MEDIATION

• Voluntary, confidential.
• Both parties must request.
• May be requested at several points during the process.
• Lenght of stage: 30 days, unless extended for additional 30 days.

INITIAL PROCESSING

Claim must be filed within 180 days of violation.

PRELIMINARY REPORT

Preliminary Hearing Officer issues report within 30 days an extension of no more than 30 days is allowed.

CIVIL ACTION

A claimant who has not requested a hearing at OCWR or whose claim does not proceed past the preliminary review stage may file a civil compliant in U.S. District Court.

ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEEDING BEFORE MERITS HEARING OFFICER

Must request a hearing at the OCWR no later than 10 days after Preliminary Hearing Officer’s Report.

Hearing generally will be held within 90 days. Decision by Merits Hearing Officer issued within 90 days of end of hearing.

REVIEW BY OCWR BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Appeal must be filed no later than 30 days after Merits Hearing Officer’s decision.

U.S. COURT OF APPEALS

Appeal must be filed no later than 90 days after Board of Directors’ decision.

There is another chart available that reflects the process applicable to employees who are claiming that a Member of Congress personally engaged in certain types of misconduct.
For more information, please visit: OCWR.GOV.