Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB) definition
The MSPB is an independent agency that protects federal employees’ rights and ensures the integrity of the civil service system.
The Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB) is an independent executive branch agency that oversees federal employee merit systems. The MSPB’s mission is to protect merit-system-based hiring and ensure the federal workforce is free from prohibited personnel practices.
The MSPB handles employee appeals, conducts merit system studies, and reviews Office of Personnel Management (OPM) actions that may impact merit principles.
What are the principles of the merit system?
- Federal hiring should draw from all parts of society and be based only on ability, knowledge, and skills through fair, open competition.
- All employees and applicants must be treated equally in all employment matters, without discrimination or bias.
- Employees deserve equal pay for equal work, with consideration of private sector rates and incentives for excellent work.
- Federal employees are expected to act with integrity and serve the public interest efficiently.
- Federal employees should work efficiently and effectively.
- Job retention should depend on performance; poor performance should be corrected or lead to separation if not improved.
- Employees should receive training and education to improve performance.
- Employees must be protected from favoritism, political pressure, and voting interference.
- Employees should be protected from retaliation for lawful whistleblowing or reporting wrongdoing.
The Civil Service Reform Act of 1978 replaced the Civil Service Commission with three new independent agencies: the MSPB, the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), which manages the federal work force; and the Federal Labor Relations Authority (FLRA), which oversees federal labor-management relations.
