OPM Seeks Input on Mentoring
OPM is conducting a web-based survey designed to capture information on agency mentoring programs; the eight-question survey will be distributed …More
Federal Manager’s Daily Report
Sign up Now! Free eNewslettersGuidance Issued on Use of Official Title
The Office of Government Ethics has issued a reminder that “employees who are affiliated with outside organizations in their personal …More
VA Underestimated Workload, Says GAO
The VA “significantly underestimated” caregivers’ demand for services when it implemented the Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers, causing …More
Gift Restrictions Do Not Take Holiday
The Office of Government Ethics has put out a reminder saying that while there may be social pressure in the …More
Ethics Policies Restrict Holiday Fundraising
While many individuals are in a charitable mood at this time of year, managers may want to remind employees that …More
Army Touts EAPs for Holiday Stress Relief
Employee assistance programs offer services that could help employees with both on the job and off the job stresses that …More
Obama Announces SES Initiatives
The administration has started several initiatives focused on developing candidates for the SES and reforming hiring, developmental and other policies …More
New Awards Program Also Launched
Also announced at Obama’s speech was a new Customer Service Awards Program designed to recognize, promote, and reward service excellence, …More
SES Performance Evaluation Changes Planned
Meanwhile, OPM has proposed (in the December 10 Federal Register) rules to revise several aspects of how SES members are …More
Leadership Still Key in Best Places to Work Rankings
A good government group’s rankings of the best places to work in the federal government relies heavily on employee perceptions …More
Guidance Issued on December 26 Day Off
OPM’s guidance on the day off that President Obama has ordered for December 26 notes, as does similar memos in …More
OPM Cites Steps, Plans on Hiring
OPM is launching several changes in the ways federal agencies hire, including the role of managers, and has several other …More
Structural, Personnel Reforms Planned at DHS
The administration’s initiative on immigration policy will mean several structural and personnel policy reforms in addition to the other aspects …More
GSA Touts Transportation Audits
GSA has produced a fact sheet touting its transportation audit services as a potential money-saver to agency management and noting …More
Agencies Cut Back on Student Loan Incentives
Agencies are being forced to skimp on one of the key tools for attracting and keeping employees in high-demand occupations, …More
Authority Still Valuable, Where Used
OPM said that the student loan reimbursement program remains a valuable tool especially in certain agencies and for certain occupations …More
OMB Sets Standards for Statistical Reporting
OMB has issued a directive setting standards that require agencies and units within agencies involved in the production of statistics …More
OMB Orders Reforms in Agency Purchasing Practices
OMB has issued the latest of a series of directives aimed at simplifying and reducing duplication in the acquisition process, …More
Review Draws Mixed Picture of DoE Strategic Sourcing
The Energy Department has “taken a number of positive steps” to implement strategic sourcing, in response to OMB directives to …More
‘Limited Time’ Appointing Authority Being Renewed
A provision in a defense spending bill undergoing final voting in Congress would extend through calendar year 2019 a special …More
OPM Encourages Use of Personnel Flexibilities
OPM has sent a memo encouraging agencies to use personnel flexibilities available for situations in which employees or family members …More
Enforced Leave May Be Appropriate at Times
The OPM memo also addresses what is a seldom used authority but one that can be highly controversial if used: …More
Revisions to Records Policies Take Effect
President Obama has signed into law (PL 113-187) a bill that updates numerous requirements for maintaining federal records, including one …More
VA Support Services Contracts Draw IG’s Concern
The Veterans Health Administration substantially increased both the number and value of its support service contracts between 2012 and 2013 …More
Consumer Safety Oversight Fragmented, GAO Says
Federal agency oversight of consumer product safety is “fragmented” across at least eight agencies—only one of them being the Consumer …More
MSPB Stresses Role of Managers in Hiring
While technology can aid the federal hiring process, it “must be used in conjunction with human expertise” in particular by …More
Advisory Group Highlights IRS Management Problems
An outside advisory group on the IRS has said that the agency suffers from numerous management problems due to its …More
Problems Remain with DoE Assignments, Report Says
The Energy Department has made only limited progress in addressing problems related to contract employees being sent to work at …More
Gift Policies Top Ethical Concerns
Policies regarding the acceptance of gifts are the subject of the most frequently asked ethics-related questions by federal employees, the …More
Better Controls on Outside Employment Sought for IRS
The IRS needs better controls to monitor outside employment and business activities of its employees, the Treasury Inspector General for …More
