Workforce
OPM’s ‘Intern Experience Program’ promises to standardize, improve agencies’ internship offerings
The plan is the latest in a series of initiatives aimed at boosting participation in internship programs at federal agencies and improving the government’s ability to recruit younger civil servants.
Pay & Benefits
Extra pay raises are coming to nearly 33,000 feds next year, thanks to new locality pay rules
The Office of Personnel Management has proposed regulations to create four new locality pay areas, along with a comprehensive map update adding dozens of jurisdictions to existing pay regions.
Pay & Benefits
Most feds will have a few extra hours of paid leave this year, thanks to a calendar quirk
The Office of Personnel Management on Monday warned that many federal workers should plan to take slightly more time off to avoid forfeiting “use it or lose it” annual leave hours.
Pay & Benefits
Odds for a 5.2% pay raise for feds in 2024 improve with release of the Senate defense policy bill
The Senate version of the annual National Defense Authorization Act includes an average 5.2% pay raise for both military service members and civilian Pentagon employees.
Workforce
A gender equity group still wants better protections for feds who need abortion care
One year after the Dobbs decision, President Biden signed a new executive order potentially expanding contraceptive access for federal workers, but a gender equity group at the Justice Department says more needs to be done.
Pay & Benefits
Draft spending bill cuts telework and bans transgender care for feds, but preserves 5.2% pay raise plan
A House subcommittee's fiscal 2024 spending bill does nothing to override the president’s planned average pay increase for federal workers next year, but it is riddled with policy riders.
Workforce
Social Security’s staffing crisis is getting dire, union says
Agency management is doing “the bare minimum” to improve workplace conditions amid a daunting workload and morale that is among the worst in the federal government, union officials argue.
Pay & Benefits
Implement locality pay changes quickly, salary council urges OPM
The annual list of recommendations, made in February but made public this month, did not alter the map of locality pay areas, but reiterated the importance of proposals already tentatively approved by the Biden administration.
Workforce
Federal Employee Unions Endorse Biden for Reelection
Labor leaders described President Biden as “the most labor-friendly president in history.”
Pay & Benefits
Conservatives: End Annual Across-the-Board Pay Raises for Feds and Cut Benefits
The Republican Study Committee’s fiscal 2024 budget proposal would favor targeted “merit-based” pay increases and drastically reduce federal employees’ retirement and health care benefits.
Management
A Bill to Hamstring Agency Rulemaking Passed the House Despite Veto Threat
The Regulations from the Executive in Need of Scrutiny Act would require all new major regulations by federal agencies to first be approved by both the House and Senate.
Workforce
No Telework Cuts for Weather Service Employees, Under Union Settlement
Commerce Department employees represented by the National Weather Service Employees Organization are exempt from recent cuts to telework, though labor leaders bemoan deteriorating relationship with management.
Workforce
‘Flexibility’ Will Be Key to Agencies Retaining Military Spouses, Biden Says
President Biden signed an executive order last week tasking agencies with developing new plans to recruit and retain spouses of military service members and said telework will play a key role.
Workforce
FLRA Could Be Back to Full Strength With Latest Nomination
After six months of operating with an even partisan split, President Biden announced he would nominate a top Defense Department official for the final post at the FLRA.
Workforce
‘Protect the Health’ of Employees Amid Poor Air Quality, OPM Reminds Employees
Wildfires in Canada have encased much of the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic in smoke and haze, raising health concerns for commuters and employees who work outside.
Pay & Benefits
The 'Pay Cliff' That Could Cripple the Federal Government's Firefighting Workforce
A federal employee union said Wednesday that without a permanent boost to federal wildland firefighters’ pay and benefits, agencies will see a “mass exodus.”
Workforce
Labor Authority's General Counsel Post Could Finally Be Filled with a New Nominee
The position, which is required for unfair labor practice complaints to advance to the Federal Labor Relations Authority for adjudication, has lacked a Senate-confirmed appointee since 2017.
Pay & Benefits
TSP Participants Sue Agency Over ‘Botched’ Recordkeeper Transition
A class action lawsuit filed last week alleges that the federal government’s 401(k)-style retirement savings program repeatedly failed to pay out participants’ withdrawal and loan requests for months following the transition to a new recordkeeping vendor.
Workforce
NIH Fellows Hope Union Bid Will Bolster Pay and Protections
Organizers hope that forming a union at the National Institutes of Health will help increase pay, benefits and worker protections across academia.
Pay & Benefits