Defense
Commissioners call for streamlined vets benefits
Recommendations include assigning the Defense Department sole responsibility for performing physical exams that determine soldiers' fitness to serve.
Pay & Benefits
CSRS retirees to get 2.3 percent pension increase in 2008
Those in the newer FERS will receive a 2 percent adjustment.
Pay & Benefits
OPM projects potential locality pay rates
Percentages detailed for two different scenarios, depending on overall raise approved by Congress and the president.
Defense
House panel questions benefits for deployed civilians
Hardship pay and other benefits are sufficient to attract qualified civilian employees to serve in Iraq and Afghanistan, agency representatives say.
Defense
Lawmakers urge Pentagon to hold off on new pay policy
Three House members say employees under new personnel system should get the raise they had anticipated for 2008.
Pay & Benefits
TSP officials note major growth in plan
The 401(k)-style retirement program grew $6.4 billion last month, bringing investments to $231 billion.
Pay & Benefits
Clinton’s health plan unlikely to affect feds’ premiums
But analysts say it could promote changes in drug prices and insurer transparency.
Pay & Benefits
A Little Lower
A look at retirement options for those who aren’t earning executive-level pay.
Pay & Benefits
Switch to new TSP account numbers prompts concern
Some participants claim they never received or have lost the numbers necessary to complete online transactions.
Pay & Benefits
Mid-level hires rank government above previous employers
Federal jobs rated as better than survey respondents’ former work in 14 of 15 categories, including training and development.
Pay & Benefits
Pay Portions
Federal employees in the Washington, D.C., area may see the highest overall pay increase next year.
Defense
Merit board proposes new rules for DHS cases
Changes will streamline the process by which Homeland Security employees can appeal disciplinary actions arising from new personnel system.
Oversight
Report cites some gaps in Defense payroll security
More could be done to increase physical security of data in the Defense Civilian Pay System, auditors say.
Pay & Benefits
GAO: Patent office lacks sufficient hiring plan
Efforts to increase the number of patent examiners are being offset by attrition, and staff levels are inadequate to address an application backlog, report says.
Tech
Panelists offer advice on training technology
Capability and flexibility are more important than the latest bells and whistles, specialists say.
Pay & Benefits
Going Private
How do the public and private sectors really compare when it comes to compensation and benefits?
Pay & Benefits
Legislation aims to promote diversity in senior ranks
New office would develop guidelines and run mentoring programs.
Pay & Benefits
Stepping In
Hands-on management is critical not only to rating employees effectively, but to motivating them.
Pay & Benefits
Salary council finds widening pay gap
Panel uses refined data to determine that typical federal employees make 23 percent less than their private sector counterparts.
Pay & Benefits