Mar 31, 2011

Verizon CEO Warns Government Shutdown Will Stunt Economic Recovery

'...During a press call yesterday for the Business Roundtable's Q1 CEO survey, Verizon (VZ) chief executive Ivan Seidenberg weighed in on the looming prospect of a US government shutdown....'

Reference: www.minyanville.com
Tags:

Mar 29, 2011

Federal Shutdown Likely?

Federal Shutdown Becoming Likely With 10 Days to Go

'...Reaching a federal budget accord in Congress by the April 8 deadline "appears increasingly difficult to achieve" making a government shutdown "more likely," according to a report by the Wall Street Journal. ...'

Reference: www.beckershospitalreview.com
Tags:

Mar 27, 2011

'Excepted' employees are required to work during a shutdown

Government Shutdown Overview

'...On April 8 the current resolution comes to an end, so federal agencies are preparing for a possible government shutdown if legislators of both parties can’t reach an agreement....'

Reference: compoundcaptive via tucsoncitizen.com
Tags: Federal Employee Furlough

Mar 25, 2011

March 25 U.S. Postal Service Announcement

This post is courtesy of The Postal Newsgroup

The highly anticipated March 25 USPS announcement is referenced below as found on the USPS' website. The largest majority of the information was put out yesterday (March 24, 2011) detailing the district closings, the Voluntary Early Retirement (VER), The financial incentive programs being offered to eligible career non-bargaining employees in targeted groups at Headquarters, Headquarters-related Field Units, Area Offices and Customer Service District Offices (Administrative). However, the additional information provided in the following announcement that stands out boldly is 'additional staff reductions will occur as the Postal Service makes necessary changes to its network and retail operations. The full scope and financial impact of these personnel actions should be realized in one calendar year — by March 2012.' Read below to see the official release. Stay tuned and we will provide further internal information as it trickles out.

March 25 Postal Announcement

The Announcement
PMG ANNOUNCES CLOSING OF SEVEN DISTRICTS
I am confident we have developed a strong plan that takes a key step toward a leaner and less bureaucratic structure.

As part of the ongoing redesign of the Postal Service, PMG Pat Donahoe yesterday announced USPS will close 7 of its 74 district offices. This reflects continuing alignments within the organization to achieve core business strategies and, when fully implemented, will help realize approximately $750 million of annual cost savings (Link Extra, 3/23).

The district offices scheduled for closure — Columbus, OH, (Eastern Area); Southeast Michigan in Troy, MI, and Northern Illinois in Carol Stream, IL (Great Lakes Area); Southeast New England in Providence, RI (Northeast Area); South Georgia in Macon, GA, and Albuquerque in Albuquerque, NM (Southwest Area); and Big Sky in Billings, MT (Western Area) — house only administrative functions that will be assumed by surrounding district offices. The closures will not affect customer service, mail delivery, Post Office operations or ZIP codes.

“I am confident we have developed a strong plan that takes a key step toward a leaner and less bureaucratic structure. One that is fair to our employees and one that will meet the future needs of our customers and the mailing industry,” said Donahoe.

This organizational redesign builds on previous PMG announcements that include a 16 percent reduction in officer ranks, realigning revenue-generating business units, closing the Southeast Area Office, and further reducing the employee complement by about 7,500 positions.

While yesterday’s announcement focused on the administrative and executive corps, additional staff reductions will occur as the Postal Service makes necessary changes to its network and retail operations. The full scope and financial impact of these personnel actions should be realized in one calendar year — by March 2012.

Reference: usps.gov
emphasis (bold-print) added by The Postal Newsgroup

March 25 Postal Announcement, USPS March 25 Announcement,

Mar 24, 2011

Postal Service to cut supervisory positions

USPS offering $20,000 buyouts, shutting seven district offices

'...will eliminate some 7,500 administrative, postmaster and front-line supervisory positions. ...'

Reference: www.federaltimes.com
Tags:

Mar 20, 2011

bill (S. 644) that would eliminate the pension portion of the Federal Employees Retirement System

Senator proposes cuts to federal annuity benefits

'...Sen. Richard Burr, R-N.C., on Thursday introduced a bill (S. 644) that would eliminate the pension portion of the Federal Employees Retirement System for all new government hires beginning in 2013. ...'

