Title: Ensuring a Qualified Civil Service Act of 2017 (EQUALS Act)
Vote to pass a bill that increases the probationary period for employees in the competitive services or senior executive services, effective 1 year after the bill's enactment.
Increases the probationary period for new employees in the competitive services or senior executive services from 1 year to 2 years after the completion of required training and licensing (Secs. 2 and 3).
Requires employing agencies in the competitive and senior executive services to do the following (Sec. 2):
Clearly explain the probationary period in any job posting or offer of employment;
Tell employees in probationary positions the expectations in order to be retained;
Notify supervisors 30 days before the end of a probationary period; and
Certify satisfactory completion of probationary periods for employees that agencies retained after the end of the period.
Authorizes employees to be removed during the probationary period for unsatisfactory performance or conduct under a more expedient process - only requiring the employing agency to provide a written notice of termination (Secs. 2 - 4).
Requires individuals in the competitive service to complete a probationary or trial period and 2 years of current continuous employment in the same or similar position in order to be covered by adverse action procedures for misconduct (Sec. 4).
Prohibits individuals in the competitive service from appealing to the Merit Systems Protection Board to remove or reduce a grade based on unacceptable performance until they have completed the above requirements (Secs. 2 and 4).
Specifies that this legislation will take effect 1 year after its enactment and would apply only to individuals whose service begins after the bill takes effect (Secs. 2 - 4).
Title: Ensuring a Qualified Civil Service Act of 2017 (EQUALS Act)