Trends

Permanent Fix

Unions say temporary workers are being exploited, and deserve full-time benefits and jobs.

Oversight

Bill with 1.4 percent federal pay raise clears Senate committee

Appropriations bill reflects president’s budget request.

Oversight

Going green is a popular money-saving idea among feds

Energy-efficient solutions are some of the most common suggestions submitted in White House contest.

Pay & Benefits

Follow the Leader

Lawmakers so far seem to be toeing the administration’s line on the fiscal 2011 federal pay raise.

Defense

Watchdog: Language skills still are getting lost in translation

Agencies could benefit from a more comprehensive approach to assessing their employees’ capabilities and any gaps in talent, GAO says.

Oversight

Streamlining payroll and other HR systems reaps financial dividends

Personnel agency makes the case for continuing the shift toward shared service centers, noting efforts to date have saved taxpayers $1.3 billion.

Pay & Benefits

Obama orders agencies to increase employment of disabled workers

Directive mandates that agencies take steps to meet hiring goals established by President Clinton.

Pay & Benefits

Hispanics, white women remain underrepresented in federal offices

EEOC report indicates government still has a ways to go to “represent the tapestry of America.”

Pay & Benefits

Telework bill could be near tipping point

House-Senate negotiators don’t have many issues to reconcile before they send the measure to President Obama, staffer says.

Pay & Benefits

Account Management

Calculating employees’ retirement benefits is complicated.

Oversight

MSPB finds shortfalls in front-line manager hiring and training

Technical competence is favored over leadership skills when choosing supervisors, report says.

News

Supervisor training bill clears House subcommittee

Legislation would establish a program to educate federal managers on a range of personnel issues.

Pay & Benefits

Pharmacists back measures to cut feds’ prescription drug costs

Professional association says more oversight will ensure civil servants get the best deal.

Defense

TSP participation among service members up, but overall percentage rate dips

Rate is down slightly because the size of the military grew faster than enrollment.

Pay & Benefits

New TSP site drives traffic, gets mixed reviews

Visitors note glitches in retirement calculators and call for a more convenient place to leave feedback.

Pay & Benefits

Salary Satisfaction

OPM survey says more than half of feds are content with their pay, but benefits are another story.

Oversight

Feds collect 32,000 pounds of food in June for donation

Initiative continues through September.

Oversight

House passes telework bill

Estimates differ on how much the measure will cost to implement -- and whether it ultimately will save agencies money.

Oversight

Memo to CXOs: Keep it simple

Survey respondents criticize chiefs for poor communication and unrealistic goals.

Oversight

Employees report satisfaction with work, supervisors

Merit-based promotion and recruitment are two areas of concern in workforce survey.