Human Resources
Ending Performance Rating Inflation: OPM’s Strategy for Fair Evaluations
OPM is instituting new performance and accountability standards as part of a significant overhaul to federal employee performance management.
OPM
Stay updated with the latest OPM updates, including new OPM guidance, federal workforce policies, hiring and staffing rules, telework and workplace regulations, and major actions affecting federal employees and agencies. Get the latest news on OPM regulations, HR policy changes, pay and benefits guidance, retirement‑related updates, and government‑wide initiatives shaping federal workforce management. Find clear summaries and analysis to help federal employees, HR professionals, and agency leaders understand how OPM decisions impact the federal workplace.
Federal Workforce News
OPM Reminds Agencies of Leave Flexibilities in Advance of Army’s 250th Birthday Celebration
OPM is encouraging the use of telework and other leave flexibilities ahead of the Army's upcoming 250th birthday celebration in Washington, DC.
Retirement
OPM Retirement Backlog Sees Unusual Spike in May, Grows 33%
An unusual spring surge in retirement applications caused the OPM retirement backlog to grow in May, but a new digital system may revolutionize the process.
Human Resources
New OPM Rule Would Make it Easier to Fire Federal Employees
OPM has issued a proposed rule that would make it easier to fire federal employees for serious misconduct.
Human Resources
From DEI to Meritocracy: The Federal Government’s Shift in Hiring Practices
OPM announced a new merit based hiring plan for agencies that bans the use of DEI and racial quotas in federal hiring.
Retirement
OPM Goes Digital: A New Era for Federal Retirement Processing
OPM is set to launch a fully digital retirement system in less than a month, aiming for faster processing, replacing outdated paper methods.
Retirement
OPM’s Retirement Modernization Process Achieves Important Milestones
As the OPM retirement backlog slowly ticked down in April, efforts to modernize the retirement processing system are moving along quickly.
Human Resources
Proposal Restructuring Senior Executive Service Performance Rating System
Are performance ratings for Senior Executive Service members too high? OPM says they are and is proposing a forced distribution system to correct it.
Human Resources
OPM Implementing Significant Changes in Probationary Period
A new Executive Order and OPM guidance on the probationary period of federal employees will make it even easier to terminate these employees.
Human Resources
“Draining the Swamp”: Schedule F is Back and Moving Forward
OPM is publishing a proposed rule to create a Schedule Policy/Career classification (Schedule F) for some federal employees, making it easier to fire them.