Chained CPI Not in Budget but Is on Table
Unlike past Obama administration budgets, the document does not call for switching to the “chained” consumer price index to annually …More
Fedweek
Sign up Now! Free eNewslettersFEHB, FECA Proposals Repeated
The budget also repeats several prior proposals related to FEHB, including: using a centralized system for purchasing prescription drugs in …More
Emphasis on Training Planned
The budget also seeks better coordination among agencies of training programs, sharing of best training practices, and increasing leadership development …More
Expert’s View: Is a Deferred Annuity the Way to Go?
If you have five or more years of creditable civilian service, and don’t take a refund of your retirement contributions …More
OPM Issues Guidance on Restored Annual Leave
OPM has issued updated guidance on situations in which agencies may restore “use or lose” annual leave to federal employees …More
TSP Warms Up in February
After a generally down January, TSP funds turned in positive returns in February, led by the international stock I fund, …More
TSP Warns about Imitation Sites
The TSP has posted a warning on its site, www.tsp.gov, that other sites, such as those with variant spellings or …More
Budget Proposal Due
The White House will release its annual budget proposal next week, kicking off what promises to be less contentious than …More
Retirement-Related Proposals to Be Dropped
Administration officials further have said that the budget plan won’t include an idea raised by both the White House and …More
Tighter Times Planned at DoD
Administration officials also have said they will propose several forms of belt-tightening at DoD that could have spillover effects on …More
Some Benefit Ideas Could Resurface
The White House budget plan could repeat proposals raised last year regarding FEHB—the addition of new plan designs, higher premium …More
Self Plus One Option May Have to Wait
One proposal regarding the FEHB in the White House budget last year, creation of a self plus one option, was …More
Expert’s View: Retiring Under the MRA+10 Provision
FERS employees have the unique option of retiring under the MRA+10 provision, writes benefits expert Reg Jones. “While that’s a …More
Guidance Issued on Pay Policy Changes
OPM has sent guidance to agencies on several changes to pay policy contained in the fiscal 2014 DoD authorization bill, …More
More Security Clearance Scrutiny Sought
Numerous proposals to tighten procedures for granting and renewing the security clearances that are required for many federal jobs are …More
No Sequester Cut Coming This Year
Agencies won’t be ordered to cut spending this fiscal year as happened last year when sequestration of $85 billion set …More
Debt Limit Also a Non-Factor for a Year
In another possible portent of a less contentious budgetary year, Congress dealt with the most recent debt ceiling problem with …More
DoD Issues Workplace Violence Policy
DoD recently issued a memo stating that “violence, threats, harassment, intimidation, and other disruptive behavior will not be tolerated” in …More
More Localities Likely Ahead
One issue that will arise in this year’s deliberations over a pay raise will be the potential creation of 12 …More
Phased Retirement Rules Still Pending
Another issue requiring a rules-making process—whose duration seems to be irritating growing numbers of federal employees—is phased retirement. A law …More
Postal Bill Would Affect Key Benefits
A postal reform bill cleared by the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee would, if enacted, have wide-ranging impacts …More
Impact Would Extend Beyond USPS
Removing postal employees and retirees from the FEHB risk and premium pool would have unknown effects on the remainder of …More
Budgetary Maneuvers Continue
The TSP’s government securities G fund again has been “disinvested” as a short-term measure to provide operating funds to the …More
Travel, Conference Policy Restrictions Reviewed
An OMB official recently testified regarding the restrictions on travel and conference spending imposed recently due to budgetary restrictions and …More
Awards Returning at Some Agencies
Several agencies have reinstated employee performance awards in light of the recently relaxed budgetary restrictions, a trend that others might …More
Agencies Still Feeling Pinch, Though
Agencies took a number of cost-saving steps due to sequestration other than clamping down on awards, and many of them …More
Messages Can Run Afoul of Hatch Act
In what serves as an election year warning, the Office of Special Counsel has emphasized that communications through social media …More
GAO Examines Workforce Trends
Three large agencies—DoD, VA and DHS—accounted for more than nine-tenths of the growth in the federal workforce over 2004-2012, a …More
Compensation Trends also Cited
GAO said that total government-wide compensation for each full-time equivalent position grew by an average of 1.2 percent per year, …More
OPM Clarifies Pay Cap Issue
OPM has sent a memo to agencies clarifying the impact of language in the recently enacted budget measure for the …More
