Suspensions

A suspension is an action, which places an employee for disciplinary reasons in a temporary status without duties and pay. A suspension, regardless of duration, is a significant action and considered a severe disciplinary action. Ordinarily, it is a final step in the progressive disciplinary process before removal action and is accompanied by a warning to the employee that a further violation of rules could result in removal. A suspension prevents an employee from performing work and denies salary for the suspension period. Therefore, a suspension may not be imposed for indebtedness or for performance-related factors in non?disciplinary situations. The period of suspension is normally expressed in calendar days and seldom exceeds 30 days. Employee's adverse action protection differs between a suspension for 14 calendar days or less and a suspension for more than 14 calendar days. A proposed suspension may be lessened or mitigated by the deciding official to a suspension of a lesser number of days or to a lesser penalty, such as a reprimand or oral admonishment, after taking into consideration employee's answer, the totality of the evidence, the potential for employee's rehabilitation, and other factors. The decision letter would reference the original disciplinary action proposed and then indicate the action has been mitigated to a lesser penalty.