Management
OPM Updates Agencies, Unions on Labor-Management Forums
A Trump-era order shutting down union-management councils at federal agencies remains “under review,” officials said, but in the meantime, agencies may elect to start new ones if they wish.
Management
OPM Urges Agencies to Support Feds’ Mental Health
The government’s HR agency this week will host a panel discussion of mental health issues for officials and share tips for managers to support work-life balance initiatives.
Pay & Benefits
Bipartisan Bill Would Extend Feds’ Paid Parental Leave to Military Troops
Legislation would provide service members with 12 weeks of paid parental leave per year and would extend the benefit to scenarios involving miscarriages and stillbirths.
Oversight
OPM Failed to Notify Employees of Coworker COVID Infections, Require Mask-Wearing, IG Says
The watchdog said many of the problems related to the agency’s coronavirus response have been solved by a new workforce safety plan finalized earlier this year.
Management
Labor Authority Launches Video Training Series
Officials hope a new series of animated videos will inform federal employees about labor-management issues in bite-sized portions.
Management
OPM Extends Deadline for Agencies to Implement Competency-Based Hiring
Citing “concern” from agencies, the federal government’s HR shop is giving officials until the end of 2021 to implement a Trump-era executive order overhauling federal hiring.
Management
House Panel Advances Legislation to Expand VA Medical Employee Bargaining Rights
The VA Employee Fairness Act would grant medical professionals the right to bargain over scheduling and official time, and to file grievances over pay disputes.
Pay & Benefits
OPM Implements Paid COVID Leave for Feds, and More
A weekly roundup of pay and benefits news.
Management
House Democrats Say Title 5 Protections Would Fix TSA’s Morale, Retention Woes
Advocates say now is the time to grant airport screeners with the same protections enjoyed by the rest of the federal workforce, including their bosses.
Pay & Benefits
TSP Funds Continue Strong Performance in April
All of the federal government’s 401(k)-style retirement savings program’s portfolios finished last month in the black.
Management
Unions Continue to Fault SSA Over Stalled Contract Renegotiations
Labor leaders accuse Trump holdovers atop the agency of seeking to retain “advantages” over unions during future negotiations rather than fully comply with President Biden’s directive to eradicate the previous administration’s workforce policies.
Management
Biden’s OPM Nominee Advances from Committee
All Republican senators voted against Kiran Ahuja over her past support of diversity and inclusion programs and abortion rights.
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
Biden Signs Executive Order to Promote Collective Bargaining
A new task force made up of federal agency heads is charged with identifying ways to encourage “worker empowerment,” including acting as a model employer that fosters unions at agencies.
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.
Management