Author Archive
Oversight
Watchdog Concludes Defense Appointee Sexually Harassed Employees
Guy Roberts, former assistant secretary of Defense for nuclear, chemical and biological defense programs, hugged, touched and made sexual comments toward several women, the Pentagon inspector general found.
Pay & Benefits
New Bill Would ‘Close the Gap’ in Locality Pay for Some Federal Jobs
Legislation in both chambers of Congress would ensure General Schedule and Federal Wage System employees receive comparable locality pay.
Management
EEOC Formally Proposes Ending Official Time for Union Reps
Federal employee unions have decried the effort to strip labor representatives of the right to use official time to help prepare discrimination complaints as an erosion of employee protections.
Pay & Benefits
All the Federal Workforce Provisions Tucked into the Defense Policy Bill
In addition to providing 12 weeks of paid parental leave, the authorization act offers additional shutdown protections for feds and codifies the federal “ban the box” policy in hiring.
Management
Congress Moves to Block OPM-GSA Merger
A provision in the 2020 National Defense Authorization Act would first require an independent study of the challenges facing the Office of Personnel Management.
Management
Democratic Senators Urge Social Security to Restore Telework
Lawmakers ask the agency to reconsider its decision to end a 6-year-old pilot program, citing concerns about the burden it places on employees and productivity.
Pay & Benefits
White House, Democrats Reach Deal to Provide Paid Family Leave to Feds
A tentative agreement on the fiscal 2020 National Defense Authorization Act would provide all federal employees with 12 weeks of paid family leave each year.
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Management
EPA, Union Reopen Negotiations After Agency Implements Unilateral Contract
Although the agency has promised to bargain “in good faith” with AFGE officials, the contract that evicted labor representatives from agency office space and gutted telework will remain in effect.
Pay & Benefits
Lawsuit Against Working During Shutdowns Presents a Potential Catch-22
A federal judge ruled it would be too disruptive to stop agencies from forcing employees to work without pay during a lapse in appropriations, but the Trump administration on Wednesday argued the case is now moot because government is open.
Pay & Benefits
A Pay Raise Update, TSP to Require Two-Step Sign Ins and More
A weekly roundup of pay and benefits news.
Management
Watchdog: Proposed OPM-GSA Merger Continues to 'Evolve' Despite Lack of Legislation
Officials have continued to examine moving portions of OPM to GSA piecemeal, and still lack documentation for the legal authority and cost benefit analyses, the inspector general said.
Pay & Benefits
Most Feds Won't Reap the Benefits of Local Minimum Wage Laws
OPM last week announced that it will not raise the lower levels of the federal pay scales to comply with state and local laws increasing the minimum wage.
Pay & Benefits
Most TSP Funds Crept Up in November
All but one of the portfolios in the federal government’s 401(k)-style retirement savings program grew last month.
Pay & Benefits
Rubio Escalates Attacks in Dispute Over TSP International Fund Changes
The Republican senator urged President Trump to replace the board that administers the Thrift Savings Plan after it refused to reverse course on including Chinese companies in its investment offerings.
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Management
OPM: Agencies Can Implement Workforce EOs at Some Agencies Without Bargaining
The Office of Personnel Management said agencies may unilaterally implement the provisions of three controversial executive orders, provided workers are operating under a contract that has been automatically renewed.
Management
Trump Administration Urges Supreme Court to Maintain Strict Burden in Age Discrimination Cases
The case, involving a VA pharmacist who claims the department discriminated against her based on age and gender, has implications for the entire federal workforce.
Management
Lawmakers Demand Explanation for Social Security Telework Cuts
Friday marked the final day of a six-year-old telework pilot program for roughly 12,000 employees of the Social Security Administration’s operations agencies, after Commissioner Andrew Saul summarily ended it.
Management
'You Spoke, We Listened': How HHS Rapidly Improved Employee Viewpoint Survey Participation
Top HR officials made a year-round effort to highlight how the annual Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey shapes the department.
Management
Senate Democrats Push for Union Protections in Spending Package
Language in a House-passed appropriations bill blocking implementation of union contracts imposed by a federal impasses panel remains subject to negotiation.
Management