GREAT Act Reintroduced To Standardize Grant Reporting
The NDAA summary report released by the committees includes several provisions impacting the civilian federal workforce. Most notably, the conference agreement provides 12 weeks of paid parental leave to all federal civilian employees.
OPM Requests Legislative Reforms to Probationary Periods, Hiring Practices
In a letter sent to the Speaker of the House and the Vice President in April but reported last week, Acting Director of the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Margaret Weichert requested legislation reforming the hiring process and probationary periods for the federal workforce. Weichert’s request included legislative language Congress could use as a baseline for reforms.
Field Agencies Struggle with Employee Engagement
Analysis by the Partnership for Public Service and the Boston Consulting Group on 2018 Best Places to Work in the Federal Government data shows that employees outside of the DC metro area struggle with lower engagement than those within the area. The report emphasizes the importance of field employee engagement and makes recommendations for management to practice better employee relations.
Appeals Court: ICE Had No Duty to Bargain Before Unilateral Change to Overtime Policy
After warnings from the Office of Special Counsel (OSC) and the Government Accountability Office (GAO), the Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) made a change to how it calculated overtime pay. The American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) filed a grievance against ICE for unilaterally changing the policy without bargaining with the union. After the Federal Labor Relations Authority (FLRA) sided with ICE and determined that ICE had no duty to bargain with the union, AFGE petitioned the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit for review of the FLRA’s final order. On June 11, 2019, the appeals court denied AFGE’s petition.
Crenshaw Introduces Bill Creating DHS Acquisition Review Board
The NDAA summary report released by the committees includes several provisions impacting the civilian federal workforce. Most notably, the conference agreement provides 12 weeks of paid parental leave to all federal civilian employees.
Are You Prepared for The High Cost a Chronic Illness Would Bring?
In 2016, researchers from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services estimated that almost 70% of people turning age 65 will need some type of long-term care services in their lifetimes. If you or someone you know has ever had to care for a loved one with a chronic disease or condition, you know the emotional, physical, and financial burden this can create.
Inspector General Report Raises Alarm on Opioids in the Postal Service
A newly released report from the Postal Service’s Office of the Inspector General (OIG) expressed concern with the level of opioids prescribed to Postal Service employees under the Federal Employees’ Compensation Act (FECA) program. While other agencies have seen significant reductions in prescriptions over the last few years, the Postal Service’s prescription count is declining at a much slower pace.
Lawmakers Raise Concerns Over VA, Union Negotiations
A group of 128 bipartisan lawmakers has issued a letter to Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Secretary Robert Wilkie regarding on-going negotiations with the union representing 260,000 frontline employees, the American Federation of Government Employees, AFL-CIO (AFGE). Lawmakers expressed concerns regarding the collective bargaining rights of federal employees and adequate care for veterans.
Arbitrator: VA Adverse Action Report Violates Privacy Act
A union grievance protesting the publication of “Adverse Action Reports” (AAR) by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) resulted in an arbitration decision directing VA to remove AARs from its website and to cease and desist the publication of AARs.
Improving Federal Data to Improve the Federal Government
On June 1st, FedTalk hosted three organizations leading the effort to improve the federal government’s operations by improving the data on which it relies.
Navigating Plans for Summer with the National Park Service
Do you know what you are doing this summer? To find out what our National Parks have to offer, tune in to FEDtalk this Friday and start planning your trip!
House Appropriations Legislation Includes Pay Raise For Federal Employees, Spending Boosts For IRS
The NDAA summary report released by the committees includes several provisions impacting the civilian federal workforce. Most notably, the conference agreement provides 12 weeks of paid parental leave to all federal civilian employees.
California and the Pentagon Work Together to Fight Fires
The state of California and the Pentagon have created a cooperative agreement to better spot and tackle destructive fires. In an effort to prevent a recurrence of the deadly fires that swept California last year, the state and the Department of Defense (DOD) will be utilizing Cold War-era satellite technology and expanding drone use.
Whistleblower Discloses Hazardous Conditions at GSA Property
For three years, repeated tests at the Goodfellow Federal Center in St. Louis, Missouri revealed that the building had traces of dozens of hazardous substances that could damage the health of those in contact with the building. A whistleblower disclosure to the Office of Special Council now contends that the General Services Administration (GSA) failed to adequately protect and notify employees of these hazards despite years of knowledge.
Better Government, Yes – Politicization of the Civil Service, No
As you have no doubt read at FEDManager.com, it has been a busy time at the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) in recent months. OPM has been led by Acting Director Margaret Weichert – who also serves as the Deputy Director for Management at the Office of Management and Budget – since October 2018. President Trump nominated Dale Cabaniss as director of OPM in March 2019, and the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee favorably reported out her nomination in May. The full Senate has not yet acted on her nomination. FMA and our colleagues within the Government Managers Coalition offered support for her confirmation, noting the agency has only had a Senate-confirmed director for eight months out of the last four years.
Senate Introduces National Strategy On Artificial Intelligence
The NDAA summary report released by the committees includes several provisions impacting the civilian federal workforce. Most notably, the conference agreement provides 12 weeks of paid parental leave to all federal civilian employees.
OPM Releases Guide for Crafting the Workforce of the Future
Last week the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) released a guide to help agencies bridge the gap between emerging technologies and the workforce of the future. The guide focused on reskilling and reshaping the workforce, as well as providing guidance for managing the changing federal workforce.
USDA Plans Reduction in Force, Closing of Job Training Centers
The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced that a Forest Service-run Job Corps program will be transferred to the Department of Labor. As part of the move, nine of the 25 Job Corps Civilian Conservation Centers will be closed. The plan could eliminate up to 1,100 jobs from the Forest Service.