Aug 21, 2012

2013 Federal Employee Pay Raise Update


President extends federal pay freeze


'...In a letter to House and Senate leaders, the president reiterated his support for ending the pay freeze with a 0.5 percent raise, to take effect Jan. 1, 2013, that he proposed early this year....'


Reference: www.washingtonpost.com
Tags: 2013 Federal Pay Raise, 2013 pay raise,

Aug 10, 2012

Federal employee legislation update


Congress moves on federal employee bills


'...Several pieces of legislation of importance to federal employees crossed the congressional finish line late last week while some others reached the halfway mark, including one calling for the firing of those far behind in paying their federal taxes....'


Reference: www.washingtonpost.com
Tags: Federal employee legislation

Jun 14, 2012

Older people forced to early Social Security due to lack of employment opportunities


Unemployed Forced to Early Social Security


'...Just a few miles from the gated estates of corporate chieftains and Hollywood stars, Ms. Keany lives in a tiny mobile home, barely getting by on little more than $1,082 a month from Social Security....'


Reference: socialsecuritynewsgroup.blogspot.com
Tags:

Jun 8, 2012

Changes to federal employee appeals policies coming


Overhaul of federal employee appeals policies planned


'...The agency that hears challenges to disciplinary actions, whistle-blower retaliation complaints and appeals of many other job decisions affecting federal employees is planning to overhaul many of its policies. Proposed rules that the Merit Systems Protection Board published Thursday in the Federal Register would...'


Reference: www.washingtonpost.com
Tags:

Jun 1, 2012

Little more than half of all Senior Executive Service members are satisfied with their pay


Fewer senior executives are satisfied with their pay, OPM finds


'...A little more than half of all Senior Executive Service members are satisfied with their pay levels, a significant drop from 2008 numbers, according to the Office of Personnel Management’s latest SES survey....'


Reference: www.govexec.com
Tags:

May 27, 2012

TSP hit by sophisticated cyber attack - personal information stolen


Hackers hit Thrift Savings Plan


'...A cyber attack has potentially stolen the personal information of as many as 123,000 government employee Thrift Savings Plan participants, according to Reston-based Serco Inc., which supports the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board....'


Reference: www.bizjournals.com
Tags: TSP, Cyber attack,

May 21, 2012

Telecommuting progressing in federal workforce


Movement to telework gaining a foothold in federal agencies


'...Federal agencies are leading the way in telecommuting, according to the Alexandria, Va.-based Telework Exchange’s (TE) report...'


Reference: govpro.com
Tags:

May 18, 2012

Social Security Benefits & Taxes


Social Security Benefits & Taxes


'...after years of paying income taxes on your “contributions” you are ready to retire and collect the benefits—only to find out that they may be taxable! It doesn’t seem fair, does it? Well, here’s how...'


Reference: socialsecuritynewsgroup.blogspot.com
Tags: income taxes, social security benefits

May 10, 2012

House approves pay cut for Federal Employees ...at least that's what it amounts to


House action amounts to federal pay cut


'...pay an additional 5 percent of salary for retirement benefits, with no increase in those benefits in new bill. “After this goes into effect, they will in fact not have as much take-home as they did the day before,” Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Calif.) acknowledged on the House floor....'


Reference: www.washingtonpost.com
Tags: Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Calif),

Apr 27, 2012

TSA is on the job!


TSA Week in Review: Black Powder, Grenades, and Claymore Mines


'...Items Concealed in VCR: A checked bag at Newark (EWR) appeared to contain a VCR that had been tampered with. After TSA’s Explosive Detection Team cleared the bag to be searched, it was determined that the contents inside of the unit was a VHS tape along with 23 smartphones each individually wrapped in aluminum foil and taped to the unit. ...'


Reference: tsa.gov
Tags:

Apr 23, 2012

USPS Buy-out incentives


Congress to make key vote on post office closures Tuesday


'...money toward incentives for about 100,000 employees to retire in the near future. Some interested parties blame much of the Postal Service’s financial problems on a law that has required the USPS to pay for several decades worth of future retirement benefits over the course of a few years....'


Reference: www.mitchellrepublic.com
Tags:

Apr 3, 2012

Threatening a federal shutdown, "...There's never been anything like this," Bixby said


House approves Republican deficit-cutting plan


'...threatening a federal shutdown. And a payroll tax cut, extra unemployment benefits and a host of temporary tax breaks for businesses will all be about to expire. "You've got a budget just about to blow up. There's never been anything like this," Bixby said ...'


Reference: www.google.com
Tags: Federal Government Shutdown,

Mar 16, 2012

Mail processing facilities closures could be detrimental to broad segments of the country


Postal union blasts closings plan in new ads


'...the impending closure of 223 mail-processing facilities and post offices could be detrimental to broad segments of the country, including small-businesses owners and people who rely on mail deliveries of medication. ...'


