Workforce

Coming Soon: More Regs and Bills to Help Modernize the Federal Workforce

Reforms will ease the process of everything from attracting new talent to processing retirement claims, says OPM Director Kiran Ahuja.

Pay & Benefits

The Biden Team Announces Pay Raises of Up to $20,000 Annually for Federal Firefighters

The pay increases, authorized as part of the bipartisan infrastructure law, will be retroactive to October 2021.

Workforce

The Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program Works… Sometimes

Readers share their experiences with the Education Department program that was recently overhauled. Challenges still remain, though the October changes did help many.

Pay & Benefits

Feds Can’t Sue Over TSP Gains Lost During Shutdowns, An Appeals Court Finds

A group of FBI employees had argued they were entitled to damages, because delayed TSP contributions meant they missed out on gains from a rising stock market.

Pay & Benefits

TSP Woes Continue Two Weeks After Tech Transition

Participants reported delayed account disbursements a full two weeks after the transition to a new recordkeeper was complete.

Pay & Benefits

The TSP Board's Nominees Have Now Been Confirmed, With One Exception

Biden's pick to chair the federal government’s 401(k)-style retirement savings program’s board must go through a more arduous process.

Pay & Benefits

TSP Participants Bemoan Bumpy Recordkeeper Transition

Federal employees and retirees have reported problems with setting up new accounts for online access to the federal government’s 401(k)-style retirement savings program, and the agency’s call center has been deluged.

Workforce

The EEOC Is Proceeding With Office Reentry Plans Despite COVID-19 Spikes. Its Union Wants More Communication

Bargaining unit employees are expected to double their amount of in-office work next week, despite increasing numbers of agency offices located in high transmission regions.

Pay & Benefits

Most of Biden's TSP Nominees Are Free to Be Confirmed, Now That GOP Senators Have Lifted a Hold

The lawmakers changed course after the nominees committed to being “highly skeptical” of proposals to include Chinese investments in the Thrift Savings Plan’s offerings.

Pay & Benefits

White House Internships Will Soon Be Paid

The move comes as part of an administration-wide push to improve the recruitment of young federal workers.

Workforce

Bureau of Land Management Headquarters Employees Have Voted to Unionize

Spurred by a ping-ponging relocation, nearly 200 workers at the federal agency’s headquarters are unionizing under the National Treasury Employees Union.

Pay & Benefits

GOP Senators Issue a Last-Minute Demand that the TSP Delay Mutual Fund Window

With just a week before the federal government’s 401(k)-style retirement savings program begins offering mutual funds to its participants, some lawmakers warned it could lead to federal employees investing in China.

Pay & Benefits

Firefighters Union Calls for Higher Pay Amid Staffing Shortage

A Senate committee also advanced legislation this week that would make it easier for federal firefighters to qualify for workers compensation benefits in connection with chronic conditions associated with firefighting.

Workforce

NTEU Calls on FLRA and the Supreme Court to Clarify Policies that Hurt Unions Under Trump

The union said misapplications of standards by the agency that oversees federal labor management relations and federal courts during the Trump administration hurt their ability to represent federal workers.