News Briefs

THE DAILY FED

News Briefs

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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.

GPRA CD-ROM--OPM's just-released CD-ROM, "Government Performance and Results Act: A Multimedia Orientation & Toolkit," is expected to climb the charts thanks to the disc's ample materials that will help federal managers measure their accomplishments against standards established by the Government Performance and Results Act (GPRA, or the Results Act) (Office of Communications News Release, 11/3/97).

RETIREE CUSTOMER SERVICE--OPM has activated two new "toll free" telephone numbers for federal retirees who need to call the agency (Office of Communications News Release, 11/3/97).

THE FEDERAL DIARY--"Backers of plans to boost retirement benefits for federal workers hope to get a jump start on 1998 with some unusually heavy lobbying in the final days of this congressional year" (The Washington Post).

WORK--What you hate about work might not be your job (The Wall Street Journal, Managing Your Career).

CAREER BURNOUT--The issue most likely to vex U.S. employers into the 21st century won't be globalization or technology. It could be coping with the disease that's ailing some of their most valued workers: career burnout (USA TODAY).

COMMUTING--39 million people work and live outside city centers causing massive problems for those who live in one suburb and work in another. Their "cross commute" often takes them over roads that are woefully inadequate for the traffic they bear (USA TODAY).

OF INTEREST--Union membership declines worldwide according to a recent survey (The Wall Street Journal, Work Week)...In an effort to cut health care costs, employers have launched innovative financial incentive programs to encourage workers to adopt healthy habits such as exercising regularly and not smoking (The Washington Post).

CONFERENCE ANNOUNCEMENTS

Government Technology Leadership Institute

Dec. 2-3. "Leading Change, Leveraging Technology." Marriott Metro Center, Washington, D.C. Through examination of case studies and practical theories, the institute will demonstrate the pontential and pitfalls of IT initiatives, explain key laws and regulations, and teach how best to evaluate the performance of ongoing technology programs. The 6th annaul Government Technology Leadership Awards will also be announced.

Managing the Federal Employee Discipline and Performance Process

Jan. 12-13, Feb. 25-26. A nuts-and-bolts course designed to enable managers to navigate through the shoals of employee conduct and performance problems without becoming the loser. Cost:$550. Conducted by William Rudman. Brookings Institution. Washington, D.C. Contact Lela Sallis (202)797-6299.