Reference: www.govexec.com
Tags:

Mar 16, 2011

Memo details Department of Defense Shutdown Plans

Draft Memo Outlines DoD Shutdown Plans

'...If the U.S. federal government shuts down, all military personnel would be required to continue working without pay, according to the memo. The military would continue to operate in Afghanistan, and troops would continue to prepare for deployment. But many civilian DoD employees could be furloughed. ...'

Reference:
Tags: DoD Furlough, Federal Employee Furlough

Mar 15, 2011

Postal Workers Union and Post Office Agree to Contract

Highlights of the New APWU Contract (Tentative Agreement of the Collective Bargaining Agreement)

'...No fewer than 1,100 Call Center jobs that had been contracted out will be returned to the APWU bargaining unit. The Call Center locations will become part of the installation of the nearest Processing & Distribution Center, so that APWU members can bid on these positions....'

Reference: contractnegotiations.blogspot.com
Tags: Postal Union Contract

Mar 13, 2011

Unicor, known as Federal Prison Industries until a 1977

Why are Prisoners Building Patriot Missiles?

'...100 factories at 70 penitentiaries within the US; a self-sustaining, self-funding company owned wholly by the government, created by an act of Congress in 1934...'

Reference: www.minyanville.com
Tags:

Mar 12, 2011

Federal Employee Pay and Benefits discussed

Statement from John Berry on Federal Pay

'...In the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program (FEHBP), enrollees share 30 percent of the premium costs.7 For optional dental and vision benefits, they pay 100 percent.8 For the Federal Employees Group Life Insurance Program (FEGLI), employees pay 66 percent of the basic premium, and the full cost of any additional coverage. For the Federal Long Term Care Insurance Program, (FLTCIP) enrollees pay the entire premium cost. For these 100% employee paid programs, we only negotiate a group rate....'

Reference: www.fedsmith.com
Tags: federal Employee dental and vision benefits,

Mar 10, 2011

Honolulu International Airport TSA Fails to Screen Bags

After TSA Probe Story Breaks, Management More Attentive

'...TSA management has been embarrassed that some of its employees essentially did not do their jobs for as many as four months before two employee whistle-blowers brought them to management's attention....'

Reference: www.kitv.com
Tags: TSA

Mar 8, 2011

Authority to Redeposit Refunds under the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS)

'...Employees covered by FERS on or after October 28, 2009, may repay (or redeposit) any FERS deductions previously refunded to them. They may also redeposit any CSRS deductions previously refunded to them that covered CSRS service that is credited under FERS rules....'

Reference: http://www.opm.gov/retire/pubs/bals/2011/11-103.pdf
Tags: FERS

Mar 5, 2011

'Recent Pay-Related Legislative Changes' for Federal Employees

A memorandum dated March 3, 2011, put out by OPM Director, John Berry, identifies several 'Recent Pay-Related Legislative Changes'. The changes relate to Reservist Income Replacement Program and Relationship to Reservist Differential Program, Extension of Authority to Waive Pay Limitations for Certain Federal Civilian Employees Working Overseas, and Rate of Overtime Pay for Department of the Navy Employees Performing Work to Support the Nuclear Aircraft Carrier Forward Deployed in Japan.

The memo reads as follows:

