Since the time of the Civil War, veterans of the Armed Forces [as defined in 38 USC 101(10)]
have been given some degree of preference in appointments to Federal jobs. Recognizing that
sacrifices are made by those serving in the Armed Forces, Congress enacted laws to prevent
veterans seeking Federal employment from being penalized because of the time spent in the military service.
By law
(Title 5 USC, Section 2108), veterans who
are disabled or who serve on active duty in the Armed Forces
during certain specified time periods or in military campaigns
are entitled to preference over non-veterans both in Federal
hiring practices and in retention during reductions in force
(RIF).
The National Defense Authorization Act of 2006 (Public Law
109-163) extends Veterans’ Preference to those individuals who served on active
duty for a period of more than 180 consecutive days any part of which occurred
during the period beginning on September 11, 2001, and ending on a future date
prescribed by Presidential proclamation or by law as the last date of Operation
Iraqi Freedom; and, who were discharged or released from active duty in the
armed forces under honorable conditions.
Preference does not have as
its goal the placement of a veteran in every vacant Federal job;
this would be incompatible with the merit principle of public
employment. Nor does it apply to promotions or other
in-service actions. However, preference does provide a
uniform method by which special consideration is given to
qualified veterans seeking Federal employment.
Preference applies in
hiring from civil service examinations, for most excepted
service jobs, and when agencies make temporary appointments or
use direct hire and delegated examining authorities from the
U.S. Office of Personnel Management
(OPM). OPM's
Vet Guide explains the
special rights and privileges that veterans enjoy in Federal
civil service employment and the
VetsInfo Guide explains how
veteran's preference and the special appointing authorities for
veterans operate within the system.
The Department of Labor's
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Policy (OASP) and
Veterans' Employment and Training Service (VETS) developed an
"expert system" to help veterans receive the
preferences to which they are entitled. This system is designed
to help veterans determine the type of preference to which they
are entitled, the benefits associated with the preference and
the steps necessary to file a complaint due to the failure of a
Federal agency to provide those benefits.
CHANGES TO VETERANS' PREFERENCE AS
PROVIDED IN THE VETERANS EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY ACT OF 1998
(VEOA)
(Public Law 105-339)
1.Preference Eligibles who allege that an agency has
violated such individual's rights under any statute or
regulation relating to veterans' preference may file a complaint
with the Secretary of Labor, The Veterans Employment and
Training Service Agency (VETS).
2. Complaints must be filed within 60 days after the date
of the alleged violation.
3. Not earlier than 61 days after filing a complaint with
VETS, complainants may appeal their case to the Merit Systems
Protection Board (MSPB).
4. If the MSPB has not issued a decision within 120 days,
claimants may seek judicial redress in the US District Courts.
Details of these procedures are identified in section 3 of the
VEOA, PL 105-339.
5. Veterans' preference is extended to now apply to
employee positions in the Government Accounting Office, Office
of the President, certain legislative and judicial positions,
and in Reduction In Force (RIF) situations, the Federal Aviation
Agency (FAA).
6. Failure to comply with veterans' preference
requirements will be treated as a Prohibited Personnel Practice
(PPP) for certain purposes. To knowingly take, recommend, or
approve any personnel action if the failure to take such action
would violate veterans preference requirements or to fail to
take, recommend or approve any personnel action if the failure
to take such action would violate veterans' preference
requirements is a PPP.
VETERANS EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES ACT
VEOA
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