Employee Policy

Text messages are federal records and must be saved, DOD orders

After news that Jan. 6 insurrection-related texts were wiped from former Pentagon officials’ phones, Deputy Defense Secretary Kathleen Hicks ordered data on department devices must be retained. 

Employee Policy

Criminal referrals at the border and immigration policy

Syracuse University's Austin Kocher joins partner site GovExec's podcast to share his latest immigration research.

Management

It’s Time to Treat the Federal Workforce Better

Reducing employee burnout will help agencies retain the employees they need to advance their mission.

Pay & Benefits

GovExec Daily: Financial Tips From a TSP Millionaire

Financial professional and longtime fed Abraham Grungold joins the podcast to discuss the Thrift Savings Plan

Nextgov

Finance Sector Deals Latest Blow to Cyber Solarium Construct Teetering in NDAA

Congress will return from the August recess faced once again with the challenge of building cybersecurity policy for private providers of critical infrastructure faster than industry can tear it down.

Tech

Women Are Better at Statistics Than They Think

Female statistics students had higher final exam grades than their male peers, even though they had less confidence in their statistics abilities at the start of the semester.

Employee Policy

Abortion rights: DOJ group complains WH weak on protecting feds

A longstanding group working to protect gender equality rights for federal employees is charging that, in the month-and-a-half since the Dobbs decision, the Biden administration has taken “no action" on this important slice of the issue.

Employee Policy

Don Kettl: The decision that may upset the administrative state

Public policy expert—and professor emeritus at U. Md. and the LBJ School of Public Affairs at U. Texas—Don Kettl joins partner GovExec's podcast, to discuss the Supreme Court's decision that could change the regulatory state.

Employee Policy

FLRA substantiates union accusations against EEOC, over reentry

The federal anti-discrimination agency, the Federal Labor Relations Authority, said it was committed to bargaining “in good faith” with its labor representatives—but stopped short of committing to roll back its unilaterally implemented reentry plan.

Employee Policy

Data-driven HR management faces uphill climb

While data can help state and local human resources agencies make better decisions, legacy technology, skills gaps and staff resistance can stand in the way, a new report says.

Employee Policy

‘We need your help’: Election officials ask Congress to better address harassment ahead of midterms

Women make up the overwhelming majority of the election workforce, and many are facing threats in the wake of lies spread about the integrity of the 2020 election.

Employee Policy

New bill seeks to prevent Secret Service from withholding records from watchdog

“While I share the concerns of my colleagues about the actions of the current inspector general, it is also clear the Secret Service tried to impede the inspector general’s investigation into the events of Jan. 6,” said Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn.

Pay

Another firefighter compensation bill passes, and more ...

A bill providing better pay for federal firefighters passed in the House, and separately a measure to reform retirement for federal first responders advanced, along with other newsworthy items in our weekly roundup on pay and benefits.

Employee Policy

Senate passes bill to root out conflicts of interest in federal contracting

The Preventing Organizational Conflicts of Interest in Federal Acquisition Act sets new disclosure requirements and expands authorities for federal contracting officers. 

Employee Policy

HHS declares monkeypox a public health emergency

The move comes after weeks of pressure as the virus spread throughout the country. 

Employee Policy

Appeals court again overrules Trump-era FLRA policy

Shortly before the 2020 election, labor authority Republicans unraveled decades of precedent, finding that agencies may begin implementing new governmentwide rules when union contracts are extended for the purposes of negotiating a new agreement. As of this week, all of these Trump-era moves have been reversed.

Employee Policy

The state of women in federal law enforcement

Courtney Bublé joins colleagues on GovExec's podcast to discuss gender and policing.