News Briefs

THE DAILY FED

News Briefs

SECTIONS TO CHOOSE FROM:

THE FEDERAL DIARY--"Generally speaking, federal workers who retire without coverage, or who drop their federal health coverage, can't pick it up later except in very, very special situations" (The Washington Post).

THE FEDERAL TIMES--Wage Grade pay changes set for 1998...White employees filed more race discrimination complaints against the government than blacks in FY 97...As the holidays approach the recent guidelines on religion in the federal workplace, "may raise more questions than they answer"...Annuities 25 percent larger than normal were approved for 111 employees at a special facility for leprosy patients (Federal Times 12/1/97).

WORK-LIFE ISSUES--"In the annals of corporate strategic alliances, the American Business Collaboration for Quality Dependent Care is certainly unusual: The program's primary beneficiaries are old folks and children." The collaboration of some of the nation's largest companies aims to boost the productivity of time-strapped employees nationwide by improving the quality of child and elder care community programs (The Washington Post).

OF INTEREST--Fairfax County offers welfare recipients rides to work (The Washington Post)...New top managers often feel isolated (The Wall Street Journal, Managing Your Career).

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.