Oct 26, 2014

OPM Disability Retirement Process


The Confluence of Factors During the OPM Disability Retirement Process


"...There is so much information “out there” – from the “5-step process” in filing for Federal Disability Retirement benefits, to the “10 dos and don’ts” to obtain an OPM Disability Retirement; to the requirement of filing for SSDI; to multiple other acronyms which require a Ph.D. in a second, foreign language: FERS or CSRS; OPM; SSDI; CSRS-Offset; SF 3107; SF 2801; SF 3112A; the Supervisor’s ..."


Reference: www.fedsmith.com
Tags: OPM Disability Retirement Process

Oct 23, 2014

Inspector general criticizes the Secret Service for "a serious lapse in judgment"


Inspector General letter reveals new concerns about Secret Service


'...In a letter obtained by the Cox Washington Bureau, the Homeland Security inspector general criticizes the Secret Service for "a serious lapse in judgment."...'


Reference: www.wokv.com
Tags: Secret Service

Oct 21, 2014

DHS requires West Africa travelers to arrive at five airports


DHS requires West Africa travelers to arrive at five airports


'...Customs and Border Protection within the department began enhanced screening – checking the traveler's temperature and asking about possible exposure to Ebola – at New York's John F. Kennedy airport on Oct. 11. Enhanced screening for travelers from Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea was expanded Oct. 16 to Washington's Dulles, Chicago's O'Hare, New Jersey's Newark and Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson airports....'


Reference: www.usatoday.com
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Oct 16, 2014

CDC says health care worker with Ebola should not have been allowed to fly


CDC says health care worker with Ebola should not have been allowed to fly


'...Health care workers who had been exposed to Duncan were undergoing self-monitoring. They were allowed to travel but not on a commercial plane with other people, Frieden said....'


Reference: wqad.com
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Oct 9, 2014

Presidential Management Fellows program


Presidential Management Fellows program


'...Beginning this Wednesday, October 1, through October 15, students or recent graduates of advanced degree programs can apply to be Presidential management fellows. The program is open to people who will have received an advanced degree between October 1, 2012 and August 31, 2015. ...'


Reference: www.opm.gov
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Sep 8, 2014

flexible spending account (FSA) monies (limited amount) can be rolled over


OPM: FSA participants can rollover $500 in unused funds


'...Federal workers who participate in the Federal Flexible Spending Account Program (FSAFEDS) will now be able to rollover up to $500 from one year to the next in unspent funds from their limited expense and health care flexible spending accounts (FSA) thanks to a recent decision by the Office of Personnel Managment. ...'


Reference: www.federalnewsradio.com
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Sep 1, 2014

2015 Federal Employee Pay Raise of 1% Would Prevent 'Automatic' Larger Increase


Obama proposes 1 percent pay raise for federal workers in 2015


'...signaling that he wants to give the workers a salary bump while preventing the rates from automatically rising by a greater amount under the law....'


Reference: www.washingtonpost.com
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Mar 16, 2014

Many VA facilities tested positive for Legionella


Largest Federal Employee Union Pushes OSHA to Investigate Legionella Reports at Illinois Veterans Hospital


'...August 2013 report by the VA's Office of Inspector General found that many VA facilities tested positive for Legionella and that current methods of hyper-chlorination and super heating were not sustainable in treating the water. A number of concerns are outlined in the letter to OSHA including possible long-term health concerns for patients and staff who are exposed to hyper-chlorinated water...'


Reference: www.prnewswire.com
Tags: Legionella

Feb 26, 2014

Some postal employees to get 20% pay increases and $1,000 bonuses


Some postal employees to get 20% pay increases and $1,000 bonuses


'...The agreement calls for pay increases of up to 20 percent for rural carriers; newly hired carriers also will receive hiring bonuses that total $1,000 after one year. Current carriers also get the same sum within a year. ...'


