2017 Interest Rate for Retirement Purposes Set
The interest paid in the voluntary contribution retirement savings program available to CSRS and CSRS Offset (but not FERS) employees …More
Fedweek
Sign up Now! Free eNewsletters
Congress Leaves Much Work Unfinished
During its September session—wedged between two long recesses—Congress did enact temporary funding for agencies through December 9 (P.L. 114-223) and …More
Broader VA Reforms Still Have Chance; Prospects for Other Ideas Iffy
Among potential candidates for enactment in the post-election session of Congress are various proposed reforms to VA personnel practices, including …More
Raise by Silence Remains on Track
One area where inaction in Congress is on track to produce a definite outcome involves the federal pay raise. Spending …More
DoD Extends Probationary Period for New Hires
DoD has put in place a policy change extending the standard probationary period there for most employees from one year …More
DoD Describes How Probationary Period Change Will Apply
Under a DoD memo putting in place the general increase in the probationary period from one year to two, the …More
Most TSP Funds Start Fall with Rise
All TSP funds except the bond F fund posted gains in September, led by the international stock I fund, up …More
GAO Searches Hiring Grounds, Finds Few Burrows
GAO has found a relative few instances of political appointees converting to career positions, adding that rules allowing such conversions …More
Enrollee Share of FEHB Premiums to Rise 6.2 Percent
FEHB enrollees on average will pay 6.2 percent more in premiums in 2017, OPM has announced, although as always there …More
Shutdown Threat Averted
Congress has passed a bill (HR-5325) keeping federal agencies funded, generally at current levels, through December 9, averting the threat of the partial …More
Budget Measure Includes VA Whistleblower Protections
The pending bill to head off a partial government shutdown as of October 1 contains several provisions designed to strengthen …More
Whistleblower Provisions Put Focus on Supervisors
The VA whistleblower-related provisions in the bill to continue agency funding would put several new obligations on agency management, in …More
OPM Rejects Request to Extend FLTCIP Period
OPM has rejected calls from several members of Congress to extend the “enrollee decision period” in the Federal Long Term …More
Some Exceptions Allowed to FEGLI Election Deadline
OPM has told agencies that they may accept belated elections after the September 30 end of the FEGLI open season …More
Congress Effort to Prevent Federal Shutdown Progressing, But Slowly
Congress continues to work on a temporary budget measure to continue funding agencies beyond the September 30 end of the …More
VA Bill Advances, but DoD Authorization Has Not
In its push to recess by the end of next week, Congress is setting aside a number of bills of …More
Employee Workplace Views Tick Upward Again
Partial results from the annual Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey conducted earlier this year show slight gains for the second straight …More
OPM Issues Guidance on Zika-Related Concerns
OPM has issued guidance on federal workplace issues related to the Zika virus, saying agencies “are strongly encouraged to utilize …More
FEGLI Open Season Coming to Close
September 30 will mark the end of the current FEGLI open season. Employees who are not enrolled can elect FEGLI …More
FLTCIP Election Period Set to End
September 30 marks the close of the “enrollee decision period” in the FLTCIP long-term care insurance program. That opportunity was …More
Still No Resolution on Budget Extension to Avoid Shutdown
With just more than two weeks left before the end of the current fiscal year September 30, political leaders have …More
No Word Yet on Shutdown Preparations
OMB and agencies have not yet put out guidance to employees regarding the potential for a partial government shutdown in …More
Glimmer of Hope for Boosting Federal Raise Arises
While it has seemed virtually certain for months that federal employees will receive a 1.6 percent raise in January—under current …More
Another Try Underway on VA Disciplinary Changes
The House is scheduled to vote this week on HR-5620, under which most VA employees would receive only 10 days …More
USAJOBS Update Stresses Understanding Eligibility
On the 20th anniversary of the USAJOBS site, OPM has updated the site, including adding information specific to current federal …More
Expansion of Disabled Veteran Leave Proposed
A newly offered bill (HR-5957) seeks to expand the upcoming “disabled veteran leave” authority to include FAA employees not covered …More
GSA Finalizes Charge Card, Other Travel Policies
GSA has issued final rules on several issues affecting federal employees who travel on official business. One seeks to further …More
FEHB Premium and Plan Offerings Announcement Ahead
The annual announcement of premiums and plan offerings in FEHB for the upcoming plan year—that is, calendar year—likely will be …More
Expect Cost Saving Provisions, Other Changes in the FEHB
Earlier this year in its annual “call letter’’ OPM once again emphasized cost-saving steps in the FEHB including: tighter management …More
Premium Policy Change Proposed for Unpaid Leave
OPM meanwhile has proposed rules that could require employees who enter leave without pay status in certain situations to continue …More
