Department of

Veterans Affairs
ort,February
13,2012
rrom:
Se6lsf6ry (00)
suuJ: p16(6stion
from Reprisal for Whistleblowing
Memorandum
ro:
Js AllEmployees
1. lwant to reiterate and reafiirm VA's commitment to whistleblower protection and
creating an environment in which employees feelfree to voice their legitimate concoms
without fear of reprisal. There are several avenues of redress available for employees
to address reprisalfor whistleblowing, including reporting it to VA's Office of lnspec-tor
General, your local Congressionalrepresentative, Merit Systems Protection Board, and
the Office of Special Counsel, A summary of these venues and contact information is
attached.
2. lt is a prohibited personnel practice for an agenoy to subJect an employee to a
personnel action if the action is threatened.,proposed, taken, or not taken becauce d
whistleblowing activities. Whistleblowing means disclosing information that the
employee reasonably believes is evidence of a violation of any law, rule, or regulation,
or gross misrnanagement, a gross waste of funds, an abuse of authority, or a
substantial and specific danger to
public
health or safety. An ernployee is
protected if
he/she makes such a disclosure to the SpecialCounsel or the lnspector Creneral.
Additionally, an employee is protected if he/she makes such a disclosure to any other
individual or organization, such as a Congressional Committee or the media,
provided
that the disclosure is not specifically
prohibited by law,
Protecting employee rights is a statutory obligation. have
and will be held accountable for standards of
4. lencourage each of you to familiarize yourself with this information and I remind
every manager of this Department's responsibility to maintain a workplace that respects
its employee's abllity and right to raise legitimate conoerns without fear of retribullon.
5. lf you have
questions regarding this subject,
please contac{ Tonya Deanes,
Depu$ Assistant Secretary for Hurnan Resources Management, at
(202) 461-7765.
Attachment