Why is it so difficult to remove a federal employee whose performance is repeatedly unacceptable or whose conduct is seriously inappropriate?
In this video, we walk through a draft process map built from the real experiences of 10 federal managers who handled 22 performance and conduct cases. The resulting diagram (3×10 feet when printed!) shows a system with no single, standard process, where the path can vary by agency, bureau, collective bargaining agreement, and the particular HR and legal officials involved. From informal counseling and performance improvement plans to grievances, discrimination complaints, reasonable accommodations, removal proposals, and appeals, the video illustrates how multiple processes can overlap, restart, and continue for years — often consuming enormous managerial time while still failing to produce a faster, fairer, or more predictable result.