Author Archive
Feds join in remembering MLK
On this national holiday weekend, feds are joining people across America and the world in honoring the life and achievements of civil rights leader Martin Luther King, Jr.
Employee Policy
Feds mark Jan. 6 with sorrow, condemnation
Federal employees and their union representatives remembered last year's violent riot that tried to stop the constitutionally mandated congressional certification of electoral votes.
Employee Policy
Workplace COVID safety weakened, just as omicron hits
An interim health care workplace coronavirus protection standard has been allowed to expire, and employees and their representatives want protection reinstated—now.
FEND
COVID, muddled Congress weigh on fed morale
With a year-end spike in COVID an added stress to inflation and partisan division across the country, Nathan Abse interviews civil service expert Kenneth Warren on the state of federal employee morale.
FEND
Debt-ceiling deal averts steep losses for retirees
Congress, barely ahead of the deadline, voted to raise the federal debt ceiling. If the vote had failed, the retirement savings of millions of Americans—including feds—could have been threatened, according to the National Association of Plan Advisors.
Employee Policy
Union: Some wins, some compromises in NDAA
The National Federation of Federal Employees is taking a victory lap for changing a much-derided two-year probationary period for some new employees back to one year.
Retirement
Debt-ceiling deal averts steep losses for retirees
Had Congress not acted to lift the federal government’s debt ceiling limit, it would potentially threaten the retirement savings of millions of Americans, according to the National Association of Plan Advisors.
Employee Policy
Feds provide crucial help in tornado disaster
Federal agencies and employees have been stepping up to support state and local officials assisting with recovery from the massive storm.
FEND
Postal unions rebut red ink stories
Postal unions are pushing back against news stories that uncritically accept USPS management's story of financial losses across its massive delivery operations. Labor leaders are reminding lawmakers and the public that distorted accounting, impossible future retiree obligations and other congressionally-manufactured burdens leads to these false stories, all of which can be fixed only if the White House and lawmakers get together to pass pending reform legislation.
Employee Policy
COVID: It's Deadline Day for feds
The Nov. 22 deadline for federal employees to either be vaccinated or obtain a valid exemption finally has arrived, and the Biden administration is touting strong compliance across the government.
Employee Policy
Postal union pushes back on "red ink" story
Postal worker labor organizations are again pushing back against reports of financial losses across the massive delivery operation—reminding the public that the numbers are distorted by "faulty" accounting over impossible future retiree costs and other issues, all of which can only be remedied by the White House and Congress.
FEND
Feds receive Service to America Awards
This year's annual Samuel J. Heyman Service to America awards (better known as the “Sammies”) brings special recognition to a slew of high-achieving feds, with several heroes involved in the fight against COVID honored.
FEND
Bill to protect feds abroad advances
Last week, a bill passed in Congress that should significantly strengthen U.S. law governing the protection of American federal officers abroad. The Jaime Zapata and Victor Avila Federal Officers and Employees Protection Act is set to add significant safeguards for our people as they fight drugs, human trafficking and terror in countries other than the U.S.
FEND
Study: Federal agencies resilient, doing "fine"
Much has been studied and written about the damage done in recent years to the federal civil service, its morale and attractiveness to new recruits. And there is very real evidence of trouble, especially at certain agencies. But a new study finds, for the most part, the opposite is true: Federal agencies and the workforce are remarkably resilient.
FEND
Let's cut vet suicides
The RAND Corporation recently presented testimony indicating that faster collection and publication of data, and associated research, could reduce a horrendous toll of suicide among veterans. Currently, an average of 17 vets take their own lives each day.
Employee Policy
Better, faster research could cut vet suicides
About 17 veterans take their own lives every day, a far higher toll than occurred in America's most recent wars. The think tank RAND Corporation recently presented testimony suggesting that faster collection and publication of data, and associated research, could be used to reduce these horrific losses.
FEND
Shutdown avoided—narrowly
Congress avoided causing a governmentwide shutdown, with barely a day left to spare before deadline passing a continuing resolution that will keep agencies running through Dec. 3.
FEND
Retirement: A practical and emotional decision
This week FEND looked for insights on current trends in retirement—for example, the current surge of people leaving their careers early—and we sought advice on retirement from Robin Ryan. Ryan is a long-time Forbes magazine reporter and Wall Street Journal-bestselling author specializing in employment and retirement issues. She has written voluminously, offering clear-eyed advice on the workplace, careers and retirement.
Employee Policy
Shutdown averted, but feds criticize chaos
Congress passed a continuing resolution to fund the government through Dec. 3, just in time to avoid a shutdown.
Employee Policy