MSPB Customer Survey: Settlement in the Regional and Field Offices

MSPB Customer Survey: Settlement in the Regional and Field Offices

Introduction and Instructions

Our records indicate that you were recently involved in an appeal filed with MSPB that
was settled. Resolution of cases through settlement is an important component of MSPB's
adjudication services and your feedback about settlement is very important to us. This survey is
voluntary and will take approximately 4-7 minutes to complete, a bit longer if you include
comments. Your responses are confidential and results will be reported in aggregate.
As a reminder, in the regional and field offices, the case is assigned to an Administrative Judge (AJ)
who has primary responsible for adjudicating the case, holding a hearing if one is held, and issuing
an initial decision in the case. The primary AJ discusses settlement with each party in the case.
Sometimes, a Settlement AJ, separate from the primary AJ, is assigned only for settlement
purposes. Settlement discussions often result in a "Settlement Agreement" that contains the terms
of agreement between the parties that will resolve the appeal. Even if a settlement agreement is not
reached, your feedback about settlement discussions and procedures is important to us.
Even though the survey is brief, you can exit and return to the survey and finish it at another time.
Close the survey by closing the browser, and return to the survey by clicking on the URL link in the
invitation. You must be using the same computer to close and return to the survey. Once your
responses are submitted, you will not be able to return to the survey.
Thank you in advance for participating in our survey. Your feedback will help us improve
our settlement programs and procedures.
Note, participation in the survey is not required to obtain a benefit, and participants should not
respond to the survey unless a valid OMB control number is provided. The OMB Control Number
for this survey is 3124-0012, approval expires 04/30/2019.

MSPB Customer Survey: Settlement in the Regional and Field Offices

General Questions

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* 1. Considering the most recent MSPB appeal in which you were involved, and in which settlement
procedures were used, what was your role?
Appellant with representation
Appellant without other representation (also know as a pro se Appellant)
Appellant Representative (private attorney)
Agency Representative
Union Official or Representative
Other (please specify)

MSPB Customer Survey: Settlement in the Regional and Field Offices

Questions about Interactions with the Administrative Judge

2. Please indicate your level of agreement with the following statements about your interactions with the
MSPB AJ assigned to your case
Strongly Agree

Agree

Neither Agree nor
Disagree

Disagree

Strongly Disagree

The AJ treated me fairly
during the settlement
process
The AJ was
professional during the
settlement process
The AJ was responsive
to inquiries and
questions during the
settlement process

MSPB Customer Survey: Settlement in the Regional and Field Offices

Questions about the Settlement AJ

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Sometimes, MSPB assigns a separate AJ to handle only the settlement issues
involved with the case. The settlement AJ is a different person than the primary AJ.
* 3. Was a separate settlement AJ assigned to this case?
Yes
No
Not sure

MSPB Customer Survey: Settlement in the Regional and Field Offices

Questions about Interactions with the Settlement AJ

4. Please indicate your level of agreement with the following statements about your interactions with
the settlement AJ, an AJ separate from the primary AJ and who only works on settlement issues.
Strongly Agree

Agree

Neither Agree nor
Disagree

Disagree

Strongly Disagree

The Settlement AJ
treated me fairly during
the settlement process
The Settlement AJ was
professional during the
settlement process
The Settlement AJ was
responsive to inquiries
and questions during the
settlement process

MSPB Customer Survey: Settlement in the Regional and Field Offices

Questions about Interactions with Other MSPB Employees During Settlement

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5. Please indicate your level of agreement with the following statements about your interactions with MSPB
employees, other than AJs, during the settlement process. (If you did not interact with other MSPB
employees during the settlement process, please respond Not Applicable.)
Strongly Agree

Agree

Neither Agree
nor Disagree

Disagree

Strongly
Disagree

Not Applicable

Other MSPB staff treated
me fairly during the
settlement process
Other MSPB staff were
professional during the
settlement process
Other MSPB staff were
responsive to inquiries
and questions during the
settlement process

MSPB Customer Survey: Settlement in the Regional and Field Offices

Questions about the Settlement Process in the Regional and Field Offices

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* 6. Please indicate your level of agreement with the following statements about the settlement process
Strongly Agree

Agree

Neither Agree nor
Disagree

Disagree

Strongly Disagree

MSPB's efforts to
encourage settlement
were implemented in a
fair manner
MSPB's efforts to
encourage settlement
were implemented in a
non-coercive manner
The settlement process
helped me understand
the other party's position
The settlement process
helped the other party
understand my position
The time available to
pursue settlement
discussions or
procedures was
sufficient
The settlement
discussions helped
resolve the dispute
Overall, I was satisfied
with MSPB's efforts to
encourage settlement
I would engage in
settlement discussions
to resolve a dispute
before MSPB in the
future

MSPB Customer Survey: Settlement in the Regional and Field Offices

Questions about the Settlement Agreement in this Case

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* 7. How satisfied were you with the final Settlement Agreement?
Very Satisfied
Satisfied
Neither Satisfied or Dissatisfied
Dissatisfied
Vey Dissatisfied

MSPB Customer Survey: Settlement in the Regional and Field Offices

Comments about Settlement in the Regional and Field Offices

8. Do you have any comments that would help improve the use of settlement at MSPB? (To preserve your
confidentiality, please do not mention your name, your agency, or other identifying information about the
case.)

MSPB Customer Survey: Settlement in the Regional and Field Offices

Last Page of the Survey

This is the final page of the survey. If you want to go back and change a response, click P
" rev"
until you reach the question you want to change. Change your response, then click "Next" to go to
the next question you want change, or until you get to this last page. If you are finished with the
survey, click "Done" to save you responses and exit the survey. Once you click "Done" you will not
be able to return to the survey.

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Thank you for participating in our survey!

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