OSC Guidance Draws Line between Opinions, Political Activity
With the high current state of public debate over many political issues, questions are arising regarding the voice and involvement …More
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Sign up Now! Free eNewslettersEmployees May Voice Support or Opposition to Trump, Says OSC
The Office of Special Counsel has issued guidance specifically addressing the President Trump and political activities of federal employees, saying …More
Turnover Could Be Key to Avoiding RIFs in Coming Downsizing
The Trump administration’s plan for its general hiring freeze to be only a first step in downsizing the federal workforce …More
Federal Job Cutting Could Hit Temps First but Not Exclusively
Non-permanent employees could bear much of the initial brunt of the Trump administration’s planned reduction in federal jobs, but history …More
Panel Plans Thorough Review of Civil Service Law
Coming up on the 40th anniversary of the law underlying federal employment–the 1978 Civil Service Reform Act–it is time to …More
Government-Wide Disciplinary Shortcut Proposed
Legislation (HR-559) offered in the House would allow all agencies to use a shortcut disciplinary process as an alternative to …More
Restrictions on VA Employee Appeal Rights Reintroduced
Legislation (HR-611 and S-152) has been reintroduced in Congress to limit disciplinary appeals rights for all VA employees, part of …More
More Protection for Whistleblowers Urged; Anti-Reprisal Bills Advance
Republican leaders in Congress on civil service issues have sent an unusual letter to the White House saying that “protecting …More
TSP Funds Start Year on Positive Note; Annual Statements Issued
All TSP funds posted gains in January, led by the international stock I fund, up 2.89 percent, and the small …More
Impact of Hiring Freeze on Current Federal Employees Clarified
The Trump administration has put out further guidance on the exceptions to its general federal hiring freeze, clarifying for example …More
New Guidance on Hiring Freeze Addresses Exceptions
New guidance from OMB on the general federal hiring freeze begins to address some of the questions raised in the …More
Agencies Starting to Specify Occupations Excepted from Freeze
The Trump administration’s policies on its general hiring freeze leave decisions on specifically which jobs fall under the public safety …More
DoD Promises Early Outs, Buyouts Before RIFs
The Defense Department, while cautioning that it is not planning RIFs, has said that if that need arises, it “will …More
Early Maneuvering for 2018 Raise Begins
Several Democrats in both the House and Senate have proposed a 3.2 percent average raise for federal employees in January …More
Whistleblowing Rights, Data Breaches Get Fresh Attention
The House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, the main House panel overseeing federal employment matters, is focusing some of its …More
Whistleblower, Other Familiar Bills Set to Advance; Postal Reform Offered
Federal employees would gain additional protections against retaliation for whistleblowing under HR-657, set to be passed by the House Oversight …More
Hiring Freeze Only the First Step in Planned Federal Job Cutting
The general hiring freeze ordered Monday by President Trump is designed as only the first step in a larger effort …More
Trump Team Signals Interest in Targeting FEHB, Retirement
In announcing the hiring freeze, the White House termed the action a cost-saving move in response to what a press …More
Opposition to Freeze Voiced, but Little Chance for Impact
Reaction to President Trump’s federal hiring freeze memo fell along lines that had been drawn as far back as last …More
Time to Double-Check Pay Statements for Raise Impact
The average 2.1 percent general schedule pay raise that was effective in the first full pay period of the year, …More
Current Statements May Reflect Benefit Changes
The payment of a federal employee raise also may trigger higher coverage under FEGLI Basic and Option B, for those …More
Lineup Set on Key House Panel
The key House committee overseeing the federal workforce, Oversight and Government Reform, has set its lineup for the current Congress, …More
Trump Orders Hiring Freeze
President Trump has followed through on a campaign promise of a hiring freeze on non-military personnel. No vacant positions existing …More
Big Changes Expected for Federal Employees under Trump
On the eve of the inauguration of President Trump, federal employees are watching for the imposition of a hiring freeze …More
First Trump Budget Could Contain Detailed Workforce Plans
The new administration’s first major set of legislative proposals likely will come in the context of budget proposals to Congress. …More
Emphasis on Stronger Link between Pay and Performance Anticipated
One expected emphasis of the Trump administration regarding the federal workforce is a closer link between performance ratings and both …More
FEHB Plans Told to Stress Control of Drugs Costs
OPM has issued its annual “call letter” to FEHB carriers, which as in past years stresses cost-control steps, particularly regarding …More
FEHB Enrollees Still Getting Unexpected Bills, OPM Says
The annual OPM call letter setting terms for the FEHB for the following year says that while plans have taken …More
OPM Stresses Boost in Certain FEHB Benefits, Other Priorities
FEHB carriers “are beginning to make progress toward achieving diabetes control” but more needs to be done, OPM said in …More
Bills Offered on Tax Delinquency, Other Issues
Among bills offered in the new Congress’s early days was HR-396, to make those with seriously delinquent tax debt ineligible …More
