Oversight
Unions are anxious for details of spending freeze
Employee organizations applaud overall message in State of the Union address, but raise some concerns about proposals to keep budgets in check.
Pay & Benefits
Federal employees continue to see favoritism in promotions and awards
Personal connections increasingly are perceived as an important factor in getting ahead, MSPB survey finds.
Pay & Benefits
Interior aims to improve workforce diversity
Recommendations from African-American employee group prompts mentoring programs, new performance metrics.
Oversight
OPM launches revamped USAjobs.gov
Officials praise new version’s greater efficiency and flexibility.
Oversight
Report says size of FCC staff decreased steadily during past decade
GAO: Decline in agency staff is due to a lack of workforce planning and competitive pay.
Pay & Benefits
Bill would boost oversight of FEHBP prescription drugs
Legislation aims to keep costs to federal employees in check.
Pay & Benefits
Lawmakers include feds in excise tax relief
But fate of health care bill is still uncertain.
Pay & Benefits
Pentagon taps career Navy executive to dissolve NSPS
John H. James will run office dismantling pay system and build new performance management system.
Pay & Benefits
Tax Trap
Changes to the federal withholding formula could mean unpleasant surprises when it comes time to file income tax returns.
Oversight
At one-year mark, Obama shows progress on management pledges
National Journal finds the administration is following up on a number of the president’s campaign trail promises.
Defense
Withdrawal of TSA nominee raises concern about agency workforce
Lack of permanent leadership is delaying action on important issues, union officials say.
Pay & Benefits
Challenges remain in administrative judge hiring, evaluation
Report recommends that OPM work with agencies to improve processes for screening job candidates and assessing judges’ work.
Pay & Benefits
Retirement savings plan to launch new Web site in May
Redesign comes amid efforts to get more employees to invest part of their paychecks in the TSP.
Oversight
Feds are left out of excise tax compromise
A proposed five-year delay of the Cadillac tax does not apply to most federal employees’ health care plans.
Defense
Outgoing intelligence HR chief says pay-for-performance can work
Personnel reform has a better chance if stakeholders are given a seat at the table, Sanders says.
Pay & Benefits