Merit Systems Protection Board

When we talk about the MSPB, what does it mean and how can it affect your professional life? That acronym stands for the Merit Systems Protection board, and it’s a quasi-judicial legal entity. Its job is to safeguard the integrity of Federal merit systems, as well as the rights of individuals working within those systems.

If you’re a government employee, the Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB) can have a direct effect on you, as one of its primary functions is to hear the appeals of Federal employees who have experienced demotion, suspension, or termination based on their conduct or performance. Under the Civil Service Reform Act, the MSPB guarantees formal due process to prevent Federal employers from taking actions that are arbitrary, without just cause, politically motivated, or abusive.