Feds Trying to Retain STEM Employees with Higher Pay
October 27, 2014
The Office of Personnel Management is encouraging agencies to maintain and build a workforce of employees who specialize in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) by offering them higher pay. In a recent memo, OPM Director Katherine Archuleta said that federal agencies have the authority to “provide additional direct compensation in certain circumstances” to support […]
Much Needed COLA for Federal Retirees for 2015
October 22, 2014
Looks like Federal Retirees are to Receive a 1.7% COLA for 2015, according to the new figures that was released this morning. This is a slight increase compared to the adjustment they received this year of 1.5%, but the same as 2013 when they received 1.7%. The annual COLA increase is based on the percentage increase in […]
Proposed Regulations Would Expand Financial Protection for Military Families
October 20, 2014
The Department of Defense is proposing changes to regulations that would close loopholes in the Military Lending Act (MLA) and help protect thousands of service members across the country. The proposed rule change would amend existing regulations in the MLA, including extending a 36 percent interest rate cap on short-term loans on a wide range […]
Health Insurance Rates May Rise
October 13, 2014
Federal employees could pay slightly more for their health insurance premiums in 2015. The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) released figures Tuesday showing the average health insurance premium will rise 3.8 percent. This is the fourth consecutive year federal workers have seen an increase in their health insurance premiums, according to the Washington Post. Depending […]
Whistleblowers Settle with VA
October 7, 2014
The Department of Veterans Affairs has settled with three employees following an investigation into retaliation against whistleblowers at a VA hospital in Phoenix, Arizona. Dr. Katherine Mitchell, a former co-director of emergency care at the Phoenix hospital; Paula Pedene, the hospital’s former chief spokeswoman; and Damian Reese, a program analyst, all reported alleged wrongdoing at […]
Arbitrator Rules In Favor of Postal Union
September 30, 2014
At least 9,000 jobs in the United States Postal Service will be added or transformed into union positions following an arbitration ruling in early September. Arbitrator Stephen B. Goldberg said in his decision that the postal service violated an agreement with the American Postal Workers Union (APWU) when it assigned some jobs to part-time employees […]
Washington Debates USPS Facility Closures
September 25, 2014
The fate of thousands of United States Postal Service workers is still unclear as lawmakers in Washington debate how to rescue the agency from its dire financial straits. In mid-August, a bipartisan group of 50 senators called for a one-year hold on the USPS’s plans to shut down mail processing plants, which would cut thousands […]
Telework Time Under Fire
September 23, 2014
Teleworking by government employees has come under intense scrutiny recently. Early last month, it was reported that the Patent and Trademark Office (PTO) had conducted an internal investigation, beginning two years ago, which found that some of the 8,300 employees from the PTO may have fudged how many hours they actually worked, and others were […]
Obama Proposes 1 Percent Pay Raise for Federal Workers
September 18, 2014
Instead of receiving their annual raise via the Federal Employees Pay Comparability Act, federal workers may see just a 1 percent raise effective January 2015. President Barack Obama wrote a letter to House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) and Vice President Joe Biden at the end of August in which he proposed raising federal civilian and […]
Reaction Mixed on OPM Health Benefits Expansion
September 16, 2014
Federal employees who are working at least 130 hours a month could be impacted by a recent proposal from the Office of Personnel Management to expand health benefits eligibility. In July, the OPM proposed a rule to expand eligibility for employees to enroll in the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program (FEHBP). These would include temporary, […]
