Pay & Benefits

TSP Posts Gains as New Funds Come Online

The stock market gave a warm welcome to the new lifecycle funds, now available in five-year increments.

Management

Appellate Court: FLRA Cannot Override Arbitrators Just Because It Disagrees With Them

A three-judge panel last week overturned a Federal Labor Relations Authority decision, ruling that the federal labor-management agency did not provide enough deference to neutral arbitrators.

Management

White House Objects to Language Preventing OPM-GSA Merger and Other Workforce Provisions in House 'Minibus' Spending Bill

Veto threat also lists objections to provisions that would undermine the White House’s approach to labor-management relations.

Management

Democratic Senators Introduce Bill to Include Feds in Coronavirus Response Decisions

A task force of administration and union officials would make recommendations for how agencies should protect workers during the pandemic.

Pay & Benefits

TSP Officials Provide Update on CARES Act, New Lifecycle Funds

In just 16 days, more than 13,000 Thrift Savings Plan participants have taken advantage of a temporarily available withdrawal option offered as part of the federal government’s response to the coronavirus pandemic.

Oversight

Watchdog Accuses OPM of Slow-Rolling Hiring Abuse Investigation

IG is looking into alleged misuse of direct hire authority to install political appointees in positions that should be held by career federal workers.

Pay & Benefits

Trump Threatens Veto of Defense Policy Bill Over Base Names, Other Issues

The White House issued a formal veto threat of the House version of the National Defense Authorization Act just hours before lawmakers voted on the must-pass legislation.

Management

Federal Employee Unions Endorse Biden for President

The news comes as no surprise following the Trump administration’s concerted efforts to diminish the role of labor groups at federal agencies and cut benefits and protections for frontline federal workers.

Management

Trump Nominates Conspiracy Theorist to Lead OPM

John Gibbs, who currently serves at the Housing and Urban Development Department, in 2016 falsely accused Clinton campaign officials of secretly taking part in satanic rituals.

Pay & Benefits

OPM Moves to Implement Protections for Feds During Shutdowns

The 2020 Defense policy act included provisions ensuring federal workers would be able to change their insurance coverage due to a significant life event during a lapse in appropriations and protecting them from gaps in supplemental health care plans.

Pay & Benefits

OPM Cancels Presidential Rank Awards, Citing Efforts to 'Reopen' Economy

The Trump administration in March had suspended nominations for this year’s iteration of the awards, which recognize federal executives’ contributions to public service.

Pay & Benefits

House Lawmakers Call for Pay Parity Between Military and Civilian Federal Workers

Although the House version of a defense policy bill includes a 3% pay increase for members of the military in 2021, an appropriations bill under consideration effectively endorses only a 1% raise for civilians.

Management

OPM Delays Annual Workforce Survey Again Four Days Before Kickoff

The federal government’s human resources agency declined to explain the reasoning for the last minute postponement aside from allowing agencies to “focus on critical missions.”

Management

Labor Agency Changes Organizational Chart to Bolster Court Defense

Attorneys for a union challenging how members of the Federal Service Impasses Panel are appointed called recent changes to the Federal Labor Relations Authority website a “cynical” effort to influence the case.

Pay & Benefits

House Appropriations Bill Keeps Trump’s 1% Raise for Feds, Blocks other White House Priorities

The legislation would prevent the Trump administration from moving forward with its proposed GSA-OPM merger as well as implementation of new union contracts.