The bill would put into law the Biden administration policy requiring a $15 per hour minimum wage for federal contractors. Image: CK Foto/Shutterstock.com
The DoD authorization bill (HR-7900) now before the House contains a number of personnel provisions, some affecting only employees of that department and others setting policy government-wide. That measure commonly attracts such provisions because it is considered one of the annual “must-pass” bills in Congress.
DoD-specific provisions include: requiring the military services to “standardize guidance related to flexible workplace programs”; encouraging waivers of restrictions on hiring military retirees into civil service positions, to address understaffing in DoD medical facilities; ordering a review of pay and benefits for employees of DoD child care centers; requiring standardized credentials for employees of all DoD law enforcement components; and expanding authority for higher salaries in certain research and technology positions.
Also, DoD would have to report on problems it faces in hiring civilian employees, including the average duration of vacancies by level, the time uniformed personnel spent covering the duties of vacant civilian positions; and a description of work that could not be completed due to vacancies.
Government-wide provisions include: ordering GAO to assess the paid parental leave provisions for federal employees, which was authorized in the fiscal 2020 version of the bill; allowing FBI employees to appeal whistleblower retaliation to the MSPB rather than through internal channels now available; creating new recruitment and retention incentive payment authority for federal firefighters; extending several special pay authorities for federal employees working in overseas areas of military operations; and putting in law the Biden administration policy requiring a $15 per hour minimum wage for federal contractors.
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