[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 22, Volume 1]
[Revised as of April 1, 2007]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 22CFR16.13]

[Page 75-76]
 
                       TITLE 22--FOREIGN RELATIONS
 
                     CHAPTER I--DEPARTMENT OF STATE
 
PART 16_FOREIGN SERVICE GRIEVANCE SYSTEM--Table of Contents
 
Sec.  16.13  Decisions.

    (a) Upon completion of the hearing or the compilation of such record 
as the Board may find appropriate in the absence of a hearing, the board 
shall expeditiously decide the grievance on the basis of the record of 
proceedings. In each case the decision of the Board shall be in writing, 
shall include findings of fact, and shall include the reasons for the 
Board's decision.
    (b) If the Grievance Board finds that the grievance is meritorious, 
the Board shall have the authority within the limitations of the 
authority of the head of the agency, to direct the agency:
    (1) To correct any official personnel record relating to the 
grievant which the Board finds to be inaccurate, erroneous, or falsely 
prejudicial;
    (2) To reverse and administrative decision denying the grievant 
compensation including related within-class salary increases pursuant to 
section 625 of the Act or any other perquisite of employment authorized 
by law or regulation when the Board finds that such denial was 
arbitrary, capricious, or contrary to law or regulation;
    (3) To retain in service and employee whose termination would be in 
consequence of the matter by which the employee is aggrieved;
    (4) To reinstate with back pay, under applicable law and 
regulations, an employee where it is clearly established that the 
separation or suspension without pay of the employee was unjustified or 
unwarranted;
    (5) To order an extension of the time of an employee's eligibility 
for promotion to a higher class where the employee suffered career 
impairment in consequence of the matter by which the employee is 
aggrieved;
    (6) To order that an employee be provided with facilities relating 
to the physical working environment which

[[Page 76]]

the employee has been denied arbitrarily, capriciously or in violation 
of applicable regulation.
    (c) Such orders of the Board shall be final, subject to judicial 
review as provided for in section 694 of the Act, except that 
reinstatement of former officers who have filed grievances under Sec.  
16.1(c)(7) shall be presented as Board recommendations, the decision on 
which shall be subject to the sole discretion of the agency head or 
designee, who shall take into account the needs of the Service in 
deciding on such recommendations, and shall not be subjected to judicial 
review under section 694 of the Act. The reason(s) for the agency head's 
(or designee's) decision will be conveyed in writing to the Board and 
the grievant.
    (d) If the Board finds that the grievance is meritorious and that 
remedial action should be taken that directly relates to promotion or 
assignment of the grievant, or to other remedial action, including 
additional step increases, not provided for in paragraph (b) of this 
section, or if the Board finds that the evidence before it warrants 
disciplinary action against any officer or employee, it shall make an 
appropriate recommendation to the head of the agency, and forward to the 
head of the agency the record of the Board's proceedings, including the 
transcript of the hearing, if any. The head of the agency (or designee, 
who shall not have direct responsibility for administrative management) 
shall make a written decision to the parties and to the Board on the 
Board's recommendation within 30 days from receipt of the 
recommendation. A recommendation of the Board may be rejected in part or 
in whole if the action recommended would be contrary to law, would 
adversely affect the foreign policy or security of the United States, or 
would substantially impair the efficiency of the Service. If the 
decision rejects the Board's recommendation in part or in whole, the 
decision shall state specifically any and all reasons for such action. 
Pending the decision, there shall be no ex parte communications 
concerning the grievance between the agency head, or designee, and any 
person involved in the grievance proceeding.