The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) revised a memo regarding the termination of probationary federal employees, emphasizing that agencies, not OPM, hold firing authority. This adjustment follows a recent court ruling by US District Judge William Alsup that OPM had overstepped its legal boundaries in firing workers from different agencies. The amended memo simplifies reporting requirements and refines the purpose of probationary periods, mentioning the importance of evaluating employee assets rather than staffing management. OPM acknowledged ongoing litigation concerning the termination of probationary employees across various agencies, indicating potential implications for previously fired staff.
Less than a week ago, a federal judge ruled that OPM doesn't have the power to fire employees in other agencies and had exceeded its legal authority.
The updates to the memo appear in line with that directive. Originally, the document directed agencies to send a list of all probationary employees to... OPM's chief of staff.
The revised memo drops the staffing management language, instead describing probationary periods only as a way to ensure employees 'will be an asset to the Government.'
OPM sent agencies' chief human capital officers an email about the new memo, saying that it is 'aware of recent litigation challenging the terminations of various probationary employees.'
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