Pay Bill Hits Snag
Legislation (HR-2989) carrying a 4.1 percent January 2004 federal raise has hit a snag in Congress because of Bush administration …More
Fedweek
Sign up Now! Free eNewslettersExplanation of New DoD Personnel Authority
The report by House-Senate conferees who crafted the agreement on the Defense Department personnel reforms includes a following statement explaining …More
Amount for Employees Would Be Capped
Once the performance fund is up and running, 90 percent of the money in it each year would be available …More
Performance Fund Requirements Set
The DoD authorization bill grants the administration’s request to create a government-wide “human capital performance fund” to reward top-performing employees. …More
Retirement Provisions Included
The DoD measure also includes several retirement-related provisions, including permanent authority to offer employees early-out retirement (at age 50 with …More
Changes in Labor Rights Ahead
One area of special concern to federal unions in the debate over the bill involved agency rights to bar unionization …More
Pay Requirements Set
In addition, the bill requires that through 2008, the agency “ensure that in the aggregate, employees are not disadvantaged in …More
Certain Protections Remain in Place
In addition to opening the door for pay banding and pay-for-performance, the DoD measure grants the agency wide latitude in …More
DoD Reforms Clear Congress
Congress has given final approval to a Defense Department budget bill (HR-1588) containing what is being described as the most …More
4.1 Percent Raise in Homestretch
The proposed 4.1 percent average general schedule raise in January is now only a few steps from becoming final, following …More
Several Workforce Bills Advance
The House Government Reform Committee has approved legislation (HR-2751) to revamp personnel rules at the General Accounting Office, an agency …More
Improved Pay for Reservists Idea Dropped
Congress has dropped, apparently at least for the year, a proposal that would continue paying federal employees their full salaries …More
SSA’s Views on Windfall, Offset
A recent Senate hearing on reducing or repealing the government pension offset and windfall elimination provisions of Social Security law …More
Pay Raise Still Short of Finish Line
The Transportation-Treasury bill also is the vehicle for the January 2004 federal pay raise, with both the House and Senate …More
Some Common Ground on Contracting Policy
Although the House and Senate took differing approaches to the government’s contracting-out policy in passing their versions of the Transportation-Treasury …More
TSP Stock Funds Post Strong Returns
All three stock-oriented Thrift Savings Plan funds posted strong gains in October, with the small capitalization (S) fund up 7.65 …More
FSA Rollover Idea Still Alive
Among the provisions being debated as Congress attempts to craft a Medicare reform bill is a proposal to allow $500 …More
Agencies Told to Pay FSA Fees
Another provision of the DoD authorization bill would require all federal agencies to pay the enrollment fees for their employees …More
Changes Could Be Some Time in Development
The pace of the changes to come at DoD is yet to be determined. DoD will have to issue implementing …More
DoD Personnel Reforms Advance
A bill (HR-1588) to significantly revamp the personnel policies for the Defense Department’s civilian employees is undergoing final congressional voting, …More
Crackdown on Card Abuse Urged
Recently introduced legislation (S-1744 and HR-3329) seeks to crack down on abuse of government-issued charge cards by requiring agencies to …More
Mileage Rate Could Rise
Reimbursement rates for using personal vehicles on official business could rise slightly in 2004 if past practice is repeated. The …More
GAO’s Take on Contracting Issues
One of the most controversial aspects of the Bush administration’s overhaul of contracting-out guidance was introducing the “best value” concept …More
Contracting Restrictions Take Hold
Although Congress is continuing to consider appropriations bills that would restrict the government’s contracting-out program at various agencies and in …More
Higher Loan Reimbursements Approved
The House has joined the Senate in passing legislation (S-926) to increase the lifetime maximum under the government’s student loan …More
Relationship Between FSAs, FEHB
One emphasis of the FSA open season will be to give employees a fuller understanding of how accounts work and …More
FSA Re-Enrollment Required
While FEHB enrollment carries over from one year to the next even if the individual makes no new election during …More
Are You Getting Your Money’s Worth From Your Health Plan?
Beginning next week, Federal and Postal employees have the opportunity to choose a better health plan through the American Postal …More
Dropouts Are Relatively Small
Of the HMOs dropping out of the program, most are relatively small, with the largest of them with about 4200 …More
FEHB Open Season Ahead
The annual open season in the Federal Employees Health Benefits program runs November 10-December 8, providing the chance for eligible …More
