News Briefs

THE DAILY FED

News Briefs

SECTIONS TO CHOOSE FROM:

10th Annual Federal Quality Conference

Get more information on this special conference and download a brochure and registration forms from our special conference section.

U.S. Navy International Logistics Symposium

Secretary of the Navy John H. Dalton will be a guest speaker at a three-day International Logistics Symposium sponsored by the Navy International Programs Office in conjunction with the American Society of Naval Engineers, July 14-16, 1997, at the Hyatt Regency hotel in Crystal City, VA. Representatives from government, industry and foreign nations will meet to exchange ideas and review exhibits on a variety of logistics topics related to the Navy's Foreign Military Sales program. For program information contact NAVSEA (703) 602-9000.

The following news summaries are usually from OPM AM, the daily newsletter of the Office of Personnel Management. OPM AM is available on OPM Mainstreet, the agency's electronic bulletin board, at 202-606-4800.

**TSP OPEN SEASON**The Thrift Savings Plan Open Season runs through July 31. During this time, you may begin contributing to the TSP, change the amount of your TSP contributions, or allocate TSP contributions to your account among the three investment funds. To get more information and download the forms you will need, click here.

THE FEDERAL DIARY--Readers of the Causey column question the day on which the federal government observes Memorial Day (The Washington Post 5/26/97)...If you are under the Civil Service Retirement System and thinking about investing in the voluntary contributions program, make sure you know the good and bad about doing so (The Washington Post, 5/27/97)...Defense Department plans to eliminate tens of thousands more civilian jobs could force Congress and the Pentagon to come up with ways to make retirement or relocation more attractive to civilian workers (The Washington Post, 5/25/97).

SOLVING CONFLICTS--The workplace of the 90's is filled with tension and strife. Conflicts arise under pressure-cooker deadlines, increased workloads, fear of layoffs and the unrelenting demand for higher productivity. Some places even encourage conflict as a catalyst for creativity. "Whether controlled or uncontrolled, this tense environment has made the ability to resolve conflict and manage emotions a much needed skill for today's manager" (The Wall Street Journal, Managing Your Career).

FIRED--Workers' tales of getting fired range from the comical to the sad (The Wall Street Journal, Work Week).

LIFE ADVICE--"Dig Your Well Before You're Thirsty," a new book, says that it pays to network and offers advice on how to establish, build and maintain a successful network (USA TODAY, Money Bookshelf)...On the lighter side, the comic strip character Dilbert pokes fun at the workplace of the future. "In the future, all work will be outsourced until all the work in the planet is done by one guy" (USA TODAY, Book Notes).

WELFARE-TO-WORK--On July 1, Richmond, Virginia, will cut off aid to the first families who will be hitting a two-year limit on cash assistance under the program; within a year, about 1,000 families are expected to lose benefits (The Washington Post, 5/26/97).

FEDERAL TIMES--In September, agencies across government will finish and submit to Congress and the Office of Management and Budget plans outlining their mission and goals for at least five years and ways to achieve their goals. The plans and reports are required under the Government Performance and Results Act...Under the budget resolution, federal employees and retirees would not have to pay a higher percentage of their health insurance premiums... "Early-out authority will stretch into the next fiscal year, to help agencies avoid reductions in force." The Office of Personnel Management will extend authority until December 30 at agencies' requests (Federal Times, 6/2/97).