Final answer:
To file a complaint regarding harassment due to whistleblower activities, your colleague should contact the Office of Special Counsel (OSC). The whistleblower protections are rooted in the Whistleblower Protection Act of 1989 and the Whistleblower Protection Enhancement Act of 2012. For issues related to workplace safety or health, OSHA is another agency that can be contacted.
Step-by-step explanation:
Your colleague, who wishes to file a complaint alleging harassment following her actions as a whistleblower, should be directed to the Office of Special Counsel (OSC). The OSC is responsible for protecting federal employees, particularly whistleblowers, from reprisals. Since your colleague alleges harassment after reporting missing office resources—an abuse of authority—this falls under the purview of the OSC.
The Whistleblower Protection Act of 1989 and the Whistleblower Protection Enhancement Act of 2012 clearly outline whistleblower protections for federal employees. These laws ensure protections for employees who disclose information they reasonably believe evidences a violation of law, rule, or regulation; gross mismanagement; a gross waste of funds; an abuse of authority; or a substantial and specific danger to public health or safety.
If the grounds for the complaint are related to workplace safety or health violations, then the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is another relevant agency, as it provides for the filing of confidential complaints concerning workplace hazards and supports the rights of workers who act as whistleblowers under various federal laws.