Subject: Recent Pay-Related Legislative Changes This is to inform you of several changes in Federal employee pay administration resulting from the enactment of the Ike Skelton National Defense Authorization Act for FY 2011 (Public Law 111-383, January 7, 2011) (hereafter referred to as “the Act”). All of the sections identified below are effective on the date of enactment of the Act (January 7, 2011), unless otherwise stated. Sections 601 and 611 – Reservist Income Replacement Program and Relationship to Reservist Differential Program Sections 601 and 611 amend the Reserve Income Replacement Program authority under 37 U.S.C. 910. The Reserve Income Replacement Program is administered by the Department of Defense and provides income replacement payments for certain reserve component members experiencing extended and frequent mobilization for active duty service. Subsection 601(a) amends 37 U.S.C. 910(b) to clarify that a civilian employee of the Federal Government who is also a member of a reserve component is not entitled to a payment under section 910(b) for any period for which the employee is entitled to (1) a reservist differential payment under 5 U.S.C. 5538, or (2) a comparable benefit under an administratively established program for civilian employees absent from a position of employment with the Federal Government in order to perform active duty in the uniformed services. Subsection 611(7) amends 37 U.S.C. 910(g) to extend the expiration date for the Reserve Income Replacement Program from December 31, 2010 to December 31, 2011. Section 1103 – 1-year Extension of Authority to Waive Pay Limitations for Certain Federal Civilian Employees Working Overseas Effective January 1, 2011, section 1103 extends to calendar year 2011 the authority provided in section 1101(a) of the Duncan Hunter National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2009 (Public Law 110-417, October 14, 2008), as amended by section 1106 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2010 (Public Law 111-84, October 28, 2009), for the head of an agency to waive the premium pay cap provisions under 5 U.S.C. 5547. As in calendar years 2009 and 2010, this waiver authority in 2011 applies to certain civilian employees who perform work while in an overseas location that (1) is in the area of responsibility of the United States Central Command (CENTCOM) or (2) was formerly in the CENTCOM area of responsibility but has been moved to the area of responsibility of the Commander of the United States Africa Command (AFRICOM). The overseas work must meet one of two additional qualifying conditions: (1) performance of work in direct support of or directly related to a military operation (including a contingency operation as defined in 10 U.S.C. 101(a)(13)), or (2) performance of work in direct support of or directly related to an operation in response to an emergency declared by the President. The annual limitation on basic pay and premium pay allowed under the waiver authority remains at $230,700 in calendar year 2011 (the annual rate of salary payable to the Vice President under 3 U.S.C. 104). Subsection 1101(b) continues to provide the aggregate limitation on pay under 5 U.S.C. 5307 will not apply to an employee in calendar year 2011 if the employee is granted a waiver under subsection 1101(a) of the normally applicable premium pay limitations. Subsection 1101(c) also continues to apply and provides that any payments made under the subsection 1101(a) waiver authority resulting in additional premium pay of a type normally creditable as basic pay will not be considered basic pay for any purpose (e.g., retirement). Also, such additional premium pay may not be used in computing lump-sum payments for accumulated and accrued annual leave under 5 U.S.C. 5551. Subsection 1101(d) continues to provide the Director of U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) with the discretion to issue regulations for this waiver authority. OPM does not currently plan to issue regulations. However, each agency should establish policies for using this waiver authority if it has covered employees. To ensure agencies apply this discretionary authority consistently, we have developed a summary of key elements agencies should include in their policies implementing the waiver authority. (See Attachment.) Section 1105 – Rate of Overtime Pay for Department of the Navy Employees Performing Work to Support the Nuclear Aircraft Carrier Forward Deployed in Japan Subsection 1105(a) amends 5 U.S.C. 5542(a) by adding a new paragraph (6)(A) to provide the overtime hourly rate of pay for a qualifying employee of the Department of the Navy is an amount equal to one and one-half times the hourly rate of basic pay of the employee, and all that amount is premium pay. This provision applies only to an employee who (1) is assigned to temporary duty to perform work aboard, or dockside in direct support of, the nuclear aircraft carrier that is forward deployed in Japan and (2) would be nonexempt under the Fair Labor Standards Act but for the application of the foreign area exemption in 29 U.S.C. 