Pay & Benefits
Racing the Clock
With the upcoming elections, Congress has even less time than usual to approve the 2009 pay raise.
Pay & Benefits
Unions call for pro-employee leaders at OPM, labor relations board
Federal Labor Relations Authority chairwoman resigns; union president praises “professional working relationship” with outgoing OPM Director Linda Springer.
Pay & Benefits
TSP automatic enrollment bill clears House committee
Legislation also would provide for a Roth IRA and the creation of TSP funds without Congress’ prior approval.
Oversight
House panel leaders introduce broad airline safety measure
Bill would create a whistleblower investigation office within FAA, and require a two-year cooling-off period for agency inspectors who go to work for an airline.
Oversight
Surveys show federal managers face major hurdles trying to do their jobs
Most respondents say government is less capable now than in the past.
Pay & Benefits
OPM director to resign
Linda Springer will step down next month; deputy director Howard Weizmann will fill in as acting director.
Pay & Benefits
Ruling expands veterans' access to federal jobs
Merit board directs State Department to lift maximum entry age requirement for preference-eligible veterans who want to become special agents.
Pay & Benefits
Federal employee groups step up political efforts as fall elections approach
Organizations contribute most money to House Democrats.
Pay & Benefits
Postal Service starts discussions on early retirement offers
The agency is required to consult with unions before it can finalize the details of the offers, which it expects to extend to at least 20,000 employees.
Pay & Benefits
Senate appropriators pass 3.9 percent civilian pay hike
Figure is more generous than the raise proposed by Bush, but matches that approved by the House Appropriations Committee.
Pay & Benefits
Lawmakers question Thrift Savings Plan investment strategy
Some call for active rather than passive fund management.
Pay & Benefits
Playing Catch Up
The federal government would do well to follow the private sector’s lead on benefits for same-sex partners.
Pay & Benefits
Senate panel approves 3.9 percent civilian pay raise
Adjustment matches the figure recently approved by the House Appropriations Committee.
Defense
Democrats: Medicare physician pay cuts could hurt Tricare
Tricare reimbursement rates are linked to those for Medicare, meaning the proposed 10.6 percent cut could affect service to soldiers and veterans.
Pay & Benefits
Researchers downplay generational differences
New studies indicate that older federal employees actually have many of the same core values as their younger colleagues.
Defense
House subpanel approves bill to help soldiers terminate service contracts
Bill gives service members financial protection if deployed for more than 90 days, or transferred to another base.
Defense
Legislation extends residency rights to military spouses
The bill amends a law that allows soldiers to keep one state of residency regardless of where military orders send them.
Defense
Border officers get retirement benefits boost
A legislative provision that took effect over the weekend gives Customs and Border Protection officers law enforcement status.
Pay & Benefits