If you disagree with any of this information, you need to send in a protest to the agency. A good thing to remember is when in doubt you should always protest rather than miss a deadline to protest. Other types of correspondence you may receive from the agency include a fact-finding form, notice of determination and notice of redetermination.
The fact-finding form is in a question-and-answer format so that the agency can get your side of the story regarding the employees claim. The notice of determination resolves the claim either in your favor or the employees favor. If either party disagrees, that party must protest within 30 days; the agency must receive the protest before the deadline. If that party fails to do so, this typically ends the case, although there still is opportunity to set aside the agency’s determination if good cause for filing a late protest can be shown. The next step is for the agency to issue a notice of redetermination regarding the claim. The same rules apply in filing a protest to this document as with the notice of determination. The party disagreeing with the notice of determination must file a protest which the agency must receive within 30 days. Then the case gets scheduled for an evidentiary hearing before an administrative law judge.
The next two articles in the series will address separation from employment. Part C will cover employee firing and Part D will cover quitting.