213(f). This authority will expire on September 30, 2014. Not later than March 31, 2014, OPM is required to submit a report to Congress that evaluates the use of this temporary authority and analyzes the possibility of extending the expiration date of the authority and of expanding the authority to cover other employees. Additional Information For additional information, agency Chief Human Capital Officers and/or Human Resources Directors should contact their assigned OPM Human Capital Officer. Employees should contact their agency human resources office for assistance. Attachment cc: Chief Human Capital Officers Human Resources Directors Attachment Summary of Key Necessary Elements in Agency Policies Implementing Section 1101 of Public Law 110-417, as Amended, for Calendar Year 2011 Section 1103 of Public Law 111-383, January 7, 2011, extends to calendar year 2011 the previous authority of section 1101 of Public Law 110-417, October 14, 2008, as amended by section 1106 of Public Law 110-84, October 28, 2009. The premium pay cap waiver authority under section 1101 of Public Law 110-417, as amended, may be applied in calendar years 2009 through 2011 to an employee who meets all of the following conditions for coverage eligibility: The employee is covered by 5 U.S.C. 5547 (dealing with limitations on premium pay) or a limitation on premium pay similar to one set forth in section 5547 of title 5, United States Code (as determined by the head of the Executive agency in or under which such employees are employed). The employee is assigned to work in an overseas location that (1) is in the area of responsibility of the Commander of the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) or (2) was formerly in the CENTCOM area of responsibility but has been moved to the area of responsibility of the Commander of the United States Africa Command (AFRICOM) and remains in that location for at least 42 consecutive calendar days (unless an authorized agency official grants a waiver of the 42-day requirement in very limited circumstances). (If the employee meets the 42-day requirement, the section 1106 limitation may be applied to days before that requirement was satisfied, as long as the employee was performing work in a covered and approved category on those days. Although section 1106 applies only to payments payable in calendar year 2011, the 42-day period may overlap a calendar year—i.e., begins in 2010 and ends in 2011, or begins in 2011 and ends in 2012.) The employee performs work in direct support of, or directly related to, (1) a military operation (including a contingency operation, as defined in 10 U.S.C. 101(a)(13)) or (2) an operation in response to an emergency declared by the President. (“Military operation” is a Department of Defense (DOD) term of art, defined in the DOD Dictionary of Military and Associated Terms.) Prior to authorizing any premium pay cap waiver under section 1106 on the basis of a military operation, an agency must confirm any DOD operation in countries in which such a waiver is being considered meets the DOD definition. (Note: The State Department and DOD have determined all their employees serving in Iraq and Afghanistan are performing work in direct support of, or directly related to, a military operation. In other locations, they will make determinations on a case-by-case basis.) The employee is in a category of employees for whom coverage under section 1106 has been approved by an authorized agency official. (Note: Section 1106 establishes a discretionary authority that agencies may exercise, not an entitlement.) Employees who are granted a waiver under section 1101 in calendar year 2011 will be covered by a higher annual premium pay cap in lieu of the normal biweekly and annual premium pay caps under 5 U.S.C. 5547. The employee will be entitled to premium payments identified in 5 U.S.C. 5547(a), or similar limitation, to the extent it does not cause the employee’s combined payable amount of basic pay and premium pay for calendar year 2011 to exceed the annual rate of salary payable to the Vice President under 3 U.S.C. 104, which remains at the 2010 level of $230,700. (Like the section 5547 limitation, the section 1101 limitation is applied to premium payments that are “payable” during the calendar year-i.e., earned in a pay period for which the pay date falls in the calendar year.) The higher annual limitation on premium pay established under section 1101(a) continues to apply during calendar year 2011 to an employee’s annual aggregate basic pay plus premium pay even after the employee has stopped performing work covered by section 1101. After an employee stops performing covered work, the employee's earnings will again be subject to the biweekly premium pay limitation under 5 U.S.C. 5547, or similar limitation, and the employee could receive payments up to the biweekly premium pay limitation each pay period until the section 1101(a) annual limitation is reached. Under section 1101(b), the aggregate limitation on pay under 5 U.S.C. 5307 will not apply in a calendar year to any employee who is granted a waiver under