What is Worse Than No COLA? A Small COLA
What are the prospects for a cost of living adjustment (COLA) in 2017 and what are the implications for federal retirees? The author looks at the current situation.
What are the prospects for a cost of living adjustment (COLA) in 2017 and what are the implications for federal retirees? The author looks at the current situation.
Farm leaders from around the nation held a news conference in Washington on April 22, 2016, to say that the U.S. Department of Labor is threatening the livelihoods of farmers and the 2016 crop season.
Federal retirees depend on their federal civil service annuity for much of their retirement income, but states facing financial problems may be looking to public sector pensions as a source of new revenue.
The Labor Department has issued its Conflicts of Interest Rule that requires investment advisers to act in the best interest of their customers rather than themselves. This is a summary of the new rules and reactions from various groups to the changes.
The Department of Labor recently finalized a rule that requires reporting of “persuader” activities and agreements meant to “directly or indirectly persuade employees concerning their rights to organize and bargain collectively.” The author explains what this new rule is and what it means for the federal workforce.
Federal unions showed the largest growth rate in membership since 2008 according to recent BLS data. The author points out, however, that federal unions have been under attack from various laws and court cases which he says presents a long term challenge for unions going forward.
The Federal Reserve has floated the idea of lowering interest rates below zero. What impact would this have on federal employees invested in the Thrift Savings Plan funds?
There are fresh hints that the Thrift Savings Plan is considering whether to offer investment advice to participants. But would investment advice within the TSP keep federal employees from rolling their accounts over to an IRA after they leave federal service, and who would pay the costs for the service?
The National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association (NARFE) has asked the House of Representatives’ Oversight and Government Reform Committee to consider extending the probationary period covering new federal employees.
Recent data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics indicate that the federal workforce is lagging the private sector for both wages and employment.