Oversight

Firm outlines steps to successful workforce reforms

Agencies implementing pay for performance need to focus more on how to handle subpar workers, consultant says.

Defense

Panel votes to return inspectors to Agriculture Department

Bush administration adamantly opposes proposal to take inspectors out of Homeland Security Department.

Pay & Benefits

Retirement Checklist

The five things you should do before you retire from government.

Pay & Benefits

Duty Calls

A look at the rules on pay and time off for jury duty.

Defense

Appropriators block funding for DHS personnel reforms

Congress approved $20 million for the overhaul for fiscal 2007; Bush administration has requested $15 million for next year.

Pay & Benefits

House panel backs 3.5 percent civilian pay raise

Move echoes approval of similar increase for military service members.

Pay & Benefits

Auditors question Pentagon projections for health care savings

Increasing TRICARE enrollment fees and deductibles is unlikely to achieve the $9.8 billion in savings Defense expects, GAO finds.

Pay & Benefits

Advocates sketch plan for public service academy

Blueprint sets academy apart from existing programs, addressing recent criticism that a new institution is unnecessary.

Pay & Benefits

Riskier TSP funds bring greatest gains for May

Fund made up of fixed-income bonds was the only option to lose ground.

Oversight

GAO to challenge eligibility of employees to unionize

Agency is hiring private legal counsel, plans to contest petitions of more than a third of employees who filed for an election.

Pay & Benefits

Labor leader seeks boost in mileage reimbursement rate

Midyear adjustments are unusual, but union official says recent gas price increases merit a higher rate.

Pay & Benefits

OPM pushes to extend locality pay to Alaska, Hawaii

New proposal seeks to gradually replace cost-of-living allowances with locality payments for areas outside the contiguous states.

Pay & Benefits

A Whole Different Kind of Service

A look at the complex rules involving retirement credit for work in nonappropriated fund instrumentalities.

Oversight

FAA, union haggle over performance pay

Employee organization argues formula hurts lower-level workers, with raises contingent on factors beyond their control.

Pay & Benefits

Getting to the SES

Training and leadership programs can help employees get to the top of the civil service ladder.

Defense

Navy rolls out new workforce strategy

Service hopes to set an example for the federal government in recruiting and retaining talent.

Defense

Panel backs whistleblower rights for Defense contractors

An amendment to the 2008 Defense authorization bill seeks to give contract workers the same protections as federal employees.

Defense

Senate panel moves to scale back Pentagon personnel system

Armed Services Committee votes to repeal portions of the Pentagon's personnel system, amid rigorous lobbying from federal labor unions.

Defense

OPM pushes Homeland Security to move on pay for performance

Department has made progress on personnel reforms, but should begin basing pay on quality of work, report says.

Pay & Benefits

Crediting Volunteer Service

How service in prominent federal volunteer programs is treated in retirement computations.