Reference: employment-assistance.blogspot.com
Tags: Mail Carrier Hiring Bonuses, Mail Carrier Pay Increases, Mail Carrier Recruitment Bonuses,

Feb 21, 2014

TSA approved recognized locks


TSA Travel Tips Tuesday: TSA Recognized Locks


'...In order to ensure the safe transportation of travelers, TSA screens all checked and carry-on baggage before it is permitted to be brought onboard commercial aircraft. Technology generally enables us to electronically screen bags without opening them, but there are times when we need to physically inspect a piece of luggage. TSA has worked with several companies to develop locks that can be opened by security officers using universal "master" keys so that the locks may not have to be cut. These locks are available at most airports and many travel stores nationwide. The packaging on the locks indicates whether they can be opened by TSA. ...'


Reference: tsa.gov
Tags: TSA approved locks

Feb 18, 2014

Items found by TSA: Yes, this is what people attempt to carry on aircraft



41 Firearms Discovered This Week (33 Loaded)


'...The purpose of this blog is to communicate with the public about all things TSA related. Check in regularly for "Travel Tips Tuesday" and our end of week "TSA Week in Review" posts on Fridays....'

Reference: tsa.gov
Tags: TSA


Feb 3, 2014

OPM layoffs affect training and testing staff


OPM plans to trim 356 employees in March


'...Workers’ eligibility for federal benefits depends on whether they are considered temporary- or permanent-intermittent employees. The layoffs, which largely affect training and testing staff...'


Reference: www.washingtonpost.com
Tags: OPM cuts

Dec 3, 2013

Federal Employee Merit Pay: Is it a motivator or not


Merit-based Pay and Employee Motivation in Federal Agencies


'...This paper analyzes findings from the federal government that federal employees subject to merit-based pay are consistently less happy with their job, with their organization, and with their pay than those in agencies with traditional compensation systems. ...'


Reference: www.brookings.edu
Tags: Federal Employee Merit Pay

Oct 7, 2013

Federal Reserve's new $100 bills debut Tuesday


A few things you might want to know about the new $100 before Tuesday


'...The Federal Reserve's latest budget includes 2.5 billion new $100 bills this year, Triangle Business Journal reports. A handful of them will have increased value for collectors, due to unique serial numbers....'


Reference: www.bizjournals.com
Tags:

Oct 1, 2013

800,000 employees in the government's workforce to feel goverment shutdown


Government Shuts Down as Congress Misses Deadline


'...Many federal workers reporting to their agencies Tuesday morning will undertake a half-day of shutdown preparations before more than 800,000 employees in the government's workforce of about 2.9 million are sent home. ...'


Reference: wsj.com
Tags: Federal Government Shutdown, Federal Shutdown, Federal Shutdown 2013, Goverment Shutdown, Government Shutdown 2013,

Sep 30, 2013

OFR published a notice to give guidance on Federal Shutdown 2013


What happens if the Government shuts down?


'...The OFR published a notice to give guidance to agency customers and the public. See, 78 FR 59974...'


Reference: www.federalregister.gov
Tags: Federal Shutdown, Federal Shutdown 2013, Government Shutdown 2013, guidance on Federal Shutdown 2013, 78 FR

Sep 12, 2013

Federal Employee Buyout Coming?


Retirement Myths: Is Congress Considering Offering a Buyout to Federal Employees?


'...We all want to believe that something good will happen to us; and often it does, just not when it comes to our federal employment. You have to look back a few years to find the last “good deed” done for federal employees by Congress....'


Reference: www.fedsmith.com
Tags: Federal Employee Buyout 2013

Aug 20, 2013

How many federal employees would be affected by Postal Service plan to strip workers of federal health plan>


USPS Plan to Pull Out of Fed Health Benefits Could Cost Postal Workers


'...While most non-postal FEHB enrollees would likely not be affected by USPS’ withdrawal from the program, about 29,000 federal employees would have to select a new health plan, according to GAO, as some plans that primarily offer services to USPS workers would drop out of FEHB. ...'


