🇺🇸 In honor of those who gave everything in service to this nation — FedSmith observes Memorial Day with gratitude. 🇺🇸
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.
What is in your desk? If you have reason to be concerned, you may be wondering when a federal agency can search the desk or workspace of a…
Which job is generally better: working directly for the federal government or for a federal contractor?
Government ethics with a sense of humor will seem like a misprint to some readers. But one government official has gone to a lot of effort to catalog…
A little-known bill pending on Congress could be the "mother lode" of bureaucracy for one small federal agency. State and local governments may not like more power being…
How can a bargaining team get a reasonable contract for a federal agency? "Be gentle with the union's chief negotiator" (Rule 11) Here are several tips for getting…
An earlier article on dress codes in the federal workplace generated many comments from federal employees. Here is a follow-up article to address some of the issues raised…
If you are getting ready to bargain an agreement with a federal employee union, you should have a good understanding of the concepts and processes involved in the…
Violence in the workplace can happen anywhere. Despite the myths that often accompany violent behavior, agencies can take action that can prevent violence.
A manager in the VA completed his probationary period but also put him on a performance plan (PIP) because of performance deficiency. The PIP was extended a couple…
Are dress codes an anachronism in federal agencies? Should employees be able to wear plastic flip-flops and tank tops when they come to work? Should agencies care about…