Management

Senators skeptical of Pentagon plan for personnel reform

Lack of employee buy-in, inadequate detail in final NSPS regulations cause concern.

Pay & Benefits

Open Season Hints

Tips on how to navigate among a plethora of health care choices.

Management

Defense to hold off on implementing NSPS labor rules

Parties agree to postponement to avoid a temporary restraining order.

Pay & Benefits

OPM to provide employees more retirement planning information

Agency preparing new worksheet to help federal workers compute retirement finances.

Management

Administration outlines steps to governmentwide personnel overhaul

Plan leaves control over performance-based pay decisions in OPM’s hands for first five years.

Pay & Benefits

GSA raises per diem rates for 15 locations

Higher rates take effect Nov. 20.

Pay & Benefits

OPM offers new flexible spending option

Enrollees in high-deductible health plans can set aside tax-free dollars for dental and vision care.

Pay & Benefits

Open Season Time

Employees have about a month to opt into health insurance and flexible spending plans.

Tech

Challenge of contract to upgrade federal jobs site rejected

GAO rules that OPM’s choice of a firm to enhance USAJOBS was reasonable, despite higher cost of its proposal.

Defense

Unions file suit challenging Defense personnel system

Labor leaders say rules illegally restrict collective bargaining rights.

Pay & Benefits

Pay raise spared in Senate budget measure

Republican senator says he is still working to freeze the 3.1 percent proposed hike for next year.

Pay & Benefits

Liable to be Liable

When it’s time to implement pay-for-performance, managers might want extra protection.

Pay & Benefits

Law enforcement personnel proposal vexes unions

Labor groups express concern that plan would grant OPM too much power.

Pay & Benefits

Group of senators backs federal pay freeze

All employees except law enforcement officers and military personnel would be affected.

Defense

Pentagon stands ground on personnel reforms

Despite negative reaction, Defense officials say employees will ultimately embrace the system.

Pay & Benefits

Costly Confusion

Technical glitches are continuing to leave some feds stuck in the wrong retirement system.

Defense

Pentagon fine-tunes personnel reforms

Final regulations limit power to override collective bargaining.

Defense

Air Force rejects benefits for 'Air America' employees

Pilots for CIA-run secret airline who flew clandestine missions in Southeast Asia had sought retirement benefits.

Pay & Benefits

Justice lawyers en route to comp time for travel

House committee advances bill to grant department's lawyers same benefits as other white-collar workers.

Pay & Benefits

Senate votes for 3.1 percent pay raise in 2006

Bill also includes language to help federal employees in public-private job competitions.