TSA Ordered to Expand Workforce Protections and Rights
The Biden administration recently announced that it would extend Title 5 federal employee protections to workers at the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). This includes granting them collective bargaining rights, access to the Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB), and aligning their wages with the General Schedule.
Chief Data Officers Council Releases Results of CDO Survey
On May 31, 2021, the Chief Data Officers Council (CDOC) released the results of their survey of Chief Data Officers (CDOs) meant to assess the organizational reporting and grade for CDOs, the areas of responsibility for CDOs, and the most common challenges.
President’s Budget Calls for Pay Raise, Workforce Investment
The White House released President Joe Biden’s full fiscal year 2022 budget on Friday. The budget proposal includes a pay raise for federal employees and pledges to focus on strengthening the workforce.
An Overview of President Biden’s Budget Proposal
President Joe Biden recently released a $6 trillion budget proposal for fiscal year 2022. The budget proposal would raise total spending to $8.2 trillion by 2031. It includes a call to increase spending on infrastructure through the American Jobs Plan and includes the American Families Plan, which is meant to address child care, universal prekindergarten, and paid family and medical leave.
MSPB Releases Research Brief: Agency Leader Responsibilities Related to Prohibited Personnel Practices
The Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB) recently released a research brief on Agency Leader Responsibilities Related to Prohibited Personnel Practices (PPPs). The brief directs the head of each agency to engage in certain activities to prevent the occurrence of PPPs.
OPM Releases Tip Sheet Focusing on Employee Mental Health
The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) released a tip sheet for human resources (HR) staff at federal agencies as employees prepare to return to the office following the pandemic. The release of the tip sheet coincides with May being Mental Health Awareness Month.
Future of the Federal Financial Management Workforce
Take agile government principles, add strategic foresight, shake with CPAs, and you get a vision from the Chief Financial Officers Council to build a federal financial management (FM) workforce and the “CFO of the Future Now- The 2030 Plan.”
Alarm Raised About Mischaracterization of Enterprise Risk Management
An increasing trend of conflating risk management and enterprise risk management (ERM) in government has drawn the attention of the Association for Federal Enterprise Risk Management (AFERM), whose board of directors issued a warning statement last week.
Federal Employees Incentivized to Pursue Post-Secondary Education
On May 7, 2021, the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) released a memo which announced that federal employees would receive reduced tuition rates at six different university programs if they choose to pursue post-secondary education.
OPM Extends Deadline on Hiring Guidance for Agencies
A May 7, 2021 memo from the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) extends the deadline for agency heads to develop agency assessment strategies that rely on more than just educational qualifications and applicant self-assessments when making hiring decisions.
2021 Sammies Finalists, New COVID-19 Response Medal Announced
This year’s Sammies finalists were announced on May 2, 2021 by the nonpartisan, nonprofit Partnership for Public Service. A group of 29 exceptional federal employees are finalists to receive Sammies, more formally known as the Samuel J. Heyman Service to America Medals.
OPM Issues Guidance on Emergency Paid Leave
On April 29, the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) issued guidance to agencies on COVID-19 Emergency Paid Leave, which was authorized in March when Congress approved the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021.
Vaccinated Federal Employees Still Limited to Mission Critical Travel
All federal employee official travel, including for those who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19, remains limited to travel that is mission critical, according to recently updated Safer Federal Workforce Task Force guidance.
MSPB Report: WGI Denials Related to Performance Rating Structure, Type of Work, and Agency Culture
The frequency of within-grade increases (WGI) is related to agency appraisal systems, the nature of an employee’s work, and the agency’s performance management culture and guidance, the U.S. Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB) recently reported.
Unaccompanied Children Program Detailees Receive Biweekly Premium Pay Cap Waiver
On April 22, 2021, the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) retroactively waived the biweekly cap on premium pay for employees performing work in support of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Unaccompanied Children (UC) program. Covered federal employees are subject instead to an annual premium pay cap for the full period they work in support of the HHS UC program.
PSRW is from May 2-8, 2021: An Opportunity to Thank Public Service Employees
Public Service Recognition Week (PSRW) is coming up from May 2 to 8, 2021. The theme is #GovPossible to highlight the work of public servants across all levels of government.
OPM Releases Flexibilities Related to FSAFEDS
The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) is making changes to the Federal Flexible Spending Account Program (FSAFEDS) based on provisions in the FY 2021 Consolidated Appropriations Act (CAA) and the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), as well as Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Notice 2021-15.
OPM Releases Status of Telework Report for FY 2019
In March 2021, the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) released its “Status of Telework in the Federal Government Report to Congress,” which showed the extent of federal telework in FY2019 (October 1, 2018-September 30, 2019). The report is the last governmentwide data collection on telework before the COVID-19 pandemic.