Frequently Asked Questions
Any current or former GAO employee or applicant for employment at GAO can file a Charge with the PAB/OGC. A labor organization, such as a union, that represents GAO employees can also file a Charge with the PAB/OGC.
GAO employees have the right to work in a workplace free from discrimination, retaliation, prohibited personnel practices, partisan political activities, and unfair labor practices. GAO employees who have completed their probationary periods also generally have due process rights related to a removal, suspension for more than 14 days, reduction in grade or pay, or a furlough of not more than 30 days. You can find additional information about your rights under the “Rights Protected” tab on the PAB’s website. If you have any questions about the rights you may have or believe any of your rights have been violated, you can contact the PAB/OGC to discuss your situation by clicking on the “Contact Us” tab on the PAB’s website.
Different types of claims have different deadlines by which the claims must be brought. The “How to File” tab on the PAB’s website has more information about filing deadlines and filing processes for the PAB/OGC. You can also contact the PAB/OGC to find out the filing deadline for your particular situation by clicking on the “Contact Us” tab on the PAB’s website.
Your Charge must be in writing. Here is a link to the PAB/OGC’s Charge form. This form contains the relevant information the PAB/OGC needs to investigate your allegations, but use of the form is not required.
Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, you can submit your Charge to the PAB/OGC via the following email address: PABOGC@gao.gov. You can also submit your Charge using the PAB/OGC’s mailing address or in person. The “How to File” tab on the PAB’s website provides the PAB/OGC’s address.
Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, you can submit your Charge to the PAB/OGC via the following email address: PABOGC@gao.gov. You can also submit your Charge using the PAB/OGC’s mailing address or in person. The “How to File” tab on the PAB’s website provides the PAB/OGC’s address.
No appointment is required prior to filing a Charge with the PAB/OGC.
Yes, you can contact the PAB/OGC to discuss your concerns. The PAB/OGC’s contact information is available under the “Contact Us” tab on the PAB’s website.
No. You do not need an attorney to file a Charge with the PAB/OGC.
In most situations involving discrimination claims, an individual must file a complaint of discrimination with O&I before filing a Charge with the PAB/OGC. However, when a claim involves both allegations of discrimination and prohibited personnel practices, an individual may need to file a complaint of discrimination with O&I and a prohibited personnel practices Charge with the PAB/OGC.
Additionally, an employee subjected to a removal, suspension for more than 14 days, reduction in grade or pay, or furlough of not more than 30 days who believes the action is due to prohibited discrimination may either file a Charge directly with the PAB/OGC or file a complaint of discrimination with O&I. Specific rules also apply when an employee is being separated because of a Reduction in Force.
If you have been or will be subjected to an action that you believe is due to prohibited discrimination, you can contact a PAB/OGC attorney to discuss your situation by clicking on the “Contact Us” tab on the PAB’s website. You can also find additional information about prohibited discrimination under the “Rights Protected” tab on the PAB’s website.
Additionally, an employee subjected to a removal, suspension for more than 14 days, reduction in grade or pay, or furlough of not more than 30 days who believes the action is due to prohibited discrimination may either file a Charge directly with the PAB/OGC or file a complaint of discrimination with O&I. Specific rules also apply when an employee is being separated because of a Reduction in Force.
If you have been or will be subjected to an action that you believe is due to prohibited discrimination, you can contact a PAB/OGC attorney to discuss your situation by clicking on the “Contact Us” tab on the PAB’s website. You can also find additional information about prohibited discrimination under the “Rights Protected” tab on the PAB’s website.
Yes. The PAB/OGC has the authority to investigate all allegations of prohibited personnel practices and, when warranted, to seek corrective action. Additional information about the prohibited personnel practices can be found under the “Rights Protected” tab on the PAB’s website.
The PAB/OGC will send you a letter acknowledging receipt of your Charge. The PAB/OGC will also notify GAO’s Office of General Counsel that you have filed a Charge and provide them with a copy of the Charge. You will receive a copy of the notification letter that the PAB/OGC sent to GAO at the same time that you receive the PAB/OGC’s letter acknowledging receipt of your Charge.
The PAB/OGC will then assign an attorney to your Charge. The attorney will conduct a neutral fact-finding investigation of the allegations in your Charge. At the conclusion of the investigation, the PAB/OGC will provide you with a report of its investigative findings and will let you know if it is offering to be your legal representative in filing a Petition with the PAB. The PAB/OGC will not give a copy of this report to GAO or the PAB. Additionally, the PAB/OGC will provide you with a Right to Petition Letter setting forth your rights to file a Petition with the PAB. The “How to File” tab on the PAB’s website has more information about what happens after a Charge is filed.
For more information, see What Happens after a Charge is Filed with the PAB/OGC?
The PAB/OGC will then assign an attorney to your Charge. The attorney will conduct a neutral fact-finding investigation of the allegations in your Charge. At the conclusion of the investigation, the PAB/OGC will provide you with a report of its investigative findings and will let you know if it is offering to be your legal representative in filing a Petition with the PAB. The PAB/OGC will not give a copy of this report to GAO or the PAB. Additionally, the PAB/OGC will provide you with a Right to Petition Letter setting forth your rights to file a Petition with the PAB. The “How to File” tab on the PAB’s website has more information about what happens after a Charge is filed.
For more information, see What Happens after a Charge is Filed with the PAB/OGC?
The length of an investigation varies. Some factors affecting the length can include the number and complexity of the allegations, the number of witnesses who must be interviewed, and the amount of documentation that must be requested from GAO and reviewed by the PAB/OGC.
No. You do not have to accept the PAB/OGC’s offer of representation. You can choose to represent yourself or, at your own expense, use a private attorney or a representative who is not an attorney.
If the PAB/OGC offers to be your legal representative after completing its investigation of your Charge, there is no financial cost to you for the representation.
You have the right to file a Petition with the PAB even if the PAB/OGC does not offer to serve as your legal representative in filing such a Petition.
You can file a Petition representing yourself or, at your own expense, using a private attorney or a representative who is not an attorney.
You can file a Petition representing yourself or, at your own expense, using a private attorney or a representative who is not an attorney.
You have 30 days after you receive the PAB/OGC’s Right to Petition Letter to file a Petition with the PAB/OGC.
You may also forego the PAB/OGC investigative process and file a Petition directly with the PAB if at least 180 days have elapsed since you filed your Charge and the PAB/OGC has not issued you a Right to Petition Letter.
No. PAB/OGC attorneys are not affiliated with GAO’s Office of General Counsel.
You may contact the PAB/OGC with any questions you may have. The PAB/OGC’s contact information is available on the “Contact Us” tab on the PAB’s website.