FEHB Call Letter Issued
OPM has issued its annual “call letter,” in which it outlines the coverage features it wants in the FEHB program …More
Fedweek
Sign up Now! Free eNewslettersTimeframe Unsettled, Though
It’s unclear how soon it could be “practicable” for DHS to apply revised personnel policies more widely, given that a …More
DHS Signals Intent to Move on Personnel Changes
Just weeks after announcing that it was renaming and scaling back its personnel reform program in favor of a pilot …More
Health Policy Changes Finalized
OPM has published final rules providing extended FEHB coverage, including authority for agencies to pay both the employer and enrollee …More
F Fund Leads TSP Returns
The bond F fund led the TSP’s funds in returns during February, gaining 1.53 percent, while the government securities G …More
CRS Reviews Ethics Policies
The Congressional Research Service has issued a summary of key ethics provisions applying in government. For a closer look at …More
Other Provisions Outlined
In yet another budget-related document, covering OPM’s spending, the administration highlighted a long-running initiative to allow individuals to work on …More
Non-Foreign Area COLAs Also Targeted
In a separate document, the administration offered a justification for its proposal to end the “non-foreign area” cost-of-living allowance program …More
FEHB Provisions Also Outlined
The document further makes the administration’s argument for cutting back on the subsidy paid for FEHB premiums for those who …More
Retirement Provision a Sore Point
Management officials of federal agencies—in particular the U.S. Postal Service—have argued for many years that once a FECA beneficiary reaches …More
Budgetary Proposals Detailed
The Bush administration has sent to Congress a document laying out the case for several proposals relating to federal personnel …More
COLA Count Still Underwater
Through four months of the count toward the January 2008 retiree COLA, the inflation adjustment used to set that COLA …More
Guidance on Official Work Stations
OPM has put out updated guidance on what is considered an employee’s official duty station—which is important for certain purposes, …More
Premium Conversion Bill Reintroduced
Legislation (HR-1110) has been reintroduced in Congress to allow federal retirees to pay their FEHB premiums with pre-tax money, the …More
Health Insurance Benefits also at Issue
On health insurance, CBO said that the government’s contribution toward retirement health insurance benefits could be reduced for retirees with …More
Less Money In, More Out?
The report also said that the formula for employer matching contributions for FERS employees could be revised so that the …More
Retirement Changes Raised
On retirement, CBO raised the possibility of changing the benefit formula for future retirees to base their annuities on their …More
Budget-Cutting Options on Benefits Outlined
The Congressional Budget Office has released the latest in a series of reports outlining possible savings in government programs, including …More
Change Could Have Repercussions
The change in plans at DHS could have an effect on the administration’s other efforts to apply similar principles elsewhere. …More
DHS Scales Back Personnel Reform Plans
DHS has said it will scale back its efforts to overhaul many of its personnel policies, effectively putting the program …More
Differences Between Military, Civilians Cited
Said CRS, “If the purpose of extending the combat zone exclusion to civilians is to make civilian benefits equal to …More
CRS Lukewarm on Combat Zone Tax Proposal
The Congressional Research Service has said that although proposals have been made to extend the favorable “combat zone” tax treatment …More
Word to the Wise
Personnel and payroll officials commonly advise that at about this time of year, federal employees should make a special effort …More
Areas of Job Growth Outlined
The budget contains some description of what programs in particular would see job gains in 2008. For a closer look, …More
Budget Projects Job Growth
The White House’s fiscal 2008 budget proposal projects full-time equivalent federal employment of 1,872,800 next year, which would be up …More
New Whistleblower Protections Sought
A bill (HR-985) cleared by the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee would extend whistleblower protections to employees who currently …More
Funds Will Be Tight
Although the budget measure provides extra funding in some areas, both agency and Capitol Hill officials have characterized the spending …More
Congress Wraps up 2007 Spending
More than five months into the fiscal year, Congress has finished work on the fiscal 2007 budget, leaving in place …More
Better Language Skills Sought
Legislation (S-451) offered by Senate federal workforce subcommittee chairman Daniel Akaka, D-Hawaii, seeking to improve foreign language skills nationally has …More
Idea Still in Tentative Stages
Officials characterized the idea as still in the early stages, with decisions yet to come on whether such a benefit …More
