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.

News Brief will resume Monday, December 29.

FEDERAL DIARY--The day after Christmas is Boxing Day in many countries, but for feds and postal workers, it's "All I Want for Christmas is the Day After Off" Day (The Washington Post).

HUMAN RESOURCES--Vice President Al Gore officially swore in Janice Lachance as director of the Office of Personnel Management on December 10...Federal benefits have undergone lots of changes in recent years--and they're about to change even more (Federal Human Resources Week, 12/22/97).

HOLIDAY--Some area companies give their employees the gift of time during the holiday season. Lockheed Martin is closing its doors from Dec. 23 through Jan. 5, giving workers the two weeks as paid time off in addition to their annual paid vacations (The Washington Post)..."This is optimism's big season" (The Washington Post Health Section).

OF INTEREST--Writing skills need help? The Writing Center at the USDA Graduate School in Washington, D.C., is one of the area's best-kept secrets for polishing and fine tuning your writing skills (Federal Times)...Agency Inspector General investigators are changing their role, getting tougher on criminals inside and outside their agencies (Federal Times).

**TSP Open Season - Runs November 15, 1997 to January 31, 1998.

CONFERENCE ANNOUNCEMENTS

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.