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 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--Slightly more than 9,000 federal workers telecomute, according to a new GAO report. But that number should jump to 90,000 by the end of FY 1998--with the blessings of the White House. Supporters see telecommuting as a way to cut down on traffic and pollution and make the government a more family-friendly employer (The Washington Post).

FAMILY FRIENDLY--A recent OPM report shows that allowing employees to use sick leave to care for family members is working well (The Federal Times, 7/14/97).

FEDERAL ISSUES--As part of the Clinton administration's effort to encourage family-friendly workplaces, OPM has honored six federal agencies for establishing model programs to help their employees meet work/family demands (The National Report on Work & Family, 7/97)...As agencies gear up for the fall deadline for submitting their strategic plans to Congress, they will be consulting with Congress and stakeholders to make sure their plans respond to concerns from lawmakers...and...Legislation banning federal computer games is introduced (FEND's Government Performance Report 6/30/97).

WELFARE TO WORK--As Congress prepares for a final round of budget negotiations later this week, members face a controversial question left over from the passage of the welfare law last year: Exactly what constitutes work? (The Washington Post).

DISCRIMINATION--Expressing alarm at the huge number of discrimination complaints filed by federal workers, several members of Congress yesterday called on President Clinton to make a concerted effort to root out racism in the federal workplace (The Washington Post).