Report Corruption But Pick Your Fight
The author says that there are a few concerns to keep in mind when reporting instances of corruption or wrongdoing inside of an organization.
Human Resources
Stay informed with the latest federal human resources news, including updates on federal employee unions, labor relations, collective bargaining, workplace policies, and federal HR guidance. This category covers OPM regulations, pay, leave, and benefits administration, labor‑management disputes, union negotiations, workplace rights, and major **HR policy changes.
Federal Offices Opening Late in Washington Metro Area
OPM has issued an announcement that offices are opening late in the Washington, DC area today due to weather conditions.
An Ever Widening Skills Gap
The author says that necessary training for human resources employees is not taking place, thus hampering the ability to hire and retain outstanding new employees for the federal workforce.
Average Federal Salary Goes Up Despite Pay Freeze
Despite the pay freeze, the average federal employee salary is still going up but not as much as it has increased in past years.
Reduction in Force vs. VSIP
Reduction in force (RIF) and VSIP (Voluntary Separation Incentive Pay) are two orderly, effective ways to shed groups of government employees. The author compares the two.
Are Good Employees Afraid of Bad Employees?
The author says that most public service employees are proud of their service and want to do a good job, but they sometimes encounter other employees in their organization who do not share the same level of commitment. He offers some analysis of dealing with this challenge.
Berry Stresses Uniformity of Agency Telework Policies
In a memo released this week to heads of executive departments and agencies, OPM director John Berry urged agencies to work towards having a more comprehensive telework policy that utilizes OPM’s recently updated inclement weather policy.
Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
The author says that while the Family Medical Leave Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act are separate laws, they complement each other under certain conditions. He advises managers to be aware of the nuances of each law to properly determine when to apply each law in personnel situations.
OPM Offers Guide to Interpreting Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey Results
The Office of Personnel Management has released guidelines for agencies to use for analyzing and acting on the results from the Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey.
FEHB and That 5-Year Requirement
The author notes that some readers who contacted him for clarification on the requirement to have insurance for five years before retirement have apparently been given incorrect information as to whether the time requirement also applies to a spouse. Here is a quick explanation of the time requirement.
