Oversight

Education considers buyouts

Department is weighing whether to join a growing list of federal agencies attempting to downsize in response to budget pressures.

Defense

Pain of Defense service contractor cuts might not be felt evenly

Spending decreases in Senate policy bill wouldn’t necessarily result in across-the-board pay or hiring freezes, industry reps say.

Pay & Benefits

GSA joins White House healthy kids campaign

Agency will encourage nutritious meals, exercise in its child care centers across the country.

Pay & Benefits

USPS notifies 1,700 employees their jobs will be cut

Those who receive separation notices have until September to find a new job in the agency, or be laid off.

Pay & Benefits

Midterm Quiz

A true-false exam on retirement facts and trends.

Defense

Government hiring of vets is on the rise, report finds

More than a quarter of new hires are vets.

Pay & Benefits

Unions urge administration to protect FERS pensions

Letter to Vice President Biden criticizes proposals to increase employee retirement fund contributions.

Pay & Benefits

Pension Penalties

Proposals attempt to curb corruption amid lawmakers by expanding the list of offenses punishable by loss of retirement benefits.

Oversight

Labor-management council urges closer look at delinquent agencies

Those that have failed to develop partnerships should not get off easy, union leaders say.

Defense

Adm. Mullen: Local groups need to take lead on services for military families

Washington is best suited for a support role, outgoing chairman of the Joint Chiefs says.

Pay & Benefits

Agencies asked to cut performance awards

Total spending for senior executive bonuses should be no more than 5 percent of salaries, officials say.

Oversight

OPM: Pay raises are not a given

Director John Berry reminds agencies that mediocre employees should not receive automatic step increases.

Pay & Benefits

Decision Time

Only two weeks remain in the long-term care insurance open season.

Pay & Benefits

Agency contributions to federal pension plans will rise in October

Employee payments will remain the same, but the total cost to government will increase, according to OPM estimates.

Pay & Benefits

Place Particulars

Alaska and Hawaii get their own locality pay, OPM designates 15 states as medically underserved and lawmakers look at veteran benefits.

Pay & Benefits

Printing office joins list of agencies looking to downsize

GPO seeks to decrease its overall workforce by 15 percent and its managerial ranks by 25 percent to save money.

Oversight

Nearly all agencies meet initial telework policy deadline

But additional work lays ahead, OPM says. Has your agency informed you of your telework status? Take our poll.

Pay & Benefits

GOP targets automatic deductions of union dues

New legislation aims to weaken federal unions, according to labor leaders who observe that employees already must opt into the elective payroll deductions.

Oversight

HR managers feel they lack time, money for succession planning

Human resources pros focus more on ensuring skilled staff is in the pipeline in their agencies than in their own offices, report finds.

Oversight

Poll: Escape Route

Has the pay freeze put a damper on your vacation plans? Or do you need a break now more than ever? Take our poll.