Management

Senator Calls on Administration to Offer Flexibilities on Security Clearance Adjudications for Coronavirus

Sen. Warner wants to ensure that coronavirus financial hardships don’t negatively impact intelligence community employees and contractors.

Pay & Benefits

OPM Dismisses Union Concerns About Paid Parental Leave Implementation

Agency Director Dale Cabaniss argued that legislative proposals listed as part of OPM's fiscal 2021 budget justification merely sought "clarification" from Congress, and were not intended to set limitations on the new benefit.

Workforce

Senators Call on OPM to Ensure Feds and Contractors Are Protected as Coronavirus Spreads

The lawmakers pushed for expanding telework and preventing agencies from imposing disciplinary actions or pay cuts that could impede health precautions.

Management

OPM Issues Additional Coronavirus Guidance, Encouraging Telework, Reduced Travel

The federal government’s HR agency orders all agencies to include telework in contingency plans, and encourages them to reduce “non-essential” travel.

Pay & Benefits

Union Urges OPM Director to Withdraw Proposal to Limit Paid Parental Leave

As part of its fiscal 2020 budget justification, the personnel agency proposed legislation limiting the availability of paid parental leave for foster placements and in instances where both parents are federal workers.

Management

OPM Announces Adjustments to Annual Time-to-Hire Metrics

Moving forward, agencies will be expected to count all employees hired and provide additional details about the length of the hiring process.

Pay & Benefits

OPM, Lawmakers Propose Fixes to New Paid Parental Leave Law

The effort to ensure all federal employees have access to up to 12 weeks of paid time off following the birth, adoption or foster placement of a child now has bipartisan support.

Management

Trump Administration to Expand Hiring Pilot Programs in 2020

Pilot program with simpler resumes and more input from subject matter experts in assessing candidates will reach at least five additional agencies this year.

Management

With Snow on the Way, OPM Says Feds ‘Must Depart’ No Later Than 1 p.m.

The federal government’s HR agency instructed D.C.-area federal workers to leave work four hours early or by 1 p.m., whichever is earlier.

Pay & Benefits

Pay Agent Approves New Locality Pay Area, Calls for Legislative Changes to All Federal Pay

Federal workers Des Moines, Iowa, and Imperial County, California, will be the next in line to receive raises in the form of locality pay, likely beginning in 2021.

Management

The New Year Brings Good News for Federal Worker Compensation

While health care costs are rising and telework took a hit, everyone will see a decent raise and new parents will soon get paid parental leave.

Management

OPM Proposes Making It Easier to Rehire Former Feds

Under a new plan from the Office of Personnel Management, federal agencies would be able to rehire former federal workers at a higher pay grade than their previous job, provided they were high performers.

Oversight

Watchdog: OPM is At Risk of Not Being Able to Restore IT Systems Post-Disaster 

The massive 2015 data breaches that exposed personal information of current and former federal employees are the subject of an ongoing lawsuit. 

Management

Congress Moves to Block OPM-GSA Merger

A provision in the 2020 National Defense Authorization Act would first require an independent study of the challenges facing the Office of Personnel Management.