OSC Form-14 Prohibited Personnel Practice Form
Issuer | U.S. Office of Special Counsel |
Section | U.S. Office of Special Counsel |
OMB No. 3255-0005
Expires 02/28/2026
COMPLAINT OF PROHIBITED PERSONNEL PRACTICE OR OTHER
PROHIBITED ACTIVITY
For instructions or questions, call the Case Review Division at (202) 804-7000.
Navigation Bar
Prohibited Personnel
Practices (PPP)
About Filing a Complaint
Select your PPPs
Biographical Information
Your Complaint
Retaliation for
Whistleblowing
Retaliation for Protected
Activity
Obstruct Competition
Give Unauthorized
Preference
Encourage Withdrawal
from Competition
Nepotism
Improper Political
Recommendation
Violate Veterans’
Preference
Discrimination for
Non-Job-Related Conduct
Other Bases of
Discrimination
Improper Personnel Actions
Non-Disclosure Agreement
Improper Accessing of
Medical Records
Coerce Political Activity
Other
Attachments
Consent
Certification
PART 1: IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT FILING A COMPLAINT
Required Complaint Form. Complaints alleging a prohibited personnel practice or a
prohibited activity must be submitted on this form, either by e-filing or by mail.
Information not submitted on or accompanied by this form may be returned by OSC to
the filer. The complaint will be considered filed on the date on which OSC receives the
completed form. as amended.
No OSC Jurisdiction. OSC cannot take any action on complaints filed by employees of
• the FBI, CIA, DIA, NSA, National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, ODNI, National
Reconnaissance Office or other intelligence agencies excluded from coverage by
the President;
• the Government Accountability Office;
• the Postal Rate Commission; and
• the uniformed services of the United States (i.e., uniformed military employees).
OSC does have jurisdiction over civilian employees of the armed forces.
Limited OSC Jurisdiction. For employees of some federal agencies or entities, OSC’s
jurisdiction is limited to certain types of complaints, as follows –
• FAA employees only for allegations of retaliation for whistleblowing under
and most allegations of retaliation for engaging in protected
activities under
• employees of government corporations listed at only for
allegations of retaliation for whistleblowing under and most
allegations of retaliation for engaging in protected activities under
• U.S. Postal Service employees only for allegations of nepotism.
• TSA employees only for allegations of discrimination under retaliation
for whistleblowing under and most allegations of retaliation
for engaging in protected activities under
Election of Remedies. You may choose only one of three possible methods to pursue
your prohibited personnel practice complaint: (a) a complaint to OSC; (b) an appeal to
the Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB) (if the action is appealable under law or
regulation); or (c) a grievance under a collective bargaining agreement. If you have
already filed an appeal about your prohibited personnel practice allegations with the
MSPB, or a grievance about those allegations under the collective bargaining
agreement (if the action is grievable under the agreement), OSC may lack jurisdiction
over your complaint.
5 U.S.C. § 2302 (b)(9).
§ 2302(b)(1),
OSC Form-14
PROHIBITED PERSONNEL PRACTICES
Page 1 of 62
OMB No. 3255-0005
Expires 02/28/2026
COMPLAINT OF PROHIBITED PERSONNEL PRACTICE OR OTHER
PROHIBITED ACTIVITY
For instructions or questions, call the Case Review Division at (202) 804-7000.
Navigation Bar Complaints Involving Discrimination.
• Race, Color, Religion, Sex, National Origin, Age, and Disability (or Handicapping
Condition): OSC is authorized to investigate discrimination based upon race, color,
religion, sex, national origin, age, or disability (or handicapping condition), as well
as retaliation related to EEO activity. However, OSC
generally defers such allegations to agency procedures established under
regulations issued by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC).
If you wish to report allegations of discrimination based on
these bases, you should contact your agency’s EEO office immediately. There are
specific time limits for filing such complaints. Filing a complaint with OSC will not
relieve you of the obligation to file a complaint with the agency’s EEO office within
the time prescribed by EEOC regulations (at ).
