Workforce
Newly formed union accuses NIH of slow-walking bargaining negotiations
NIH Fellows United and agency management are still trying to reach a tentative agreement on pay, discipline and anti-harassment protections before potentially voting on a contract.
Workforce
The federal government is striving to be a model for employing people with disabilities, but retention is a problem
EEOC found that in fiscal 2018 people with disabilities were 27% more likely to leave federal employment than people without disabilities.
Workforce
Feds’ employee experience and engagement continued to climb in 2024, FEVS data finds
Federal employees’ view of their agency leaders, supervisors and work experience sustained their rebound from 2022, according to OPM’s annual Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey.
Tech
Partnership for Public Service plans AI training center for federal employees in 2025
The nonprofit’s proposed Center for Federal AI will provide federal employees with AI-centered education, career development and best practices-backed resources.
Workforce
Bill aims to support federal prison officers with new mental health grant programs
The legislation calls for new funding to provide mental health screenings to federal corrections officers and contractors, enabling possible referrals to health care providers.
Updated
Oversight
VA whistleblowers honored for uncovering mismanagement of veterans’ personal information
Despite receiving OSC’s Public Servant award, the whistleblowers disagreed with investigators’ conclusions that they could not substantiate all of their accusations regarding the department’s alleged inappropriate use of personally identifiable information.
Workforce
Young people don’t trust the federal government, but will work for it
The Partnership for Public Service suggested that federal agencies could consider partnering with social media influencers to build trust with young people.
Updated
Management
Officials describe rosy future for problem-plagued background check system overhaul
One interagency official said a long-awaited implementation strategy for the National Background Investigation Services system would be released this week.
Management
EEOC touts more than two decades of data-based agency anti-discrimination policy
Management Directive 715, which debuted in 2003, has improved EEO data collection in the federal workforce, providing better insights.
Management
Trump’s refusal, so far, of transition assistance creates a ‘real risk’ for government continuity
The Harris campaign has reached agreements with GSA and the White House on presidential transition preparations.
Oversight
DHS IG committed ‘substantial misconduct,’ governmental watchdog finds
Whether Joseph Cuffari is removed or not is up to President Biden.
Oversight
OSC praises case resolutions involving alleged retaliation against federal employees
The findings come as the Merit Systems Protection Board makes a change to how it handles OSC petitions.
Pay & Benefits
VA proposes grant program offering vets legal services to help obtain benefits
The department’s goal is to assist former service members who were discharged under other than honorable conditions but could still be eligible for VA benefits.
Oversight
Amid hiring surge, two VA agencies face employee background check deficiencies
The inspector general warned that shortcomings in the agencies’ background check programs were letting in unvetted staff.
News
The National Academy of Public Administration taps new leader
James-Christian B. Blockwood — a senior official at the Partnership for Public Service who has worked in the Government Accountability Office and the departments of Defense, Homeland Security and Veterans Affairs — will succeed outgoing president and CEO Terry Gerton.
Oversight
OMB needs to provide public details on its plan to finish federal programs inventory, GAO says
Under a revised deadline, OMB has until January 2025 to complete an inventory of federal programs. But the agency hasn’t provided a timeline to meet such a target.
Oversight
36% of new IRS hires faced delays due to technical and security clearance jams
Despite hiring 64% of its new employees in fiscal 2022 and 2023 within its 80-day goal, it took the IRS an average of 124 days to employ roughly 19,000 personnel due, in part, to system limitations.
Oversight
Senators debate how to minimize the security risks of federal contractors working with China
Some agencies have blown past deadlines to implement certain requirements that address conflicts of interest in contracting while lawmakers weighed additional guardrails.
Management
Agencies must disclose excess supply policies under bill headed for enactment
Under the legislation, which awaits the president’s signature, agencies must designate an official to identify potentially useful unused items like office equipment and furniture from across the federal government.
Pay & Benefits
Why do employees want to be feds? Benefits are a big reason
In a 2023 OPM survey, 90% or more of federal employees said that the availability of health and retirement benefits are important to them.
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