Workforce

When Americans Go Back to Work, Things Won’t Be the Same

Americans will have to change how they do business to cope with the COVID-19 pandemic and its aftermath. Here's what it could look like.

Pay & Benefits

USDA Resists Providing Extra Flexibilities During the Pandemic for Forest Service Employees with Children

U.S. Forest Service workers said they are burning through personal leave juggling telework and child care, but that their agency has declined to provide additional time off as others have done.

Management

Impasses Panel Imposes Steep Cuts to Official Time, Other Rights for Administrative Law Judges

Union that represents administrative law judges at the Social Security Administration vowed to take “all necessary legal action” to protect members, as multiple lawsuits proceed.

Pay & Benefits

House Oversight Leaders Seek Childcare Payments and Other Help for Feds in Next COVID-19 Relief Bill

In a letter to House leadership, Democrats unveil a laundry list of legislative proposals to assist federal employees and contractors during the coronavirus pandemic.

Workforce

How the Coronavirus Forced the Pentagon to Improve Its IT — and Quickly

New teleworking capabilities — hastily installed to help DoD get work done at home — will stick around after the virus subsides.

Management

Immigration Review Office Remains Open Despite Potential COVID-19 Exposure

Most support staff at the Executive Office of Immigration Review in Falls Church, Va., remain unable to telework even after two floors had to be deep cleaned after an employee exhibited coronavirus symptoms at work last week.

Workforce

7 Things Ease the Switch to Remote-Only Workplaces

An abrupt transition to a remote-only workplace poses challenges to both management and employees. Two experts explain what it takes to get it right.

Workforce

A New Era of Telework Should be the Beginning of a More Flexible Federal Workforce.

In the federal government, fewer than half of employees are authorized to telework, despite a requirement for agencies to incorporate telework into their continuity of operations plans.

Workforce

The Pentagon Is Using Zoom. Is it Safe?

Experts say the ubiquitous videoconferencing tools bear some risk of accidentally exposing mundane details, and even inviting a new wave of deep fakes. But the risks can be managed.

Management

4 Weird Things that Happen When You Videoconference

An educational technology scholar illuminates some of odd feelings people experience when they communicate through cameras on the web.

Workforce

Thousands of IRS Employees Are Currently Home With Pay, But Not Working

Agency faces major logistical challenges after massive stimulus package, but union says tens of thousands of employees cannot work remotely.

Management

OPM Offers Tips for Agencies to Help Teleworking Feds with Caregiving

The federal government’s HR agency encouraged agencies to be flexible with employees who have children or other relatives they must care for with school and other care facilities closed.

Defense

Military Leaders Ask to Delay Budget Planning To Focus on Coronavirus, Let Staff Stay Home

But the Defense Department's No. 2 told Army, Navy, and Air Force budget planners to figure a different solution.

Management

Immigration Services Agency Seeks to Suspend Bargaining With Union Amid Coronavirus Outbreak

Although the agency already is allowed to implement workplace changes because of the national health emergency, officials now want to skip post-implementation bargaining as well.

Workforce

Telework Should Be an Option for Some Workers With Security Clearances

The reality is that many positions require a security clearance because of where the work is conducted, not the work itself.

Management

Bipartisan Legislation Would Direct Federal Agencies to Allow Full-Time Telework

Senators from both parties said the Trump administration’s guidance encouraging agencies to allow their employees to work remotely proved inadequate to protect employees and the public from the coronavirus outbreak.

Management

Social Security Institutes Fulltime Telework for Most Employees

Some workers will temporarily be provided weather and safety leave until the agency can increase its supply of equipment, while others could be recalled for short periods to handle non-portable work.