PART 2—PURPOSE AND GENERAL PROVISION Authority: 31 U.S.C. 732. Source: 45 FR 68375, Oct. 15, 1980, unless otherwise noted. § 2.1 Purpose, scope, and applicability. (a) This regulation establishes and sets forth the basic policy for the Government Accountability Office (GAO) personnel system. Personnel management is a primary responsibility of all who plan, direct, or supervise the work of employees. The objective of personnel management is to contribute to the effective accomplishment of GAO's mission through proper acquisition, development, fair treatment, motivation, compensation and productive utilization f employees. (b) Nothing in this regulation prohibits or restricts any lawful effort to achieve equal employment opportunity through affirmative action. § 2.2 References. (a) Subchapters III and IV of Chapter 7 of Title 31 U.S.C. (b) Title 5, United States Code. [45 FR 68375, Oct. 15, 1980, as amended at 47 FR 56979, Dec. 22, 1982] § 2.3 GAO Personnel Appeals Board. The Government Accountability Office Personnel Appeals Board is established by 31 U.S.C. 751. This board will promulgate regulations providing for employee appeals and establishing its operating procedures. [47 FR 56979, Dec. 22, 1982] § 2.4 Merit system principles. (a) Merit personnel systems are based on the principle that an organization is best served by motivated, competent, honest and productive workers. In a merit system, employees are hired, promoted, rewarded, and retained on the basis of individual ability and fitness for employment without regard to race, color, sex, religion, age, or national origin. Central to this principle is the protection of employees from discrimination, improper political influence and personal favoritism. (b) Equal employment opportunity is an integral part of every merit system. Affirmative action plans, designed to provide a work force reflective of the Nation's diversity, must assure that both in operation and results the merit system reflects equal opportunity at every step of the personnel process. (c) GAO personnel systems shall embody the following merit system principles: (1) Recruitment should be from qualified individuals from appropriate sources in an endeavor to achieve a work force from all segments of society, and selection and advancement should be determined solely on the basis of relative ability, knowledge, and skills, after fair and open competition which assures that all receive equal opportunity. (2) All employees and applicants for employment should receive fair and equitable treatment in all aspects of personnel management without regard to political affiliation, race, color, religion, national origin, sex, marital status, age, or handicapping condition, and with proper regard for their privacy and constitutional rights. (3) Equal pay should be provided for work of substantially equal value, with appropriate consideration of both national and local rates paid by employers in the private sector, and appropriate incentives and recognition should be provided for excellence in performance. (4) All employees should maintain high standards of integrity, conduct, and concern for the public interest. (5) The work force should be used efficiently and effectively. (6) Employees should be retained on the basis of the adequacy of their performance, inadequate performance should be corrected, and employees should be separated who cannot or will not improve their performance to meet required standards. (7) Employees should be provided effective education and training in cases in which such education and training would result in better organizational and individual performance. (8) Employees should be protected against arbitrary action, personal favoritism, or coercion from partisan political purposes and prohibited from using their official authority or influence for the purpose of interfering with or affecting the results of an election or a nomination for election. (9) Employees should be protected against reprisal for the lawful disclosure of information which the employee reasonably believes evidences: a violation of any law, rule or regulation; or mismanagement, a gross waste of funds, an abuse of authority, or a substantial and specific danger to public health or safety. § 2.5 Prohibited personnel practices. Any GAO employee who has authority to take, direct others to take, recommend, or approve any personnel action, shall not, with respect to such authority engage in the following prohibited personnel practices. (a) Discrimination. (1) On the basis of race, color, religion, sex, or national origin, as prohibited under section 717 of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (42 U.S.C. 2000 e-16); (2) On the basis of age, as prohibited under section 12 and 15 of the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 (29 U.S.C. 631, 633a); (3) On the basis of sex, as prohibited under section 6(d) of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 (29 U.S.C. 206(d)); (4) On the basis of handicapping condition, as prohibited under section 501 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. 791); or (5) On the basis of marital status or political affiliation, as prohibited under any law, rule, or regulation. (b) Recommendations or statements. (1) An evaluation of the work performance, ability, aptitude, or general qualifications of such individual, or (2) An evaluation of the character, loyalty, or suitability of such individual. (c) Political activity. (d) Compete for employment. (e) Influencing competition. (f) Preference or advantage. (g) Relatives. (h) Reprisals. (1) A disclosure of information by an employee or applicant which the employee or applicant reasonably believes evidences— (i) A violation of any law, rule, or regulation, or (ii) Mismanagement, a gross waste of funds, an abuse of authority, or a substantial and specific danger to public health or safety, if such disclosure is not specifically prohibited by law and if such information is not specifically required by Executive order to be kept secret in the interest of national defense or the conduct of foreign affairs; or (2) A disclosure to the General Counsel of the GAO Personnel Appeals Board of information which the employee or applicant reasonably believes evidences— (i) A violation of any law, rule, or regulation, or (ii) Mismanagement, a gross waste of funds, an abuse of authority, or a substantial and specific danger to public health or safety. (i) Reprisals for appeals. (j) Discrimination for conduct. (k) Other personnel actions. (l) Information to the Congress. § 2.6 Veterans' preference. (a) GAO will provide preference, for any individual who would be a preference eligible in the executive branch, in a manner and to an extent consistent with preference eligibles in the executive branch. (b) Appeals from preference decisions will be heard by the GAO Personnel Appeals Board.