Author Archive
Pay
Bill proposes 5.1 percent pay boost for feds
Like other Americans, feds are enduring a sustained rise in consumer prices. Pay raises have simply not kept up. Proposed legislation would go a long way toward easing the hurt imposed by inflation—but not until 2023.
Retirement
OPM: Annual notices to retirees delayed
OPM is delaying in mailing out its annual official notice on annuity adjustments. But the agency says annuitants should be able to avoid the delay by accessing the same information, specific to their own accounts, online.
Pay
Pay boost for overworked BOP staff
Bureau of Prisons workers at two understaffed and overworked facilities are slated to receive both pay raises and retention bonuses, after hefty efforts by their unions in cooperation with management.
Benefits
Federal Academic Alliance expands
Several new schools and training offerings have been added to the program that offers reduced tuition to feds.
Benefits
Leadership training might just jump-start your career
The Partnership for Public Service is offering a new management development program that will help GS-7s to GS-11s get more from their careers.
Benefits
FSAFEDS boosts mileage rate for 2022
The Federal Flexible Spending Account Program is raising the allowable expense for medical travel over 12%.
Employee Policy
Storm shutters D.C.-area fed offices
Facing certain transportation and electrical power trouble from a winter storm, the federal government shut down in-person workspaces.
Employee Policy
Senior Execs launch new awards for top feds
The group that represents federal senior execs is launching a new set of awards to recognize the best of the best, with recipients to be determined next year.
Employee Policy
Be a mentor -- or learn from one
Young Government Leaders has opened applications for next year’s Mentoring Program.
Financial Planning
Need help with student loans?
A fed employee organization is partnering with a tech start up to help its members better manage student loan debt.
Employee Policy
Renewed push by some to cut telework
A group of GOP lawmakers is angling to reduce the number of feds engaged in telework, citing high vaccination rates and other reductions in COVID risks in tradtional federal workplaces.
Employee Policy
Feds on track for paid bereavement
A provision to give feds up to two weeks of paid bereavement is included in the bipartisan Defense bill.
Employee Policy
Diversity: Feds see more intent than action
A recent survey shows the vast majority of feds say management strongly intends to develop a healthy diversity in their workforce. But fewer than half see equally potent action to make that happen on the ground.
Employee Policy
Feds, union fight to save EPA facility
A coalition of feds, lawmakers, union leaders and outside organizations are fighting to keep a major EPA lab from relocating to an older, less appropriate site—hundreds of miles away.
Employee Policy
EEOC roundup highlights workplace pitfalls
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission's routine digest reveals a full range of complaints of managerial missteps, and the ways they have been resolved.
Employee Policy
New law honors ICE agents
A law passed last month honors two ICE agents who were attacked, leaving one dead, a decade ago while on Mexican soil. Going forward, U.S. courts will be strengthened in pursuit of justice for criminals who harm feds abroad.
Employee Policy
Shutdown avoided, as Congress passes CR
A CR passed just in time again, avoiding a shutdown, after an effort by a small group of lawmakers to hold up passage failed. But federal employee organizations are growing weary of this chaotic, recurring routine.
Employee Policy
Union: More telework, better compensation would strengthen workforce
The COVID pandemic has exposed old weaknesses, and created new ones, in the federal government's recruiting and retention of its workforce. Continued and even growing emphasis on telework and flexible schedules can help address the problems—but improvements in compensation, including paid family leave and stronger retirement packages, are needed too.
Employee Policy
Government Shutdown? Possibility remains ...
Hopes for successful passage of a CR were growing at the beginning of the week. But now a group of lawmakers opposed to the White House's COVID vaccine mandates is leading many Washington-watchers, including federal employee unions, to see a growing possibility of a federal government shutdown.
Employee Policy