Pay & Benefits

A basic flaw in the federal pay system

COMMENTARY | The system wasn’t designed to be competitive with the private sector, and that’s a problem in today’s job market.

Pay & Benefits

Military Survivor Annuity Program finally offers long-promised open season to choose new beneficiaries

Some retired service members say they are either outright denied or given an impossible runaround when they try to update their elections, but Defense agency pushes back on those allegations.

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.

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.

Pay & Benefits

Bipartisan wildland firefighter ‘pay cliff’ fix introduced in Senate

Without congressional action by September, the federal government’s wildland firefighters will see their paychecks shrink as temporary pay increases expire.

Pay & Benefits

House GOP plan to curb fed pay and benefits would come at a cost, experts say

Morale, recruitment and retention are likely to take a hit, and there are better ways to save money.

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.

Pay & Benefits

TSP funds bounce back following debt limit uncertainty

Only one of the federal government’s 401(k)-style retirement savings plan’s portfolios finished June in the red.

Pay & Benefits

Saving for retirement in your TSP with a federal annuity: How much is enough?

Planning for retirement with a federal pension is different from planning for retirement without one.

Pay & Benefits

Tips for juggling different retirement systems

Did you know there’s a separate retirement system for employees on military bases in self-funding "morale, welfare and recreation" operations?

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.