GAO Weighs in on Annual COLA Calculations
GAO recommends the BLS evaluate the data sources used to calculate the annual COLA as they may not be accurate.
BLS
Bureau of Labor Statistics
Federal Employee Suicides Reach a New Record
New BLS data show that federal employee suicides have reached a new high.
A Government Shutdown Could Happen Again
Initial indicators are that the economy felt minimal impact from the shutdown, potentially giving politicians more incentive to utilize them in the future.
The Shutdown and the Economy
The partial government shutdown took a toll on workers, but what effect did have on the national economy?
Calculating the 2019 COLA Increase
How is the COLA calculated and what can federal retirees likely expect for next year?
Turnover Up as More Workers Quit the Federal Government
The federal government’s turnover rate in FY 2017 increased slightly over the previous year due to more federal employees resigning.
0.6% Decrease in Federal Employment in 2017
How have federal employment numbers fared under the first year of the Trump administration? Recent BLS data show a small net decline as of the end of 2017.
Seniors’ Security Act Takes Retirees Into Unknown Territory
Another attempt is being made in Congress to change COLA increases to use the CPI-E in an effort to help retirees. Is this a good idea?
Federal Pay Lagging Behind Private Sector
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.
When You Leave Federal Service, Will The Government Miss You?
An aging population of federal employees means that many are leaving federal service due to retirement. The National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association (NARFE) argues that this means there could be a damaging loss of institutional knowledge these federal workers take with them. However, the author points out that the turnover rate among federal employees is very low compared to the private sector and says that the loss of institutional knowledge from retiring federal workers might not be as bad as NARFE is projecting.