section 1101(a) (i.e., premium pay cap waiver) in that calendar year (2011). When the aggregate limitation on pay under 5 U.S.C. 5307 is applied, payments (other than basic pay) in excess of the aggregate limitation must be deferred and are generally paid as a lump-sum payment at the beginning of the following calendar year. However, if section 1101(b) applies to an employee in calendar year 2011, the employee is entitled to receive applicable payments immediately without deferral. Section 1101(c) continues to apply. Under section 1101(c), any additional pay that results from application of the higher premium pay cap under section 1101(a), may not be considered basic pay for retirement or any other purpose, nor may it be used in computing a lump-sum payment for accumulated and accrued annual leave under 5 U.S.C. 5551. Under 5 U.S.C. 5547 and 5 CFR 550.107, various types of premium pay creditable for retirement and other purposes are always subject to a biweekly cap, even in emergencies that would normally trigger the annual premium pay limit. Thus, in applying section 1101(a), an agency should consider any premium pay that is basic pay for retirement or other purposes as being paid before any other premium payment and apply the biweekly cap to determine the amount of basic pay for retirement and other purposes. In other words, section 1101(a) would allow these types of premium payments to exceed the normally applicable biweekly limit, but any excess beyond the biweekly limit would be attributable to section 1101(a) and therefore would not be treated as basic pay for retirement or other purposes. COUNTRIES IN CENTCOM OVERSEAS AREA OF RESPONSIBILITY 1. Afghanistan 2. Bahrain 3. Egypt 4. Iran 5. Iraq 6. Jordan 7. Kazakhstan 8. Kuwait 9. Kyrgyzstan 10. Lebanon 11. Oman 12. Pakistan 13. Qatar 14. Saudi Arabia 15. Syria 16. Tajikistan 17. Turkmenistan 18. United Arab Emirates (U.A.E) 19. Uzbekistan 20. Yemen COUNTRIES IN AFRICOM OVERSEAS AREA OF RESPONSIBILITY (formerly in CENTCOM overseas area of responsibility) 1. Djibouti 2. Ethiopia 3. Eritrea 4. Kenya 5. Seychelles 6. Somalia 7. Sudan Section 1101 of Public Law 110-417, October 14, 2008, as amended by section 1106 of Public Law 111-84, October 28, 2009, and as further amended by section 1103 of Public Law 111-383, January 7, 2011 SEC. 1101. AUTHORITY TO WAIVE ANNUAL LIMITATION ON PREMIUM PAY AND AGGREGATE LIMITATION ON PAY FOR FEDERAL CIVILIAN EMPLOYEES WORKING OVERSEAS. (a) WAIVER AUTHORITY.- During the calendar years 2009 through 2011, and notwithstanding section 5547 of title 5, United States Code, the head of an executive agency may waive, the premium pay limitations established in that section up to the annual rate of the salary payable to the Vice President under section 104 of title 3, United States Code, for an employee who performs work while in an overseas location that is in the area of responsibility of the Commander of the United States Central Command, or an overseas location that was formerly in the area of responsibility of the Commander of the United States Central Command but has been moved to the area of responsibility of the Commander of the United States Africa Command, in direct support of or directly related to— (1) a military operation, including a contingency operation; or (2) an operation in response to an emergency declared by the President. (b) APPLICABILITY OF AGGREGATE LIMITATION ON PAY.— (1) IN GENERAL.—Section 5307 of title 5, United States Code, shall not apply to any employee in any calendar year in which that employee is granted a waiver under subsection (a). (2) OTHER LIMITATIONS.—In the case of any employees who (disregarding subparagraph (A)) would otherwise be subject to a limitation on premium pay similar to one set forth in section 5547 of title 5, United States Code (as determined by the head of the Executive agency in or under which such employees are employed)— (A) the agency head may waive that otherwise applicable limitation, to the same extent and in the same manner as would be allowable under subsection (a) if those employees were instead subject to such section 5547; and (B) if a waiver under subparagraph (A) is granted with respect to such employees, then, neither section 5307 of title 5, United States Code, nor any other similar limitation (as determined by the agency head) shall apply with respect to such employees for purposes of any calendar year for which such waiver is so granted. (c) ADDITIONAL PAY NOT CONSIDERED BASIC PAY.— To the extent that a waiver under subsection (a) results in payment of additional premium pay of a type that is normally creditable as basic pay for retirement or any other purpose, such additional pay shall not be considered to be basic pay for any purpose, nor shall it be used in computing a lump-sum payment for accumulated and accrued annual leave under section 5551 of title 5, United States Code. (d) REGULATIONS. — The Director of the Office of Personnel Management may issue regulations to ensure appropriate consistency among heads of executive agencies in the exercise of the authority granted by this section.

