Contracting-Out Also at Stake
Many of the appropriations bills in progress contain restrictions on the contracting-out program, what the Bush administration calls competitive sourcing. …More
Fedweek
Sign up Now! Free eNewslettersRaise Still Could Move
Both the House and Senate versions of the Transportation-Treasury bill (HR-5536) contain a 2.7 percent raise for GS employees and …More
Full Plate, Short Timeframe for Congress
Congress returns from its summer recess next week to what is expected to be only about a four-week session before …More
COLA Count Up to 3.4
Through ten months of the countdown to the January 2007 retiree COLA, 3.4 percent has been accumulated, following a rise …More
More Leeway in Retiree FEHB Coverage Proposed
OPM has proposed to give itself more leeway in allowing retiring employees to keep their FEHB coverage when they don’t …More
Expert’s View: How Social Security Fits In
Expert’s View: How Social Security Fits In If you are thinking about retiring, you probably wonder how Social Security fits …More
New Initiative for Targeted Disabilities
Meanwhile, EEOC has announced a new initiative for creating greater opportunity in federal agencies for individuals with targeted disabilities – …More
Complaints Down, but Investigations Still Slow
The report also noted while the number of complaints in fiscal 2005 fell by about 5 percent, agencies regularly continue …More
EEOC Releases Data on Workforce
The EEOC has released a new statistical report on the demographic makeup of the federal workforce and discrimination complaints, noting …More
Dental-Vision Program Premiums also Coming
OPM also expects to make final contract awards at the end of this month and announce in September the premiums …More
FEHB Premium Announcement in Offing
New rates and coverage terms under the Federal Employees Health Benefits program also are typically announced in early September, in …More
Process Has Many Twists and Turns
The “alternative” raise figure is important mainly only if Congress fails to enact a figure before the raise is due …More
Another Raise Recommendation Could Be on Way
The White House has another opportunity coming to stake out its position on the January 2007 federal pay raise, since …More
Issues Surround FEHB Medical Records Bill
The House federal workforce subcommittee is considering a proposal to increase electronic record keeping in the FEHB program. For questions …More
Whistleblower Change Urged
Several House members active in civil service issues have asked House negotiators in a conference on the Defense Department fiscal …More
Expert’s View: Disputed Claims
OPM has a process for resolving disputed health insurance claims that in general works well, writes benefits expert Reg Jones. …More
No Word on 2007 Limits Yet
Although some investors have begun asking about the 2007 investment limits already, that figure won’t be known until late October. …More
What Happens When Cap is Hit
If FERS investors hit the dollar cap before the last pay period of the year, their contributions will shut off …More
Guard Against Hitting TSP Dollar Cap
This time of year is a good point for higher-paid FERS employees to check to make sure they won’t lose …More
Other Progress Underscored
According to a statement accompanying the latest President’s Management Agenda evaluations, 73 percent of agencies have closed critical talent gaps …More
OPM Touts Progress on Personnel Issues
OPM says that departments are making progress toward improving their personnel programs in key areas measured by the President’s Management …More
Other Benefits Issues May Arise
OPM also said that while it currently doesn’t see a need for special procedures in the FSAFEDS program that allows …More
Flexibility in Benefits Expected if Flu Strikes
OPM has said that it expects providers of certain federal benefits to exercise flexibility in the event of a pandemic …More
F Fund Leads TSP Returns
The bond (F) fund of the TSP led in returns in July, posting a 1.32 percent gain, while the international …More
No Change in Special COLAs
A study performed for OPM using differing methodology to compute housing costs for federal employees who receive special COLAs in …More
Expert’s View: Annuity and Salary
OPM has proposed to broaden the authority under which waivers can be granted from the general requirement that reemployed annuitants …More
Best Practices in Student Loan Reimbursements
The Office of Personnel Management has produced a summary of best practices for agencies to employ in using their authority …More
Familiar Provisions Also Included
The Senate version of the spending bill also continues several provisions that have become standard in the bill in recent …More
Contracting Restrictions Would Continue
Several restrictions on the contracting-out process would be continued for another year under the Transportation-Treasury bill. The measure that is …More
Other Pay Issues at Stake
The Transportation-Treasury measure also carries several other raise-related provisions. Like similar bills of recent years, it sets pay for wage …More
