What is a required step if an illegal selection has occurred?

When an illegal selection has occurred, the appropriate step is to submit a request to keep the employee within the original appointment. This action recognizes that while the selection process may not have followed the correct procedures, the employee might have been functioning effectively in their role and could still be retained to maintain organizational continuity and morale.

Submitting a request to retain the employee allows for addressing the illegal selection within the appropriate framework, often involving the relevant human resources department and possibly the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) to rectify the issue while minimizing disruption. This step demonstrates an understanding of the balance between compliance with federal hiring regulations and the practical impacts of personnel decisions on the workplace.

In contrast, immediately removing the employee may not consider their situation and could lead to unnecessary hardship or destabilization of the work environment. Reassessing all selections made during the hiring process may be impractical and burdensome when the focus should be on addressing the specific instance of illegal selection. Waiting for OPM's instruction could delay necessary corrective actions and extend uncertainty for both the employee and the organization.