Workforce

Here are the agencies that saw the biggest shifts in employee morale in 2023

As the federal government regained its footing on employee engagement and job satisfaction, some agencies saw big swings in workplace sentiment.

Pay & Benefits

Biden signs order finalizing 5.2% pay raise for feds in 2024

The measure confirms that the federal workforce will see its largest pay increase in more than 40 years.

Oversight

Conservatives bemoan disappearance of OPM official time docs

Officials at the federal government’s HR agency said a webpage housing sporadic reports on agencies’ official time use did not survive a recent website redesign, but suggested tweaks are ongoing.

Management

Acting Social Security chief highlights recent successes ahead of exit

Despite a series of challenges throughout her tenure, Acting Social Security Commissioner Kilolo Kijakazi sought to tout advances made under her watch ahead of the installation of former Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley following his confirmation Monday.

Management

Martin O’Malley confirmed as Social Security commissioner

The Senate voted 50-11 Monday to confirm the former Maryland governor, officially ending a multi-year period where the agency struggled under acting leadership.

Workforce

Workers at German military installation unionize amid AFGE's overseas push

Nearly 400 employees of a community center on Ramstein Air Base voted to form the American Federation of Government Employee’s second union local in Europe.

Management

OPM encourages federal supervisors to make better use of probationary periods

The federal government’s HR agency urged agency managers to remove poor performers before most removal protections kick in, as well work more closely with new employees early in their tenure to help them succeed.

Pay & Benefits

Expanded leave access for veteran feds makes it into defense policy bill

Under a provision of the fiscal 2024 National Defense Authorization Act, federal agencies would be required to incorporate veterans’ military service when determining eligibility for paid leave.

Management

House approves bill adding more red tape to agency rulemaking process

The Biden administration opposes a measure requiring Senate-confirmed agency head approval of new regulations, arguing it would create a bureaucratic morass.

Workforce

Feds are unlikely to get an extra day off at Christmas

With Christmas Day falling on a Monday this year, odds are against federal workers receiving additional time off for Christmas Eve.

Pay & Benefits

OPM retirement backlog hits six-year low for third time this year

The number of pending federal employee retirement claims fell under 16,000 for the second time since 2017 in November.

Workforce

Bipartisan bill would let VA medical employees grieve compensation mistakes

Unlike most federal workers, medical professionals at the Veterans Affairs Department are unable to negotiate over compensation adjustments like payroll errors.

Workforce

A new rule may help land management temps get permanent federal gigs

The Office of Personnel Management is set to publish final regulations establishing a pathway for current and former temporary workers at land management agencies to apply for permanent posts through merit promotions procedures.

Management

OPM unveils its latest tool to accelerate the federal hiring process

The federal government’s HR agency added new functionality to USAJOBS to allow agencies to find candidates who had already been certified for federal employment elsewhere in government.

Pay & Benefits

TSP portfolios rebounded in November

After three straight months where nearly every fund in the federal government’s 401(k)-style retirement savings program lost value, all funds finished last month in the black.

Workforce

Debate over federal telework fumes in House subcommittee

Agency HR officials defended their approach to workplace flexibilities and highlighted budgetary issues as bigger drivers of poor customer service.

Management

O’Malley’s bid to lead Social Security moves forward

The Senate Finance Committee voted Tuesday to advance O’Malley’s nomination to lead the Social Security Administration to the Senate floor for final consideration.

Pay & Benefits

OPM finalizes new locality pay areas ahead of 2024 pay raise

The combination of creating four new locality pay areas and a broad update to underlying maps means that around 33,300 federal workers will see larger pay raises beginning next year.

Oversight

Diversity in the federal workforce has improved slightly over the last decade

But Latino representation among federal employees continues to lag behind a nationwide benchmark.

Pay & Benefits

OPM proposes making it easier to approve some recruitment and relocation incentives

Under proposed regulations, the federal government’s HR agency would no longer need to approve waivers of traditional incentive payment caps in advance, potentially speeding up the hiring and relocation processes.