General Schedule (GS a. Employees may appeal at any time with the bureau/office or directly to the Department (DOI). When an employee receives an appeal decision from either the bureau/office or Department, the right of appeal within Interior is exhausted. If dissatisfied with the bureau/office or Department decision, the employee may file a subsequent appeal to the Office of Personnel Management (OPM). This option affords the maximum number of reviews.
b. An employee may file an appeal with OPM through either the bureau/office or the Department. The administrative level to which the employee files an appeal has sixty (60) calendar days in which to provide the employee with a written decision. If the decision is favorable and the bureau/office or Department has the authority to classify the position, the necessary personnel action may be taken and the appeal closed. If the decision is unfavorable, the bureau/office or Department must forward the appeal along with the written decision to OPM for adjudication.
c. An employee may file an appeal directly with the appropriate Regional Office of OPM. If the employee appeals directly to OPM, he/she may not later appeal to the bureau/office or the Department since OPM decisions are final.