Reference: www.govexec.com
Tags: FEHB

Jun 30, 2013

Reports of NSA snooping on Europe go well beyond previous revelations of electronic spying


Berlin accuses Washington of cold war tactics over snooping


'...Transatlantic relations plunged at the weekend as Berlin, Brussels and Paris all demanded that Washington account promptly and fully for new disclosures on the scale of the US National Security Agency's spying on its European allies....'


Reference: www.guardian.co.uk
Tags:

Jun 27, 2013

FERS Retirement Eligibility Information


FERS Retirement Eligibility Information


'...An immediate retirement benefit is one that starts within 30 days from the date you stop working. If you meet one of the following sets of age and service requirements, you are entitled to an immediate retirement benefit:...'


Reference: www.opm.gov
Tags:

Jun 16, 2013

Federal employee health and fitness programs


Federal workers get health and fitness programs


'...retired Army colonel and former Anne Arundel County councilman working as a civilian on the garrison staff at Fort Meade, is one of thousands of federal workers who participate in health and fitness programs ...'


Reference: www.stripes.com
Tags: Federal employee health and fitness programs

Jun 13, 2013

DC area feds can take 'unscheduled leave' or telework day due to potential severe weather


Federal workers can take unscheduled leave or telework day, OPM says


'...Federal agencies will be open on Thursday as the region braces for potential severe weather, but employees may take unscheduled leave or work from home, the Office of Personnel Management said early Thursday....'


Reference: www.washingtonpost.com
Tags:

Jun 5, 2013

2014: Federal Employees may see tiny pay raise in Jan.


White House again calls for federal employee raise


'...Administration urges the Congress to provide the proposed 1.0 percent pay increase for Federal civilian employees. As the President stated in his [fiscal year] 2014 Budget...'


Reference: www.washingtonpost.com
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Jun 2, 2013

Lawsuit against the Federal Bureau of Prisons and the Department of Justice


Female prison workers filing class action against DOJ, Federal Bureau of Prisons


'..."The overall outcome is to seek change. They need to change policy. They need to hold these inmates accountable," Rojas said. Many of the women said they've worked at other prisons and jails in Florida, and this kind of behavior was never tolerated....'


Reference: www.wftv.com
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May 19, 2013

Benghazi federal workers remembered


In Benghazi and beyond, federal workers who died on the job are remembered


'...Let’s take a break from the raging discord that has dominated Washington lately by remembering federal employees who died abroad in service to their country. With so much attention focused on what the government has done wrong, we’ll end the week with words about government workers who died trying to do right. ...'


Reference: www.washingtonpost.com
Tags:

Apr 15, 2013

Bill would undermine the 'Stock Act'


U.S. House Clears Bill Obscuring Federal Workers’ Assets


'...Federal employee groups had lobbied for the change, saying that easy access to personal financial information could lead to harassment or make the workers more vulnerable to identity theft. Critics faulted the measure for undermining a law, called the Stock Act, aimed at preventing profits from trading securities based on inside information. ...'


Reference: www.bloomberg.com
Tags:

Mar 22, 2013

Food safety and inspection workers avoid 11 days of furlough


Meat industry rescues federal workers


'...Over 9,000 federal food inspectors won’t face furloughs after top companies from the meat and poultry industries spoke out in support of them....'


Reference: wtvr.com
Tags:

Mar 4, 2013

Let the furloughs begin!


Alternatives to sequester could hit federal employees in other ways


'...Political leaders met Friday but failed, at least for now, to find a path away from budget cuts that threaten more than 1 million employees with up to 22 unpaid days off, for most starting as early as April....'


Reference: www.washingtonpost.com
Tags:

Mar 2, 2013

Federal employees began receiving furlough notices on Friday


Federal Furlough Notices Go Out As Sequestration Takes Effect


'...More than 1 million federal employees face the possibility of unpaid time off due to the across-the-board spending cuts. While some notices are going out on Friday, the furloughs will not actually take effect until April...'


