Pay & Benefits

All the Federal Workforce Provisions Tucked into the Defense Policy Bill

In addition to providing 12 weeks of paid parental leave, the authorization act offers additional shutdown protections for feds and codifies the federal “ban the box” policy in hiring.

  • Erich Wagner

Buttigieg's Consulting Career Included Work on a Report Suggesting USPS Slash Career Workforce

Presidential candidate says he only helped the Postal Service generate ideas for new revenue streams.

  • Eric Katz

White House, Democrats Reach Deal to Provide Paid Family Leave to Feds

A tentative agreement on the fiscal 2020 National Defense Authorization Act would provide all federal employees with 12 weeks of paid family leave each year.

  • Erich Wagner

Last Chance for Open Season

Fear not, procrastinators: You still have time to make a change.

  • Tammy Flanagan

Lawsuit Against Working During Shutdowns Presents a Potential Catch-22

A federal judge ruled it would be too disruptive to stop agencies from forcing employees to work without pay during a lapse in appropriations, but the Trump administration on Wednesday argued the case is now moot because government is open.

  • Erich Wagner

Feds Should Prepare Financially for Another Government Shutdown

Here are some ideas to help managers make sure employees are covered during a worst-case scenario.

  • Joel Murray

A Pay Raise Update, TSP to Require Two-Step Sign Ins and More

A weekly roundup of pay and benefits news.

  • Erich Wagner

Most Feds Won't Reap the Benefits of Local Minimum Wage Laws

OPM last week announced that it will not raise the lower levels of the federal pay scales to comply with state and local laws increasing the minimum wage.

  • Erich Wagner

Most TSP Funds Crept Up in November

All but one of the portfolios in the federal government’s 401(k)-style retirement savings program grew last month.

  • Erich Wagner

5 Open Season Questions and Answers

Test your knowledge of what to do in these specific scenarios.

  • Tammy Flanagan

Rubio Escalates Attacks in Dispute Over TSP International Fund Changes

The Republican senator urged President Trump to replace the board that administers the Thrift Savings Plan after it refused to reverse course on including Chinese companies in its investment offerings.

  • Erich Wagner

Viewpoint: Let’s Keep a Level Playing Field for TSP Investors

Participants in the federal employee retirement savings program deserve the same investment options as other Americans.

  • Michael Kennedy and Clifford Dailing

OPM Is Planning Major Changes for Temporary and Seasonal Federal Employees

Changes would enable them to stay in government longer and provide new benefits.

  • Eric Katz
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Open Season Tips and Secrets

The clock is ticking on making your health plan choices for 2020.

  • Tammy Flanagan

Military Pay Raise Included in Shutdown-Averting Measure, But No Word on Civilian Increase

A weekly roundup of pay and benefits news.

  • Erich Wagner

Making Sense of FEHBP's New 'Indemnity' Plans

The plans are not much different than the health insurance program's fee-for-service offerings, despite the name.

  • Erich Wagner

Viewpoint: Dollars Invested in the TSP Will Now Benefit Our Foreign Adversary

Decision to use an index fund that includes Chinese companies is bad for our country and the financial security of federal employees.   

  • Rep. Michael McCaul

Work Long and Prosper

The benefits of staying on the job past age 65.

  • Tammy Flanagan

TSP Board Reaffirms Decision to Broaden International Fund Despite Congressional Pressure

A bipartisan group of senators had demanded the board reverse a 2017 decision changing the index upon which the I Fund is based because the new benchmark will include Chinese companies.

  • Erich Wagner

With Winter Approaching, OPM Reminds Agencies of Closure and Leave Policies

The 2018 decision that employees who can work remotely usually cannot take leave due to a weather event has created a complicated web of rules and exceptions.

  • Erich Wagner

Federal Retirement Applications, Processing Both Down in October

The backlog of pending requests crept to nearly 18,000 last month, although the number of applications is significantly down from the same period in 2018.

  • Erich Wagner