VA Disciplines Employee For Working Too Hard

The VA may be embroiled in scandals over sexual harassment at the Office of Resolution Management, Diversity & Inclusion, and the illegal awarding of $11 million in bonuses to executives, but at least the public can rest easy knowing that VA employees will be disciplined if they dare to work outside their assigned hours.

This month, Kary Charlebois, a supervisor at the Board of Veterans’ Appeals Privacy Act and FOIA office, showcased her exceptional detective skills by issuing a written counseling to an employee. The charge? “Potentially” working beyond her tour of duty. Critics might argue that this is akin to a prosecutor charging a bank employee who sends an email after hours with “potentially” robbing the vault. Nonetheless, Ms. Charlebois firmly stated that the employee may have entered the office on a Saturday with the dubious intention of working for an unknown duration. Charlebois declared that this conduct “is unacceptable and impacts the efficiency and effectiveness of the Board.” While the specifics of the conduct remain vague and speculative, we eagerly await further elaboration from Ms. Charlebois, perhaps with the aid of tarot cards or a Ouija board. Meanwhile, this written counseling serves as a stern warning to all employees that such displays of commitment to their jobs will not go unpunished.

As if the employee’s heinous display of dedication wasn’t enough, Charlebois’ written counseling included a second, equally astonishing charge. Charlebois alleged that the employee had submitted an IT ticket without notifying her, thereby committing an “IT snub” by “reaching out to others for assistance.”

The Union has combed through the Master Agreement in vain to find a prohibition against IT snubs. However, to address any hurt feelings Ms. Charlebois might have from an employee doing her job and committing an IT snub, we offer two solutions. First, we highlight that the “C” in ICARE stands for:

Commitment: VA employees will work diligently to serve veterans and other beneficiaries, driven by an earnest belief in VA’s mission, and fulfill their individual and organizational responsibilities.

To prevent future offense to Ms. Charlebois, we might propose a footnote to Congress: “Employees who potentially do any work beyond their tour of duty or who commit IT snubs risk being suspected of demonstrating a lack of diligence and commitment by Kary Charlebois.” We are also considering sending Ms. Charlebois a humorous motivational plaque that is sure to bring a smile to her face and help her navigate challenging days. It reads:

“Almost everything will work again if you unplug it for a few minutes, including you.” - Anne Lamott

We’re laughing too! We believe these solutions will defuse the situation to the satisfaction of all.