Management
VA to Eliminate Official Time for All Medical Positions
Department cites need for more patient care, but those on official time account for less than 1 percent of the VA workforce.
Oversight
OSHA Faults Agriculture Department in Lead Abatement Fiasco
A union representing employees in Rural Development also regained the right to telework.
Pay & Benefits
Cost of Living Adjustments for Military Retirees, the Blended Retirement Deadline Looms and More
A weekly round-up of pay and benefits news.
Management
Feds Not Alone in Believing Raises Are Unfairly Distributed
The frustration is likely exacerbated by generally small across-the-board raises in the federal sector, one expert says.
Oversight
Senators Demand OPM End Agencies' Circumvention of Workforce Court Order
Several departments seem to be violating a federal judge’s ruling, 16 Democrats say.
Management
Consumer Bureau Union Files Grievance Over Political Appointee's Racist Blog Posts
NTEU officials argue Eric Blankenstein’s blog posts and refusal to apologize violate the union’s collective bargaining agreement.
Pay & Benefits
TSP Portfolios Took a Nosedive in October
Market volatility caused most funds in the retirement savings program to end last month in the red.
Pay & Benefits
Pay Satisfaction Improves, VA Tweaks Pension Benefits for Veterans
A weekly round-up of pay and benefits news.
Management
Agencies That Cut Telework Took a Beating in Annual Employee Survey
Drops in employee happiness corresponded with shifts in opinions on the agencies' telework policies.
Management
The Agencies With the Biggest Gains—And Losses—in Employee Happiness
Education, Agriculture and some labor agencies' satisfaction scores plummet.
Management
Response Rates to Federal Employee Workplace Satisfaction Survey a Growing Concern
Despite widening who can participate in the annual Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey, responses fell 5 percentage points from 2017.
Management
OPM: Federal Happiness Stagnated in 2018, While Survey Participation Tanked
This year marks the first time the annual governmentwide survey of employee attitudes was conducted as a census.
Management
Federal Employee Union Pickets Outside HHS Headquarters, Demands Bargaining
The National Treasury Employees Union has protested the department’s actions in collective bargaining negotiations.
Pay & Benefits
Federal Officers Association Asks OPM to Roll Back 2016 Annuity Change
Decision to apply "marital share" allocations to divorced retirees retroactively has led to many former feds to go into debt.
Management
Greater Use of Talent Exchange Programs Tops New List of Proposed Federal Workforce Reforms
The Mitre Corp. also suggested expanding hiring authorities and training programs, and a more collaborative relationship with federal employee unions.
News
Report: Governmentwide Employee Satisfaction Survey Results Mostly Unchanged From 2017
Results of the annual Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey will show slight improvements in two of three primary metrics, according to a preview from one agency.
Management
The Employees Managing the Thrift Savings Plan Are Happier This Year
Officials hope that continuity in leadership will allow further improvement on annual employee satisfaction survey scores.
Management
Court Denies Trump Administration Request to Expedite Appeal of Workforce EO Decision
Appeals court judges found that the Justice Department did not prove irreparable harm that would be caused by a standard review schedule.
Management
Despite Leadership Shake-Up, Transfer of OPM Services to GSA Remains in Doubt
Legal questions and a lack of “vision” for shifting many services threaten to prevent the renewed reorganization effort from becoming reality.
Pay & Benefits