Hiring Freeze in the Works, but How Would It Work?
The Donald Trump campaign listed a federal hiring freeze as a top priority, but a week after the election, many …More
Fedweek
Sign up Now! Free eNewsletters
Much of Government Could Be Exempt from Hiring Freeze
One issue regarding the incoming Trump administration’s planned federal hiring freeze is whether it would be total or whether it …More
Turnover Rates Could Be a Consideration
The incoming Trump administration’s plan to generally freeze federal hiring has turned attention to federal turnover. Federal employment data are …More
VA Reform Named a Top Priority
The Trump transition team has signaled that his administration will pursue changes in VA personnel policies—such as shortened disciplinary processes …More
Few Changes Likely among Congressional Panels After Election
The election produced little turnover among congressional leaders on civil service issues for the 2017-2018 Congress. The chairmen and ranking …More
Short Working Time Remaining for Congress
Congress is back in session this week after recessing since late September but mainly to deal with organizational issues; it …More
New Medicare Rates Set; Cost to Be Higher for Some
The Medicare program has announced rates for 2017, with a $109 monthly Part B premium (for physicians and related services), …More
Feds Await Details on Trump’s Plans for Federal Workforce
Donald Trump has defeated Hillary Clinton in arguably the biggest upset in US presidential election history. As with the “Brexit” …More
FEHB and FEDVIP Decisions Are Independent
In both FEHB and FEDVIP, if an enrollee makes no changes in the open season starting November 14, a current …More
More Could Benefit from Switching to Self Plus One
OPM officials have suggested that many FEHB enrollees who have only one eligible family member could save money in the …More
Watch Out for FEHB Plan Changes
Five plans are dropping out of the FEHB for the 2017 plan year, bringing the total down to 245. They …More
FSA Program Requires Re-enrollment, Features Some Changes
Unlike in the FEHB and FEDVIP programs, where current coverage continues unless changed, re-enrollment is required each year in another …More
Remember Carry-Over Policy in Health Care FSA Accounts
Toward the end of the year, many employees become concerned about losing money in their flexible spending accounts due to …More
Career Status Policy Change Finalized
OPM yesterday (November 8) finalized rules to eliminate a requirement that employment be “substantially continuous” in order for employees to …More
Pay Gap Little Changed at 34 Percent
The federal-private sector pay gap remains essentially unchanged from a year ago at 34.07 percent, the Federal Salary Council has …More
Higher Pay Envisioned for Many, but Not Just Yet
In addition to reporting on the official pay gap numbers, the Federal Salary Council also recommends creation of new localities …More
Indicator Set for 2018 Pay Raise
An early marker has been set for the January 2018 (not 2017) general schedule pay raise, as the Labor Department …More
TSP Posts Frightful Results for October
All TSP funds except the ever-positive government securities G fund posted losses in October, with the small company stock S …More
TSP Investment Limits to Remain the Same
The standard maximum investment allowed in the TSP and similar retirement savings plans will remain $18,000 in 2017, the IRS …More
Re-enrollment Needed for Monitoring Services Due to Personnel Records Breach
The original contract to provide identity protection services for those victimized by the breach of OPM’s personnel records database is …More
Key Decisions, Stalled So Often, to Wait Until After Elections
With the elections now less than two weeks away, sights are being set on how, after returning to work, Congress …More
Review Sought of Retirement Applications Processing
The bipartisan leaders of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee have asked GAO to examine the processing of federal …More
Reminder on Delay in Effective Date of FEGLI Changes
Some federal employees have been asking why the premiums related to FEGLI elections they made during the September open season …More
TSP Catch-up Elections Still an Option, But Not for Long
Active employees who are age 50 or above, or who will be before the end of the year, and who …More
FERS Investors Should Guard against Hitting TSP Limit Too Soon
Time is running short for FERS employees to make any adjustments needed in ongoing investments if they are on an …More
TSP Withdrawal Policies Loosened for Victims of Hurricane Matthew
The TSP has temporarily loosened rules on hardship withdrawals by actively employed account holders affected by Hurricane Matthew, in the …More
Public Transit Subsidy Amount Remaining the Same
The “public transit subsidy” amount will remain unchanged at $255 maximum per month in 2017, the IRS has announced. Some …More
Many CSRS Retirees Could Face Steep Medicare Premium Hike
The 0.3 percent 2017 retiree COLA could trigger so-called “hold harmless” Medicare provision, which states that if the increase in …More
TSP Limits almost Sure to Remain the Same
It’s almost certain that the cap on regular investments in the TSP will remain at $18,000 and that the limit …More
Locality Pay Status to Be Clarified Very Soon
The Federal Salary Council has set its annual meeting for October 28, when it will recommend specific locality-based raises for …More
