New training program explains whistleblower rights

The U.S. Office of the Special Counsel recently released a new tool to help managers explain the Whistleblower Protection Act and other laws under its jurisdiction to new employees.

New federal workers get flooded with information about merit principles, leave policies and employee rights upon entry into the civil service, but important information is left out, said OSC chief Elaine Kaplan.

"I've yet in my experience to meet a government employee who received a packet of information regarding their rights under WPA [the Whistleblower Protection Act]," Kaplan said.

Now, however, agencies can download OSC's training information directly into Microsoft PowerPoint to give slide presentations on the role of the Office of Special Counsel. The training program also gives information about the WPA and other laws enforced by the OSC, such as the Hatch Act, which covers employee participation in political activities.

Topics in the program include:

• The role of the OSC
• Investigating and prosecuting prohibited personnel practices
• Receiving whistleblower disclosures
• Advising on and enforcing the Hatch Act
• Filing complaints, making disclosures and receiving advisory opinions
• Requesting OSC speakers, obtaining OSC publications, contacting OSC field offices

OSC hopes the program will help agencies, as well as advocacy groups, unions, associations and personnel specialists to train federal employees on its investigative and prosecutorial roles in the federal government.

For more information about the program, contact OSC outreach specialist Debbie Billet-Roumell at dbillet@osc.gov.