Reference: http://www.chcoc.gov/transmittals/TransmittalDetails.aspx?TransmittalID=3567
Tags: Federal Employee Pay

Mar 1, 2011

Government Shutdown Avoided

House OKs measure to avert shutdown; Senate votes Wednesday

'...The House approved a stop-gap measure Tuesday to keep money flowing to federal government for the next two weeks and avert, a government shutdown congressional negotiators grapple with deep divisions to reach a more permanent solution....'

Reference: www.latimes.com
Tags:

Poll: Majority backs government workers in unions

'...A new national poll delivers some encouraging news for federal employees and their unions: Most Americans oppose weakening the collective bargaining rights of public employees and oppose cutting their pay or benefits to reduce deficits....'

Reference: washingtonpost.com
Tags:

Feb 28, 2011

Could hackers exploit a Federal Shutdown?

How Hackers Could Exploit Federal Government Shutdown

'...One major problem: The federal government's list of critical-need computer security employees has not been updated in over 15 years....'

Reference: www.fastcompany.com
Tags:

Feb 23, 2011

Is a Government Shutdown Likely?

Government Shutdown 2011 Unlikely, White House Press Secretary Says

'...Even though the prospects of a government shutdown escalated when the House of Representatives approved historic spending cuts on Saturday, White House press secretary Jay Carney maintained Tuesday that the shutdown is unlikely. ...'

Reference: www.theepochtimes.com
Tags:

Feb 22, 2011

Congress looks at pay hikes

'...need an automatic pay increase to their $174,000 salary....'

Reference: www.charlotteobserver.com
Tags:

Feb 16, 2011

Federal Job Cuts

John Boehner: If GOP Cuts Cause Federal Job Losses, 'So Be It'

'...House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) said Tuesday that if Republican efforts to cut federal spending resulted in the loss of government jobs, "so be it."...'

Reference: www.huffingtonpost.com
Tags: Federal Jobs

Feb 13, 2011

Federal Occupational Health Turns 65

'...Now serving more than 1.8 million federal workers annually, FOH was created in August 1946 when President Truman signed an amendment to the Public Health Service Act. ...'

Reference: ohsonline.com
Tags: Federal Occupational Health

Feb 12, 2011

TSA chief vows to fire screeners in a strike or work slowdown

'...TSA Administrator John Pistole told the House Homeland Security subcommittee on transportation security that a strike would be highly unlikely, since federal employees do not have the legal right to strike. ...'

Reference: www.federaltimes.com
Tags:

Feb 8, 2011

federal workforce Union-busting president remembered for positives as well

Reagan's complicated legacy for federal workforce

'...This week marks the centennial of Ronald Reagan's birth. When it comes to federal employee issues, he's probably most remembered as a big union-busting president. ...'

Reference: www.washingtonpost.com
Tags:

Jan 31, 2011

Retired federal employee sentenced to 23 months in prison for health care fraud

'...retired federal employee will have to surrender in six weeks to begin serving a 23-month prison term for defrauding the federal health care benefits program by claiming for eight years that he was receiving medical treatment overseas....'

Reference: www.nj.com
Tags:

Jan 29, 2011

Obama salutes money-saving federal employee

'...Trudy Givens, a Bureau of Prisons employee from Wisconsin, won the administration's 2010 "SAVE Award" with the idea of...'

Reference: usatoday.com
Tags:

Jan 21, 2011

Spending Plan Would Impact Federal Workers

GOP Spending Plan Would Impact Federal Workers

'...under the "Spending Reduction Act of 2011," the number of civil service employees would be reduced by 15 percent...'

Reference: ozarksfirst.com
Tags: Federal Worker Cuts

Jan 18, 2011

Federal Employee Furlough and Pay and Benefit Cuts on the Table

Two GOP freshmen to handle federal worker issues

'...federal pay and benefits could be especially contentious. President Obama last year ordered a two-year pay freeze for all federal employees, but the bipartisan deficit commission and several Republican lawmakers want to use a three-year pay freeze, furloughs and...'

Reference: washingtonpost.com
Tags: Federal Employee Furlough

Jan 7, 2011

National Security Agency cyber security center to be built in Utah

Officials mark start of work on Utah cyber center

'...The center is designed to help the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and other agencies protect national security networks and identify cyber threats, although the NSA has refused to disclose its full purpose or function. ...'

