Pay & Benefits
Dental and vision benefits are now open to many part-time, temporary and seasonal federal employees
A rule finalized Tuesday makes nearly 200,000 additional federal employees, including postal workers, eligible to enroll in the Federal Employees Dental and Vision Insurance Program.
Workforce
Agencies would have more flexibility in the hiring process, under new OPM rules
Regulations implementing a provision of the 2019 National Defense Authorization Act would give hiring managers more information—and options—as they evaluate job applicants.
Pay & Benefits
A Senate panel has advanced legislation to avert wildland firefighter ‘pay cliff’
Meanwhile, the Office of Personnel Management has released a draft set of qualifications for its upcoming new job series for wildland fire management.
Workforce
Proposed funding cuts could prevent IRS, Justice and other agencies from meeting their missions, employee groups say
Controversial plans to deeply slash spending at OPM, IRS and the Justice Department have drawn the ire of the federal employees who work at or rely on those agencies. They say the cuts would harm mission delivery.
Pay & Benefits
OPM establishes emergency leave transfer program to help feds affected by Typhoon Mawar
The typhoon devastated U.S. territories that are home to federal employees.
Pay & Benefits
OPM’s retirement backlog just hit its lowest level since 2017
The federal government’s HR agency’s efforts to modernize the retirement process have been buoyed by increased investment and renewed focus on customer service.
Pay & Benefits
OPM reminds agencies of workplace flexibilities following disasters
A memo highlighting telework, paid leave and other benefits available to feds impacted by disasters corresponds with the beginning of hurricane season and a recent typhoon in the Pacific Ocean.
Workforce
OPM’s ‘Intern Experience Program’ promises to standardize, improve agencies’ internship offerings
The plan is the latest in a series of initiatives aimed at boosting participation in internship programs at federal agencies and improving the government’s ability to recruit younger civil servants.
Pay & Benefits
Extra pay raises are coming to nearly 33,000 feds next year, thanks to new locality pay rules
The Office of Personnel Management has proposed regulations to create four new locality pay areas, along with a comprehensive map update adding dozens of jurisdictions to existing pay regions.
Pay & Benefits
Most feds will have a few extra hours of paid leave this year, thanks to a calendar quirk
The Office of Personnel Management on Monday warned that many federal workers should plan to take slightly more time off to avoid forfeiting “use it or lose it” annual leave hours.
Workforce
A gender equity group still wants better protections for feds who need abortion care
One year after the Dobbs decision, President Biden signed a new executive order potentially expanding contraceptive access for federal workers, but a gender equity group at the Justice Department says more needs to be done.
Pay & Benefits
Implement locality pay changes quickly, salary council urges OPM
The annual list of recommendations, made in February but made public this month, did not alter the map of locality pay areas, but reiterated the importance of proposals already tentatively approved by the Biden administration.
Workforce
‘Protect the Health’ of Employees Amid Poor Air Quality, OPM Reminds Employees
Wildfires in Canada have encased much of the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic in smoke and haze, raising health concerns for commuters and employees who work outside.
Pay & Benefits
OPM Wants to Do More for Federal Workers' Wellness
An initiative to “revitalize” employee assistance programs across the federal government eyes a more comprehensive approach to promoting federal employees' wellness.
Pay & Benefits
A New Guide to the Retirement Process Could Help Feds Avoid Pitfalls, Manage Expectations
OPM's new three-page guide to the federal retirement process will be updated on a monthly basis to reflect anticipated wait times for federal retirees to begin receiving their annuity payments.
Pay & Benefits
Federal Prison Employees Ask the Supreme Court to Review COVID Hazard Pay Case
Attorneys for nearly 200 U.S. Bureau of Prisons workers in Connecticut said a federal appellate court effectively made it impossible for any federal worker to qualify for hazard pay related to “virulent biologicals” with its interpretation of federal regulations.
Pay & Benefits
Ditch Salary History When Setting Job Applicants’ Pay, OPM Proposes
Aimed at reducing gender- and ethnicity-based pay gaps, the initiative would also apply tighter guard rails in cases when an applicant has a competing and higher-paying job offer.
Oversight
OSC: ATF Wasted At Least $10 Million Misclassifying Administrative Jobs as Law Enforcement
Although OPM and ATF investigations found around 100 positions within the agency’s HR department were improperly provided enhanced law enforcement pay and benefits, the whistleblowers who prompted the probe said the problem is more widespread than that.
Workforce
OPM Highlights Mental Health Resources for Feds
The federal government is setting up a new listserv to provide federal employees with mental health information, events and tools to boost mindfulness.
Pay & Benefits