Workforce
White House Seeks Input on Federal Evidence Agenda For LGBTQI+ Equity
The White House Office of Science and Technology Policy wants to know about possible blind spots preventing agencies from understanding what disparities are impacting the LGBTQI+ community nationwide, from accessing healthcare to housing.
Workforce
The Perks of Positivity May Depend on Race and Culture
"There may be nuance in terms of what positive psychological factors protect people, depending on their race and their culture...""
Workforce
NTEU: Federal Employees Need Security, Not Scorn
Union leader asks agency heads to conduct a thorough review of all security protocols and protections at their work sites.
Workforce
GovExec Daily: The Contractor Vaccine Mandate Confusion
Courtney Bublé joins the podcast to discuss the court decision that will affect contractors.
Pay & Benefits
A Bipartisan Bill Would Ban Top Feds From Trading Stocks
Violators would potentially face hefty fines.
Management
A Critical Jan. 6 Witness Retires from the Secret Service
The agency says Anthony Ornato left “in good standing after 25 years of devoted service.”
Workforce
A Union is Calling on the VA to Replace Its Chief Negotiator Following Trump-esque Bargaining Demands
Despite edicts from President Biden and VA Secretary Denis McDonough to establish more collaborative labor-management relations and empower labor groups, the department continues to push for a contract that closely mirrors the former president’s anti-union executive orders.
Workforce
Low Vaccine Booster Rates Are Now a Key Factor in COVID-19 Deaths – and Racial Disparities in Booster Rates Persist
Early on, public health messaging focused on the need for vaccines to combat COVID-19. But far less attention has been given to the role of boosters in preventing deaths and reducing inequities.
Management
OMB Prioritizes Customer Service in Budget Planning
The inclusion of customer experience and service delivery priorities in budget preparation guidance from OMB will likely get the attention of agencies as they prepare their budget requests for the next fiscal year, experts told FCW.
Workforce
Unraveling the Interplay of Omicron, Reinfections, and Long COVID
The omicron variant has proved adept at finding hosts, often by reinfecting people who recovered from earlier bouts of covid. But whether omicron triggers long COVID as often and severe as previous variants is a matter of heated study.
Management
GovExec Daily: Can the CDC Effectively Restructure?
Julie Swann joins the podcast to discuss the health agency's potential reorganization.
Pay & Benefits
The Biden Administration and USPS Offer a First Glimpse of a Postal-Only Health Benefits System
The agencies are seeking to answer early questions, though they still have time to sort out details.
Management
The Ban on the Contractor Vaccine Mandate Was Lifted Partially. That Could Cause Confusion.
“At this time, the nationwide injunction remains in effect, and thus agencies should continue not to take any steps to enforce Executive Order 14042,” said a spokesperson for the Office of Management and Budget.
Pay & Benefits
Lawmakers Are Urging OPM to Beef up Feds’ Fertility Benefits
Democrats in both chambers of Congress bemoaned the abridged—and often expensive—coverage of treatments such as in vitro fertilization in the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program.
Management
A Much-Hyped Effort to Help DHS Land Cyber Talent is Slow to Make Hires
So far about four hires have been made under the Cybersecurity Talent Management System, with the agency hoping to make offers to 150 new cyber specialists by the end of September.
Management
There’s No ‘Easy Button’ to Modernize the Civil Service
But the hard work of cultivating effective, accountable federal managers is essential.
Tech
Traffic Overwhelms Student Loan Sites Following Biden’s Debt Relief Announcement
Student loan company Nelnet said providers received no advance warning about the White House’s loan forgiveness plan, contributing to confusion and site outages.
Workforce
Many People Lost Sense of Time During The COVID-19 Pandemic
The pandemic altered many people's sense of time, leading to trouble keeping track of days and feeling that hours either rushed by or slowed down.
Workforce
GovExec Daily: The Inflation Reduction Act's IRS Priorities
Former White House official Diana Furchtgott-Roth joins the podcast to discuss how the law will affect taxpayers and small businesses.
Defense