Workforce
Don’t Just Fake It: ‘Deep Acting’ Emotions Pays Off at Work
"Grin and bear it" might seem like the best strategy for emotion regulation at work, but new research suggests trying to really mean it will benefit you more.
Route Fifty
Measuring the Cost of a State’s Car Economy
A new study attempts to come up with a dollar figure for how much cars, trucks and roads cost Massachusetts each year.
Route Fifty
California Plan to Reduce Homelessness Forces Cities, Counties to Step Up
A proposal by the governor’s Council of Regional Homeless Advisors would mandate that cities, counties and the state reduce homelessness or be vulnerable to court action.
Pay & Benefits
On the Anniversary of Government Reopening, Contractors Renew Push for Back Pay
Although Congress enacted back pay for furloughed federal employees at the end of last year’s 35-day partial government shutdown, Senate Republicans have repeatedly thwarted efforts to similarly compensate low-wage federal contractors.
Defense
34 Injured in Iran Attack, Pentagon Now Says; Launches a Review of Reporting Procedures
Defense chief Mark Esper ordered a review of “processes for tracking and reporting injuries” after criticism in the wake of the Iranian missile attack.
Nextgov
NSA Offers Advice on Securing Clouds
A CISA release noting the guidance directs administrators to an analysis of Microsoft Office 365.
Management
Labor Department Set to Streamline Procurement Services
The department has already made headway on shared services for human resources and information technology.
Nextgov
Federal Contract Award Data from FPDS Will Be on SAM Before Spring
With the FedBizOpps transition done, the Federal Procurement Data System reporting tool—one of the main functions of the website—will be the next to migrate to GSA’s central contracting site.
Management
Designing Constructive Feedback Discussions for Success
If it’s not about pursuing high performance tied to the mission, it’s personal, and that’s lousy feedback.
Defense
In the Terrorism Fight, Trump Has Continued a Key Obama Policy
Sending specially trained operatives into hostile territories dates back to Colonial days. In the past decade, special operations forces have become central to America’s counterterrorism efforts.
Route Fifty
For the First Time, a State Will Mandate Severance Pay During Mass Layoffs
Inspired by the closure of Toys ‘R’ Us amid bankruptcy, New Jersey passed a law to protect employees during large-scale cutbacks.
Pay & Benefits
Postal Service Exaggerated the Savings It Collected From Cutting Employee Compensation, Audit Finds
The agency hasn’t accounted for the costs associated with cutting pay and reducing benefits, GAO says.
Route Fifty
State Lawmakers Backtrack on a Tax Code Revamp
Utah officials say they plan to scrap a law they passed just last month after it attracted widespread public opposition, in part because of a tax hike on groceries.
Oversight
Watchdog Finds Serious Staffing and Leadership Problems at State Department
Officials still feel the ramifications of the Trump administration’s 16-month hiring freeze.
Route Fifty
Law Enforcement Will Have a Harder Time Seizing Property In This State
New Jersey approved two major changes to their civil asset forfeiture laws.
Defense
The Torturers Wanted to Stop, but the CIA Kept Going
An interrogator testified that even after prisoner Abu Zubaydah started cooperating, the waterboarding continued.
Nextgov
Robocalls Reached New Highs in 2019. Can We Expect Fewer in 2020?
Each person in Washington D.C. received an estimated 600 calls, or 1.6 per day.
Pay & Benefits
Your 2020 To-Do List
These resolutions could lead to a more financially secure retirement.
Nextgov
JEDI’s Legal Challengers Make Their Next Moves
Amazon Web Services asks a federal judge to stop work on the cloud contract and Oracle knocks back assertions that the procurement was fair because Microsoft won.
Oversight