Reference: www.huffingtonpost.com
Tags:

Feb 26, 2013

Likely that sequester will begin


Ben Bernanke: Find sequester alternative


'...Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke warned lawmakers Tuesday that allowing automatic budget cuts to go into effect this week could place a “significant” burden on the economy...'


Reference: www.politico.com
Tags:

Feb 18, 2013

TSA officers get training on Homeland Security strategies to counter terrorism


TSA officers go to college to learn to counterterrorism


'...The TSA officers either have completed or are enrolled in a college-level program that focuses on Homeland Security strategies to counter terrorism. ...'


Reference: sun-sentinel.com
Tags:

Feb 11, 2013

2014 Federal Employee Pay Raise Update


Obama to propose 1 percent pay hike for federal employees


'...At the same time, the House plans to vote soon on legislation that would extend the current freeze on basic pay rates through the end of calendar 2013....'


Reference: www.washingtonpost.com
Tags:

Jan 26, 2013

Federal Hiring Update: Students and Recent Graduates


Recruiting and Hiring Students and Recent Graduates


'...These programs, collectively the Pathways Programs, are streamlined developmental programs tailored to promote employment opportunities for students and recent graduates in the Federal workforce....'


Reference: www.opm.gov
Tags:

Jan 24, 2013

Workers comp fraud


Lakeland Woman Pleads Gulty to Theft of Federal Employee Compensation Funds


'...claimed she was not employed, reported no income and lied about her physical health to maintain eligibility for her benefits....'


Reference: www.theledger.com
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Jan 13, 2013

Social Security employee arrested for looking at child porn on work computer


Federal employee arrested at Seattle office, accused of looking at child porn on work computer


'...Social Security employee was arrested Wednesday at his Seattle office and accused of looking at child pornography on his computer at work....'


Reference: www.thenewstribune.com
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Jan 12, 2013

Focusing on rewards for the federal workforce is important


MSPB: Room for Improvement in Rewarding Federal Employees


'...The MSPB notes in its report that focusing on rewards for the federal workforce is important because compared to private sector employees, federal employees tend to see weak relationships between their performance and the rewards they receive, a trend reflected in OPM’s 2010 Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey....'


Reference: www.fedsmith.com
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Jan 5, 2013

FBI investigated "60 Minutes" correspondent Mike Wallace


FBI releases files on late "60 Minutes" correspondent Mike Wallace


'...detailing their scrutiny of a 1970 trip Wallace took to Cuba. There is also an investigation of a threatening letter sent to Wallace in 1977 by a World War II veteran titled "Communist Control of the Press." ...'


Reference: www.cbsnews.com
Tags: Mike Wallace, FBI,

Jan 3, 2013

GOP politicians no fan of federal workers and the working class


Federal workers targeted by cost-cutting politicians


'...Aside from federal workers losing $103 billion in compensation reductions since 2011, as well as a 27-month pay freeze, it should be noted that the Federal Salary Council, using Bureau of Labor Statistics, determined that “federal employees are paid, on the average, about 35 percent less than comparable private-sector workers. This is an increase over the 26 percent difference in 2011.”...'


Reference: www.app.com
Tags:

Jan 2, 2013

House votes to freeze federal worker pay


House votes to freeze congressional, federal worker pay


'...But first lawmakers voted on a plan to freeze the salaries of lawmakers and federal employees. Despite Democratic objections, the bill passed 287 to 129, with 55 Democrats voting with Republicans to approve the measure....'


Reference: www.washingtonpost.com
Tags:

Dec 28, 2012

Pay raise for federal workers in 2013?


Obama Orders Pay Raise For Congress, Federal Workers, Joe Biden


'...As of March 27, 2013, federal employees will see a half-percent to one percent pay increase, marking the end of a pay freeze that has been in place since late 2010. Congress hasn't seen a pay raise since 2009....'


Reference: www.huffingtonpost.com
Tags: