Some Reimbursement Allowed, Though
Meanwhile, OPM said that FSA participants can use those accounts to pay for long-term care expenses not paid by their …More
Fedweek
Sign up Now! Free eNewslettersRelationship Between FSAs, FLTCIP Explained
The Office of Personnel Management has issued guidance regarding the relationship between the federal flexible spending account program and the …More
Employees Vote with Their Feet
A recent General Accounting Office report (GAO-03-1034T) revealed that differences in compensation practices among agencies do affect employee decisions regarding …More
Increase Your Agency or Organization’s Exposure Within the Federal Government
If your agency or organization needs to increase its exposure to the federal government, we are now offering newsletter sponsorship …More
Law Enforcement Issues Particularly Thorny
Another especially troublesome aspect of creating the DHS personnel system will be deciding what to do about the special pay …More
System Already Casting Shadows
Although the DHS system remains a long way from its final form, other agencies already are looking at the flexibilities …More
Pay-for-Performance a Focal Point
Although DHS has personnel flexibilities in many areas, much of the attention on the upcoming proposal likely will focus on …More
DHS Personnel System Developments Ahead
A team of federal personnel experts charged with designing a personnel system for the Department of Homeland Security is nearing …More
New Tax Law Provides Relief For Federal Employees & Retirees
Your Guide to Understanding the New 2003 Tax Law Just Published–Only $9.95! Go to https://www.fedweek.com/Publications/default.asp. The third-largest tax cut in …More
Catch-Up Contributions Ahead at DoD
The Defense Department has said it will begin allowing its employees who are age 50 and older this year to …More
Other Measures Advance
Among bills progressing in Congress recently were: the House civil service subcommittee has approved HR-1151, which would put into law …More
Loan Reimbursement Bill Clears Senate
The Senate has passed S-926, which would raise the maximum amounts agencies may pay their employees as student loan reimbursements …More
Agency Reorganization Push May Be Coming
The House Government Reform Committee has started hearings that may serve as a prelude to action on proposals to broadly …More
EEO Data Reported
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, in its most recent annual report, has provided a statistical summary of employment by demographic …More
DoD Also Objects to Other Provisions
In a separate communication to Congress, DoD also objected to several other provisions of the authorization bill pending in conference. …More
Views Dimmer on Senate Bill
The DoD analysis further said the Senate version “gives DoD much less flexibility than does either the Homeland law [last …More
DoD Personnel Reforms Also Left Hanging
Also left unresolved before Congress took its recess was the extent to which the Defense Department will be allowed to …More
Congress Leaves Work Unfinished
The Senate has joined the House in taking the annual congressional recess through Labor Day, with both chambers leaving a …More
FSAs Just About to Start for Some
Although the FSA program began effective July 1 in most agencies, several agencies will begin their programs September 1. These …More
DoD to Pay FSA Fees
The Defense Department has announced that it will pay the fees for its employees enrolled in the flexible spending account …More
S Fund Takes Lead in Returns
The small- and mid-capitalization stock (S) fund took over the lead in returns among the Thrift Savings Plan’s five funds …More
CBO Releases Estimates on Loan Proposals
The Congressional Budget Office has produced cost estimates on two proposals of wide interest to federal employees, particularly younger ones, …More
Administration Opposes Restrictions
The Bush administration has said it “strongly opposes” attempts to restrict the contracting-out program, to the extent of threatening to …More
Agency-Specific Limits Also in Play
The House has passed bills that would restrict contracting-out at the Interior Department and Forest Service (HR-2691) and the Agriculture …More
Hill Considers Limits on Contracting
Meanwhile, Congress is continuing to seek restrictions on contracting-out policy as part of the annual spending bills for the upcoming …More
Ability to Meet Contracting Goals Questioned
The administration announcement also followed release of a General Accounting Office report questioning whether the Defense Department-which has by far …More
White House Drops Contracting Goals
The White House has backed off its goal to have half of all commercial-type federal jobs considered for possible conversion …More
Better Performance Ahead Promised
TSP officials told the committee that the new system was tested extensively before the launch but that unexpected problems arose. …More
Loan Program Especially Troublesome
The TSP’s loan program came in for special criticism at the hearing, especially regarding the TSP’s decision to require all …More
TSP Officials Get an Earful
Leaders of the Thrift Savings Plan heard sharp criticism from House members of both parties regarding the TSP’s newly launched …More
