The Whistleblower Protection Enhancement Act of 2012/Whistleblower Protection Program
Employees protected from retaliation for making a protected disclosure
All VA employees, contractors, subcontractors, grantees, subgrantees, and personal services contractors.
How can an employee contact the OAWP (provide exact information)
Call: 855-429-6669
Email: OAWP@va.gov
VA employees and applicants for employment may disclose a violation of law, rule or regulation; gross mismanagement; gross waste of funds; an abuse of authority; or a substantial and specific danger to public health or safety to various entities within the VA, including OAWP and OSC.
False, Within and outside of VA
Mr. Brandecker and Dr. Godbout encourage you to do this action
Make disclosures/Report wrongdoing
Formerly known as the Whistleblower Protection Ombudsman
Whistleblower Protection Coordinator
The OAWP receives and investigates two allegations
1. Allegations of misconduct and poor performance against VA senior leaders,
2. Allegations of whistleblower retaliation against VA supervisors.
True or False: A whistleblower may disclose VA Sensitive Personal Information (individually identifiable information) to an authorized outside entity in the course of reporting alleged violations of law, rule, regulation or gross mismanagement, a gross waste of funds, an abuse of authority or a substantial and specific danger to public health or safety.
True
You do not need to make protected disclosures through these individuals
Supervisor/Supervisory Chain
Complainants who report allegations of serious wrongdoing or gross mismanagement must submit this item to ensure that the VA OIG is able to start an inquiry.
Sufficient information
These office(s) are responsible for tracking and confirming VA’s implementation of recommendations from audits and investigations
VA’s Office of Inspector General, VA’s Office of the Medical Inspector, the U.S. Office of Special Counsel, and the U.S. Government Accountability Office.
A complaint may not be brought under 41 U.S.C. §4172(b) more than two years after the date on which the alleged reprisal took place.
False, Three years
Amount of retaliation you will face for reporting wrongdoing
None
The Whistleblower Protection Enhancement Act of 2012 enhances which whistleblowers' rights
1. Making a whistleblower's oral disclosures legally sufficient; no longer must a disclosure be in writing
2. Making disclosures that fall within the whistleblower's job duties an eligible basis of a whistleblower claim
3. Strengthening anti-retaliation restrictions
4. Allowing damages that could be obtained by a whistleblower to include consequential damages such as emotional distress; and
5. Accessing the medical record of another employee or an applicant for employment as a part of, or otherwise in furtherance of, any PPP
The OAWP refers these allegations for investigation
A violation of law, rule or regulation; Mismanagement; Gross waste of funds; Abuse of authority; and Substantial and specific danger to public health or safety.
True/False: It is lawful for agencies to take or fail to take, or threaten to take or fail to take, a personnel action against an employee or applicant for employment for a disclosure that the employee or applicant reasonably believes evidences violation of any law, rule, or regulation; gross mismanagement; gross waste of funds; abuse of authority; substantial and specific danger to public health or safety; or censorship related to scientific research if censorship meets one of the above-listed categories.
False (It is unlawful)
Allegations involving criminal matters should be sent to this office
OIG