Management
House to Consider Blocking OPM Merger, Other Workforce Proposals Through Defense Policy Bill
Proposed amendments to the annual must-pass Defense authorization bill include measures to safeguard federal workers’ insurance during shutdowns, ban the box in federal hiring and protect whistleblowers.
Management
Administrative Law Judge Union Accuses Social Security of Bad Faith Bargaining
The agency’s “last best offer” to the union includes a 90% cut to official time, telework limits and removal of language that ensures due process for disability claimants.
Pay & Benefits
House Democrats Aim to Add Paid Family Leave for Feds to Defense Policy Bill
A proposed amendment to the fiscal 2020 National Defense Authorization Act would provide all federal workers with 12 weeks of paid family leave.
Management
House Appropriations Bill Would Block Impasses Panel from Imposing New Union Contracts
Federal labor groups have frequently accused agencies of engaging in bad faith “box-checking” collective bargaining negotiations, in an effort to fast track proposals to an all-Republican board.
Management
OPM Announces New ‘Data Scientist’ Job Title
Officials hope that an "unofficial" data science marker for federal jobs could help both with recruitment of new federal workers as well as improve evidence-based policymaking and data management efforts.
Pay & Benefits
All TSP Funds Rebound in June
After a lackluster May in which most offerings lost value, every fund in the federal government’s 401(k)-style retirement savings program grew last month.
Workforce
OPM Doesn’t Anticipate Furloughs in October
Acting Director Margaret Weichert sought to reassure employees that their jobs were safe despite a recent dust-up with lawmakers.
Management
OPM Still Lacks Legal Analysis of Proposed Merger with GSA
Lawmakers in both parties expressed outrage at the lack of documents provided to support the Trump administration’s proposal.
Management
House Approves 3.1% Pay Raise and Blocks OPM Furloughs, Merger
Lawmakers dealt the Trump administration’s proposal to merge OPM and GSA another setback.
Pay & Benefits
House Approves Shutdown Back Pay for Contractors, Trump Signs Law Expanding Vet Disability Benefits
A weekly roundup of pay and benefits news.
Management
'People Are Crying When They Come Into Work:' Unions Protest OPM-GSA Merger
Lawmakers said they will try to amend an appropriations bill to block the acting OPM director from following through on her threat to lay off 150 agency employees.
Oversight
Appeals Court Overrules Federal Labor Relations Authority on 15-Year-Long Union Dispute
A three-judge panel found that a Trump FRLA decision was not supported by the evidence.
Pay & Benefits
TSP Outlines Time Frame for Lifecycle Fund Changes, Internal Improvements
By the end of next year, the federal government’s 401(k)-style retirement savings program will offer lifecycle funds in five-year increments.
Management
Interior Department Announces Modest Cutback to Telework
Beginning next month, front-line employees with telework agreements will be required to report to a physical office once a week, while supervisors will be eligible only for situational telework.
Pay & Benefits
More than Half of D.C.-Area Feds Say Agencies Aren’t Supportive of Telework Amid Metro Closures
Majority of respondents to a GovExec.com/Government Business Council survey report that the temporary shutdown of six Metrorail stations would have at least a moderate impact on their ability to do their jobs.
Management
OPM Leader Threatens Furloughs, RIFs if Congress Doesn’t Approve GSA Merger
The administration has given lawmakers until the end of June to greenlight the merger, or else roughly 150 OPM employees could lose their jobs this fall.
Pay & Benefits
Contractor Back Pay Bill Advances, Administration Seeks Dismissal of Shutdown Compensation Lawsuit and More
A weekly roundup of pay and benefits news.
Pay & Benefits
Appeals Court: ICE Did Not Have to Bargain Over Pay Changes
A three-judge panel found that Immigration and Customs Enforcement was within its rights to reduce overtime pay for employees because the change complied with a governmentwide rule.
Management
OPM Proposes Legislation to Clarify Probationary Periods, Expand Hiring Eligibility
The federal government’s HR agency also hopes to remove a cap on interns at federal agencies.
Oversight