Thread by @STEMthebleeding

So I decided there's enough information to put this into a thread. This pertains to those obscure codes on the disbursing form Tara Reade posted herself in 2019. They didn't get much attention, but I think I'm going to change that.

1/

So, as we see: we have several different "action types" on this form in dates from 12/02/1992 - 8/06/1993.

I'm going to go through them all.

First we need the OPM master sheet.
I'm using the FSA site, but their OPM codes are the same as the Senate.
fsa.usda.gov/Internet/FSA_F…

Here's the OPM website, but it's not as user friendly.

Codes are the same though.

opm.gov/policy-data-ov…

So a quick search for the first term "Exc Appt" shows the following code: NOAC 170.

So we go to the appropriate chapter of the OPM manual: and look up code 170. (Pg 11-11 in the enclosed file)

opm.gov/policy-data-ov…

Simply put, this is the code that Tara was hired under. Makes sense, she wasn't employed by the Govt, so it shows she was hired as a FT staffer

Now, it gets a little interesting. Her next NOA is Term, which stands for Termination. Now, after reviewing the relevant section of the OPM manual, it appears she was let go in January 24 of 1993. *note to self: do more research on this.* But, it was like NOAC 357 Rule 18

Here's why I say that: of all the termination codes, there is only ONE that seems favorable to being rehired. That is Rule 18 NOAC 357: "Lack of work, lack of funds, or ceiling limitations". And 5 days later she was rehired. (She never mentioned switching supervisors?)

Here's the document for that code. Pg 31-19
opm.gov/policy-data-ov…

I'm guessing one of Biden's staffers didn't have a place for her, and she was hired by another one a few days later. Which makes sense given Exc Appt is also used for internal hires (pg 11-20 of the gppa11.pdf)

Now admittingly, I buried the lede here. The one that made me notice this document to begin with: PayAdmDec
Appears twice, on the 1st, and on the 15th.

The Master sheet shows Pay Adm Dec as NOAC 897.

What is Pay Adm Dec? It's an administrative code for having your pay docked due to misconduct. In her case, 2 pay periods worth.

Here's the relevant document:

opm.gov/policy-data-ov…

NOAC 897: Within range reduction (Pg 17-3)

If we go through the document, we'll see that on pg 17-28, that same code pops up. And what does it say?

"Reduction in an employee’s base rate of
pay within a salary range based on unacceptable
performance and/or conduct."

This wasn't "informal" It was DOCUMENTED.

And then we have the check bouncing issue, and then 4 days later, another code: TERM. Now, I did you guys the solid of looking and seeing is there another code for "resignation"? Yes there is, NOAC 317. So what this means - Is Tara didn't resign. She was terminated.

So now here's the questions:

Why was she let go on the 24th only to be rehired on the 29th?

What did she do that got her pay docked for two pay periods that was harsh enough it needed to be documented

And what rule was she terminated under?

See NOAC 357 covers a WIDE range of things, most of them bad. In fact, one of the key aspects in common with nearly all NOAC 357 rulings is that the "employee does not have appeal rights" (Pg 31-25,31-26) So the Rule - matters.

But in no case is that "I quit my job."

I decided to list all of the links in one handy tweet because I knew I bounced around a bit.

Hint: the first digits of the page number refer to the last digits on the PDF it can be found in.)

OPM Master Codes: opm.gov/policy-data-ov…
OPM Chapter 11 (employment): opm.gov/policy-data-ov…
OPM Chapter 17 (pay): opm.gov/policy-data-ov…
OPM Chapter 31(Seps): opm.gov/policy-data-ov…

Small Update: A news search shows that the only thing going on in Congress on January 24, 1993 was the death of Thurgood Marhsall, the retired Supreme Court Justice.

Nothing else of interest (large en masse staffing changes) that I can find. Anyone w/ info, please let me know.

So it seems the first question was answered fairly conclusively: "Why was she terminated on the 24th only to be rehired on the 29th?" It was pointed out that she worked for Panetta, and when his term ended, she was terminated under Rule 18, NOAC 357. She was then hired by Biden

@iamrachelwolf has pretty definitively answered my first question, and it's much like I originally thought:

She was let go based on Rule 18 when Panetta ended his term , and was rehired by Biden.

Thank you @iamrachelwolf for that info!

Guys,

Come on, let's not snitch tag this. The last thing we need is this thread trashed by bots and trolls overnight as my previous one was when Halper sent the harpies after Lappos. She's been fighting them off for 5 days now.

So a small thought (not necessarily an update, but several have brought it up)

"But what if the disbursing clerk used the wrong codes?"

I had this thought as well, and I would be lying to you if I didn't say that "Yes, that is possible". And I don't lie.

However, I will also say that it's VERY remote. First, because while the disbursing clerk may have used those codes, their work was then verified by one or more supervisors. And utilizing the "wrong codes" has very long-term effects on a person's career, both in and out of govt

Three reasons why I say this:
1) Even the worst barracks lawyer knows how to appeal an "unfair determination"
2) Personnel records can (and are) audited at whim by senior officials for accuracy. They pick 50 at random, and check them against the source docs.

3) Reade went to law school, and she is the one who submitted this document into the public domain. If the document did not reflect an accurate work history, she would've had it corrected before releasing it.

Is it possible that she didn't realize what those codes meant?

Yes, maybe. But I would think any law school graduate would vet the paperwork they release prior to doing so. Between reasons 1-3, I have little reason to think that those codes are an accurate rendition of her senate staffer career. However -

IF those codes weren't, I'm sure that
a) I would be getting a "Cease and Detwit" right now from her.
b) She would be contacting OPM and demanding on having the record changed to reflect her correct history at the Senate.

So now apparently the lawyer is saying that she resigned in July to avoid being fired for retaliation in August (??)

First problem with that - there is no data to support that
Secondly - the Pay period in government runs from the 1st to the 14th, and the 15th to EOM

IF you were going to keep someone beyond their resignation date , it's far easier to do so through the end of pay period. August 6 was a Friday, which meant Disbursing had to do a one-off adjustment, rather than their bulk processing of payments. That doesn't make sense to me.