Chances for Extra Time Off May Be Lower This Year
As commonly happens at this time of year, federal employees are wondering whether they will get time off without charge …More
Fedweek
Sign up Now! Free eNewslettersNARFE Reaches Alzheimer’s Research Funding Goal
The National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association has reached a goal set at its 2014 convention of a cumulative …More
OPM Proposes to Beef Up Veterans Preference
OPM has proposed rules to strengthen veterans preference for excepted service positions, in part clarifying and formalizing policies already in …More
Benefits, Employee Rights Issues on Table as Trump Transition Picks Up Pace
While most of the focus on the presidential transition so far has been on structuring the transition team and identifying …More
Limits on Employee Awards Boosted
In what amounts to something of a going-away present to federal employees, the Obama administration has raised the cap in …More
Agency Spending Decisions Likely to Be Kicked into New Year
Republican leaders have stated their intent to pass another stopgap funding measure for the government extending only through March. By …More
Bills, Rules Move in Last-Chance Push
As the current Congress nears its end, members are trying to push numerous bills over the finish line rather than …More
Inauguration Day to Be Holiday for Some
Federal employees working in or close to Washington, D.C. will get Inauguration Day, January 20, as a paid day off …More
Rules on Accepting Gifts Revised
The Office of Government Ethics has finalized rules it proposed last year updating policies regarding exceptions to the general ban …More
Sometimes It’s Best to Turn Down Even an Allowable Gift
Revisions to ethics rules taking effect January 1 contain guidance for employees when acceptance of a gift would be allowable …More
Hiring Freeze in the Works, but How Would It Work?
The Donald Trump campaign listed a federal hiring freeze as a top priority, but a week after the election, many …More
Much of Government Could Be Exempt from Hiring Freeze
One issue regarding the incoming Trump administration’s planned federal hiring freeze is whether it would be total or whether it …More
Turnover Rates Could Be a Consideration
The incoming Trump administration’s plan to generally freeze federal hiring has turned attention to federal turnover. Federal employment data are …More
VA Reform Named a Top Priority
The Trump transition team has signaled that his administration will pursue changes in VA personnel policies—such as shortened disciplinary processes …More
Few Changes Likely among Congressional Panels After Election
The election produced little turnover among congressional leaders on civil service issues for the 2017-2018 Congress. The chairmen and ranking …More
Short Working Time Remaining for Congress
Congress is back in session this week after recessing since late September but mainly to deal with organizational issues; it …More
New Medicare Rates Set; Cost to Be Higher for Some
The Medicare program has announced rates for 2017, with a $109 monthly Part B premium (for physicians and related services), …More
Feds Await Details on Trump’s Plans for Federal Workforce
Donald Trump has defeated Hillary Clinton in arguably the biggest upset in US presidential election history. As with the “Brexit” …More
FEHB and FEDVIP Decisions Are Independent
In both FEHB and FEDVIP, if an enrollee makes no changes in the open season starting November 14, a current …More
More Could Benefit from Switching to Self Plus One
OPM officials have suggested that many FEHB enrollees who have only one eligible family member could save money in the …More
Watch Out for FEHB Plan Changes
Five plans are dropping out of the FEHB for the 2017 plan year, bringing the total down to 245. They …More
FSA Program Requires Re-enrollment, Features Some Changes
Unlike in the FEHB and FEDVIP programs, where current coverage continues unless changed, re-enrollment is required each year in another …More
Remember Carry-Over Policy in Health Care FSA Accounts
Toward the end of the year, many employees become concerned about losing money in their flexible spending accounts due to …More
Career Status Policy Change Finalized
OPM yesterday (November 8) finalized rules to eliminate a requirement that employment be “substantially continuous” in order for employees to …More
Pay Gap Little Changed at 34 Percent
The federal-private sector pay gap remains essentially unchanged from a year ago at 34.07 percent, the Federal Salary Council has …More
Higher Pay Envisioned for Many, but Not Just Yet
In addition to reporting on the official pay gap numbers, the Federal Salary Council also recommends creation of new localities …More
Indicator Set for 2018 Pay Raise
An early marker has been set for the January 2018 (not 2017) general schedule pay raise, as the Labor Department …More
TSP Posts Frightful Results for October
All TSP funds except the ever-positive government securities G fund posted losses in October, with the small company stock S …More
TSP Investment Limits to Remain the Same
The standard maximum investment allowed in the TSP and similar retirement savings plans will remain $18,000 in 2017, the IRS …More
Re-enrollment Needed for Monitoring Services Due to Personnel Records Breach
The original contract to provide identity protection services for those victimized by the breach of OPM’s personnel records database is …More
