Average FEHB Premiums Up but Many Choices Available in Open Season
The annual federal benefits open season starts Monday (November 13) and runs through December 11, the annual opportunity for federal …More
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Some Plans Dropping Out of FEHB, but Others Joining
As happens nearly every year, there will be some FEHB plan dropouts and restrictions on coverage areas for 2018–changes that …More
Impact of Potential New FEHB Plan Designs Unclear, Says GAO
GAO has found no “clear consensus” about the potential effects of widening the range of choice in the FEHB program, …More
OPM Drops Planned Change in Premium Payments Due to Unpaid Status
OPM has dropped rules it proposed last year that would have required employees who enter unpaid status in certain situations …More
TSP Loosens Hardship Withdrawal Policies Due to Wildfires
The TSP has temporarily loosed policies regarding financial hardship withdrawals for federal employees who have incurred financial losses due to …More
Filling of Key Posts Progresses, Slowly
As the end of the administration’s first year approaches, only some steps have been taken toward filling positions of primary …More
One Budgetary Threat Eased, Another Still Out There
By joining the Senate in passing a stripped-down version of a budget outline for the current fiscal year, the House …More
Uncertainty Remains on Buyout Offers, Shutdown Threat
With a temporary extension of agency funding authority set to expire December 8, there is much uncertainty over agency budgets …More
Buyout Amount, TSP Withdrawals, Defense Workforce Issues Before Congress
While Congress likely will spend much of its attention on tax policy in the time immediately ahead, it could also …More
New Law Requires Discipline for Whistleblower Reprisal
President Trump has signed into law (P.L. 115-73) a bill that passed Congress recently requiring disciplinary action against those who …More
Indicator Set for 2019 Raise
An early marker has been set for the January 2019 (not 2018) general schedule pay raise, as the Labor Department …More
Emergency Leave Transfer Authority Expanded
OPM has authorized creation of an emergency leave transfer program for federal employees affected, personally or through family members, by …More
October TSP Returns all Treats, No Tricks
All TSP funds posted gains in October, led by the large company stock C fund, up 2.33 percent, followed by …More
Effort to Cut Retirement Benefits May Be Sidetracked
A budgetary maneuver on Capitol Hill could sidetrack, at least for an undetermined time, an effort to reduce the value …More
More Consistency in Federal Employee Discipline Sought
Federal agencies are inconsistent in the way they discipline employees for misconduct, says a House report that focused on sexual …More
TSP Investors Happy With Program Overall
TSP account holders overall are happy with the program, with 90 percent saying they are satisfied or extremely satisfied with …More
Many Not Taking Full, or Any, Advantage of TSP, Report Finds
The recent TSP investor survey showed that significant percentages of federal employees are not taking full–or in many cases, any–advantage …More
One TSP Investment Limit Rising, the Other Not
The investment limit on tax-favored retirement savings plans such as the TSP will increase from $18,000 to $18,500 in 2018, …More
Time to Check Pay Statements Regarding FEGLI
This is a good time for those who made FEGLI elections during the open season last September to check their …More
Senate Set to Vote on Bill That Could Trigger Benefit-Cutting Drive
The Senate is scheduled to vote as early as this week on a budget “resolution” that is aimed primarily at …More
Bills on TSP Withdrawals, Whistleblowers, Others Advance
The House has passed and sent to the Senate a bill (HR-3031) to allow multiple partial TSP withdrawals after separation; …More
Employee Survey Reflects Familiar Pros and Cons
This year’s version of the annual Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey reflected long-expressed praises and complaints about the federal workplace, although …More
Survey Reveals Trends in Work-Home Balance for Federal Employees
Work-life balance programs also continued to score relatively high in the latest Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey, with 90 percent positive …More
NPS Toughens Harassment, Discrimination Policies Following Employee Survey
The Interior Department has launched a new zero tolerance policy for harassment and discrimination in its National Park Service workplaces–ranging …More
Key Interest Rate Rises
The interest paid in the voluntary contribution retirement savings program available to CSRS (but not FERS) employees will rise to …More
Prospect of Retirement, Other Benefit Cuts Moves Ahead
The House and Senate appear to be headed toward a conference soon on a budget outline that could require committees …More
Federal Employee Buyout Boost Advances
A bill (S-1888) increasing the standard buyout amount to $40,000 government-wide is ready for floor voting in the Senate following …More
TSP Withdrawal Bill Up for House Vote
The House is expected to vote this week to approve a bipartisan bill (HR-3031) to expand TSP withdrawal options, making …More
Time Running Short for TSP Catch-up Elections, Withholding Adjustments
Active employees who are age 50 or above, or who will be before the end of the year, and who …More
Expanded Whistleblower Protections, Other Bills Set for Consideration
The House is scheduled to vote this week on several bills affecting employee rights under whistleblower protection law, among other …More
