3.1 Percent Raise Figure a Longshot
While there has been speculation in some quarters recently suggesting that the average January 2003 federal pay raise will be …More
Fedweek
Sign up Now! Free eNewslettersPay Hikes Could Range Up to 4.87 Percent
General schedule raises in January 2003 would range from 4.02 percent to 4.87 percent among the GS localities, under a …More
Union Stakes in Homeland Security Fight
As the Senate continues to debate creation of a new Department of Homeland Security, union rights of the employees who …More
Locality System Change Proposed
The rules governing the boundary lines for locality pay for general schedule employees would be revised under proposed rules published …More
Conference on Key DoD Bill Continues
House and Senate members have been meeting for the past several weeks-and by all indications will be continuing to meet …More
Social Security Benefit May Be Affected
By reducing taxable pay, participants in flexible savings accounts will be reducing somewhat any Social Security benefit they stand to …More
Some Twists in FSA Concept
The flexible savings accounts that will become available to executive branch employees next year have several special provisions that individuals …More
New Additions, Cost Shifts
Meanwhile, four plans will be added to the FEHB program in 2003, two in Florida and one each in Montana …More
Changes in FEHB Plans Also Coming
While much of the attention to the recently announced changes in Federal Employees Health Benefits program offerings in the 2003 …More
Full Breakdown of FEGLI Changes
For a detailed look at the upcoming FEGLI changes, go to https://www.fedweek.com/HotFreeNews/default.asp in the hot free info section of our …More
Effect on Retirees Differs Somewhat
Retirees pay for FEGLI coverage at the same overall rate as do active employees, with the difference that retirees pay …More
More Changes to Come
OPM noted that in 1999 it announced new age bands for Option B but that it delayed implementation and continued …More
New Bands Also Created
In addition, OPM is creating new age bands for Option B as well as for Option C, which provides coverage …More
New FEGLI Rates Announced
Effective January 1, 2003, new premiums and age bands will apply in the Federal Employees’ Group Life Insurance program, the …More
No Threat of Shutdown Imminent
If Congress doesn’t pass the needed appropriations bills before the start of the fiscal year next Tuesday-which now appears a …More
Treasury-Postal Spending Bill Still on Plate
With the start of fiscal 2003 just ahead October 1, Congress has yet to finalize the key spending bill for …More
MSPB on ‘Making the Public Service Work’
The Merit Systems Protection Board is best known as the agency that adjudicates employee appeals, but the Board also has …More
COLA Count Nears Finish Line
With just one month remaining in the count that will determine the January 2003 federal retiree cost-of-living adjustment, retirees have …More
Homeland Security Issues Still Unresolved
As the Senate continues to consider legislation to create a new Homeland Security Department, attempts are being made to find …More
Open Season Expected Next May
OPM expects to hold an open season next May for employees to choose whether to set up one or both …More
Two Types of FSAs Planned
The OPM plan envisions two types of FSAs, with employees having the choice of participating in either, both or neither. …More
Accounting Standards Issue Resolved
Meanwhile, an issue that had caused Blue Cross/Blue Shield-which has about half of FEHB enrollees-to threaten to withdraw from the …More
NARFE Raises Concerns
Federal and postal employee and retiree organizations for years have worked to oppose one new type of plan in the …More
New APWU Plan Could Set Precedent
Meanwhile, the American Postal Workers Union will offer a revised approach to coverage in the 2003 plan year, with a …More
FEHB Rates Climbing Again, But Tax Break on Way
Premiums in the Federal Employees Health Benefits program will climb an average of 11.1 percent in the 2003 plan year …More
Problem More Acute on Capitol Hill
The report, issued by Congress’s Office of Compliance, also found that 72 percent of Capitol Hill employees contacted during March …More
Irradiated Mail Causes Health Complaints
Federal employees contacted in an informal survey of 10 agencies reported complaints related to irradiated mail including headaches, burning or …More
Misconceptions about Early Outs Remain
The fact that DoD will have early out authority in fiscal 2003 does not necessarily mean that it will broadly …More
DoD Issues Guidance on Early Outs
The Defense Department has issued guidance to its components on using early retirement authority in the fiscal year that starts …More
Key Provisions of House Homeland Security Bill
As Congress debates creation of a Homeland Security Department, the Congressional Research Service has issued a section-by-section analysis of the …More
