Workforce
Report: 45% of All Federal Employees Teleworked in Fiscal 2020
The Office of Personnel Management’s latest annual telework report captures the first six months of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Workforce
OPM To Publish Rule Implementing Law Protecting Feds from Discrimination, Whistleblower Retaliation
The Elijah E. Cummings Federal Employee Antidiscrimination Act requires agencies to publish instances when they discriminated or retaliated against federal workers and encourages agencies to punish federal employees responsible for such acts.
Workforce
Union Calls on OSHA to Restore COVID Safety Standards for Health Care Workers
The workplace safety agency announced last week that it was partially withdrawing its emergency temporary standard for health care workers because it legally can only be in place for six months.
Workforce
OPM Proposes Regulations Repealing Trump-era Firing Policy
President Biden during his first week in office had rescinded the executive order aimed at making it easier to fire federal workers.
Pay & Benefits
Most TSP Funds Rebound to End 2021
All but one of the portfolios in the federal government’s 401(k)-style retirement savings program finished December in the black.
Management
OPM Again Extends Deadline for Agencies to Adopt Skills-Based Hiring
The government's personnel agency said final guidance on implementing skills-based hiring assessments, rather than purely educational attainment, is coming soon.
Management
Biden Appoints Acting Labor Mediation Director, Demands Senate Action on Nominee
President Biden’s choice to lead the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service has languished awaiting a confirmation vote by the Senate since August.
Pay & Benefits
Biden Issues Executive Order Finalizing Average 2.7% Pay Raise for Feds
Although the raise isn’t as much as many federal employee groups had hoped for, it restores civilian-military pay parity.
Pay & Benefits
A New Addition to Locality Pay Areas, and More
A weekly roundup of pay and benefits news.
Workforce
Social Security Administration, Union Spar over Reentry Plans
Union officials say they suspect the agency is withholding details of its reentry plan to avoid having to negotiate over it, an accusation management denies.
Workforce
Science Foundation and Union Clear the Air on Reentry, Remote Work Plans
In a message to employees, agency leaders provided a detailed timeline for returning to the office and implementing plans to adopt a hybrid work environment, and sought to assuage employee fears amid the rise of a new COVID variant.
Pay & Benefits
Pay Agent Adds One New County to Locality Pay Area, Encourages ‘Fresh’ Look at Other Issues
Although the president’s pay agent declined to waive the requirement that there be at least 2,500 General Schedule employees in a region to be eligible for a locality pay area, it noted that Carroll County, Illinois, has recently met the requirement anyway.
Pay & Benefits
Biden Orders ‘Streamlined’ Loan Forgiveness Program for Feds
A weekly roundup of pay and benefits news.
Workforce
Science Foundation Director Faces Employee Backlash Over Reentry Announcement
Union officials say the NSF director appears to be slow-walking implementation of a hybrid work environment, including remote work and telework, following the COVID-19 pandemic.
Pay & Benefits
Democrats, Employee Groups Rally Around Social Security Reform Bill
Legislation with nearly 200 sponsors would change how annual cost of living adjustments are calculated, temporarily eliminate the controversial Windfall Elimination Provision, and restrict the agency’s ability to close field offices.
Pay & Benefits
What Needs to Happen for the 2022 Pay Raise, and More
A weekly roundup of pay and benefits news.
Workforce
Compromise Defense Policy Bill Repeals Pentagon’s Two-Year Probationary Period, Grants Feds Bereavement Leave
Left out of the final bill was a provision that would align the General Schedule and Federal Wage System locality pay maps.
Pay & Benefits
OPM Reminds Agencies to Provide Feds Leave for COVID-19 Boosters
Agencies should also grant leave to federal workers who need time off to take family members to get a booster of the COVID-19 vaccine.
Workforce