Oversight
GAO says State Department needs to revisit hardship pay
Reports find that despite efforts, department still needs to fill posts in dangerous areas as well as beef up officers' foreign language skills.
Oversight
Trade group concerned about insourcing mandate
Professional Services Council says contractor jobs are being shifted in-house without measuring cost or best value.
Pay & Benefits
Obama appoints new members to labor-management panel
Government and union leaders hope federal labor relations board can reduce its case backlog.
Pay & Benefits
Charitable giving touted as a way to improve feds’ image
OPM director says the Combined Federal Campaign has the potential to showcase the generosity of civil servants.
Pay & Benefits
EEOC to review agencies’ work on bias complaints
Percentage of agency decisions reversed on appeal has increased significantly.
Pay & Benefits
Telework increasing steadily but slowly, OPM says
Participation rate has yet to reach 10 percent, according to a new report.
Pay & Benefits
People People
The Census Bureau has lessons to offer other agencies when it comes to hiring.
Defense
Lawmakers urge uniform pay policies for deployed civilians
Lack of standard guidance makes it difficult for agencies to treat overseas employees equally.
Pay & Benefits
Berry: OPM is ahead of schedule on security clearance reforms
Personnel chief is confident about meeting a 2004 intelligence law mandate for reducing processing times.
Pay & Benefits
Legal Services Corporation employees vote to unionize
Union says LSC’s use of outside counsel was illegal, but declines to sue.
Defense
Labor group opposes Senate pay-for-performance language
Coalition claims provision in Senate’s fiscal 2010 Defense authorization bill contains loopholes that would create a “refried version” of NSPS.
Pay & Benefits
Draft rule opens long-term care, leave programs to domestic partners
Regulation implements executive order issued by President Obama in June; agencies are completing policy reviews that could lead to broader reforms.
Oversight
USDA will debut new version of online learning platform
AgLearn will provide more social media tools for employees to use and serve as a model for job training programs in China.
Defense
Senator urges faster buildup of Afghan forces
Carl Levin, D-Mich., says move would be more effective than sending more U.S. combat troops to the country.
Defense
TSA workforce reform bill takes another step forward
Supporters say the legislation would put airport screeners on par with other federal employees, while critics argue it could jeopardize security.
Pay & Benefits
Back in Session
After a not-so-relaxing August recess, lawmakers return to a full docket of bills related to the federal workforce.
Defense
Defense opposes cuts in funding for civilian Air Force personnel
Pentagon officials also object to authorization bill language that could result in the repeal of a controversial pay-for-performance system.
Oversight