Request for Backpay for Extended Detail

A General Services Administration (GSA) employee appealed a GAO denial of his claim for compensation. He contended that he had been detailed to a higher-grade position for more than 120 days. His claim was denied because GAO held that he had failed to provide sufficient evidence to establish that he was in fact detailed to the higher-grade position. The employee contended that he had provided evidence in the form of affidavits from four former co-workers that he was detailed to the higher-grade position for more than 120 days. Regulations provide that in the absence of official documentation, a written statement from an employee's supervisor or other management official familiar with his work certifying that he had performed the duties may be substituted. GAO had held that the statements of co-workers are not sufficient to fulfill this provision. In this case, GAO held that the co-workers' statements did little to clarify the record. The action of the Claims Division denying the employee's claim was sustained.