Author Archive
FederalSoup Staff
Retirement
NARFE: For retirement, document all civilian and military work credits
The National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association is hosting an upcoming online event that will help you to safeguard your full retirement.
- By FederalSoup Staff
Employee Policy
Occupational health org hits 50—and fights on for employee safety
OSHA was founded with the 1970 Occupational Safety and Health Act. But individual councils, each known as a COSH, of workers, health organizations and allied groups took off in 1972, and ensured that the new agency and its regulations were able to take effect on the ground.
- By FederalSoup Staff
Retirement
DOD spotlights Army civilian retirement tools
The Department of Defense is reminding civilian employees to learn well in advance about how to maximize their retirement—and that consulting one of many informational aids and tools on its websites is a great place to start.
- By FederalSoup Staff
Public Service Recognition Week 2022
Public Service Recognition Week this year, running from May 1-7, brings moments of appreciation to millions of public employees of all stripes.
- By FederalSoup Staff
Employee Policy
Feds to get paid leave time to vote
A few hours of paid time off, to cast your vote and to do non-partisan poll work, will be allowed.
- By FederalSoup Staff
Ukrainians flee bombs and bullets: Want to help?
With no signs of a ceasefire, Ukrainian civilians continue to flee for bordering countries. Feds, we offer for your consideration this list of worthy charities. Right now, they feed, clothe and treat for wounds those lucky enough—mostly women, children and the elderly—to get out alive from under a continuing hail of Russian bombs.
- By FederalSoup Staff
Benefits
Feds, do you need help with tuition?
Hurry—the Federal Employee Education and Assistance Fund (FEEA), which offers substantial cash to feds and their families for educational purposes, will soon close out the application process for 2022.
- By FederalSoup Staff
Pay
Unions: Thumbs up for funding bill's passage, down for repeated near-shutdowns
Passage of the bill funding the government brings relief from fed unions,—but near-shutdowns need to become a thing of the past, please.
- By FederalSoup Staff
Benefits
Female feds often underinsured
WAEPA—the Worldwide Assurance for Employees of Public Agencies, a nonprofit provider of insurance and other financial services to feds—offers data showing women in the federal government are underinsured.
- By FederalSoup Staff
Pay
Fed firefighters need greater recognition, better pay
These feds have a particularly tough job, and their union's leader told lawmakers they need better treatment and pay from those in charge back at headquarters.
- By FederalSoup Staff
AFSA: Blinken’s words on reforms
In an interview conducted before the current war in Ukraine, the employee group for the State Department's diplomatic employees offers thoughts from Antony Blinken. The piece offers insights for employees and the public at large on how the nation’s diplomats are helping America make its way forward in a dangerous world.
- By FederalSoup Staff
Pay
Overtime settlement for VA medical workers progresses
The suit, which claimed unpaid overtime for thousands of medical workers, was settled last year—and is now advancing toward payout.
- By FederalSoup Staff
Employee Policy
Report: Less telework ahead for feds
A media report this week cites multiple official sources that indicate high levels of telework seen since the dawn of the COVID pandemic are likely to be curtailed relatively quickly in the coming months at many federal agencies. The intensifying moves come as a White House push, with hospitalizations and deaths beginning to trend downward, particularly among vaccinated persons.
- By FederalSoup Staff
African American Feds: Association marks 20 years
The group has been celebrating its two decades with a number of events, raising awareness and interest and sharing experiences —helping advise leading Black feds in their career trajectories.
- By FederalSoup Staff
Partnership for Public Service: Practical help for feds
PPS has issued its year in review report, offering links to a vast trove of research that can help federal leaders and civil service members to solve some of the most challenging problems they face.
- By FederalSoup Staff
Pay
Report: CRS lists points of pay reform
A recent news report notes a new Congressional Research Service list of civil service pay issues that lawmakers may want to study—and ameliorate.
- By FederalSoup Staff
FDA has a new commissioner: Dr. Robert M. Califf
The Biden administration’s nominee for the Food and Drug Administration, Dr. Robert M. Califf, has been confirmed in the Senate as commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration.
- By FederalSoup Staff
Employee Policy
COVID cost: $22 million per month for testing alone …
The deputy director at OMB, according to news reports, says testing unvaccinated feds could cost the government $22 million per month.
- By FederalSoup Staff
Benefits
Fed firefighters seek improved claims process
With wildfire season growing to include more months and more acreage each year, and firefighter injuries on the rise, federal firefighters and their allies want rapid reform of the current faulty compensation claims processes.
- By FederalSoup Staff
Fed distance learning group seeks ideas …
The Federal Government Distance Learning Association (FGDLA), a private nonprofit that supports all forms of federal sector distance learning and develops best practices in that field, is currently engaged in its 2022 i-FEST Call for ideas.
- By FederalSoup Staff