State of California

Is there any recourse against backroom politics in a government job? How can one with an excellent work history (supported with written annual performance appraisals) overcome being railroaded out of an office because a constituent wanted their son or daughter to have the office? In this instance, even though my removal from this office was done verbally (with no written memorandum or notoce of adverse action), the union reps and union attorney were totally useless to me, offering little to no assurance that anything could be done through administrative remedies. Ive since been terminated for failure to supply a medical note to extend leave.