Workforce
OPM Will End Agencies’ Maximum Telework Status Next Month
The move follows White House guidance last week instructing federal agencies to reduce the use of workplace flexibilities following the end of the COVID-19 national emergency.
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.
Workforce
The Biden Administration Tells Agencies to Scale Back Telework
Federal employee unions and career agency HR leaders reportedly were left out of the development of a new Office of Management and Budget memo that instructs agencies to “substantially increase meaningful in-person work at federal offices.”
Workforce
Merit Board: Agencies Must Tell Employees to Pick One Place to File Personnel Action Appeals, and Stick With It
An Air Force civilian worker was never informed that she could not both file a union grievance and have the Merit Systems Protection Board hear her case.
Workforce
Union Warns Social Security Service Will Spiral Without Major Changes
More than half of surveyed Social Security Administration employees reported that they are considering leaving the agency and have begun looking for new jobs due to burnout.
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.
Workforce
AFGE and VA Reach a Tentative Deal on a New Contract
The agreement comes just weeks after an arbitrator found that the Veterans Affairs Department engaged in bad faith bargaining with the federal employee union.
Workforce
Union Accuses Defense Management of Imposing an Illegal Contract
Officials with the American Federation of Government Employees said the Defense Department unilaterally imposed a new contract on employees at an Illinois facility after refusing to bargain over issues made negotiable by a Biden executive order.
Pay & Benefits
Most TSP Funds Recover From February Slump
Only one of the portfolios in the federal government’s 401(k)-style retirement savings program ended March in the red.
Workforce
OPM Supports Transgender Feds in New Guidance
On International Transgender Day of Visibility, the federal government’s HR agency tasked agencies with updating their policies to ensure they are inclusive toward gender non-conforming employees.
Workforce
Union to Defense Chief: You Aren't Using Your Own Employees Enough to Help Meet Global Threats
AFGE called on the Biden administration and Congress to align the Federal Wage System’s locality pay map with that of the General Schedule and advance legislation to improve Defense Department civilian police pay.
Workforce
Not Even the Best Places to Work in Government Were Immune to Federal Employee Morale Decline Last Year
The Partnership for Public Service on Wednesday released the first batch of rankings from its annual analysis of the Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey.
Workforce
The Federal Government Paid Out Nearly $70 Million From Discrimination Cases in 2020
A majority of the 14,000 cases filed with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission by federal workers alleged retaliation.
Pay & Benefits
More Federal Firefighter Pay and Benefits Reforms Are Highlighted in the 2024 Budget
President Biden’s fiscal 2024 budget proposal would make temporary pay raises authorized by the bipartisan infrastructure law permanent.
Workforce
Trump Vows to ‘Shatter the Deep State,’ Revive Schedule F and Move More Agencies Out of DC
The former president also said that if reelected in 2024, he will crack down on whistleblowers.
Workforce
Federal Employee Union Membership is Up 20%
Since implementation of a number of pro-labor policies a year ago, federal employee unions gained 80,000 new dues-paying members.
Workforce
VA Claims Progress in Union Talks. The Union Begs to Differ.
AFGE officials say department management continues to push illegal proposals in contract negotiations, and that claims the parties have reached “tentative agreements” are fabricated.
Workforce
VA Broke Settlement Agreement, Continued Bad Faith Bargaining, Arbitrator Finds
The American Federation of Government Employees and the Veterans Affairs Department have negotiated fruitlessly over a new union contract for more than a year.
Workforce
NTEU's Longtime President Will Retire in August
Tony Reardon has been a member of the federal employee union for more than 30 years and has served two four-year terms at its helm.
Workforce