TOPICS
TOPICS
Change Happens
It remains to be seen what kind of change the Obama administration will bring to the way government operates, or when it will happen. But federal employees could see some significant changes to their benefits in the near future.
"I don't want to overcommit on saying this is a new, brave world until we have evidence of it," said Max Stier, president of the Partnership for Public Service, but "I think that we're seeing the beginning sides of one."
One sign that change is coming? Congress is moving quickly on a number of federal benefits bills that either died in committee during the last session, or passed in one chamber only to languish in the other.
For instance, the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee on Wednesday marked up H.R. 1265, a bill that would revise how sick leave is credited toward retirement, automatically enroll new federal employees in the Thrift Savings Plan and broaden the plan's fund offerings.
In addition, Rep. Stephen Lynch, D-Mass., the new chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Federal Workforce Subcommittee, has announced that his first markup of legislation, scheduled for March 25, will be the Federal Employees Paid Parental Leave Act. That bill would give all federal employees four weeks of paid leave for the birth or adoption of a child, and allow them to use annual leave or sick time and take up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave.
And that's just the legislation already introduced. Sens. Joe Lieberman, I-Conn., and Susan Collins, R-Maine, and Rep. Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis., plan to introduce the Domestic Partnership Benefits and Obligations Act soon. That bill would give the domestic partners or spouses of gay and lesbian federal employees access to the same benefits available to the husbands and wives of heterosexual federal employees.
Stier said benefits bills that provide additional flexibility are critical to making the federal government a more competitive and accommodating employer.
"This is really about the federal government establishing itself as a leader in recruiting and keeping the very best talent, and beginning to be a role model for other organizations in how to treat its talent," said Stier. "I think you have all kinds of issues, including maternity leave benefits...it is simply unacceptable, truly, for the federal government to not offer women who are having children the opportunity to take paid leave."
The Obama administration has been cautious about articulating its agenda for management reform in the government. The decision to study, rather than repeal NSPS [National Security Personnel System] is one example, as is a similar administration review of A-76 contracts that outsource jobs that federal employees perform. Since he arrived in Washington, President Obama's approach to management reform has been to assess programs he might end, rather than outline ambitious new management initiatives.
That's to be expected as the new administration navigates a widespread financial crisis and two wars, but it won't last forever, Stier said, adding once John Berry is confirmed as director of the Office of Personnel Management, the Obama administration will start advancing initiatives.
"I think we owe them the benefit of the doubt," Stier said. "Once they have their full team in place, the expectations [for personnel reform] ought to increase."
COMMENTS
- i really hate how every single article here (and every other place for that matter) specify domestic partnership benefits as ONLY applying to gays and lesbians. It is illegal for the government to discriminate against unmarried heterosexual couples by ONLY allowing domestic partnership benefits to gays. The only reason i could see it not being illegal discrimination is because there is no law to allow gays to get married across the US, and therefore because hetero's have the option to get married we don't have to be allowed to be given the option for a domestic partnership. i'm sorry, but i've established a wonderful life for myself independant of my significant other/livin, and same for him. we have no desire to ever get married and are perfectly fine with that. why should this only be acceptable for hollywood couples and not our average joe feds? in my immediately family alone there have been five divorces, i don't even want to start to inlcude uncles/aunts/etc. why can't heterosexuals be offered the same domestic partnership benefits? other than that the government federal benefits are pathetic compared to my contractor counterparts. i'm 40k in the hole for student loan debt that i can't get even partially reimbursed for where my other friends? they get paid for working and have school paid for while getting their undergrad. thanks a bunch uncle sam. where are the benefits of being a fed anymore? contractors get much higher pay than me doing the same job as me, tuition paid, better options for health insurance (and cheaper at that, if they even pay for health insurance out of their own pocket at all). to note: concerning maternity/paternity leave, most contractors get that leave in ADDITION to their yearly 2 week vacation time, the only rights feds currently have is that they can't be denied using their own annual/sick/medical leave when adopting a kid or giving birth. If you do the math, if you are a new fed you don't even get almost two weeks of annual leave until you are in leave category six, which still requires three years of federal service. i feel sorry for the gs-5's and gs-7's that graduate college with rent/car/student loans/etc. that have been told how wonderful federal benefits are. civil servants are desperate for more ACTUAL benefits, and not the false promise of them. not well fed Posted March 26, 2009 4:09 PM
- What about my live in girlfriend. Can I add her to my benefits? We are in a long term relationship and live together just like the homosexual and lesbians do. Panman Posted March 25, 2009 12:12 PM
- DOD Civilian said "If they truely want to make the federal government the leader in recruiting and retaining the best talent. A benefit that federal workers need is short term and long term disability." ... Having recently come from 30 years of Private Industry this is the biggest area where I DO NOT see Fed benefits competing. Boy was I in sticker shock when I tried to price a private ST /LT disability policy for myself. With the size of our insurance pool this coverage would be DIRT cheap to offer. A group disability plan short / long term that as DOD points out it could be used as a cheaper, better replacement for a number of different needs AND this could be a Win/ Win especially if it was underwritten by one of those Insurance Giants that DID NOT need a bail-out, he he he ... Chris Posted March 23, 2009 3:59 PM
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