DoD Cuts Furloughs, but Cites Future Threats
DoDhas reduced the number of furlough days for some 650,000 of its federal employees from 11 to six, meaning that …More
Fedweek
Sign up Now! Free eNewslettersDon’t Expect Quick Decisions on Furlough Appeals
MSPB has said that because it has been receiving a flood of appeals from furloughed DoD employees—several unions there are …More
Postal Reform Plans Could Affect Benefits
Congress has taken steps recently toward Postal Service reform that could impact several benefit programs. A bipartisan bill has been …More
Key Distinctions Apply in Benefit Opportunity
There seems to be some confusion regarding the current limited benefits election opportunity arising from the Supreme Court decision in …More
OPM Clarifies Survivor Election Opportunity
OPM has issued guidance on the opportunity for federal retirees in same-sex marriages to elect to provide a survivor benefit …More
Stock Funds Heat Up in July
The stock-oriented TSP funds in July more than reversed the losses they suffered in June, with the small company stock …More
Expert’s View: Credit for Active Duty Service
Federal employees can get credit toward their civil service retirement benefits for military service time only under certain conditions, writes …More
Congress Taking Up Numerous Employee Bills
Congress is taking up numerous federal employee-related bills, most of which employee organizations oppose and consider something of a parting …More
Senate Also Moving Bills, Nomination
Meanwhile, the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee was preparing to move several employee-related bills including S-643, which would …More
Hopes Raised on Shortening DoD Furloughs
Hopes have been raised that DoD will reduce the number of furlough days being imposed on some 650,000 employees there …More
MSPB Explains Furlough Appeals Policies
MSPB has posted information on the rights of federal employees who have been furloughed to file appeals. The agency has …More
Phased Retirement Comment Period Ending
The comment period for the proposed phased retirement system expires August 5, the latest step toward putting that arrangement—authorized by …More
Expert’s View: Getting Service Credit Where Credit Is Due
For retirement purposes, you not only need to think about the service credit you’ve accumulated on you current job but …More
Funding Bills Progress as Break Approaches
With its August recess set to start at the end of next week, Congress is moving ahead with several bills …More
Postal, Other Issues also Taken Up
Meanwhile, the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee is working to approve a postal reform bill that apparently will deny …More
Retirement Processing Gets Fresh Attention
The general government spending bill for fiscal 2014 cleared by the House Appropriations Committee cites retirement application processing as an …More
More Scrutiny of Agency Activities Planned
The House’s general government bill would impose certain restrictions and require extra oversight by IG offices of certain agency activities …More
Navy Signals Reluctance to RIF
Although the Defense Department has warned of the potential for RIFs in the upcoming fiscal year if its budget remains …More
Expert’s View: Credit Deposits and Redeposits
OPM has a convenient service for those who are making deposits or redeposits to capture civilian service credit time, writes …More
Hatch Act Rules Proposed
OPM has proposed rules to carry out several changes in the Hatch Act passed into law last year, including provisions …More
Per Diem Rate Announcement Ahead
GSA likely will soon announce the per diem rates for federal travelers to be effective for the fiscal year starting …More
Furlough Dust Finally Settling
With the last agency expecting furloughs now having started them, the furlough situation, which has been a moving target at …More
DoD Warns of RIFs as Focus Turns to Next Year
DoD has told Congress that if it has to operate next fiscal year at post-sequestration levels, as is being considered …More
Silence on Raise Continues
The key annual appropriations bill for determining the next year’s federal raise, the financial services-general government bill, has started moving …More
Fallout from Scandals Hits
The general government bill also contains several provisions that amount to fallout from recent scandals involving conferences at GSA and …More
More Guidance on Conferences Issued
OMB recently issued additional guidance to agencies on conferences, saying that they remain allowable under certain circumstances, but that they …More
Agencies Have Flexibility in Benefit Enrollment Changes
Federal agencies are conducting what amounts to a limited benefits open season for employees and retirees in same-sex marriages through …More
Changes in Key Insurance Programs Allowed
During the election period, a FEDVIP or FEHB enrollee with a same-sex spouse who now qualifies for coverage may change …More
Busy Period Ahead, then Long Break
Congress is back at work from a one-week break with four more working weeks scheduled before taking its annual August …More
Pay Raise Still to Be Decided
The annual appropriations process also is the vehicle for setting a federal employee pay raise for the following January—or, in …More
