Case: Labor Arbitration/Performance Appraisals (Arb.)

Arbitrator Stephen D. Owens ruled that the Social Security Administration didn’t violate its CBA when a supervisor in the Houston office determined that a claims specialist merited a “successful” or level 3 rating, instead of a level 5 or “outstanding,” for the two performance elements of “demonstrates job knowledge” and “achieves business results.” Owens held that the union failed prove by a preponderance of the evidence that the supervisor erred in his rating for the two elements in question, and that the agency showed that the supervisor based his appraisal on his objective and independent judgment. The agency produced evidence ...