Earthquake Ease

If Tuesday's earthquake rattled more than just buildings up and down the East Coast, not to worry. The Office of Personnel Management has guidance to help federal managers and employees work through the aftermath of a natural disaster.

According to OPM, earthquakes, hurricanes and other traumatic events can cause "emotional stress, physical injury, bereavement, loss of property and disruption of normal routines," making it difficult for employees to continue working as usual. Agencies should coordinate with employees to create specific disaster plans, but here are a few tips from OPM:

• Ensure employees and their families have sufficient medical care, food and housing.
• Temporarily adjust rules that could cause additional stress, such as dress codes, telephone use and restrictions on children in the office.
• Allow employees to telework, and establish emergency telework options for employees who do not usually work remotely.
• Work with labor unions to respond to employee needs.
• Prevent overwork by setting clear expectations and monitoring employees for signs of exhaustion.
• Promote healthy behavior by educating employees about the importance of rest, providing safe drinking water and limiting unnecessary travel.
• Offer employee assistance programs and other opportunities for workers to share their experiences.

Agencies should "not stop at telling people what to do," OPM says. "Make it easy for them to do it."

Postal COLAs

Some U.S. Postal Service employees will see a small increase in their paychecks in September, thanks to a cost-of-living adjustment awarded as part of the agency's contract with the National Association of Letter Carriers. The increase, determined by changes in the Consumer Price Index, will be the first COLA awarded in three years.

Under the most recent contract, NALC members were eligible for nine COLAs between 2006 and 2011, but they have not seen an increase in the last five adjustment periods. The final COLA allowed by the contract is equal to 47 cents per hour -- $37.60 per pay period -- and will take effect on the Sept. 30 pay date. NALC last week began negotiations with USPS for a new contract.

Annuity Reduction

OPM is revising how it calculates the survivor benefits paid to spouses of separated federal employees who die before they become eligible for full annuities. According to a final rule issued in Tuesday's Federal Register, surviving spouses can choose to receive the balance of the death benefit in a lump sum or an annuity beginning either the day after the employee's death or on the date of his or her 62nd birthday.

If the payments begin on the deceased worker's birthday, the surviving spouse will receive an annuity equal to 50 percent of the benefit the employee would have received had he or she lived to age 62. If the spouse elects to receive immediate payments, the annuity will be reduced depending on the deceased employee's age and creditable service.