Oversight
Watchdog criticizes State Department foreign aid staffing
Training is inconsistent, data to track aid workers is inadequate, and some employees are overstretched, GAO says.
Defense
Senate moves to restrict Defense personnel overhaul
Chamber votes to repeal the Pentagon’s authority to implement controversial labor relations reforms.
Oversight
Union urges Congress to address staff shortages at prisons
Budget and staffing issues have put the security of federal correctional officers at risk, labor officials say.
Defense
Steady funding, staffing urged for executive boards
Groups can play a key role in crisis, but support and expectations need to be clear, panelists say at hearing.
Pay & Benefits
Part B Or Not Part B?
That is the question when it comes to assessing how much Medicare coverage to carry into your federal retirement.
Pay & Benefits
TSA to modify screener pay system
Agency takes employee comments into account in altering the number of rating levels and other aspects of its pay-for-performance system.
Defense
Survey: Feds less satisfied than private employees with moving services
Federal employees and military personnel may keep their belongings in storage longer, increasing the possibility of damage.
Pay & Benefits
Offsetting Debt
New loan forgiveness program may be a great benefit, if you’re willing to stick around for another 10 years.
Pay & Benefits
Personnel chiefs grapple with workforce planning, pay systems
Measuring and managing performance -- and compensating workers based on it -- top many head human capital officers’ to-do lists.
Oversight
Arbitrator rules for union in dispute with IRS
Management rights don’t outweigh the need to bargain, arbitrator finds.
Pay & Benefits
IRS hires firm to review performance pay for managers
Consultant will evaluate compensation system over five years to determine whether changes are helping to hire and retain managers.
Oversight
Air traffic controllers sue over alleged mold problems
Detroit controllers say mold persists despite efforts to remove it; FAA says the problem has been solved.
Oversight
House passes FAA reauthorization bill
Substantial differences remain between House and Senate over language on contract negotiations and funding.
Pay & Benefits
Catch-62
A cautionary tale about fully understanding your benefits before you retire.
Pay & Benefits
GAO analysts vote for union representation
Employees vote 897-445 to bring a union into the watchdog agency for the first time.
Pay & Benefits
High-performing civil servants honored at black tie gala
Science and technology played major roles in award recipients’ work in medicine, security, service delivery and diplomacy.
Pay & Benefits
Making Better Pay Decisions
As pay-for-performance systems spread, managers who make compensation decisions need to be armed with as much data as possible.
Defense
Defense labor relations reforms waiting on Congress
Pentagon personnel official says it wouldn’t make sense to enact changes only to have lawmakers repeal them later.
Pay & Benefits
Intelligence agencies move closer to common personnel system
New 500-day plan will focus on performance management, pay for performance and hiring in the intelligence community.
Oversight