Pay & Benefits
Biden Administration Establishes Leave Transfer Program for Tornadoes, Wildfires
A weekly roundup of pay and benefits news.
Management
New Interagency Council Will Further ‘Made in America’ Efforts
“From day one, President Biden has made clear that when the federal government spends taxpayer dollars, it should support American workers and businesses,” said an administration official.
Workforce
Coronavirus Roundup: One Year of the Biden COVID-19 Response
There's a lot to keep track of. Here’s today’s list of news updates and stories you may have missed.
Employee Policy
Free COVID tests: Postal workers get behind mass mailing
Postal workers speak out in support of the White House move to mail free, at-home rapid COVID-19 tests to millions of American households, to help slow the coronavirus pandemic.
Tech
Why You Should Ditch Your Cloth Mask for a Better One
With the CDC changing guidance on masks to protect against COVID-19, an expert explains what you need to know. "Taking off masks prolongs the epidemic."
Defense
Declassified Report Details Afghan Air Force Reliance on Contractors
Watchdog warned that without help, the Afghan Air Force would collapse.
Management
Language Matters in Building Trust in COVID Vaccines
A new study finds that the same information about COVID-19 vaccines, presented in a different language, can boost confidence.
Management
GovExec Daily: Biden's Year of COVID-19 Policy
Courtney Bublé joins the podcast to discuss the pandemic nearly a year after the new administration's inauguration.
Nextgov
Congress Losing a Heavy Hitter on Cybersecurity
Rep. Jim Langevin, co-chair and founder of the House Cybersecurity Caucus, will not seek re-election.
Workforce
How the Recent Supreme Court Ruling Is Already Impacting Feds' Challenges to Biden's Vaccine Mandate
Groups say their cause tracks the case against the OSHA rule that the top court recently struck down, but that precedent may have greater influence on the contractor mandate.
Oversight
Watchdog: FDA Needs a Central Workforce Plan to Help Meet Public Health Mission
The agency faces stiff competition from private sector employers, said the Government Accountability Office.
Nextgov
Agency Digital Modernization Efforts Hinge on Data, Customer Experience Efforts
A group of leading federal technologists explained themes of data-driven decision making combined with sub-agency feedback in digital transformation efforts.
Benefits
Survey offers clues on how agencies can mitigate the “Great Resignation”
Economy-watchers lament the so-called Great Resignation, the current trend of accelerated workforce retirements and drop-outs. Whatever its roots, a recent survey indicates how employers might buck the trend—with competitive retirement and other benefits for employees.
Nextgov
Air Force Commits Millions for Wearables to Counteract Troops’ Exhaustion
Human monitoring devices could support military staff who work in extreme conditions.
Management
Are You a Jerk at Work? 5 Ways to Rein It In
There are seven types of jerks at work, according to a new book. Follow these five recommendations to avoid irritating your colleagues.
Management
They Promised Quick and Easy PPP Loans. Often, They Only Delivered Hassle and Heartache.
More than a million government-approved loans ended up being canceled, including some that would have gone to people who needed the loans and applied just as they were told.
Workforce
What Patients Can Learn With Confidence From One Negative Rapid Test (Hint: Very Little)
Although at-home antigen testing remains a useful tool, experts warn it is often used inappropriately and can provide false confidence for people concerned about safety.
Workforce
GovExec Daily: Administrative Burdens in the Immigration System
Dr. Pamela Herd and Dr. Donald Moynihan join the show to discuss their recent paper on the Kakfa-esque bureacracy that meets migrants.
Oversight
How Better Airline Technology Could Minimize Flight Disruptions
Updated algorithms and increased data sharing could improve flight reliability amid a fragile system, scientists say.
Nextgov