Official Time Use Up Slightly
OPM recently released a report on the use of official time, which is on-the-clock time spent by federal employees to …More
Fedweek
Sign up Now! Free eNewslettersOPM Drafts Phased Retirement Forms
OPM has sent agencies drafts of the forms to be used in applications for phased retirement while reiterating that it …More
FEGLI Expansion Proposed
Children of same-sex domestic partners meeting certain standards and living in states that do not allow same-sex marriage would be …More
FEHB Premiums Up, Program Mainly Stable
The average enrollee share of FEHB premiums will increase 3.8 percent in 2015, OPM has said, although as always there …More
Watch for FEHB Plan Dropouts
The total number of FEHB plans will be 257—the overwhelming majority of them HMOs available only in certain areas—reflecting the …More
FSA Program Requires Re-enrollment
While FEHB and FEDVIP coverage continue year-to-year if an enrollee makes no changes—only a few percent change plans each open …More
Army Warns of Personnel Cuts
The Army has warned its civilian employees to brace for job cuts to be included in the next budget proposal, …More
Views on Veterans Preference Differ, MSPB Finds
MSBP recently examined the veterans preference for federal hiring and certain other personnel practices, finding that the law is complex …More
Guidance Issued on FEHB Impact
OPM has issued detailed guidance on the health insurance aspects of phased retirement, reiterating earlier policy statements that on entry …More
Impact on Other Policies Also Specified
OPM’s guidance further specifies that phased retirees will continue to be eligible to enroll for coverage under the FSA, FEDVIP …More
FEHB Announcement Still Pending
OPM has not yet announced premium rates and plan changes for the FEHB program for next year, an annual announcement …More
Phased Retirement Also Still in Background
With only a little more than a month before the official startup date of phased retirement—OPM will accept applications effective …More
VA Settles Whistleblower Cases
The VA has agreed to settlements with three employees of the Phoenix medical facility who alleged they were retaliated against …More
Fall Comes to TSP in September
All TSP funds except the never-losing government securities G fund dropped in September, with the worst loss coming in the …More
Time Running Out for TSP Catch-up Elections
Active employees who are age 50 or above, or who will be before the end of the year, and who …More
FERS Investors Need to Watch Limit
Time also is running short for FERS employees to make any adjustments needed in ongoing investments if they are on …More
Report Cites Lessons of the 2013 Shutdown
Following are excerpts from a recent Congressional Research Service report examining the impact of the partial government shutdown that started …More
Key Budget Issues Left to Later
Congress has avoided a repeat of last year’s partial government shutdown by passing a temporary budget (P.L. 113-164) carrying spending …More
Several Plans Progress
In other voting before Congress recessed, the Senate passed and sent to the White House a bill (HR-4197) passed earlier …More
Overtime, TSP Bills May Yet Become Law
Also passed by the Senate was S-1691, to revamp the “administratively uncontrollable overtime” policy at Customs and Border Protection, replacing …More
Per Diem Rates Reminder
New per diem rates take effect for official federal travel beginning October 1. GSA sets rates for some 400 localities …More
Expansion of Eligibility in the FEHB
OPM has proposed a rule to allow full-time employees in certain special categories to enroll in the FEHB program, writes …More
GAO Examines Job Classification
GAO recently examined the federal job classification system, concluding that on paper, its design meets some but not all of …More
COLA Prorating Reminder
There seems to be a misperception by some retirement-eligible employees that theycan “capture” the COLA upcoming in January by retiring …More
New ‘Pay Gap’ Number Coming
The Federal Salary Council has scheduled for October 17 its annual meeting at which the official “pay gap” figure is …More
Guidance Issued on Keeping Emails
The Obama administration has issued guidance aimed at relieving federal employees of what it called the “tremendous burden” of having …More
House Passes SES Disciplinary Bill
The House has approved HR-5169, to give agencies wider latitude in taking disciplinary actions against SES members. Provisions include: allowing …More
More Bills Targeting VA Progress
Two more bills arising from the VA patient scheduling and treatment scandal have advanced through the House Veterans Affairs. One …More
Temporary Budget Advancing
Congress could finalize as soon as this week a temporary government funding bill for the early part of the fiscal …More
Inconsistencies Found in Clearance Decisions
GAO recently reported on how two large agencies, DoD and DHS, handle decisions to revoke security clearances for their employees, …More
