Defense
Senate panel takes its turn at Pentagon personnel overhaul
The Senate Governmental Affairs Committee stepped into the fray Tuesday over plans to overhaul the Pentagon's management of some 730,000 civilian employees.
Pay & Benefits
TSP record-keeping system up and running, finally
The long-awaited modernized computer system for the 401k-style Thrift Savings Plan was up and running Monday afternoon, according to TSP board officials.
Pay & Benefits
Agencies urged to cover flexible spending account fees
Federal employees have until the end of next week to sign up for new health care, child care and elder care benefits, the Office of Personnel Management has announced. The office is also urging federal agencies to pick up the administrative costs of the new benefits, rather than pass those costs on to employees.
Pay & Benefits
Know thyself
Agencies looking for personnel flexibilities should stop by OPM before heading to Capitol Hill.
Defense
New personnel rules to come out this week
Federal managers could have more discretion in hiring decisions, while federal workers could get the government to pay for academic degrees, under regulations that the Office of Personnel Management will publish this week.
Pay & Benefits
Student loan repayment program off to slow start
With some exceptions, most federal agencies helped few or no employees with their college debt under a two-year-old repayment program aimed at recruiting and retaining good federal workers.
Pay & Benefits
Vetted
The Senate approves a provision that would allow more disabled vets to draw their full retirement and disability benefits.
Defense
Rumsfeld: Defense needs personnel reform to manage better
The Defense Department needs a new, more cohesive personnel system to effectively manage civilian employees, Secretary Donald Rumsfeld told Senate lawmakers Wednesday.
Pay & Benefits
Graduates prefer nonprofit jobs over civil service
Interest in public service careers is growing among graduating college seniors, but the focus is on nonprofit employment rather than federal jobs, according to a survey released Tuesday by the Brookings Institution.
Management
Postal commission considers new pay system
A pay-for-performance system could be included in a forthcoming plan to reform the U.S. Postal Service, most likely encompassing both employees and managers.
Pay & Benefits