News Briefs

THE DAILY FED

News Briefs

Third Annual Performance Management Conference, May 13-14, McLean, VA

Plan now for the Third Annual Performance Management Conference, May 13-14, 1997, in McLean, VA, at the McLean Hilton Hotel. This conference is designed to provide practical, cutting-edge information on a wide variety of topics related to performance appraisal and awards. To receive a brochure, call (202) 606-2720, or fax a request to (202) 606-2395. For additional conference information, call Digna Carballosa at (202) 606-1778 or E-Mail dmcarbal@opm.gov.

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.

THE FEDERAL DIARY--"The Republican chairman of the Senate Governmental Affairs Committee and its ranking Democrat have rejected a White House plan to delay inflation catch-ups for federal retirees for the next five years. That doesn't mean the delays won't happen" (The Washington Post, E2).

GOVERNMENT PERFORMANCE--The President's 1998 budget proposal contains plans to restructure agencies to make them more flexible and decentralized, ensure that federal employees and their managers work together to achieve common goals, and expand competition to ensure that agencies perform their functions as efficiently as possible (FEND's Government Performance Report, February 24).

PBO--OPM's retirement benefit services has been targeted for performance-based organization (PBO) status (FEND's Government Performance Report, February 24). FLEXIBILITY--About 53 percent of white-collar workers were on some sort of flexible schedule, according to a 1992 survey by OPM. But with all the alternatives to 9-to-5, few employees are taking advantage (The Federal Times, March 17).

FEDERAL ISSUES--Five reemployment centers open in DC to help federal workers find jobs (Government Employees Relations Report, March 3)...The Washington, DC area's reemployment services have readied themselves to help a larger number of displaced federal workers as tighter agency budgets are expected to lead to job cuts (Federal Human Resources Week, March 3)...Communication helps control leave abuse (Federal Human Resources Week, Mach 3).

OF INTEREST--Pushing smokers outdoors doesn't do the trick for clean air. Some places ban smoking near doorways (The Wall Street Journal, Work Week)...A group of corporations have formed the Talent Alliance, a sweeping collaboration on career management and job matching that is making some ambitious pledges to employees in member corporations (The Wall Street Journal, Managing Your Career).

TECHNOLOGY--A dean of computer science estimates that lots of time and money are wasted waiting for our computers to start up. Microsoft is working to eliminate the boot delay (The Wall Street Journal)...At thousands of Web sites, time stands still as the creators abandon efforts to keep them updated. Some catalog sites are still wishing people "Happy Holidays" (The Wall Street Journal).