News Briefs

THE DAILY FED

News Briefs

The following news summaries are 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.

CLERICAL TESTING--OPM today announced improvements in clerical testing procedures in Washington, DC. Beginning December 2, 1996, applicants will be able to reserve a seat for the test ahead of time, rather than being served on a first-come, first-served basis. OPM will administer the clerical examination every Wednesday morning at 8:00 a.m., and again in the afternoon at 1:00 p.m. if necessary. Applicants wishing to reserve a seat for the exam should call (202) 606-2701, Monday through Friday between 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. ([OPM] Office of Communications News Release, November 21).

FEDERAL DIARY--Federal employees still have time to pick their 1997 health plan, but the December 9 deadline is fast approaching (The Washington Post).

TRANSITION--Robert J. Nash, Chief of the Office of Presidential Personnel promises a smoother transition at the White House this time around (The Washington Post).

HEALTH--"Despite the fact that 142 million Americans are enrolled in HMOs or other managed care plans that offer mental health or substance abuse benefits, actual services received can be spotty and uneven," according to the Institute of Medicine, a nonprofit organization chartered by the National Academy of Sciences to study health issues (The Washington Post).

INCENTIVES--"Pay for performance isn't just for top executives any more. For the hourly and professional employees who make up the bulk of the work force, nearly a third of companies have now implemented incentive pay plans tied to measures of individual and group performance, up from about 10 percent of companies a decade ago" (The Washington Post).

OTHER VIEWS--Healthcare company pays $12 million settlement (Modern Healthcare, Chicago, IL, October 14)...Books offer tips on finding the right job (Philadelphia Daily News, Philadelphia, PA, October 30)...Board of Trade and OPM address federal downsizing and workforce transition (Greater Washington Board of Trade News, Oct.-Nov.) ...OPM oversees CFC (The Wheel, Norfolk, October 31)...OPM puts jobs on-line (Federal Computer Week, Falls Church, VA, October 7)...Government computer systems are at risk (Computerworld, Framingham, MA, November 4)...Voting rights observers assigned to Louisiana (Advocate, Baton Rouge, LA, November 5).