Management
The Agencies that Saw the Biggest Gains—and Losses—in Employee Happiness in 2019
Smaller agencies saw the widest swings in employee morale this year, as measured by the annual Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey.
Management
Employee Engagement 'Stable' Across Federal Government
The Office of Personnel Management’s annual Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey saw a modest uptick in participation in its second year of a census model, but engagement scores did not improve.
Pay & Benefits
No New Locality Pay Areas, But Salary Council Considers More Formula Tweaks
The Federal Salary Council announced that the pay gap between federal workers and the private sector, as calculated by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, now sits at 26.71%.
Management
Agriculture Dept. Announces Lease for Permanent Kansas City Location for Science Agencies
Relocation of the Economic Research Service and National Institute for Food and Agriculture still faces potential roadblocks from Congress.
Management
Labor Authority Preliminarily Finds Social Security Illegally Intimidated Union Officials
Earlier this year, management threatened leaders at the Association of Administrative Law Judges with discipline for taking official time to prepare for contract negotiations.
Pay & Benefits
TSP Portfolios Post Modest Growth in October
All funds in the federal government’s 401(k)-style retirement savings program saw minor gains last month.
Management
Labor Authority Investigator Finds EPA Violated Law with Unilateral Contract
FLRA board cannot adjudicate the case because its general counsel nominee awaits Senate confirmation.
Pay & Benefits
New Flexibilities for TSP Withdrawals Shake Things Up, and More
A weekly round-up of pay and benefits news.
Pay & Benefits
Social Security Ends Telework Program for 12,000 Employees
Workers in all of the Social Security Administration’s operations components have less than two weeks to find alternate arrangements.
Pay & Benefits
TSP Board Revisits Decision to Broaden International Fund
A bipartisan group of senators has been urging officials to reconsider the decision to allow investments in Chinese companies.
Oversight
AFGE President Takes Leave Amid Harassment Allegations
The largest federal employee union will conduct an internal investigation into J. David Cox’s conduct after 10 current and former union employees told Bloomberg News of unwanted advances and inappropriate comments.
Management
OPM Proposes Ditching 'Clerk-Typist' and Other Occupational Classifications That Are Rarely Used Anymore
As many as 28 white collar job titles and 19 trade and craft occupations could be eliminated or rolled into other classifications following an administrative review.
Management
More Than 30 Lawmakers Urge Appropriators to Block Funding for USDA Science Agency Relocations
With most employees at the two research agencies declining to move to Kansas City, Democrats in both the House and Senate are urging appropriators to adopt House-passed language prohibiting spending on the move.
Oversight
Senate Democrats Decry EPA’s Decision to Unilaterally Impose Union Contract
A letter from 41 lawmakers to EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler said the decision to cease negotiations with the nation’s largest employee union and unilaterally implement a new contract showed a “disregard” for the law.
Pay & Benefits
Personnel Agency Demands Data on Use of Union Official Time, Telework
A weekly roundup of pay and benefits news.
Management
Efforts to Reform Federal Hiring Already Showing Results
Administration officials said that performing pass-fail interviews earlier in the hiring process led to a faster turnaround, better candidates and more hires from public job announcements.
Oversight
Cummings’ Leadership on Federal Employee Issues, Bipartisanship Could Be Hard to Replicate
The impeachment inquiry against President Trump is likely to dominate the next Oversight and Reform Committee chair’s agenda, observers say.
Management
Merit Board Suggests Ways Agencies Can Hire 'Better,' Not Just 'Faster and Cheaper'
The Merit Systems Protections Board is lending its support to the Office of Personnel Management's hiring reform efforts.
Oversight
Supreme Court to Examine Burden of Proof for Age Discrimination Lawsuits at Federal Agencies
If the high court finds in favor of a Veterans Affairs pharmacist, older federal employees could have an easier time making the case for discrimination.
Management