Harold Ashner is a partner in the Washington, D.C., law firm of KEIGHTLEY & ASHNER LLP (www.keightleyashner.com). He has served in various capacities with the Merit Systems Protection Board and its predecessor organizations, conducting hearings at the field office level and preparing final decisions for the full Board at the headquarters level. While at the Office of Personnel Management, he coordinated OPM intervention in MSPB cases, advised and trained legal and personnel officials throughout the Federal government on all aspects of employee relations and the appeals system, and developed government wide regulations and policies on adverse actions and performance based actions.

Until he opened his law firm in early 2005, Harold served as Assistant General Counsel for Legislation and Regulations at the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation. He is a frequent speaker at professional conferences on Federal employment law and on private sector pension law, is a member of the New York and District of Columbia bars, and is a fellow of the American College of Employee Benefits Counsel and a senior fellow of the Council for Excellence in Government.

A practicum in disciplinary charges, this e-training software explores the complex nature of this critical element of adverse actions. Video and audio clips, reference to real world examples, and interactive questions help guide and explain the elements of charges and how to properly frame them. (more details)

Winning at the MSPB covers everything necessary to initiate employment actions and build a winning case before the MSPB and is a valuable resource to any agency supervisor or manager, personnel advisor, and representative. Major topics include jurisdiction, timeliness, whistleblower reprisal, USERRA/VEOA, mixed cases, evidence, adverse action procedures, selecting and drafting charges, nexus, selecting and defending the penalty, performance-based actions, affirmative defenses, appeal responses, proper parties, prehearing practice, settlement, the hearing, decision and review, and remedies. (more details)