Federal Circuit Rules PACER Fees Excessive
On August 6, 2020, the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit affirmed a district court ruling that the federal judiciary has been charging unlawfully excessive fees for access to records through the Public Access to Court Electronic Records (PACER) system.
New Whistleblower Bills Would Protect Federal Workers
National Whistleblower Appreciation Day, an annual day of recognition for whistleblowers whose actions protected the American people from fraud and abuse, took place this past July 30th. Surrounding the day, several pieces of legislation have been introduced to protect government whistleblowers, many of whom are afraid to come forward out of fear of retaliation by their agencies.
4 Days in 50 Minutes: A Remote Recap of WIFLE’s 2020 Conference
The latest episode of the FEDtalk podcast takes listeners on a highlights tour of the Women in Federal Law Enforcement (WIFLE) 2020 Annual Training, which was postponed due to the coronavirus until August 2021. WIFLE President Cathy Sanz, Vice President Jessie Lane, and FEDtalk host Debra Roth sat down with two conference presenters who offered webinars in place of the in-person trainings and two of the 2020 award winners from the Drug Enforcement Agency.
How To Be A Leader - The 7 Great Leadership Traits
Learn the qualities and characteristics of top leaders so you can incorporate them into your own life.
Why Federal Managers Need Professional Liability Insurance Now More Than Ever
The last few months have brought with them new challenges to federal managers and supervisors. In FEDS Protection’s latest webinar, FEDS President Tony Vergnetti discusses the civil, administrative, and criminal exposures of federal managers, with a focus on additional challenges presented by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. From quickly and effectively transitioning to teleworking, handling employee health and safety challenges, dealing with employee privacy concerns, and more, federal managers are at an increased risk of employee administrative complaints and agency investigations. Listen to this short webinar to learn how federal managers can protect themselves with FEDS Protection professional liability insurance.
White House Issues Formal Veto Threat Against House Appropriations Legislation
On Friday, the House passed a spending package for a majority of the federal government. The day before, the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) issued a formal notice announcing plans to veto the legislation, H.R. 7617, if it were to arrive on the president’s desk for signature.
Senate Holds Hearing on Modernizing Telework for Feds, Using Private Sector Practices
In order to determine the best way to restructure federal work practices and redefine telework eligibility, a Senate Committee Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs subcommittee invited a panel of private sector executives to share their thoughts.
World-famous hacker offers his top cybersecurity tips
In a rapidly modernizing world, it is more important than ever to learn how to protect your personal data. Learn some key cybersecurity tips from an expert hacker.
OPM Issues Memo on Implementing Federal Hiring Executive Order
Business and communication network concept. Business partnership concept.
Offering Life Insurance Protection in these Uncertain Times
Life insurance protects your family from the uncertainty of what the future holds. Your policy with WAEPA is a safeguard you put in place to provide you and your loved ones with peace of mind. This protection is both a precaution, and a crucial component of your overall financial security.
A Fair Pay Raise for Feds in 2021
One of FMA’s primary objectives each year is to provide a fair pay raise for federal employees that reflects their selfless contributions to their fellow Americans.
OPM OIG Details Agency’s Failure to Provide Documents in Letter to Congress
In a letter to House and Senate Appropriations Subcommittees on Financial Services and General Government, the Office of Personnel Management’s Office of the Inspector General (OPM OIG) outlined how the central management agency has failed to comply with the laws requiring OPM to provide the OIG with “timely access to agency records.”
Senior Executives Association, Center for Organizational Excellence Host Press Conference Announcing Report on Transforming Human Capital Management in Federal Workforce
In a press conference Tuesday, the Senior Executives Association (SEA) announced the release of a report detailing ways to build the capacity for change within the federal workforce. The report, led by Study Chair Steve Goodrich of the Center for Organizational Excellence (COE), argues that while most stakeholders agree modernization is necessary, in its current state the federal human capital management system (HCM) is ill-equipped to lead that modernization. The report includes three recommendations with 16 action items spread between them.
5 BEST Interview Tips - The Ultimate Formula to Interview Success
Strong interview skills are essential to making a good impression and securing a job. Learn how to set yourself up for the best interview possible.
Seventh Circuit Rebukes MSPB AJ’s Whistleblower Findings, Remands Again for Damages
In 2018, the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit held the MSPB acted arbitrarily and capriciously when it dismissed an ATF employee’s Individual Right of Action appeal. The Seventh Circuit’s 2018 opinion found that the employee “properly alleged a ‘protected disclosure’ and exhausted his administrative remedies so that the Board had jurisdiction to evaluate the merits of his claim.” The MSPB AJ denied relief, and the employee appealed to the Seventh Circuit again. On July 16, 2020, the appeals court again held that the MSPB acted arbitrarily, capriciously, and contrary to law. This time, the remand to the MSPB was only on the extent of relief to the employee.
FEDtalk: A Dialogue about Racism in the Federal Government
In the most recent FEDtalk podcast episode, Alice Mercer, Chairperson of the Blacks in Government (BIG) Committee on Affirmative Action/ Equal Employment Opportunity, Margaret Williams, Vice-Chair of the Senior Executives Association (SEA) Board of Directors, and Chad Hooper, National President of the Professional Managers Association (PMA) discuss the implications of racism within federal agencies.
Lawmakers Propose Measures to Curb Spread of Virus in Federal Facilities
Representatives Ted Budd (R-NC), Ralph Norman (R-SC), and John Larson (D-CT) recently introduced the Healthy Skies Act, which would require TSA employees to check the temperature of fliers before they are allowed through security. As federal agencies create reopening plans for their employees, there is pressure on lawmakers to ensure that they do so safely and efficiently. For federal facilities that are open to the public like airports and postal offices, this task is high priority since there is close interaction between employees and members of the public.