A recent
report by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) Office of Inspector General (OIG) found that, while a majority of agency employees who responded to a workplace culture survey feel safe, valued, and respected, employee views of FDIC management and leadership in related to harassment and misconduct were less favorable.
Harassment Highlighted
According to the report, more than one-third of respondents believe harassment is common in the workplace. Additionally, some employees believe that FDIC managers had not protected victims of harassment, and even retaliated against those who filed a complaint, which was supported by FDIC OIG’s review of cases and settlement agreements. FDIC employees believe that these conditions occurred because FDIC leadership does not consistently implement agency policies and core values, such as fairness, accountability, and integrity. Despite inadequate policies, blame may be placed on FDIC managers. When this happens, it is crucial that managers have a professional liability insurance (PLI) policy from FEDS Protection to help.
Accountability Absence
FDIC OIG found that the agency did not consistently maintain documentation related to disciplinary actions resulting from allegations of harassment, and the decision-making process for these disciplinary actions was not documented. Additionally, the FDIC does not have clear policy, standards, and procedures for documenting the process that it follows to make disciplinary decisions. Under FDIC policies, reporting allegations of harassment or related misconduct to the appropriate stakeholders is not required.
According to FDIC OIG, the agency is at risk of long-term challenges in achieving FDIC’s mission and retaining talent if the workplace culture does not change. Currently, employees do not believe that FDIC’s workplace culture demonstrates commitment to its core values. If steps are not taken to hold personnel accountable and create an environment where employees can confidently report harassment, mistrust in agency leadership will continue to grow. With a lack of clear policies for reporting harassment and related misconduct, federal managers are at risk of losing employee trust, criticism from agency leadership, and even allegations and lawsuits.
Allegations and investigations can lead to disciplinary actions such as suspensions and terminations being taken against you, or personal capacity lawsuits. If an allegation is made against you, it is a necessity, not luxury, to have knowledgeable and effective counsel advocating on your behalf.
Protecting Personnel
As the professional liability insurance (PLI) provider endorsed by the leading federal employee associations, FEDS Protection offers federal employee PLI policies with $1 million, $2 million, or $3 million in civil liability protection for attorney’s fees and indemnity costs in the event you are sued in your civil capacity. The FEDS policy also includes $200,000 of legal representation coverage per incident for administrative actions and $100,000 of coverage for criminal defense costs.
Annual premiums for FEDS Protection PLI start at $290. Additionally, federal managers, supervisors, and law enforcement officers are eligible for a reimbursement of up to 50% the cost of their PLI policy through their agency. To learn more about how a FEDS PLI policy can protect you and your career, explore our website or call (866) 955-FEDS, M-F 8:30am-6pm to speak directly to a representative.
*This
article is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute
legal advice.