Every year at this time, we like to take a moment to reflect on the events of the past year. For FedSmith.com, that means looking back at the year’s most popular articles.
From the pay freeze getting extended to the first signs that it would end in 2014 to vacation discounts for federal employees , the list that follows captures the most widely read articles on FedSmith.com from 2013.
For those who like a little history, you can check what the most popular articles on FedSmith.com were in the past several years in the related articles section at the end of this article.
We are both fortunate and thankful to have a growing number of authors writing for us who offer our users the benefit of their expertise and experience in working for and with the federal community. Thanks to them, it’s possible for us to provide our readers with articles such as these.
Our thanks to all of you who visit the FedSmith.com site throughout each day to stay informed. We wish all of you a happy and prosperous 2014!
- Locating the Salary of an Individual Federal Employee
April 29, 2013
How can you find the salary of an individual federal employee? For most federal employees, the federal employee database will enable you to find the information quickly and easily. - Your COLA for 2014: Higher or Lower than in 2013?
August 22, 2013
How much of a COLA increase will you see in 2014? How would the “chained CPI” impact this payment if it were enacted? - Say Good-Bye to the FERS Annuity Supplement
November 12, 2013
The FERS annuity supplement is probably going to end. How will it impact your retirement plans? - Agreement to End Shutdown Allows for 1% Pay Raise
October 17, 2013
The legislation that ended the partial government shutdown includes a provision for a 1% pay raise for federal employees. - Will Feds Get a Pay Raise in 2014?
July 26, 2013
Will there be a federal employee pay raise in 2014? Don’t hold your breath or plan an increase in your budget yet. - Government Shutdown: Will Federal Retirees Continue to Receive Annuity Payments?
September 24, 2013
If you are a federal retiree, will you continue to receive your annuity payments in the event of a government shutdown? - Retirement Myths: Retirement and Your Sick Leave Increments
June 25, 2013
The authors point out that as few as six hours of sick leave can increase your retirement annuity. - Adding New Federal Locality Pay Areas for 2014
November 19, 2013
Federal employees in a number of metropolitan areas are likely to be included in new locality pay areas in 2014. - House Votes to Extend Pay Freeze
January 1, 2013
The House voted Tuesday to block the scheduled 0.5% pay raise for federal employees for 2013 which would effectively extend the pay freeze for another year. - Government Will Borrow From Federal Employee Pension Fund to Avoid Passing Debt Limit
January 15, 2013
Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner said that the government has begun borrowing from the federal employee pension fund to keep operating without passing the approaching debt limit. - Obama Proposes Plan for 1% Pay Increase
August 30, 2013
In a letter issued late Friday, the president has said that he is transmitting an alternate pay plan for an across the board pay increase of 1% for the federal workforce. - Farting and Discrimination in the Federal Workplace
February 27, 2013
The recent case involving a federal employee who was reprimanded by the Social Security Administration for passing gas at work had a humorous aspect to it, the author points out that there is a serious aspect to the case as well in terms of legal precedent. - The Future of Your Federal Retirement System
October 31, 2013
What does the future hold for your federal retirement program and annual cost of living increases for federal retirees? Proposals under consideration show a trend and outline possible changes that may impact your retirement future. - Retirement Myths: FEHB Premium Increases After Retirement
May 21, 2013
Why is it that many federal employees think that FEHB costs increase? The authors provide some answers. - The “Chained CPI” and Your Federal Retirement Package
April 7, 2013
The “chained CPI” seems more likely than it did when the concept was first announced. What is the chained CPI and how would it impact current and future federal retirees? - Average Federal Salary Goes Up Despite Pay Freeze
January 9, 2013
Despite the pay freeze, the average federal employee salary is still going up but not as much as it has increased in past years. - The Cost of the 2013 Pay Raise
January 1, 2013
Starting after March 27, 2013, federal employees can expect a 0.5% pay raise after having no raises for the last two years. How much does this pay increase add to the federal budget? - President’s Budget Proposes Increased Retirement Contributions for Federal Workers
April 10, 2013
Although it is arriving about two months late, the White House has released its budget proposal for 2014 this week. The budget contains some recommendations that would directly impact the federal workforce including higher retirement contributions for current federal workers. - TSP Contribution Strategies
February 6, 2013
The author says that utilizing the TSP effectively is key to a comfortable retirement and outlines some important contribution strategies to consider in your retirement planning. - Retiring the FERS Way
January 31, 2013
What can go wrong with your retirement application under FERS? A retired federal employee shares a frank, personal perspective of her experience, her frustration and offers advice on how to realistically prepare for retirement under FERS in the hope it will help other federal workers be better prepared for the experience. - 3 Big Whammies for Early Social Security
April 22, 2013
Starting Social Security at age 62? Or anytime before your Full Social Security Age (65-67)? Most Federal Employees are too – but they usually haven’t heard of the three big whammies that come with starting Social Security early. Don’t let these whammies catch you by surprise. - Obama to Propose 1% Pay Raise for Federal Workers
February 8, 2013
The White House’s Office of Management and Budget has announced that the president intends to propose a 1% pay increase for federal employees in his 2014 budget proposal. - Budget Agreement To Increase Pension Contributions for New Employees
December 10, 2013
Pension contributions paid by federal civilian workers hired after January 1, 2014 would increase by 1.3% under the new budget agreement according to reports. It would also allow OPM to create a self-plus-one option in the federal employee health program.
