Tech

HR specialists note generation gap in telework acceptance

Despite slower adoption among older managers, it’s a powerful recruitment and retention incentive, conference participants say.

Features

The Conductors

Chief human capital officers seek to harmonize the skills of disparate employees and smooth discordant personnel policies.

Pay & Benefits

Unions call on OPM to rein in health care premiums

Labor leaders say federal government should increase its share of payments and take advantage of subsidies.

Oversight

Staffing shortages slow vets’ employment counseling

VA and Labor coordination efforts hindered by personnel limitations, difficulty sharing information.

Defense

Senators warm to ICE chief at re-nomination hearing

Julie Myers gets more positive reception than two years ago, but questions remain about employee morale, treatment of immigration detainees.

Defense

DHS encouraged to improve IT workforce planning

Current plans lack timetables, resources for implementation, GAO finds.

Oversight

Arbitrator rules against SEC pay for performance system

Arbitrary standards produced discrimination against African-Americans, employees over 40, mediator finds.

Defense

Court rules in union’s favor in TSA free-speech case

In a unanimous decision, appeals court judges order lower court to hear complaint alleging the agency violated a screener’s constitutional rights.

Pay & Benefits

Air traffic controllers land in Washington to lobby

Controllers ask lawmakers to overturn unpopular contract in upcoming FAA reauthorization.

Oversight

FAA awards landmark air traffic control contract

ITT wins $1.8 billion award to deploy new GPS-based systems.

Defense

NASA report rebuts astronaut drinking allegations

Safety chief finds no evidence astronauts flew drunk, says agency has policies in place to prevent unsafe behavior.

Pay & Benefits

Executives list obstacles to outsourcing HR services

Study shows challenges include inadequate standards and lack of funding to implement new programs.

Oversight

Bush accepts attorney general's resignation

Alberto Gonzales says he will leave Sept. 17; Solicitor General Paul Clement named acting attorney general.

Pay & Benefits

Employee groups praise Gonzales -- for leaving

Representatives of Justice Department employees say move is first step to shoring up low morale.

Defense

Activist to sue Defense Department claiming religious bias

Former Air Force judge advocate alleges the military is promoting fundamentalist Christianity.

Oversight

FAA administrator to head trade group when term expires

Marion Blakey will take over at the Aerospace Industries Association in November.

Pay & Benefits

NASA urged to consider morale in reshaping workforce

Retirement of the space shuttle and ensuing shift in mission will create substantial challenges, GAO cautions.

Defense

EPA, VA clear officials who appeared in religious video

Officials did not appear in uniform and weren’t identified by title.

Pay & Benefits

Labor board rulings highlight FAA-union tensions

Board rejects FAA charge against union of technical and safety workers, but sides with agency in case brought by another union.

Defense

IG criticizes Army, Air Force officers’ participation in religious video

Four generals and three other officers should not have appeared in an official capacity in video promoting Christian group, investigators say.