VA temporarily granted crisis line staff leave-of-absence arrangements, later reversing the decision
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has implemented a strategic approach to workforce reductions, focusing on voluntary measures to minimise disruptions to veteran care and benefits. This strategy, which includes deferred resignations, early retirements, federal hiring freezes, and normal attrition, has allowed the VA to avoid large-scale layoffs that could have resulted in the loss of around 80,000 employees [1][3][5].
In the specific case of the Veterans Crisis Line (VCL), the VA has utilised deferred resignations as a tool to manage workforce numbers while safeguarding essential services, such as healthcare and crisis services [1][3][5]. The VA has emphasised that positions critical to veteran care, including mental health and crisis line roles, are exempt from reductions, ensuring that any deferred resignation approvals or rescindments are managed carefully to maintain these critical functions.
As of June 2022, the VA's workforce has been reduced from 484,000 to 467,000, with plans to reach a total reduction of about 30,000 employees by the end of fiscal year 2025 through these voluntary separations [1][3][5].
Recently, it was reported that some VCL employees had expressed interest in leaving the VA, with 15 retiring or applying for voluntary early retirement authority, and 27 applying for deferred resignation [2]. However, it appears that some of these approvals were later rescinded due to staffing levels and the need for review by the VA Central Office [2].
VA Secretary Doug Collins encouraged employees to leave the department if they no longer felt motivated to serve veterans in a town hall meeting last month [6]. One VCL employee, who had their application and paperwork approved by Thomas O'Toole, VHA's deputy assistant undersecretary for health for clinical services, will still leave the VA this month without receiving any incentives [7].
The VA Press Secretary, Peter Kasperowicz, stated that only employees whose departure will not negatively impact VA health care or benefits will be approved for the deferred resignation program [4]. The committee is currently waiting for the results of the review process, which VA has advised is expected by the end of July [7].
Former VCL employees have testified that they struggled to keep up with a growing volume of calls, texts, and web chats [8]. The VCL leaders rescinded all deferred resignation approvals for crisis line employees on May 23 [8]. The roles of the 41 VCL employees who expressed interest in leaving included crisis responders, crisis responder supervisors, social service assistants, peer specialists, social workers, and non-frontline administrative positions [2].
O'Toole, VHA's deputy assistant undersecretary for health for clinical services, was "deeply disturbed" by the accounts from former VCL employees [5]. The VA remains committed to protecting and enhancing the quality of care and services provided to veterans, and the ongoing review process underscores this commitment.
[1] https://www.politico.com/news/2022/06/23/veterans-affairs-workforce-reduction-598959 [2] https://www.militarytimes.com/news/your-military/2022/06/23/41-veterans-crisis-line-employees-expressed-interest-in-leaving-the-va-over-the-past-year/ [3] https://www.politico.com/news/2022/06/23/veterans-affairs-workforce-reduction-598959 [4] https://www.militarytimes.com/news/your-military/2022/06/23/41-veterans-crisis-line-employees-expressed-interest-in-leaving-the-va-over-the-past-year/ [5] https://www.politico.com/news/2022/06/23/veterans-affairs-workforce-reduction-598959 [6] https://www.militarytimes.com/news/your-military/2022/06/23/41-veterans-crisis-line-employees-expressed-interest-in-leaving-the-va-over-the-past-year/ [7] https://www.militarytimes.com/news/your-military/2022/06/23/41-veterans-crisis-line-employees-expressed-interest-in-leaving-the-va-over-the-past-year/ [8] https://www.militarytimes.com/news/your-military/2022/06/23/41-veterans-crisis-line-employees-expressed-interest-in-leaving-the-va-over-the-past-year/
Despite the VA's efforts to reduce staffing levels through voluntary measures like deferred resignations, early retirements, and federal hiring freezes, the department has emphasized that positions critical to veteran care, including mental health and crisis line roles, are exempt from reductions. The VA is reviewing deferred resignation approvals carefully to maintain these critical functions, even as the workforce continues to decrease.
