Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµAT Held or Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµDT Pronouncements
The Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµAT held that the staff member had had ample opportunity to comment on her lateral transfer. The Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµAT noted that she had been aware of the recommendation to separate her from her First Reporting Officer, against whom she had made a complaint of prohibited conduct, and had had the opportunity to voice her concerns and also had been informed of the reassignment decision nearly a month before she took up the new post.
The Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµAT accepted that the responsibilities and job functions of the new post had been commensurate with the staff member¡¯s competence, skills, and experience. The Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµAT found that there had been no increased risk to her future job security and that she had suffered no economic prejudice.
The Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµAT concluded that the procedural requirements of the reassignment had been met.
The Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµAT noted that the Administration had dedicated extensive time and human resources managing the conflict between the staff member and her First Reporting Officer over four years, including mediation efforts. The Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµAT agreed with the Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµDT that maintaining a harmonious work environment and the prevention of prohibited conduct was a valid operational reason for the reassignment. The Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµAT held that the reassignment decision was fair and operationally in the best interest of her former unit.
The Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµAT found no error in the Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµDT¡¯s determination that there had been no evidence of an improper motive in the reassignment decision.
The Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµAT dismissed the appeal and affirmed the Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµDT Judgment.
Decision Contested or Judgment/Order Appealed
A staff member contested the decision to laterally transfer her from the position of Contracts Management Officer to the position of Procurement Officer.
In Judgment No. Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµDT/2023/041, the Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµDT dismissed the application.
The staff member appealed.
Legal Principle(s)
There is no procedural requirement that the staff member consent to the reassignment.