Defense
Defense launches General Schedule training program
GS 101 is an online course designed to help employees transition from the Pentagon’s personnel system.
Oversight
Analysis: Getting Appointees Up to Speed
The White House orientation program is not enough; new political executives need agency-specific guidance.
Oversight
TSP’s international fund continues to slide
Economic turmoil in Europe is adversely affecting the I Fund, according to plan administrators.
Defense
Errors result in improper billing for victims of military sexual trauma
Allegations of wrongful co-payment charges in Texas clinic spur VA investigation.
Oversight
From Nextgov.com: HHS awards millions in grants to advance health IT initiatives
Department expects to hire 3,000 technology workers at extension centers to promote adoption of electronic records .
Pay & Benefits
TSP funds slip in January
Despite posting biggest losses for the month, I Fund growth was among highest for past year.
Oversight
Postal Service financial woes will continue in 2011
Agency will consider changes in delivery schedule and funding of retiree health benefits to temper losses.
Defense
Civilian agencies help fuel growth in translation contracts
Increasing immigrant population and greater enforcement of discrimination laws lead to higher domestic demand for language services.
Pay & Benefits
Burning Question: Are federal employees the envy of boyfriends and girlfriends everywhere?
Perception lingers that feds have it easy.
Pay & Benefits
Question Time
More responses to thorny questions from readers on service credit issues.
Pay & Benefits
State Department cafeteria will lead the way on healthy dining
Department’s Foggy Bottom headquarters will follow new guidelines that encourage sustainability and foods low in trans fats and sodium.
Pay & Benefits
Drug War
Snowpocalypse postpones debate over how much federal employees are paying for prescription drugs.
Oversight
Report says labor-management partnerships should focus on cost savings
Academics call on administration to re-establish trust between unions and management by emphasizing benefits of relationship.
Defense
Army study explores deployment stress on soldiers’ children
Researchers find no link between adolescent stress levels and the number of deployments.
Pay & Benefits
Lawmaker calls for telework incentives during shutdowns
Virginia Democrat asks OPM to document productivity savings gained by employees working from home during storms.
Oversight
From Nextgov.com: DISA telecommuters can work just fine even with more snow
Virtual private networks and distributed laptops support the majority of the agency’s Washington metropolitan area workers.
Oversight
Winter storm in Washington highlights telework
White House efforts to increase telework among federal employees could get a boost from Mother Nature.
Pay & Benefits
Waging Battle
A proposal in the president’s 2011 budget sparks new debate on age caps for federal employees who receive workers’ comp.
Pay & Benefits