FederalDaily.com > VA Needs to Revise IU Criteria, GAO Says

FederalDaily - October 25, 2006

VA Needs to Revise IU Criteria, GAO Says

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) needs to revise the eligibility guidelines for its disability benefits program, said government auditors who found evidence that benefits were wrongly granted to some ineligible veterans. The Government Accountability Office (GAO) on Oct. 23 released a report detailing its look at VA regulations and guidelines in the management of the Individual Unemployability (IU) benefits program. In its report, GAO said VA regulations and guidelines lack key IU criteria and guidance that are needed to determine unemployability. About 220,000 veterans in 2005 received an estimated $3.1 billion in IU benefits, GAO said, but VA guidelines do not give rating specialists the procedures to obtain the employment history and vocational assessments needed to support IU decisions. As a result, VA staffers told GAO investigators that IU benefits have been granted to some veterans with employment potential. GAO recommended that the VA clarify its IU eligibility criteria and develop a return-to-work strategy for IU claimants. VA agreed, the report said. To see more, go to: www.gao.gov/docsearch/abstract.php?rptno=GAO-06-309

OPM Launches Federal Government Leadership Effort

If you’re interested in honing your government leadership skills, then the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) has the program for you. OPM is now offering, via its Web site, an electronically searchable catalog of programs designed to help federal employees enhance and improve their leadership skills. The new catalog, called Federal Leadership Development Program (FedLDP), provides a centralized library of leadership development and training initiatives offered by departments and agencies, OPM Director Linda Springer said Oct. 23. It is aimed at expanding the leadership skills of current and future managers, supervisors and executives throughout the federal government, Springer said. “This site is a one-stop reference for finding programs which will meet the career development needs of federal employees,” Springer added. “Offerings are added to the catalog on a regular basis.” FedLDP is located on the OPM home page at www.opm.gov/fedldp/index.aspx. To see the OPM press release, go to: www.opm.gov/news/opm-launches-federal-government-leadership-development-program-fedldp,1105.aspx

Labor Group Files Complaint over “Supervisor” Rulings

Dismayed over a series of adverse National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) rulings that expand the definition of “supervisor” to the detriment of labor unions, the AFL-CIO filed a complaint Oct. 23 with the International Labor Organization (ILO) of the United Nations. The complaint seeks to overturn the so-called “Kentucky River” decisions which could prevent as many as 8 million workers from joining unions, the AFL-CIO said. In filing the complaint, the union group said the NLRB decision violated international labor law standards by denying workers their right to form and join trade unions and to bargain collectively. The complaint to the ILO’s Committee on Freedom of Association challenged the NLRB’s Sept. 29 decision expanding the definition of “supervisor,” the organization said. Composed of 19 labor law specialists from around the world, the ILO committee does not have enforcement power to change labor laws, but the AFL-CIO nonetheless asked the committee to add its international voice to the debate rulings. In a related development, Human Rights Watch sent a letter Oct. 23 to NLRB members complaining that the ruling to classify as “supervisors” employees with no real management authority violates international labor and human rights laws. To see the AFL-CIO press release, go to www.aflcio.org/mediacenter/prsptm/pr10232006.cfm and to see the Human Rights Watch release, go to: http://hrw.org/english/docs/2006/10/23/usdom14432.htm