Reference: www.bloomberg.com
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Pentagon to Cut Budget by $78 Billion Over Five Years

'...The cuts will include a reduction in active troop size and an eventual spending freeze....'

Reference: nymag.com
Tags: Defense Budget Cuts

Jan 5, 2011

Salaries for Federal Employees: Search by name, organization or location

'...Want to know how much your fellow federal employee gets as a salary? Want to know what your federal employee salary is? You can search for federal employees by name or you can look at the names and salaries for each federal worker by location or organization....'

Reference: Federal Employee News
Tags:

Jan 4, 2011

Growth in Federal Government Employment

The Census and Growth in Federal Government Employment

'...2010, seasonally adjusted federal employment reached 3.4 million employees, the highest level of federal employment since May 1990...'

Reference: Federal Employment Tips
Tags: Federal Employment Stats

Jan 2, 2011

IRS employee convicted for wiretapping his boss with Outlook

'...apparently redirected emails using a simple Outlook rule (an automated way to process/sort emails). The supervisor stumbled into it by accident. ...'

Reference: www.ubergizmo.com
Tags:

Dec 31, 2010

Understanding Workers Compensation

Understanding Workers' Compensation Insurance

'...Understanding Workers? Compensation Insurance is the only textbook available that provides a look at workers compensation through the eyes of the carrier as well as the provider. It covers everything from how a policy is written and what a policy covers to proof of coverage and understanding the basics of premium calculations. You will gain a better understanding of what a workers compensation carrier will or will not pay and what insurers need in order to process their bills. ...'

Reference: Understanding Workers' Compensation Insurance [Amazon]
Tags: Workers Comp Guide

Workers' comp beats retirement for disabled feds

For disabled feds, workers' comp beats retirement

'...He said forcing employees into retirement represents a broken promise to injured workers, who in deciding to take workers' compensation payments have given up their rights to sue the government over their injuries....'

Reference: www.washingtontimes.com
Tags: Federal Employees and Workers Com

Dec 28, 2010

Federal Employee Pay Freeze Expanded

'...Federal pay freeze stops cost-of-living allowances (COLA) for two years ...'

Reference: Cost of Living News
Tags: Federal Employee Pay Freeze, COLA Freeze

Dec 27, 2010

Roth Retirement Plan for Federal Workers

Implementing a Roth Retirement Plan for Federal Employees

'...The Thrift Savings Plan Enhancement Act of 2009, Public Law 111-31, became a law on June 22, 2009. Among other things, it authorized the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) to add a Roth 401(k) feature to the TSP. ...'

Reference: www.fedsmith.com
Tags: ROTH TSP, Federal Employee Retirement

Dec 24, 2010

No pay raise for Federal Employees in 2012 either

Obama issues pay freeze order

'...General increases, such as locality pay, are also suspended.

The freeze will be effective Jan. 1, 2011, and last until Dec. 31, 2012. ...'

Reference: fcw.com
Tags: Federal employee pay

Dec 23, 2010

Federal Jobs in Missile Defense

Are you looking for a job with the Federal Government? Take a look at at some of the jobs in the missile defense industry.

Reference: Missile Defense Briefing
Tags: Federal Employment, Federal Jobs,

Dec 20, 2010

collective bargaining and the federal employee pay freeze

What if negotiated raises and federal pay freeze collide?

'...Wages are set through collective bargaining for some federal employees, including air traffic controllers, though that is not the case for most U.S. government workers. ...'

Reference: www.washingtonpost.com
Tags: Federal pay freeze

Dec 17, 2010

Federal pay freeze? Here's the flip side

'...some lawmakers grew concerned that Uncle Sam did not pay enough to attract and keep the skilled scientists, economists, doctors, and other white-collar professionals who make up a disproportionate share of the federal workforce. ...'

Reference: www.csmonitor.com
Tags: Federal Employee Pay, Federal worker pay,

DoD Seeks Comments on Federal IT Worker Job Swap

'...Information Technology Exchange Program, authorized under the fiscal 2010 defense authorization bill, will allow higher-level career DoD employees to work at a private company for up to two years while still retaining federal employee status...'

Reference: www.executivegov.com
Tags: