Hiring Process Improvements Promised
The Office of Personnel Management and three dozen agencies have joined in issuing a pledge to make the federal job …More
Fedweek
Sign up Now! Free eNewslettersSenate Passes Widened Whistleblower Protections
The Senate has joined the House in passing legislation (HR-169) to strengthen protections of federal employees under anti-discrimination and whistleblower …More
OPM’s Assessment of Pay System
While not making recommendations, the OPM report urges action to reform the pay system, saying that “seizing systemic, government wide …More
OPM Presents Case for Reforming Pay
The Office of Personnel Management has issued a “white paper” on federal pay that officials hope will start the process …More
Checking on LTC Eligibility
There has been some confusion in federal agencies regarding which employees are eligible to enroll in the FLTCIP. The Office …More
Soon-to-Be Retirees Should Take Care
Since both active employees and retirees are eligible for the program, someone who gets caught in the timing trap still …More
Special Considerations in LTC Enrollment
Those interested in the Federal Long Term Care Insurance Program-the early enrollment period runs through May 15 and the formal …More
Potential Cost Is Main Barrier
Active employees became eligible for the premium conversion arrangement in 2000; however, retirees were excluded because of a provision in …More
Premium Break Proposal for Retirees Gains Strength
A House bill (HR-2125) to make federal retirees eligible for the “premium conversion” arrangement that allows active employees to pay …More
4.1 Percent Raise Marker Advances
A House Armed Services subcommittee has voted to set the January 2003 military raise at 4.1 percent, effectively setting a …More
Personnel Reforms Also Proposed
Morella’s bill, dubbed the “Good People, Good Government” act, also seeks to address the government’s “human capital crisis.” It would: …More
Focus on Contracting Out Coming
The Commercial Activities Panel, a special commission overseen by the General Accounting Office that has been examining the government’s contracting-out …More
Some Restrictions Remain
The GSA policy also imposes certain restriction on personal use of frequent traveler benefits. It states that employees may not …More
Final Guidance on Frequent Traveler Benefits Issued
The General Services Administration has issued final guidance on use of frequent traveler benefits by federal employees, formally putting into …More
COLA Count Turns Upward
The inflation index used to set the January 2003 retiree cost-of-living adjustment increased by 0.6 percent in March, bringing the …More
More Such Maneuvers May be Ahead
The Treasury letter to Congress indicated that there may be more financial maneuvering ahead for the G fund unless Congress …More
TSP Funds Restored
The Treasury Department has announced that it has stopped using financial maneuvers involving the Thrift Savings Plan’s government securities (G) …More
Letter Starts Annual Negotiation Process
The call letter kicks off a process of negotiation between OPM and the insurance carriers that typically concludes in late …More
Drug Costs, Care Management to Get Particular Attention
OPM’s letter to the insurers told them that they should “remain committed to managing prescription drug costs” through steps such …More
OPM Issues 2003 FEHB Call Letter
The Office of Personnel Management, saying the forces that have been driving up Federal Employees Health Benefits program premiums in …More
DoD Lists Commercial-Type Jobs
Meanwhile, the Office of Management and Budget has released the latest accounting of the agency with the greatest number of …More
Numeric Goals Called Arbitrary
Federal employee organizations have opposed the setting of numeric goals for potential privatization from the outset of the administration, arguing …More
No Timetable on Larger Goal
The Bush team first addressed its intentions for the contracting-out program during the campaign during 2000, when officials indicated that …More
House Approves IT Employee Exchange Program
The House has passed legislation (HR-3925) to establish a federal-private sector exchange program in which information technology employees at the …More
VA RIF Rights Clarified
Health care professionals working at the Veterans Affairs department’s Veterans Health Administration are covered by the reduction in force protections …More
Senate Signal on Raise Still Pending
The Senate has yet to schedule a vote on a fiscal year 2003 budget resolution that will stake out the …More
Repeat of GPO Bill’s Experience Shaping Up?
The garnering of a House majority in favor of revising the windfall penalty is an accomplishment for employee and retiree …More
‘Windfall’ Bill Passes Milestone
A bill to ease the impact of the windfall elimination provision has passed an important milestone in the House, garnering …More
GAO’s Views on Civil Service Reform
The General Accounting Office put the term “human capital crisis” in the federal workplace vocabulary in early 2001 by deeming …More
James Orders Hiring Policy Changes
Federal agencies have been ordered to improve several aspects of their hiring procedures in order to better cope with the …More
