SES employees are a tiny proportion of the fedgov. Abuses like this an even tinier proportion. The fed force is generally better educated than the civilian which is one reason Congress keeps legislating catch up pay. Of course, the Executive never implements it but the point is made.
Congress keeps legislating catch up pay because the Fed labor force is one of the largest lobbying forces in the country......its what we deserve for allowing our leaders to grow our Government to grotesque and obscene dimensions.
If the "average leader" within our Government was competent and skilled to an appropriate degree, he/she would be sought and obtained by the private sector. Instead, these wannabees (like Laura) use force and trickery to ram their agenda and demands of higher pay down the throats of the American people (their employer).
We need to immediately discharge, discriminantly, 1/3 of the Federal workforce. I'll take the chaos that ensures. We will all survive and eventually thrive.