What Is the Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB)? Guide for Federal Employees (2026)
What Is the Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB)? The Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB) is an independent federal agency that hears appeals from federal employees challenging serious personnel actions such as removals, suspensions, demotions, suitability determinations, and other adverse actions. The MSPB operates as a neutral, court-like body to ensure federal agencies comply with civil […]
Full-Time Telework as a Reasonable Accommodation — What Federal Employees Need to Know
Federal telework policy is in flux — and that has serious implications for federal employees seeking telework as a reasonable accommodation under disability law. While agencies are pushing return-to-office policies, disability law still requires individualized accommodation decisions. Under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, federal agencies must provide reasonable accommodations to qualified employees with disabilities unless […]
How to Respond to a Performance Improvement Plan (PIP) — A Federal Employee Survival Guide
A Performance Improvement Plan (PIP) can feel like a warning shot — and in many cases, it is. Federal agencies rarely issue PIPs as casual feedback; they are often a precursor to discipline, proposed removal, proposed demotion or forced retirement. Our experience is that many PIPs are poorly written, vague, and inconsistently supported. Supervisors frequently […]
How Removal from Federal Service Impacts Your Retirement — And How to Protect Your MSPB Rights
1. Removal Does Not Forfeit Vested FERS or CSRS Benefits Once you are vested in FERS or CSRS (generally after 5 years of creditable civilian service), your earned retirement benefits remain yours even if you are removed for performance or misconduct. You retain your service credit, pension contributions, and your TSP balance. Only narrow national-security-related […]