Reference: www.washingtonpost.com
Tags: Mail processing facilities closures, AMP,

Mar 3, 2012

NASA hit by cyberattacks called "advanced persistent threats"


Hackers Seize Control of NASA Computers


'...NASA reported that it was the target of 47 sophisticated cyberattacks - the report calls them "advanced persistent threats" - in 2011. Thirteen of those 47 attacks successfully compromised NASA computers....'


Reference: www.the33tv.com
Tags: advanced persistent threats, NASA,

Feb 14, 2012

Federal employees to pay more for retirement in GOP plan


Republicans look to require federal workers to pay more for retirement


'...the bill is a GOP attack on federal workers, and said Congress needs to balance any proposed cuts to the government...'


Reference: thehill.com
Tags:

Feb 10, 2012

Federal Retirement Cuts Coming Soon?


GOP proposes changing federal worker pensions


'...Federal employees would pay more toward their pensions and new employees would receive less generous retirement benefits under a House Republican plan to pay for highway programs....'


Reference: www.wtop.com
Tags: Federal Retirement,

Jan 21, 2012

Republicans successful in limiting FAA unionization, Dems give in


FAA Deal on Capitol Hill: Labor Language Dropped


'...In exchange for Republicans dropping the NMB rule recission, Democrats have agreed to include a provision that would raise the threshold for rail and aviation workers expressing interest in forming a union from 35 percent to 50 percent. This would mark the first time that an FAA reauthorization included any NMB changes, which is likely to make organized labor uncomfortable....'


Reference: nationaljournal.com
Tags: anti-union, union busting,

Jan 20, 2012

Radiation exposure of 16 workers at a nuclear research lab


Federal panel faults Idaho lab for radiation exposure mishap


'...The radiation exposure of 16 workers at a nuclear research lab in I, daho stemmed from a failure to properly assess the risks posed by the handling of decades-old plutonium fuel cells, federal investigators concluded on Wednesday....'


Reference: www.reuters.com
Tags:

Jan 9, 2012

2013 Federal Worker Pay Raise


White House calls for modest 0.5% pay raise for federal civilian workers


'...After a two-year freeze in federal workers’ salaries, President Obama will propose a 0.5 percent pay increase for civilian employees as part of his 2013...'


Reference: www.washingtonpost.com
Tags:

Dec 28, 2011

Federal employee starting pay rises


Starting Pay for Federal Workers Rises


'...The rising salaries make the federal government a desirable place to work, and the analysis also found that workers are less likely to leave...'


Reference: www.newser.com
Tags: Federal employee starting pay

Dec 9, 2011

Civilian Service Recognition Act


H.R.2061


'...To authorize the presentation of a United States flag on behalf of Federal civilian employees who die of injuries in connection with their employment....'


Reference: thomas.loc.gov
Tags: Civilian Service Recognition Act

Dec 5, 2011

Federal Employee reduction in force, more base closings and consolidations


Experts: DoD could slash 150K jobs


'...Even with early-out incentives, Williams expected that a "sizable" reduction in force (RIF) also would be needed. "This is going to be a mess...'


Reference: www.federaltimes.com
Tags: reduction in force, federal job cuts, early-out incentives,

Nov 30, 2011

Thrift Savings Plan I Fund


TSP's I Fund brings 'true diversification' to portfolio


'...there's more to the TSP than just those two funds...'


Reference: federal-retirement.blogspot.com
Tags: I Fund, TSP, FERS, CSRS

Nov 28, 2011

Buyouts, Layoffs and more pay freezing likely for Federal Workers


Extended pay freeze, layoffs likely


'...likely to mean 2012 will see a hiring freeze, buyouts and early outs, and maybe even layoffs through reductions-in-force to start bringing payroll costs down....'


Reference: www.federaltimes.com
Tags: Federal Employee Buyouts,

Nov 26, 2011

Ron Paul, the presidential candidate who says he'll shrink government the most,


Ron Paul backed by workers he's aiming to show door


'...leads in donations from federal employees, with $95,085 through Sept. 30. That is more than four times ...'


Reference: www.startribune.com
Tags:

Nov 25, 2011

Federal Employees and Medicare Part B


FEHBP + Medicare Part B can be 'political insurance'


'...Federal employees turning 65 might be wondering: Do I get Medicare Part B coverage in addition to my federal health plan? ...'


Reference: www.federalnewsradio.com
Tags: FEHBP, Medicare Part B,

Nov 11, 2011

Is FERS too generous


FERS Fact Check


'...whether they are too generous -- are the subject of much discussion right now on Capitol Hill...'


