Workforce

A gender equity group still wants better protections for feds who need abortion care

One year after the Dobbs decision, President Biden signed a new executive order potentially expanding contraceptive access for federal workers, but a gender equity group at the Justice Department says more needs to be done.

Pay & Benefits

Draft spending bill cuts telework and bans transgender care for feds, but preserves 5.2% pay raise plan

A House subcommittee's fiscal 2024 spending bill does nothing to override the president’s planned average pay increase for federal workers next year, but it is riddled with policy riders.

Pay & Benefits

The 'Pay Cliff' That Could Cripple the Federal Government's Firefighting Workforce

A federal employee union said Wednesday that without a permanent boost to federal wildland firefighters’ pay and benefits, agencies will see a “mass exodus.”

Pay & Benefits

Why Every Federal Employee Should Consider a Health Savings Account

The annual HSA contribution limit is increasing in 2024. Here are some of the benefits of having one.

Pay & Benefits

OPM Wants to Do More for Federal Workers' Wellness

An initiative to “revitalize” employee assistance programs across the federal government eyes a more comprehensive approach to promoting federal employees' wellness.

Pay & Benefits

Fed Health Care Changes and the End of the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency

Some over-the-counter and out-of-network coverage may be different now that the pandemic emergency is over.

Pay & Benefits

Fight the Long-Running FEHBP Abortion Ban, Gender Equity Group Urges House Democrats

The Department of Justice Gender Equality Network said the Hyde amendment unfairly makes women’s health care decisions more costly and traumatic, even when covered by exceptions in cases of rape, incest or the health of the mother.

Pay & Benefits

Federal Prison Employees Ask the Supreme Court to Review COVID Hazard Pay Case

Attorneys for nearly 200 U.S. Bureau of Prisons workers in Connecticut said a federal appellate court effectively made it impossible for any federal worker to qualify for hazard pay related to “virulent biologicals” with its interpretation of federal regulations.

Pay & Benefits

Congressional Dems Reintroduce Bill to Revamp Federal Firefighter Pay and Benefits

The Tim Hart Wildland Firefighter Classification and Pay Parity Act would ensure federal wildland firefighters make at least $20 per hour, among other things.

Workforce

OPM Highlights Mental Health Resources for Feds

The federal government is setting up a new listserv to provide federal employees with mental health information, events and tools to boost mindfulness.

Pay & Benefits

Feds Could Soon See Better Child Care Options Under a New Executive Order

A plan to revamp federal employees’ access to child care came Tuesday as part of a broad effort by President Biden to improve the affordability of care services for children and adult family members, as well as boost care workers’ compensation.

Oversight

A Bill Would Repeal an Expensive Tax Rule For Public Servants

Rep. Abigail Spanberger joins the podcast to discuss her plan to put money in feds' and retirees' pockets.

Pay & Benefits

Spanberger Touts Feds’ Support for Repeal of Controversial Tax Rule Affecting Retirees

More than 2,500 people responded to an informal survey about the windfall elimination provision and government pension offset conducted by the lawmaker’s office within the first 48 hours of its posting.

Pay & Benefits

OPM Starts the Process of Booting USPS Employees to a New Health Care Program

Health care premiums will likely go down for feds across the board as Medicare absorbs more costs, Biden administration predicts.

Workforce

Improved Fertility Coverage from FEHB Plans Is Coming

Kevin Moss joins the podcast to discuss what's in the recent Office of Personnel Management annual carrier call letter.

Pay & Benefits

Bill to Boost Federal Firefighters’ Retirement Benefits is Back

Rep. Gerry Connolly’s legislation would include mandatory overtime hours in calculations to determine federal firefighters’ pension benefits.

Pay & Benefits

Federal Prisons Employees Aren’t Entitled to COVID Hazard Pay, Appeals Judges Rule

In a 10-2 decision, the appeals court said OPM regulations around hazardous duty pay only address the handling of “virulent biologicals” in a laboratory setting, not “ambient” exposure to infected individuals.

Pay & Benefits

A Bill to Fix a Customs and Border Protection Retirement Snafu Is Revived in the Senate

More than 1,000 Customs and Border Protection officers were mistakenly promised enhanced retirement benefits, only to have them taken away once the agency realized its error.