Pay & Benefits

Hiring reform push won’t end with Nov. 1 deadline

Once agencies get new procedures in place, they will require additional support to ensure the changes stick, observers say.

Management

For the Record

Clear standards sought for archiving official messages on social media sites.

Pay & Benefits

FEHBP unlikely to mirror private sector health insurance trends

Feds shouldn’t see major changes in rates or options in 2011, observers say.

Pay & Benefits

Back to Work

Lawmakers will return from August recess to a plethora of pay-related legislation.

Pay & Benefits

TSP has poor showing in August

All but two of the plan’s funds fell last month.

Oversight

NRC again tops list of best places to work in government

Survey responses indicate that overall, feds are growing more satisfied with their jobs and managers.

Managing Technology

For the Record

Clear standards sought for archiving official communications on social media sites.

Oversight

Postal Service looks for ways to reduce labor costs

Agency will ask unions for changes in employee scheduling, wages and benefits, official says.

News

GSA chief pushes agency to up its acquisition game

The General Services Administration pitches efficiency and customer service to compete with agencies’ procurement offerings.

Oversight

USPS pay-for-performance system called into question

Postmasters received incorrect ratings, lower pay than expected, observers say.

Defense

VA announces change in Agent Orange benefit claims process

Veterans diagnosed with three illnesses no longer are required to attribute their condition to military service.

Pay & Benefits

A Head Start

Employees contemplating retirement should take these steps now to prevent long delays in annuity checks and other benefits.

Pay & Benefits

Agencies could be passing over good job candidates, survey finds

Hiring managers and HR staffs must work together to improve assessments, applicant selection and customer service, analysts say.

Defense

Unions pleased with TSA chief’s progress on bargaining rights

Assessment of how union representation would affect the agency’s mission is nearing completion, labor leaders say.

Pay & Benefits

Retirees shouldn’t hold their breath for automated annuity payments

Transition away from the paper-based system has been put on hold until OPM has a chance to come up with a new game plan.

Pay & Benefits

IG: Postal Service paid $6.8 billion extra to pension fund

Overpayments to Federal Employees Retirement System have made it more difficult for USPS to manage its precarious finances, report says.

Pay & Benefits

So Yesterday

Human capital officers trash the General Schedule in a new survey.

Pay & Benefits

Report: HR officials face an uphill battle on hiring reform

Lack of skills and resources could make it difficult for agencies to fulfill mandate, survey finds.

Oversight

USAJobs aims to boost minority recruiting

Voluntary form will provide agencies with information to effectively target certain groups, observers say.

Pay & Benefits

New automatic enrollment program could encourage TSP savings

Data on the fledgling effort is not available yet, but officials don’t expect to see many people opt out.