OPM First Agency "Certified" in Compliance with Whistleblower Protection Act

Washington, DC –The Office of Special Counsel (OSC), today, announced that the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) is the first government agency to be "certified" in compliance with the Whistleblower Protection Act. Kay Coles James, Director of OPM stated, "Consistent with the President’s call for a professional Federal workforce that maintains the highest ethical standards, I am pleased and honored that OPM is the first agency to be certified in compliance under the Whistleblower Protection Act. It is appropriate for OPM to have piloted this training with the Office of Special Counsel. It is our joint responsibility – our sacred trust on behalf of the American people – to assure that the values of the Merit System are observed and upheld."

Elaine Kaplan, Special Counsel of OSC stated, "I am very grateful that OPM, under the leadership of Director Kay Coles James, agreed to pilot OSC's educational program about the Whistleblower Protection Act, and the other laws that enforce the merit system principles. By making OPM the first agency to receive certification under our program, Director James has put into practice her pledge to make OPM a model for the rest of the federal government. I strongly encourage other federal agencies to follow OPM's example by accepting our invitation to implement the certification program at their worksite."

On October 9, 2001, Director James met with Elaine Kaplan, Special Counsel, to pilot a federal employee education program on whistleblower retaliation protection and the prevention of prohibited personnel practices. Since that time, OPM staff members worked closely with OSC to develop, implement, and complete the pilot program. The OSC plans to use OPM’s program as a model for other Federal agencies.

Requirements for compliance include:

• Whistleblower Protection Act (WPA) training for supervisors;
• Providing information about the WPA to new employees as part of their orientation;
• Periodic email reminders to current employees about their rights and remedies under the WPA;
• Placing informational posters at agency facilities;
• Creation of a computer link from the agency's website to OSC's.

James stated, "This certification is an important step to securing adherence to the Merit System principles. When Federal employees are free to report mismanagement without fear of unfair retribution, the Federal Government will better serve the citizens of our nation."

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OPM oversees the federal work force and provides the American public with up-to-date employment information. OPM also supports U.S. agencies with personnel services and policy leadership including staffing tools, guidance on labor-management relations and programs to improve work force performance.