A federal judge in Massachusetts on Thursday paused a looming deadline for federal employees to decide whether to accept the “deferred resignation” offer from the Office of Personnel Management. Workers had been given until 11:59 p.m. today to take the offer. A new hearing was set for Monday.
A group of three unions representing more than 800,000 federal workers had filed a lawsuit seeking a temporary restraining order to halt the deadline, according to The Washington Post.
The deal, offered in an email last week from OPM to an estimated 2.3 million eligible federal workers, said those who accepted would be paid through the end of September.
But the offer has been the subject of a great deal of confusion and scrutiny from workers who are struggling to decide whether to take the deal.
As of Wednesday evening, roughly 40,000 people had accepted the buyout, reported the Post.
Layoffs and furloughs may be coming next for those who do not accept the offer. “The majority of federal agencies are likely to be downsized through restructurings, realignments, and reductions in force,” OPM said. Plus, workers who stay will be “subject to enhanced standards of suitability and conduct.”
Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine urged workers last week not to resign. “The president has no authority to make that offer,” Kaine said.
In a town hall led by Rep. Suhas Subramanyam in Loudoun County on Monday, hundreds of workers expressed anger and concern about the changes happening in the workforce. At the meeting, Subramanyam urged people to talk with a lawyer or a union representative.
In an interview with Northern Virginia Magazine, employment attorney Alan Lescht said he believed the offer seemed unlawful. He advised that if it’s struck down in court, people who take the offer may be told that they can’t revoke their resignations, and they may have to give back the money they were paid.
Lescht advised workers to speak with an employment attorney, record their day-to-day duties in writing, and download their official personnel file.
Feature image, stock.adobe.com
