Administrative Investigation, Improper Locality Pay, Service Area Office West and Desert Pacific Healthcare Network, Long Beach, CA

Report Information

Issue Date
Report Number
12-01841-152
VISN
State
California
District
VA Office
Veterans Health Administration (VHA)
Report Author
Office of Investigations
Report Type
Administrative Investigation
Recommendations
3
Questioned Costs
$0
Better Use of Funds
$0
Congressionally Mandated
No

Summary

Summary
A VA employee improperly applied Federal regulations related to teleworking when advising the Network Contract Manager that he could authorize a Long Beach duty station for a newly hired employee to provide the employee a higher rate of pay when the employee lived and regularly performed duties outside of the Long Beach commuting area. However, even in applying those regulations, the Network Contract Manager failed to comply by recording the dates and times that the employee spent in the Long Beach area to justify that locale as her duty station.

Open Recommendation Image, SquareOpenClosed and Implemented Recommendation Image, CheckmarkClosed-ImplementedNot Implemented Recommendation Image, X character'Closed-Not Implemented
No. 1
Closed and Implemented Recommendation Image, Checkmark
to Veterans Health Administration (VHA)
We recommend that the SAO West Director ensure that the employee's personnel records accurately reflect her duty station as San Diego from January [redacted], 2012, to present and that a bill of collection is issued to her for the total amount of improper locality pay given to her.
No. 2
Closed and Implemented Recommendation Image, Checkmark
to Veterans Health Administration (VHA)
We recommend that the SAO West Director determine whether the employee should be permitted to telework, and if so, ensure that Mr. Blanchard and the employee receive annual telework training and complete the proper telework paperwork prior to the employee engaging in any telework.
No. 3
Closed and Implemented Recommendation Image, Checkmark
to Veterans Health Administration (VHA)
We recommend that the Director of the Desert Pacific Healthcare Network ensure that [redacted] receives HR training as it relates to duty stations, locality pay, and teleworking.