Upon petition by any person, or on its own motion, the Board may issue statements of policy or guidance. In determining whether to issue such a statement, the criteria to be considered by the Board will include, but not be limited to, the following:
Whether the question presented can more appropriately be resolved by other means;
Where other means are available, whether a Board statement would prevent the proliferation of cases;
Whether the resolution of the question presented would have general applicability;
Whether the question currently confronts the parties as part of their employee-management relationship;
Whether the question is presented jointly by the parties involved; and
Whether the issuance by the Board of a statement of policy or guidance would promote the purposes of the General Accounting Office Personnel Act.