Federal Employee & Retiree News

The Foreboding Future of Grievances in Federal Labor Relations

By Bob GilsonJan 13, 2011 8:01 AM Human Resources Leave a comment

The Author explains that recent FLRA decisions have simplified life for FLRA members by allowing them to dismiss arbitration appeals with a simple form letter. The FLRA’s approach while easier for its members has raised both the cost and difficulty of resolving grievances throughout the Federal sector. Agency managers and representatives must now go into major defensive mode when dealing with an employee grievance. Read on and see what the Author recommends.

Raiders of the Lost Art, Part Three: Lessons Learned from FLSA Grievances

By Steve OppermannJan 12, 2011 7:11 AM Human Resources Leave a comment

The Fair Labor Standards Act has resulted in decisions costing federal agencies tens of millions of dollars in overtime payments paid to bargaining unit employees wrongly designated as exempt from the FLSA. This final part of the article discusses agency strategies in dealing with FLSA designations.

Political Reality, Federal Employee Unions and the Financial Future of Federal Employees

By Ralph R. SmithJan 11, 2011 9:39 AM Human Resources Leave a comment

The “Federal Employee Accountability Act of 2011” would eliminate federal employee union representatives from getting their federal salary while representing a union. The sponsor says it would save about $600 million over five years.

Federal Employee Accountability Act of 2011

By FedSmith.comJan 11, 2011 9:12 AM Federal Workforce News Leave a comment

H.R. 122 is a bill that has been introduced in the new Congress to limit the circumstances under which official time may be used by a federal employee. It would repeal provisions of the 1978 Civil Service Reform Act that allow federal employees to use official work hours to perform union functions or participate in union activities.

Your Financial Future: Your Federal Employee Benefits and the Deficit Commission Recommendations

By John GrobeJan 7, 2011 7:06 AM Pay & Benefits Leave a comment

The deficit commission has made a number of recommendations that may impact your pay and benefits as a federal employee. Here is what we know, what we do not know, and why it is your best interests to pay close attention to these changes.

Former IG Goes to Court to Try to Save His Job

By Susan McGuire SmithJan 6, 2011 7:20 PM Court Cases Leave a comment

An agency Inspector General, appointed by President George W. Bush and fired by President Obama, was recently handed a defeat in his attempt to overturn his firing.

Seeking Nominees for Outstanding Federal Employees

By FedSmith.comJan 6, 2011 7:46 AM Federal Workforce News Leave a comment

The Partnership for Public Service is seeking nominations for the nation’s most outstanding federal employees.

Labor and Employee Relations 2010: Federal Sector Imitates TV and the Movies

By Bob GilsonJan 5, 2011 5:40 PM Federal Workforce News Leave a comment

The author offers up a recap of the more bizarre and exotic stories in Federal sector labor and employee relations. Each year we think it couldnâ€™t get wackier and each year it does. Again, we donâ€™t make up these stories.

Bumpy Ride for Thrift Savings Plan Investors But Patience Was Rewarded

By Ralph R. SmithJan 5, 2011 10:00 AM Federal Workforce News Leave a comment

2010 was a bumpy ride for investors in the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP). The gains for the year were solid but most of the advances occurred during the last half of the year–rewarding those investors who had the fortitude to withstand the ups and downs along the way.

Raiders of the Lost Art, Part Two: Analysis of an FLSA Arbitration Case

By Steve OppermannJan 4, 2011 9:15 PM Federal Workforce News, Human Resources Leave a comment

The overtime and associated costs paid by multiple Federal agencies in arbitration decisions or in settlements reached by the parties on Fair Labor Standards Act cases is staggering. In the second of these articles, the author provides an analysis from a Dept. of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) case and why agencies are losing these cases.

Fund	Last	%	YTD
G Fund	$19.8731	+0.04%	+1.46%
F Fund	$20.8728	-0.32%	-0.04%
C Fund	$115.6318	-0.40%	+5.59%
S Fund	$109.1196	-0.34%	+8.68%
I Fund	$61.3781	-0.28%	+10.61%
L Income	$30.1723	-0.09%	+3.18%
L 2030	$60.9371	-0.20%	+4.89%
L 2035	$18.6651	-0.24%	+5.58%
L 2040	$71.8065	-0.27%	+5.93%
L 2045	$19.9260	-0.29%	+6.24%
L 2050	$44.2732	-0.31%	+6.55%
L 2055	$23.0836	-0.35%	+7.72%
L 2060	$23.0808	-0.35%	+7.72%
L 2065	$23.0779	-0.35%	+7.72%
L 2070	$13.6778	-0.35%	+7.72%
L 2075	$11.9476	-0.35%	+7.72%
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