Management
The Agencies that Saw the Biggest Gains in Employee Satisfaction in 2020, and the Few that Saw Losses
Only six agencies with at least 100 employees saw decreases in their job satisfaction score on the annual Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey.
Management
Feds’ Engagement and Job Satisfaction Rises Despite—or Because of—Pandemic
Officials who administered the annual Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey warned against making sweeping conclusions about the 2020 results, due to changes in the survey's timing and some of its content.
Pay & Benefits
OPM Waives Premium Pay Cap for Border Detailees
The federal government’s HR agency declared that the influx of children at the southern border is an emergency for the purposes of waiving restrictions on how much premium pay federal employees can earn.
Management
OPM Nominee Sails Through Confirmation Hearing, Pledging to Support Feds and Uphold Merit System
Kiran Ahuja outlined her vision for the federal workforce and the need for the Office of Personnel Management to transform to become a 21st century personnel policymaking agency.
Pay & Benefits
A Survey to Improve Personnel Policies, and More
A weekly roundup of pay and benefits news.
Management
OPM Looks to Update Federal Job Competencies
Officials hope an updated list of skills required for jobs throughout the federal government will better inform federal personnel policy.
Management
Collaboration Between OPM and OMB: Is It Even Possible?
Could government's HR office really “work in concert” with the White House budget office, as a new report recommends, in light of OMB’s clear attempt to eliminate the independent personnel agency?
Pay & Benefits
OPM Finalizes Rule Ensuring Feds Can Change Insurance During Shutdowns
During the 35-day government shutdown, some workers were unable to make changes to their health benefits because the employees responsible for processing those changes were furloughed.
Management
OPM Appointments Mark a Radical Shift in Agency's Role
The hiring of high-level executives from organized labor marks a return to federal employee unions having a seat at the table in the formulation of federal personnel policy.
Pay & Benefits
Donations to Feds’ Annual Giving Drive Remain Flat in 2020, and More
A weekly roundup of pay and benefits news.
Management
The Business Case for Investing in Human Capital Management
The payoff will be improved agency performance—and the gains could be significant.
Workforce
OPM Modernization is Critical to Building the Federal Workforce the Nation Needs
Rigid and outdated hiring, pay and performance policies and practices are hurting government’s capacity to respond to urgent problems.
Pay & Benefits
A Republican Bid to Fully Eliminate Union 'Official Time,' and More
A weekly roundup of pay and benefits news.
Management
Study: OPM-GSA Merger Proposal Would Not Have Solved Problems It Aimed to Fix
A team of analysts has recommended elevating OPM's role in human capital management and making it less involved in “transaction-by-transaction compliance” activities.
Pay & Benefits
OPM Announces Special Combined Federal Campaign for Texas Storm Victims
Washington, D.C.-area federal employees exceeded expectations and previous years’ totals, raising more than $37 million for charities in 2020.
Management
Addressing Federal Workforce Problems Should be a Top Priority for Biden
Kiran Ahuja has her work cut out for her at the Office of Personnel Management.
Management
Past Marijuana Use Is No Longer a Disqualifier for a Federal Job
As more states legalize marijuana, the federal government’s HR agency said agencies can hire people who have used the drug, provided there is “evidence” the candidate will not use it anymore.
Management
Biden Nominates Kiran Ahuja for OPM Director
Ahuja, who previously served as the agency’s chief of staff during the Obama administration, would be the first South Asian and the first Asian American woman to lead the federal government’s HR department.
Pay & Benefits