Misunderstanding Circulating on New Leave Fund
Only a week after a new federal employee leave fund was enacted into law, misunderstanding about the fund is circulating …More
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Unions Pushing on Return-to-Office, Other Bargaining Issues
Federal employee unions have said that agencies are not being fully responsive to the Biden administration’s directives to roll back …More
Report Raises Concerns about Faster Hiring at VA
The inspector general’s office at the VA has issued a “management alert” about potential problems with the department’s accelerated hiring …More
Representation of Hispanics in Federal Workforce Continues to Increase
The representation of persons self-identifying as Hispanic—the term OPM uses in federal workforce demographics reports—continues to increase, passing 9.1 percent …More
Representative Payee Rules: Changes Proposed
OPM has proposed rules to carry out changes enacted into law regarding “representative payees,” who receive payments such as federal …More
CFC Donation Period, Leave Sharing Approved for Recent Severe Weather
OPM has opened a month-long special donation period in the Combined Federal Campaign and has authorized a leave-sharing program for …More
Special Federal Employee Leave Fund Finalized
President Biden has signed into law a bill creating a special – albeit short term – fund to provide additional …More
Drop Schedule F Efforts, Prepare to Rework Contracts, Agencies Told
In response to President Biden’s cancellation of several Trump administration executive orders on the federal workforce, OPM has told agencies …More
OPM to Override Trump-Era Rules on Federal Employee Discipline
OPM has said it is preparing to issue new regulations to override rules set by one of the Trump administration …More
Diversity & Inclusiveness Training Cleared for Restart
The Biden administration has told federal agencies to restart diversity and inclusiveness type training programs that had been effectively suspended …More
3.2 Percent Fed Raise Proposed; Tax Debt, MSPB Rights Also on Agenda
Among recently introduced bills in Congress is S-561, to set a 3.2 percent federal employee pay raise for January 2022, …More
USPS Reorganization Features Some Early Outs but Not Buyouts
The Postal Service has announced a limited early retirement opportunity effective April 30 for certain non-bargaining unit employees at headquarters, …More
OPM Revives Rank Awards, Calls for Nominations
OPM has revived the annual Presidential Rank Awards for career employees in the SES and equivalent levels, asking agencies to …More
OPM Targets Problem of Surprise Billing; Calls for Enhanced FEHB Benefits
OPM has encouraged FEHB carriers to enhance their benefit offerings in several areas for the 2022 plan year and to …More
FEHB: OPM Cites Mental Health, Social Inequity in Care Outcomes
OPM has said that as medical issues related to the pandemic evolve, the FEHB program will change with it and …More
Justice Dept. Grappling with Whether Employees Can Be Compelled to Get Vaccine
Federal agencies “face a variety of legal issues concerning employee vaccinations, including privacy, office safety, and discrimination issues” the Justice …More
VA Audit Notes Controversy over ‘Conservation’ of PPE
The VA ran low on personal protective equipment in the early period of the pandemic but never ran out, says …More
House Advances Bill on Leave Fund, Takes Up one on Ethics
The House has passed a wide-ranging bill on pandemic relief and economic stimulus (HR-1319) that would create a special fund …More
OPM: Marijuana Not an Automatic Disqualifier for Federal Employment
OPM has told agencies not to “automatically” deem the use or possession of marijuana as disqualifying someone from federal employment …More
Most TSP Funds End February Up Despite Pull Back
TSP funds posted gains in February except the bond F fund—which was down 1.45 percent—with the small company stock S …More
Proposed Leave Fund, Pace of Vaccinations Draw Attention of Congress
The impact of the pandemic on the federal workforce is drawing increased attention of Congress on several fronts, with the …More
Agencies Starting to Revise Policies on Recalls, Other Pandemic Issues
Federal agencies have begun revising their policies on recalling employees from telework and other pandemic-related issues in light of the …More
Discipline Possible for Feds Not Following Safety Practices, Mask Wearing
New guidance regarding Coronavirus-related safety practices in the federal workplace raises the prospect that employees who do not comply could …More
Guidance Calls for Leave to Get Vaccine, Other Reasons
Federal agencies have been told that they “should offer” administrative leave to their employees of up to four hours for …More
Former OPM Chief of Staff Named to Lead Agency
President Biden has nominated Kiran Ahuja, who was OPM chief of staff for several years during the Obama administration and …More
OPM Stresses Limits on Hiring Prior Political Appointees into Career Jobs
Limits on “burrowing in” – placing political appointees into career positions – apply after a presidential transition as well as …More
Postal Reform Effort to Focus on Financial Relief, Transparency
The outlines of the latest postal reform effort on Capitol Hill are starting to take shape, with the House Oversight …More
Employees Suspended for Social Media Posts Violating Hatch Act
The outcomes of several recent Hatch Act-related cases serve as a reminder that limits on partisan political activities apply to …More
Extra Paid Leave Proposed for Feds Who Use Up Sick Leave Due to Pandemic
The House is moving toward creating a new central fund that would provide additional paid leave time for federal employees …More
Bills Offered on Recalls from Telework, Other Issues
Legislation (HR-978) has been reintroduced in Congress to set standards for recalling federal employees to their regular worksites from telework, …More
