Defense
Yes, Defense Furloughs Hurt Morale and Employee Retention
Officials at three sites tell watchdog the mandatory unpaid leave created rifts within the workforce.
Pay & Benefits
Appeals Process for TRICARE Claims is Fair, But Long
Report finds that Defense agreed with independent hearing officer’s decisions in 85 percent of cases over five years.
Nextgov
An Extra 14 Percent Keeps Cyber Pros at State -- Just Don't Call It a Bonus
Incentive program helps the department retain cyber talent.
Management
Labor Gets Ready to Raise the Minimum Wage for Federal Contractors
Secretary says the boost slated to take effect Jan. 1, 2015, will improve government services.
Pay & Benefits
Bill Would Give Civilian Employees in Combat Zones Tax Break
Reintroduced legislation aims to create benefit parity between civilians and military personnel working in dangerous places.
Pay & Benefits
Best Dates to Retire 2015
The annual calendar showing optimal days to leave federal service next year to maximize your benefits.
Nextgov
Should Federal Personnel Reform Start With IT?
Or do past project failures still have you reeling against any personnel reform?
Pay & Benefits
Retirement Claims Backlog Could Be Eliminated by Year’s End
The backlog is just under 15,000 claims – the lowest it’s been since December.
Pay & Benefits
House Votes to Ban Bonuses for All VA Employees Through 2016
Bill would expand veterans’ access to care outside VA facilities.
Pay & Benefits
House Panel Clears 1.8 Percent Pay Raise for Troops
Increase is higher than Senate and White House-backed plans.
Pay & Benefits
Agencies Will Start Hearing What Their Employees Really Think This Summer
OPM says it will begin sending feedback from the annual employee job satisfaction survey to agencies in August.
Pay & Benefits
Lawmakers Want to Overhaul Pay and Benefits for Border Patrol, Firefighters
Reformers hope to end widespread abuse of overtime privileges among border agents.
Management
Is $487K Too Little to Pay Federal Contractors?
Contractors object as the government finalizes plans to implement statutes limiting their reimbursable pay.
Pay & Benefits
Improper Hiring at Treasury Bureau Possibly Affected Veterans
Lawmakers and others are looking into whether the use of illegal hiring practices at an anti-money laundering agency violated vets’ preference.
Pay & Benefits
Cutting VA Bonuses Could Hurt Veterans More Than Execs
Private sector health care professionals earn three times what their government counterparts earn.
Pay & Benefits
A VA Fix That Goes Beyond Banning Bonuses
Lawmakers point to compensation for a quick scapegoat, but a long-term solution may be on the horizon.
Pay & Benefits
Federal Employees Have Lost All Furlough Appeals So Far
MSPB judges have sided with the agency’s decision to furlough workers during sequestration in the 1,200 cases that they’ve adjudicated to date.
Management