Some May Need to Update TSP Beneficiary Forms
Long-time TSP participants may want to check the status of their beneficiary designations and potentially file new designations, due to …More
Fedweek
Sign up Now! Free eNewslettersImpatience Growing on Phased Retirement
Separate letters from House members of both parties have urged OPM to finish work on phased retirement policies, which the …More
Expert’s View: Getting Vested for Retirement
You have to have five years of actual service to be vested in the retirement system, writes benefits expert Reg …More
Agencies Reminded of Emergency Procedures
OPM recently reminded agencies of workplace policies and special authorities, including expanded telework, special charitable solicitations and hiring shortcuts available …More
Capitol Hill Working Time Already Running Short
Congress will return next week from its current one-week recess with plans to work four straight weeks, then be off …More
Changes at VA Still Pending
Among the more immediate tasks for Congress is working out the differences between VA reform bills that passed both chambers …More
Spending Measure Targets Workplace Issues
The general government spending bill cleared by the House Appropriations Committee contains language reflecting recent proposals on employee performance awards, …More
Senate Panel Advances Several Bills
The Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee has approved S-1691, a bill to overhaul “administratively uncontrollable overtime” at the …More
MSPB Facing Growing Workload
MSPB’s recent annual report noted that even if there are no more of sequestration furloughs—and there’s no guarantee there won’t …More
More Attention to Building Security Sought
GAO recently testified regarding the long-standing issue of security in buildings where federal employees work, pointing out that it has …More
More Flexibilities in Work Ordered
President Obama on Monday issued a memo telling agencies to boost “to the maximum extent practicable” their use of flexible …More
Leave, Other Programs Also Targeted
In addition to the major flexible work scheduling practices, the memo also orders agencies to make the most practical use …More
Key Bill Leaves Room for Raise
Both the House and Senate versions of a key spending bill leave room for a federal employee raise in January …More
VA Changes Still in Progress
Congress continues to work on several largely similar proposals passed by the House and Senate affecting appeal rights and performance …More
OPM Summarizes Recruitment, Retention Flexibilities
OPM recently prepared a fact sheet on the various flexibilities agencies may use as recruiting and retention tools. For a …More
Fallout of DOMA Case Continues
Tomorrow is the one-year anniversary of the Supreme Court’s decision overturning the Defense of Marriage Act’s provision defining marriage, for …More
Several New Rules Published
Meanwhile, OPM published proposed rules in the June 23 Federal Register to formalize a policy, set by a memo issued …More
Expert’s View: What CSRS Offset Is All About
The numbers of CSRS Offset employees are small and getting smaller each year, writes benefits expert Reg Jones. However, if …More
Restrictions on VA Appeals Seem Certain
Congress could give final approval soon to new restrictions on appeal rights and performance policies at VA, with the House …More
Performance Awards Also Targeted
The Senate VA reform bill further would bar use of measures such as appointment scheduling goals in performance evaluations for …More
Concerns Arise Regarding Erosion of Rights
While the truncated appeals process for VA SES members likely would affect relatively few people, employee organizations are concerned about …More
Special Disciplinary Rules for SES Members
The Congressional Research Service recently issued a summary of the special job protections that apply, at least for now, to …More
Spending Bill May Be Next Shoe to Drop
One sign of how widely the fallout from the VA scandal will spread could come in the main annual spending …More
Raise to Be Another Issue
The general government appropriations bill also commonly determines the pay raise for the following January. So far, only one spending …More
Expert’s View: Disability or Immediate Optional Retirement?
There are times when an employee applying for disability retirement is also eligible for an immediate optional retirement, writes benefits …More
White House Again Pitches Base Closings
The Obama administration has repeated its call for DoD base realignment and closure commission, a plea that Congress once again …More
House Bill Would Deny Raise
The first word in any legislation regarding a 2015 federal employee raise has come in a appropriations measure covering the …More
Senate Ready to Restrict Some Appeal Rights
The repercussions from the VA scandal continue to widen, with the Senate planning to vote as soon as this week …More
House Turns Focus to Lower Levels
The House meanwhile has unanimously passed a bill (HR-4810) designed as a counterpart to the Senate measure that among other …More
More Serious Consequences Possible
The Office ofSpecial Counsel meanwhile has said it is investigating whether VA retaliated against 37 employees at 19 facilities who …More
