A decision maker at any step in the grievance procedure shall determine the: proper interpretation or application of the policy, procedure, or regulation involved in the grievance; and appropriate remedy.

Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, the remedies available to a grievant under this title are limited to the restoration of the rights, pay, status, or benefits that the grievant otherwise would have had if the contested policy, procedure, or regulation had been applied appropriately as determined by the final decision maker. A decision maker at Step Two or Step Three of the grievance procedure: may order an appointing authority to grant back pay; and on a finding that wages were withheld in violation of §§ 2–402 and 2–407 of this article, shall order the payment of damages in accordance with § 2–407(c) of this article. In a reclassification grievance back pay may be awarded for a period not exceeding 1 year before the grievance procedure was initiated. A back pay order under this paragraph is in the discretion of the Secretary and the Office of Administrative Hearings. Subject to the limitations in Title 14, Subtitle 2 of this article, an appointing authority shall carry out a back pay order or damages order issued under this subsection.

On conclusion of each step of a grievance proceeding, a copy of the grievance and its disposition shall be given to the grievant and the grievant’s representative. A copy of the grievance and disposition required to be provided under subsection (a) of this section may be transmitted electronically.

An appointing authority, the head of a principal unit, or the Secretary may consolidate multiple grievances filed by one employee and process the grievances in a single proceeding. If the grievants agree, an appointing authority, the head of a principal unit, or the Secretary may consolidate similar grievances and process the grievances together in a single proceeding. The Office of Administrative Hearings may consolidate and process in a single proceeding multiple grievances filed by one employee or similar grievances filed by more than one grievant.

A grievant and the grievant's representative shall be given reasonable time during work to investigate and process the grievance and to participate at any conference or hearing relating to the grievance. An employee shall be granted release time from the employee's normal work schedule to attend a grievance conference or hearing as a witness. Expenses incurred in connection with attendance by an employee at grievance conferences or hearings, whether as a grievant, as a grievant's representative, or as a witness, shall be borne by that employee's unit.