Management

Opioid Use Among Injured Federal Workers Fell Sharply Since 2017

The director of the Labor Department’s Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs says that efforts to mitigate dependence on addictive pain medication are paying off.

Pay & Benefits

Lawmakers Introduce Bill to Protect All Feds’ Leave Following COVID

Although OPM’s current policy only waives the 30-day annual leave cap for essential employees who are unable to use their leave due to their duties responding to the coronavirus pandemic, Democrats in Congress want to extend the waiver to all federal workers.

Pay & Benefits

Biden Vows to Raise Federal Employees' Pay and Protect Benefits

In a questionnaire published by the National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association, the former vice president said he would abandon efforts by the Trump administration to force federal workers to contribute more to their defined benefit retirement accounts.

Pay & Benefits

GovExec Daily: The Future of Pay and Benefits Under Trump or Biden

Erich Wagner joins the podcast to discuss how the two major-party candidates would approach the federal workforce if elected.

Pay & Benefits

How to Know if You’re Contributing Enough to the TSP

For some people, $100,000 may be enough; for others, $2 million may not be enough.

Pay & Benefits

Union Asks OPM to Loosen Restrictions on Paid Parental Leave

Some requirements of the new benefit program are overly burdensome, particularly if a baby is born prematurely.

Pay & Benefits

New Federal Rules Could Make It Harder for Parents to Take Paid Leave

New guidelines from the Department of Labor on the Families First Coronavirus Response Act say parents whose children have access to in-person learning are no longer eligible for paid leave.

Pay & Benefits

Survey: Vast Majority of TSP Participants Are Satisfied With the Retirement Savings Program

Although satisfaction levels are slightly down compared with 2017, officials with the federal government’s 401(k)-style retirement savings program said that is likely due to market volatility at the time of the survey.

Management

AFGE Pushes for Workforce Protections in Defense Policy Bill Negotiations

The nation’s largest federal employee union urged lawmakers to include collective bargaining protections and fix a soon to be implemented paid parental leave law.

Pay & Benefits

OPM Outlines Process for Restoring Leave After COVID

Regulations allowing some to carry over more than 30 days of annual leave into next year will also apply to future emergencies, Office of Personnel Management said.

Pay & Benefits

OPM Issues Regulations for Feds’ Paid Parental Leave

Beginning Oct. 1, federal workers will be entitled to up to 12 weeks of paid leave in connection with the birth, adoption or foster placement of a child.

Pay & Benefits

Federal Pay is Way Off Track

The General Schedule system is unresponsive to labor market dynamics and agency staffing needs.

Pay & Benefits

OPM Moves to Implement Protections for Feds During Shutdowns

The 2020 Defense policy act included provisions ensuring federal workers would be able to change their insurance coverage due to a significant life event during a lapse in appropriations and protecting them from gaps in supplemental health care plans.

Management

GovExec Daily: The Cancelled Presidential Rank Awards

Erich Wagner and Tom Shoop join the show to discuss how the scuttled awards fit into the greater Trump administration plans for the civil service and human capital.

Pay & Benefits

OPM Cancels Presidential Rank Awards, Citing Efforts to 'Reopen' Economy

The Trump administration in March had suspended nominations for this year’s iteration of the awards, which recognize federal executives’ contributions to public service.

Management

House Defense Policy Bill Fixes Parental Leave Loopholes, Preserves Pentagon Collective Bargaining

The House version of the 2021 Defense authorization measure ensures all federal workers have access to the new benefit providing 12 weeks of paid parental leave, and it also standardizes locality pay between the General Schedule and Federal Wage System pay scales.

Pay & Benefits

Senate Defense Policy Bill Would Allow Pay Increases for a Few Federal Tech and Acquisition Jobs

The bill would also improve a recently enacted fix to tax regulations related to government-provided relocation expenses.

Management

White House Advisor Sought Legal Opinion to Allow Trump to Fire Anyone In Government

A recently published internal White House document from early in the Trump administration proved to be a road map for the White House’s efforts to weaken unions and cut federal employee pay and benefits.