Management

Biden Ends Trend of Benefit-Cutting Budgets, But New Federal Workforce Initiatives Are Still Being Developed

Most of the workforce provisions outlined in the president’s first budget submission are vague references to policies that will be part of the forthcoming president's management agenda.

Pay & Benefits

Biden Proposes 2.7% Raise for Feds in 2022, Restoring Pay Parity

Although it is unclear how plan breaks out between locality pay and across-the-board increases, the topline number matches the president's proposed pay raise for members of the military.

Pay & Benefits

Two New Retirement Savings Bills Could Impact TSP

Officials at the Thrift Savings Plan said both bills aimed at making it easier for older Americans to get ready for retirement require changes to be implemented faster than is possible.

Management

Senate Democrats Call on Attorney General to Restore Immigration Judges Union

Members of the Senate Judiciary Committee called on Merrick Garland to reverse efforts to decertify the National Association of Immigration Judges and to axe a policy restricting judges' ability to speak publicly on immigration issues.

Management

House Panel Advances Bill Aimed at Preventing Future Schedule F Efforts

The measure would require congressional approval for any efforts to add new classifications of jobs outside of the federal government’s competitive service.

Pay & Benefits

Biden Climate Edict Could Spell End for TSP Fossil Fuel Investments

The president’s executive order aimed at incorporating “climate-related financial risk” into federal budgeting also instructs officials to review how the Thrift Savings Plan considers risks from climate change in its decision-making.

Management

Arbitrator: Social Security Engaged in Multiple Instances of Bad Faith Bargaining, Must Renegotiate

In a separate decision, a federal judge found the court lacked jurisdiction to hear the Association of Administrative Law Judges’ suit challenging the constitutionality of appointments to the Federal Service Impasses Panel.

Management

OPM Updates Agencies, Unions on Labor-Management Forums

A Trump-era order shutting down union-management councils at federal agencies remains “under review,” officials said, but in the meantime, agencies may elect to start new ones if they wish.

Management

OPM Urges Agencies to Support Feds’ Mental Health

The government’s HR agency this week will host a panel discussion of mental health issues for officials and share tips for managers to support work-life balance initiatives.

Pay & Benefits

Bipartisan Bill Would Extend Feds’ Paid Parental Leave to Military Troops

Legislation would provide service members with 12 weeks of paid parental leave per year and would extend the benefit to scenarios involving miscarriages and stillbirths.

Oversight

OPM Failed to Notify Employees of Coworker COVID Infections, Require Mask-Wearing, IG Says

The watchdog said many of the problems related to the agency’s coronavirus response have been solved by a new workforce safety plan finalized earlier this year.

Management

Labor Authority Launches Video Training Series

Officials hope a new series of animated videos will inform federal employees about labor-management issues in bite-sized portions.

Management

OPM Extends Deadline for Agencies to Implement Competency-Based Hiring

Citing “concern” from agencies, the federal government’s HR shop is giving officials until the end of 2021 to implement a Trump-era executive order overhauling federal hiring.

Management

House Panel Advances Legislation to Expand VA Medical Employee Bargaining Rights

The VA Employee Fairness Act would grant medical professionals the right to bargain over scheduling and official time, and to file grievances over pay disputes.

Management

House Democrats Say Title 5 Protections Would Fix TSA’s Morale, Retention Woes

Advocates say now is the time to grant airport screeners with the same protections enjoyed by the rest of the federal workforce, including their bosses.

Pay & Benefits

TSP Funds Continue Strong Performance in April

All of the federal government’s 401(k)-style retirement savings program’s portfolios finished last month in the black.