The Senate Armed Services Committee this week is writing its version of the DoD budget, presenting another opportunity for Congress to address administration proposals such as increasing the buyout maximum and providing for paid parental leave government-wide. The House version contains several only relatively minor policy changes, though, along with repeating several government-wide changes passed recently as separate bills there. Those include a general cap on administrative leave of 14 days for an employee under a disciplinary investigation and a requirement aimed at creating a permanent record for a potential future federal employing agency to review when an employee resigns while facing possible disciplinary action. Meanwhile, the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee has not yet set a vote on a bill containing numerous restrictions on appeal rights and other provisions for that department’s workforce. Some Republicans, including the chairman of the counterpart House committee, have criticized the measure as not strong enough, although Senate sponsors argue that they have gone as far as they could without creating the risk of incurring opposition that would block the plan.
Fedweek
Senate Now the Focus for Workplace Issues
By: FEDweek Staff