Summary
The Office of Special Counsel, an independent agency that oversees illegal actions taken against federal workers, ruled that the mass firings of probationary federal workers (those in a trial period after being hired) are likely illegal.
The decision, affecting 6 cases, found that the terminations lacked individualized cause, violating federal rules.
OSC head Hampton Dellinger stated, “Firing probationary employees without individualized cause appears contrary to a reasonable reading of the law.”
This ruling could challenge the legality of nearly all such dismissals, opening the door for broader legal action.
I found out yesterday the government employees who received a promotion are also put on probation. Someone I know was fired after 20years of service just for the crime of being a good enough employee to deserve a promotion.
So they didn’t even just limit it to new-hire probationary employees, but also included people who just entered a new title after being an employee for years?
So so so fucking dumb.
If we still have a functioning government and legal system after all of this is said and done, the federal government will be paying out billions of dollars in (completely reasonable) lawsuits.
Super efficient.
It’s because there would be an even bigger immediate legal shit show if they fired anyone who wasn’t probationary. They only fired who they could get their hands on right now.
It’s easy to miss that kind of thing without testing. Traditionally it’s been considered a decent idea to spend more than six seconds firing thousands of people.
Was probably put on “supervisory probation” which is for all new supervisors. I.e., its not just an increase in pay due to increased skills/duties.
I know someone in the same boat and I was wondering if they would get caught in all this stupidity as well.