Benefits Measure Cleared for White House

A benefits reform bill (S-129) that seeks to expand agency use of recruiting and retention payments, among other changes, has been sent to the White House for an expected presidential signature, following the Senate’s acceptance of some changes made by the House. The measure would reform current policy regarding recruitment and relocation bonuses and retention allowances by making all three forms of payment a bonus, allowing agencies greater flexibility in how they pay them, raising the limits from 25 to 50 percent of salary, but also imposing service agreements in certain circumstances. The bill also would make employees eligible for compensatory time off for time they spend traveling for official business outside duty hours.