Pay & Benefits

House Oversight Leaders Seek Childcare Payments and Other Help for Feds in Next COVID-19 Relief Bill

In a letter to House leadership, Democrats unveil a laundry list of legislative proposals to assist federal employees and contractors during the coronavirus pandemic.

Management

Immigration Review Office Remains Open Despite Potential COVID-19 Exposure

Most support staff at the Executive Office of Immigration Review in Falls Church, Va., remain unable to telework even after two floors had to be deep cleaned after an employee exhibited coronavirus symptoms at work last week.

Management

Border Agency Cancels Weather and Safety Leave for Some Employees, Angering Union and Lawmakers

The agency had been using weather and safety leave to mitigate employees’ potential exposure to the coronavirus, but cancelled that practice along the northern and southern borders because of “COVID-19 related requirements.”

Management

Pentagon Mandates Homemade Masks for Some Workers

N95 respirators and surgical masks will be reserved for health care workers and patients, the Defense Department said in a series of memos this week.

Management

Administrative Law Judge Association Says Effort to Force Partial Contract Is 'Union Busting'

Officials with the group said efforts to implement part of a new union contract while elements remain under review by the Federal Service Impasses Panel are illegal.

Management

Supreme Court Makes It Easier for Feds to Prove Age Discrimination

In an 8-1 decision, justices found that the “plain language” of the Age Discrimination in Employment Act has a lower burden of proof for proving differential treatment based on age in the federal government than the private sector.

Management

Defense Employees Report Poor Coronavirus Response at Two Facilities

Union officials said a naval base in Naples, Italy, has resisted calls to suspend nonessential services, while an OSHA complaint contends a Virginia facility failed to respond to an employee’s positive COVID-19 test.

Pay & Benefits

Federal HR Leaders Want a Comprehensive Review of the Government's Pay System

In the fiscal 2019 governmentwide human capital survey, agency officials said a lack of funding and the General Schedule are "significant obstacles" to achieving their goals.

Oversight

House Lawmakers Accuse GSA of Breaching Ban on Implementing OPM Merger

Oversight panel leaders say newly uncovered emails confirm that the General Services Administration’s pending revocation of the Office of Personnel Management’s building operation authority is part of the plan to abolish the HR agency.

Management

Federal Employee Union Sues Impasses Panel, Calls Its Appointment ‘Unlawful’

AFGE argues that the Trump administration violated the law in appointing anti-labor advocates to the Federal Service Impasses Panel, and that panel members should be subject to Senate confirmation.

Management

OPM Offers Tips for Agencies to Help Teleworking Feds with Caregiving

The federal government’s HR agency encouraged agencies to be flexible with employees who have children or other relatives they must care for with school and other care facilities closed.

Pay & Benefits

Federal Workers, Union Sue for Hazard Pay

A federal class action lawsuit argues that agencies should be required to provide hazardous duty pay to federal employees who have been exposed to the coronavirus.

Management

Immigration Services Agency Seeks to Suspend Bargaining With Union Amid Coronavirus Outbreak

Although the agency already is allowed to implement workplace changes because of the national health emergency, officials now want to skip post-implementation bargaining as well.

Pay & Benefits

Federal Workers, Dems Push for Hazard Pay in Next Coronavirus Legislation

House lawmakers and unions want feds to receive extra compensation if their job puts them at risk of exposure to COVID-19, but the provision was not included in the $2 trillion relief package approved by the Senate Wednesday night.

Management

FLRA Sets Sights on Official Time for ‘Lobbying Activities’

Critics say federal labor law specifically allows employee unions to negotiate for official time in connection with presenting the union’s views to Congress.

Management

Bipartisan Legislation Would Direct Federal Agencies to Allow Full-Time Telework

Senators from both parties said the Trump administration’s guidance encouraging agencies to allow their employees to work remotely proved inadequate to protect employees and the public from the coronavirus outbreak.

Pay & Benefits

TSP Officials Report Continuous Service Despite Coronavirus, Market Volatility

Officials at the federal government’s 401(k)-style retirement savings program said although the agency saw a record number of inter-fund transfers, most participants are sticking with their investment plan.