• Marital Status and Political Affiliation: OSC is authorized to investigate
discrimination based on marital status or political affiliation.
• Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity: OSC is authorized to investigate
discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.
and EEOC also may have jurisdiction over
complaints of discrimination on these bases.
Complaints Involving Veterans Rights. By law, all complaints alleging denial of
veterans’ preference requirements or USERRA must be filed with the Veterans
Employment and Training Service (VETS) at the Department of Labor (DOL).
et seq., and
29 C.F.R. Part 1614
Prohibited Personnel
Practices (PPP)
About Filing a Complaint
Select your PPPs
Biographical Information
Your Complaint
Retaliation for
Whistleblowing
Retaliation for Protected
Activity
Obstruct Competition
Give Unauthorized
Preference
Encourage Withdrawal
from Competition
Nepotism
Improper Political
Recommendation
Violate Veterans’
Preference
Discrimination for
Non-Job-Related Conduct
Other Bases of
Discrimination
Improper Personnel Actions
Non-Disclosure Agreement
Improper Accessing of
Medical Records
Coerce Political Activity
Other
Attachments
Consent
Certification
OSC Form-14
PROHIBITED PERSONNEL PRACTICES
Page 2 of 62
OMB No. 3255-0005
Expires 02/28/2026
COMPLAINT OF PROHIBITED PERSONNEL PRACTICE OR OTHER
PROHIBITED ACTIVITY
For instructions or questions, call the Case Review Division at (202) 804-7000.
Navigation Bar
PART 2: SELECT YOUR PPPs
Please check ALL that apply (you MUST check one option). A customized series of
questions will appear following the “Biographical Information” section, below, based on
your selections. You can return to this part at any time prior to submitting your
complaint if you would like to add or remove allegations. All fields allow ample space to
respond, but each question has a character limit; if you can no longer type you have hit
the limit.
RETALIATION CLAIMS
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Retaliation for reporting a violation of law, rule, or regulation; gross mismanagement;
gross waste of funds; abuse of authority; a substantial and specific danger to public
health or safety; or censorship related to scientific research.
Retaliation for Protected Activity
Retaliation for filing a complaint or grievance; assisting another with a complaint or
grievance; cooperating with an OSC, OIG, or internal investigation; or refusing to
obey an illegal order.
ILLEGAL SELECTION PRACTICE CLAIMS
Obstruct Competition
Intentionally deceive or obstruct anyone from competing for federal employment.
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Give an unauthorized preference or advantage, including defining the manner or
scope of competition, to improve or injure the employment prospects of any person.
(QFRXUDJH:LWKGUDZDOIURP&RPSHWLWLRQ
Influence or encourage anyone to withdraw from competition to improve or injure
the employment prospects of any person.
Nepotism
Involvement in the appointment, promotion, or advancement of a relative, or
advocacy on behalf of a relative.
,PSURSHU3ROLWLFDO5HFRPPHQGDWLRQ
Request or consider a recommendation based on political connections or influence
rather than one based on personal knowledge of a person’s ability to perform a job.
9LRODWH9HWHUDQV¶3UHIHUHQFH
Take or fail to take, recommend, or approve a personnel action if doing so would
violate a veterans' preference requirement. This type of complaint must be filed
with the Department of Labor. Please click to go to that site.
here
Prohibited Personnel
Practices (PPP)
About Filing a Complaint
Select your PPPs
Biographical Information
Your Complaint
Retaliation for
Whistleblowing
Retaliation for Protected
Activity
Obstruct Competition
Give Unauthorized
Preference
Encourage Withdrawal
from Competition
Nepotism
Improper Political
Recommendation
Violate Veterans’
Preference
Discrimination for
Non-Job-Related Conduct
Other Bases of
Discrimination
Improper Personnel Actions
Non-Disclosure Agreement
Improper Accessing of
Medical Records
Coerce Political Activity
Other
Attachments
Consent
Certification
•
OSC Form-14
PROHIBITED PERSONNEL PRACTICES
Page 3 of 62
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