Feeling the Impact of Inflation: 6.2% COLA (So Far) for 2009
Inflation is alive and well in the United States. So far, the projected COLA increase for 2009 is 6.2% with another two months to go into the calculation.
Month: August 2008
Performance Metrics: The Canary in the Coal Mine
The federal bureaucracy can be efficient. The author cites an example of an office improving its statistics, at the expense of its customers, by learning how to work the system to improve its performance metrics.
Survey Surprise: McCain Trounces Obama in Reader Preference
National polls consistently show Barack Obama as running ahead of John McCain in the race to become the next President of the United States. Past surveys of our readers have revealed changes in voter sentiment before similar results showed up in national polls. That may or may not happen this year but, in this anonymous survey, John McCain finished far ahead of Senator Obama–unlike our earlier survey which showed a very close race. Reader comments reveal the concerns and issues of importance to our readers. The underlying issues cited by many readers are often not discussed in the national media but may play a major role in the 2008 presidential race.
When Acceptable People Perform Unacceptably
There are some people working in government who are good people and you may like them–they just don’t do the work they are being paid to do. Management often avoids dealing with them. So, how should you deal with these nice people who are not doing their jobs?
Appeal of “Patently Unfair” Job Requirement is a Loser in Court
An Air Force Air Traffic Control Specialist was fired for not maintaining a certification required by the agency. A court upholds the agency’s right to set requirements, despite the former employee’s assertion that the requirement was “patently unfair.”
Average (Total) Federal Compensation in 2007: $116,450
It seems no one is happy with the federal pay system. Many employees and federal unions argue that federal employees are significantly underpaid. But not everyone agrees. The average federal employee in 2007 received a pay and benefits package of $116,450–more than twice as much as the average private sector employee.
Administrative Remedies, Tort Claims and the Privacy Act
A federal court has handed another defeat to Joseph and Valerie Plame Wilson in their efforts to receive damages from various high-level officials, including Vice President Cheney.
Calculating Your FERS Annuity, Changing the TSP and Tobacco: Politics and the Federal Workforce
The House recently passed a bill change the TSP investment philosophy and the annuity calculations for those under FERS. Is it now in effect? What do these changes for the federal workforce have to do with the tobacco industry?
Confessions of a Federal Retiree
Like many people, this federal retiree left government service with high hopes and plans for the future. Some worked out well but the reality of health and financial issues brought home to this author how life can change after retirement. He offers advice on how to live and which decisions may be the most important ones after leaving government service.
Employee Gets Another Appeal Despite “Last Chance” Agreement
A federal employee who was found to be “rude and obnoxious” ended up being fired as the incident occurred after he had already signed a “last chance” agreement with the agency. The employee waived his appeal rights with the agreement but a federal court sends the case back to the MSPB anyway.
