Management

Mixed personnel systems can help uphold merit principles

Managers say having employees under traditional civil service rules blended with those in more flexible systems embeds a culture of merit.

Management

Pentagon files appeal of ruling blocking labor relations reforms

Department also releases online calculator for employees to determine paybands under new personnel system.

Pay & Benefits

TSP board balks at Congress’ push for real estate fund

House subcommittee to mark up bill next week despite board’s request to hold off.

Management

IRS finds 1,400 employees unfairly passed over for promotions

Labor authority orders agency to give affected employees priority consideration for future promotions.

Pay & Benefits

Leftover Leave

Former federal employees are finally on track to receive proper compensation for unused annual leave.

News

OPM relaxes requirements for intern hiring program

Interns with high grades can skip some requirements for career appointments.

Management

Managers’ groups unite in effort to influence personnel debate

New coalition will seek to add managers' and executives' voices to discussion dominated by labor unions and Bush administration.

Defense

Small union moves to delay election at DHS bureau

Union claims agriculture inspectors wouldn’t be adequately served by either of the two large unions on the ballot.

Management

Lawmakers move to extend ethics requirements

Bill would extend cooling-off period for political appointees and procurement officials.

Pay & Benefits

Faking It

A coalition of managers’ groups wants to end sick leave abuse by compensating workers for unused days.

Pay & Benefits

Appeals court hears arguments in DHS labor rights case

Judges push government lawyer on department’s ability to to unilaterally change agreements after they've been negotiated.

Pay & Benefits

Employee buyouts on the rise

Cash incentives of as much as $25,000 were used in half of all government agencies in the last three years.

Management

Agencies urged to customize pay-for-performance systems

Merit Systems Protection Board says officials should make decisions about controlling costs and issuing ratings before designing systems.

Pay & Benefits

Riskier TSP funds show greatest gains in March

The F Fund, made up of fixed-income bonds, was the only option to lose ground.

News

Senators concerned by veterans’ preference loopholes

Managers can get around favoring veterans in layoff situations, by requiring them to move or give up their jobs.

Pay & Benefits

Pay to Stay

Agencies have the authority to grant retention bonuses to keep peak performers from leaving.

Pay & Benefits

House votes to include feds in student loan repayment program

Bill would remove burden from individual agencies to find money for the benefit.

Pay & Benefits

First entrants to NSPS eligible for one-time pay bump

Buy-in will be the last within-grade increase seen by employees moving to the Pentagon's new personnel system in April.

Pay & Benefits

Bush team may drop labor part of civil service overhaul

Move to focus proposed legislation on pay for performance could avoid lawsuits similar to ones hindering efforts at Defense, DHS.

Pay & Benefits

No Need for Part D

OPM says most federal retirees don't need to sign up for new Medicare prescription drug coverage.