DOSFSGBA0001

The Board is the sole, independent grievance appeals forum of the Foreign Service. The majority of cases before the Board are appeals from agency grievance decisions. Although grievances come to the Board as appeals, the Board considers the evidence de novo. If the grievant's claim is deemed meritorious, the Board has authority to order various types of relief, including: correction of personnel records, reversal of decision by agency denying compensation, reinstatement with back pay, and payment of attorney's fees. However, certain matters are reserved by regulation for agency heads: promotion, tenure, assignments, and discipline. Consequently, if the Board finds that the case warrants any of these actions, it makes a recommendation to the head of the appropriate foreign affairs agency that employs the grievant. The agency head has 30 days to issue a written decision. The agency head may only reject the Board's recommendation unless he/she finds that doing so would be contrary to law, adversely affect the foreign policy of security of the United States, or substantially impair the efficiency of the foreign service. If the agency head rejects the Board's recommendation in whole or in part, the decision must state specifically the bases for such action. (22 CFR 16.13(d))