Pay & Benefits

Retirement Backlog Jumps in January

The inventory, which rose by more than 8,000 claims between December and January, is smaller than it was a year ago.

Management

Senior Executives Association Names New Interim President

Jason Briefel is the organization’s second temporary leader since November.

Pay & Benefits

New TRICARE Drug Co-Pays Take Effect

Fees for brand-name drugs and certain generic medications increased between $2 and $4 on Feb. 1.

Management

Fewer Over-Income Families Could End Up Staying in Public Housing Under Proposed Rule

HUD seeks feedback on ensuring the neediest receive housing assistance, while still giving local authorities discretion over when to evict residents who earn too much.

Management

Second VA Official Will Be Reinstated to Senior Executive Service

Judge reverses department’s decision to demote Diana Rubens over relocation benefit and reassignment controversy.

Management

Congressional Panel Investigates Over-Income Families in Public Housing

House oversight chairman wants information from HUD on waiting lists and residents who earn more than the income threshold in their area.

Pay & Benefits

1.6 Percent Pay Raise for Service Members in 2017?

President’s upcoming budget proposal reportedly will contain a slightly higher pay boost for members of the military next year.

Pay & Benefits

Female Service Members Will Get 12 Weeks of Paid Maternity Leave

The change doubles the amount of such leave currently available to most women in the military.

Pay & Benefits

New Retirement Proposal For American Workers Modeled After TSP

The National Savings Plan would incorporate many TSP features, including automatic enrollment, low fees and age-based investment levels.

Management

Judge Reverses Former VA Senior Executive’s Demotion

Kimberly Graves will be reinstated to the SES; the MSPB will issue a decision on Diana Rubens’ appeal by early next week.

Management

Former VA Senior Executives Will Learn Their Fate By Feb. 1

MSPB has to issue a decision by Monday on whether to uphold or overturn the demotions of Diana Rubens and Kimberly Graves.

Management

VA Secretary Says Job Performance Standards Have Been ‘Too Low’

Too many "outstanding" evaluations don’t make sense for an agency that gets low ratings from employees, Bob McDonald says.

Pay & Benefits

Feds Made Fewer Hardship Withdrawals From TSP in 2015

Age-based withdrawals among retirement plan participants, however, is up, according to latest data.

Pay & Benefits

New Advanced Degree in Information Security Operations Offers Tuition Discount For Feds

The current deadline for applying for the online master’s program offered through Champlain College is Feb. 8.

Pay & Benefits

Bipartisan Bill Would Limit Administrative Leave to Five Days

Senators unveil reforms to crack down on agencies’ abuse of paid leave for federal employees under investigation.

Pay & Benefits

Agencies Have More Wiggle Room to Spend on 3Rs in 2016

OPM lifts four-year spending limit on recruitment, relocation and retention incentives for certain mission-critical jobs.

Pay & Benefits

After Nearly Four Years, Phased Retirement Hasn't Quite Taken Off

OPM says to date it’s received 31 applications from federal employees governmentwide.