Signal Sent on 2016 Raise
The Senate could vote as soon as next week on its version of the fiscal 2016 DoD authorization bill (S-1376), …More
Fedweek
Sign up Now! Free eNewslettersRaise Decision by Indecision Still on Track
Congress has shown no sign of moving to block an increase for federal employees. Instead, it so far has again …More
Senate Details Planned Performance Changes for DoD Employees
The Senate has released further details of provisions in the DoD authorization bill regarding performance evaluations of its civilian employees. …More
Overtime, Whistleblower Changes Advance
Legislation has been signed into law (P.L. 114-13) to clarify that changes enacted last year in administratively uncontrollable overtime policy …More
Senate DoD Bill Revives Performance Issues
The Senate Armed Services Committee has approved a DoD authorization bill for 2016 seeking changes in policies affecting the department’s …More
Senate Bill Could Affect Employment Levels
Both measures would deny another round of base closings and realignments, which have caused the loss or transfer of many …More
Border Patrol, Several VA-Related Bills Advance
The House has passed HR-1038, which would require the VA to maintain permanent records of any admonishment or reprimand of …More
Caution Flag Raised on Revoking Awards
Meanwhile, the MSPB has raised a caution about legislation pending in Congress to allow the VA to revoke awards already …More
Dog Attacks on Carriers No Laughing Matter
While depictions of dogs attacking letter carriers have long been a staple of cartoons, it’s no laughing matter for the …More
TSP Planning on Investment, Withdrawal Policy Changes
The TSP is making long-term plans that include an expectation that it will allow investments in funds other than the …More
High Interest in Self Plus One Expected
OPM has told insurance carriers in the FEHB that a high level of interest is expected in the new self …More
Eligibility Rules, Rates to Be Key Points of Emphasis
OPM told carriers that they are to emphasize that the same enrollee and family member eligibility under family coverage also …More
OPM Addresses Self Plus One Issues
Said OPM in a prepared set of questions and answers for carriers to share with enrollees: “It may be possible …More
FEHB Bill Offered; TSP, Clearance Bills Advance
Legislation (HR-2175) reintroduced in the House would centralize purchasing of prescription drugs in the FEHB program, a proposal raised numerous …More
DoD Bill Eyes Performance Issues
The House could vote as soon as this week on the annual DoD authorization bill (HR-1735) that could lay the …More
All Quiet on Budget Front
Congress is continuing to draft spending bills for the fiscal year that starts in October but to date none of …More
Charity Drive Contributions Slip Again
Contributions to the annual Combined Federal Campaign declined again last year, OPM has said, to just above $193 million, down …More
Budget Plan Orders Substantial Savings Coming From Federal Employee Benefits
A budget plan that has now cleared final votes in Congress would order substantial savings in the accounts under the …More
Raising Retirement Contributions, Health Premium Formula are the Main Candidates
The big dollar programs for federal employees are retirement and the FEHB, and employee organizations say that Congress would have …More
Many Familiar Ideas Could Be in Play
Proposals to raise employee contributions toward retirement and to switch to a voucher arrangement in the FEHB date back many …More
White House Renews Pitch for Raise
The budget resolution takes no position on a 2016 federal employee raise, although one of the appropriations bills, a VA …More
Appeal Rights, Awards for All VA Employees Targeted
Companion bills offered in the House (HR-2047) and Senate (S-1117) would apply to nearly all VA employees the revisions to …More
OPM Urges Participation in Wellness Programs
OPM recently sent a memo telling agencies to do more to encourage their employees to participate in wellness programs, a …More
TSP Funds Turn in Mixed Performance
The TSP funds turned in a mixed performance in April, with the international stock I fund up 4.11 percent and …More
House Plan Would Boost Role of Employee Performance in RIF Decisions
DoD would be instructed to put employees’ performance above other factors such as longevity in RIFs, under the annual DoD …More
New RIF Formula Would Have to Be Decided
The language reflects a number of moves in Congress to put more emphasis on performance in federal personnel decisions, which …More
House Again Set to Reject Base Closings
The defense measure also would once again reject the Pentagon’s request for another round of base closings and realignments. DoD …More
Quicker Disciplinary Process at VA Proposed
In a proposal that is both a result of an earlier change and a precedent for potential further changes, a …More
Wide Impact, but Many Questions
The bill—which the committee could start moving soon—is the most wide-ranging of the many proposals raised in reaction to the …More
Viewpoint Survey Under Way
OPM has started to conduct the Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey, an annual government-wide polling of personal experiences and opinions of …More
