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VA WITHOUT COMPENSATION (WOC) APPOINTMENTS
Discussion
VHA Handbook 1200.17 provision 4.d.(2) provides "All Corporation
employees, including VA employees who work for the Corporation during their
non-VA duty hours, who are assigned to VA to work on research projects or
education and training activities must have a WOC appointment regardless of
whether they receive a corporate salary."
WOC appointments are mandatory for all NPC employees. See
links below for separate guidance on VA and NPC-only employees.
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A VA without compensation (WOC) appointment confers upon the
appointee many privileges and responsibilities. A WOC appointment is a
personnel appointment by which an individual contributes effort to VA
activities but receives no monetary compensation from VA. While other
agencies may have different interpretations of what a WOC appointment
entails, VA considers WOCs to be federal employees.
A VA WOC appointment allows VA to accept donated services from
individuals who are not paid by VA. A WOC appointment also limits VA
liability for acts committed by WOCs to judgments under the Federal Tort
Claims Act.
WOCs are subject to federal conduct and conflicts of interest
regulations in the performance of their official duties; must comply VA
requirements pertaining to job qualifications and training; and VA can
require them to assign to VA any rights to intellectual property that
they may develop using VA resources.
At the same time, subject to certification by the Attorney General,
WOCs are protected by the Federal Tort Claims Act from personal
liability in the performance of their official duties; may receive
immunizations necessary to perform their work; and have access to VA
employee assistance and training programs.
The VHA Office of Human Resource Management has confirmed that a
VA-paid employee who performs NPC-paid work outside the VA tour of duty
should have a WOC appointment to ensure FTCA coverage during the time
worked for the NPC.
Compliance with NPC Statute and VA Requirements >
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