Reference: federal-retirement.blogspot.com
Tags: Federal Retirement

Oct 25, 2011

Supercommittee -vs- Federal Employees


Preparing for what the supercommittee has in store for federal agencies


'...The Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction, often called the Supercommittee, is examining a wide-range of options that could dramatically affect federal employees, such as huge...'


Reference: www.washingtonpost.com
Tags: Supercommittee

Oct 19, 2011

Federal Retirement COLA for 2012 will be 3.6 percent


Federal retirees to get COLA increase


'...Federal retirees will receive in January the first inflation adjustment to their annuity benefits since 2009, an increase of 3.6 percent...'


Reference: www.washingtonpost.com
Tags: 2012 Federal Retiree COLA, 2012 COLA, Federal Retirement COLA,

Oct 18, 2011

Shifting the deficit to Federal Workers


Don’t shift deficit to federal workers


'...One of the most influential aspects of the super committee’s decision will involve the federal workforce. Among the options for cutting the deficit, federal workers could be forced to contribute even more to their retirement....'


Reference: www.lasvegassun.com
Tags:

Oct 15, 2011

Democrats fight against Federal Worker pay freeze and other benefit cuts


Democrats want supercommittee to reject more federal worker cuts


'...Democrats on the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform urged the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction to “avoid further cuts for federal employees given the significant cuts already imposed on them.”...'


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

Oct 12, 2011

BlackBerry only federally approved smartphone for some government agencies


BlackBerry outage sends D.C. into withdrawal


'...The outage caught much of D.C. off guard Wednesday and underscored the region’s reliance on the BlackBerry — which is still the only federally approved smartphone for employees in some government agencies....'


Reference: www.politico.com
Tags: Blackberry

Oct 3, 2011

Federal Prison Guard Misconduct Investigations Doubled


Federal prison guard arrests increase dramatically, report finds


'..."In federal prisons, it used to just be drug kingpins, tax-fraud prisoners, assassins," Perkinson said. "But now it's become full of more low-level offenders, which ironically makes for more violent prisoners....'


Reference: latimes.com
Tags: Federal prison guard, Federal prison employment, Misconduct Investigations,

Exploding toilets injure Federal workers


Exploding toilet injures two workers at federal building


'...bathrooms at the GSA Regional building were declared off-limits after two Department of Homeland Security employees were injured Monday by the toilet blast...'


Reference: msnbc.msn.com
Tags: exploding toilets,

Sep 17, 2011

Federal employees less expensive than contractors


U.S. spends billions outsourcing work


'...The Project on Government Oversight, a nonpartisan independent organization based in Washington, D.C., said it found that federal employees were less expensive than contractors...'


Reference: www.daytondailynews.com
Tags: Project on Government Oversight

Aug 23, 2011

V.A. Hiring in Leavenworth


VA hiring 400 people in Leavenworth


'...“Applicants need basic computer and communication skills. They’ll be trained for the rest,” said Kevin Johnson, a spokesman for the VA human resource department. “With an economy that stinks, these are great jobs with a career opportunity to get your foot in the door. And the benefits are great.”...'


Reference: www.kansascity.com
Tags: Federal Employment, V.A. Employment, Government Hiring, Federal Employees,

Aug 15, 2011

GAO 2011 early retirements and buyouts coming


GAO to offer early retirement (VERA), buyouts (VSIP)


'...On August 8, 2011, GAO (via memo) announced a Voluntary Early Retirement (VERA or Early Out) opportunity and the upcoming possibility of a Voluntary Separation Incentive Payment (VSIP or Buyout) for specified positions....'


Reference: Federal Employee News
Tags: 2011 GAO early retirement and buyouts,

Aug 11, 2011

Postal Service wants to layoff 120, 000; break union contracts


Postal Service asks Congress to allow 120,000 layoffs, overhaul benefits


'...The USPS is also asking Congress to change legislation that requires postal workers to get federal health care and retirement benefits. Instead...'


Reference: cnn.com
Tags:

Aug 9, 2011

Federal employee union protest U.S. Rep. James Lankford (OK)


Union, Constituents to Protest Anti-Worker Lawmaker


'...Constituents from U.S. Rep. James Lankford's congressional district will join with leaders from the nation's largest federal employee union to protest the first-term congressman's anti-worker legislative agenda on Tuesday....'


Reference: www.sacbee.com
Tags:

Aug 8, 2011

Federal district court employee killed


U.S. federal court employee kidnapped, killed in Mexico


'...His kidnapping and death are not believed to be related to his status as a federal employee, and court officials had been told he crossed the border to have some work done on his car....'


Reference: www.mysanantonio.com
Tags: Federal Employee,