Pay & Benefits
Postal Service contract talks up against new Tuesday deadline
Management’s demand for a flexible workforce amid plummeting revenue clashes with labor’s assertion that job security assures quality.
Defense
Number of Army suicides already surpasses 2009 total
Suicide is the third-leading cause of death for soldiers, trailing only combat deaths and accidental deaths from drug overdoses and drunken driving.
Defense
Navy chief is preparing 'don't ask' recommendations
Roughead says Pentagon review allows the military to look at the potential effects of repealing the ban on openly gay troops in a “broad context.”
Defense
IG will review BRAC moves in Northern Virginia
Lawmaker called for examination of Army’s environmental assessment supporting relocation plan.
Pay & Benefits
Health insurance plans offer tax savings options
Feds should consider special tax-advantaged accounts to cover eligible medical costs.
Defense
Airports weigh Republican's proposal to ditch TSA screeners
Rep. John Mica of Florida is calling for the replacement of federal employee screeners with private contractors.
Pay & Benefits
Disability Decisions
Planning for the possibility you’re forced to leave your job due to injury.
Oversight
House sends telework bill to Obama
Measure advances over GOP objections that it is costly and gives feds another “perk” when they already are better off than other workers.
Pay & Benefits
Frozen Assets
Federal agencies have the opportunity to offset a possible pay freeze with other workplace benefits.
Oversight
Bipartisan Policy Center plan proposes sales tax to tackle deficit
To address the current state of the economy, the plan calls for an ambitious economic stimulus in the form of an immediate Social Security payroll tax holiday for 2011.
Oversight
Hiring reform inches forward
A more complete look at progress will be available early next year, OPM director says.
Pay & Benefits
Board to revisit more aggressive default funds for TSP participants
Chairman says indecisive investors could benefit from having their money in life-cycle funds rather than in government securities.
Oversight
Federal security clearance process improves, officials say
Turnaround time is faster, but lawmakers still are concerned with IT upgrades and agency reciprocity.
Oversight
OPM delays launch of health claims database
Agency is pushing the deadline to Dec. 15 to accommodate more comments from the public.
Defense
Union urges TSA to give bargaining rights to screeners
Screeners are now able to form unions but have never had been able to bargain collectively with management.
Defense
Senior acquisition officials question procurement policy direction
Survey shows government professionals have doubts about how contracting policies are being implemented.
Pay & Benefits
Federal pay raise still up in the air
A cloud of "what ifs" hangs over dispute on whether federal workers are overpaid and deserve a salary hike next year.
Defense
Republicans signal delay on 'don't ask, don't tell' repeal
Senators say there won't be enough time during the lame-duck session to adequately debate the ban on gays serving openly in the military.
Pay & Benefits
TSA to hold union election
Federal Labor Relations Authority accepts petition to vote for exclusive representation.
Oversight