Workforce
Here’s Where Federal Employee Unions Can Look to Expand Their Ranks
According to new data from the Office of Personnel Management, nearly 300,000 federal employees are eligible to form unions but haven’t.
Pay & Benefits
COVID Leave for Kids’ Vaccinations, and More
A weekly roundup of pay and benefits news.
Pay & Benefits
OPM: If You Need to Travel for Medical Care, You Can Use Sick Leave
The federal government’s HR agency confirmed that federal employees may use sick leave to travel to obtain reproductive health services, although the measure falls short of employee groups’ request for paid administrative leave after abortion ruling.
Workforce
Coming Soon: More Regs and Bills to Help Modernize the Federal Workforce
Reforms will ease the process of everything from attracting new talent to processing retirement claims, says OPM Director Kiran Ahuja.
Pay & Benefits
The Biden Team Announces Pay Raises of Up to $20,000 Annually for Federal Firefighters
The pay increases, authorized as part of the bipartisan infrastructure law, will be retroactive to October 2021.
Pay & Benefits
The House Has Approved Federal Firefighter Workers Comp Reform, and More
A weekly roundup of pay and benefits news.
Workforce
These Agencies Performed the Best—and Worst—on Key Employee Morale Questions
Although the 2021 Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey is missing some broad historical metrics due to the COVID-19 pandemic, a look at individual questions can offer some insights.
Management
OPM Director Highlights ‘Call to Service’ to Hire Thousands to Implement Infrastructure Law
The federal government is hiring more than 8,000 people in the coming months, and officials will use that experience to fuel broader hiring process reforms.
Workforce
Federal Employees Are Growing Less Engaged and Less Satisfied With Their Jobs
Response rates for the annual Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey also fell 10 points from 2020, amid an abbreviated fall survey period due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Workforce
The ‘Ban the Box’ Prohibition at Federal Agencies Will Soon Be Expanded
OPM has proposed a rule implementing The Fair Chance Act, which expands a preexisting ban on asking federal job applicants about criminal histories before the conditional job offer phase of the hiring process, and sets up a mechanism for applicants to report violations of the rule.
Pay & Benefits
The Political Appointee Pay Freeze Continues, and More
A weekly roundup of pay and benefits news.
Pay & Benefits
Feds Can Now Donate to Ukraine Relief Efforts Directly From Their Paychecks
Between now and June 30, federal workers can pledge to donate to thousands of charities working on relief efforts in Ukraine as part of a special round of the Combined Federal Campaign.
Workforce
OPM Targets Data and Benefits Education to Improve Equity in the Federal Workforce
The federal government HR agency’s report was one of more than 90 equity action plans released by the Biden administration this week.
Tech
OPM Unveils a New Toolkit for Agencies to Hire Cyber Talent
A new resource hub from the Office of Personnel Management outlines what benefits agencies might be able to offer to fill cyber positions.
Workforce
OPM Issues More Guidance to Encourage Collective Bargaining at Agencies
Building on President Biden’s executive order encouraging more collaborative labor-management relations, OPM strongly encouraged federal agencies to improve unions’ ability to communicate with workers and collect dues.
Pay & Benefits
What Federal Employees Should Know About the New Paid Parental Bereavement Leave Benefit
Thanks to the 2022 National Defense Authorization Act, federal workers can take up to two weeks off following the death of a child.
Management
OPM’s Goals for the Next 18 Months: Hire, Hire, Hire
The federal government’s human resources agency released a new strategic plan this week aimed at transforming the agency into a leader in governmental human capital management.
Workforce
Biden’s Budget Focuses on Making Agencies a ‘Model Employer’
Documents accompanying the president’s fiscal 2023 budget request envisions reforms to federal hiring, internships, and a restructuring of regional Federal Executive Boards.
Management
It Just Got Easier for Feds to Vote and Work at Polls
New leave guidance is part of the Biden administration’s overall efforts to increase access to voting.
Pay & Benefits