, as no doubt others have experienced.
As a by-product of one of my cases against the Center for Disease Control (CDC), (a case that I won on April 30,) thanks to the Discovery Process, I received an impressive treasure-trove of incriminating documents, including numerous internal CDC e-mails, that irrefutably indicates that the CDC routinely utilizes Prohibited Personnel Practices in their hiring processes.
I reported my “findings” to numerous Federal Agencies, including the Inspector General, Health and Human Services, as well as quite a few Senators and Representatives. I received “re-directs,” but at least they were consistent. It’s not us that handle this: It’s the Office of the Special Counsel (OSC). They are the ones who prosecute cases involving the systemic use of Prohibited Personnel Practices.
And that’s the first catch, the word “systemic.” It can’t be just about you, it has to involve numerous others. And thanks to the Discovery Process, I felt I’d cleared that hurtle. I counted 14 other names, without even trying very hard. I submitted my initial complaint, via their website, on April 08. I did receive a follow-up e-mail, requesting the entire copy of the MSPB decision of April 30, as well as a sampling of the incriminating e-mails (one of them was from an HR specialist who said she would be “happy” to re-write the job description so that the #1 candidate, a veteran, could be circumvented, and a lower ranked individual could be hired). This information was submitted, via express mail, on May 17.
Where does it stand now? It is still in the “study hall.” In a letter from Mr. Patrick Boulay, of the OSC, to Congressman Martin Heinrich (of New Mexico’s #1 district), he said the file is “currently under active review.”
Meanwhile, in the Gulf, the oil catastrophe continues.
- John Paul Jones
john.jones@civilservicechange.org
2 users commented in " The Study Hall "
Follow-up comment rss or Leave a TrackbackIn days of yore, there were two types of study hall. One was scheduled: something all students, from honor roll to failing, attended. Then there was the other — a detention; a punishment.
Let’s hope yours is the former and not the latter. FWIW, I’ve learned than inertia is the equilibrium state in government, and that unless acted upon, matter remains unmoving. I’m glad you’re pushing on the boulder and insisting it budge, however little.
Charlotte -
Maybe I should have said “yore squared.”
It was a different time and place, at least in my day. Study Hall had a much more neutral connotation, neither for geniuses or dunces. It was more of a “filler.” They wanted to keep you in school to a set hour, think it was 3:30 (I’m talking high school). And if the classes, the teacher load, and your curriculum didn’t all perfectly jive, voila, the Universal Fudge Factor was the “study hall.”
As for inertia, my lawyer/hiking friend suggested I put “bureaucratic paralysis” into my petition for enforcement, which I duly did. And if really seems apt; they are still stunned that they lost the case, maybe a first, and don’t know how to proceed, and so, the safest thing is to “do nothing” until the court leaves them no alternative. Alas.
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