The Board Reverses Administrative Judge’s Penalty Mitigation in Sexual Misconduct Case
The Department of the Army removed the appellant in September 2015 based on one charge of conduct unbecoming a supervisor. The charge was supported by two specifications.
IRS Names Acting Commissioner, Announces 4,000 Hires Made This Year
Last week, Secretary of the Treasury Janet Yellen announced Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Deputy Commissioner Douglas O’Donnell as Acting IRS Commissioner following the conclusion of Commissioner Charles Rettig’s term on November 12.
Surgeon General Releases Framework for Workplace Mental Health & Wellbeing
The U.S. Surgeon General released a new priority framework for addressing workplace mental health and well-being. In a report outlining the framework, Surgeon General of the United States and Vice Admiral of U.S. Public Health Services Vivek H. Murthy, M.D., M.B.A. emphasized the increasing need for workers to better manage daily stress and receive support from their workplace.
Avoiding 5 Common Work from Home Pitfalls
More Americans are working from home than ever before. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the number of people primarily working from home tripled from 5.7% (roughly nine million people) to 17.9% (27.6 million people) between 2019 and 2021.
The Repeal of Reduced Long-Term TDY Per Diems
When prompted by the phrase “better late than never,” there is a lot to choose from in regard to the federal workforce. An evergreen topic is funding for federal agencies.
Workplace, Federal Building, Disaster Relief Legislation from Senate Government Affairs Committee signed into law
Bipartisan lawmakers are celebrating the signing of federal workforce and workplace measures into law last week. On Tuesday, President Joseph Biden signed three bills into law that advanced through the Senate Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee earlier this Congress.
Mika's Management Minute: Managing Teleworkers
Managing teleworkers can feel unique and difficult. Here are some quick tips for managing remote employees.
Lack Of Interagency Cooperation Hindered Immigration Policies, Says GAO
In March 2021, U.S. Border Patrol established a new process to reduce agents’ administrative processing times by releasing noncitizen family units without Notices to Appear (NTA). Instead, Border Patrol gave families a Notice to Report (NTR) to their local U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) field office.
OPM Releases 2022 FEVS Results, New Diversity and Innovation Indexes
On Thursday, the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) released the government-wide results of the 2022 Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey (FEVS). The survey asks employees their views on their current work environment, including management, policies, and new initiatives.
Getting Stuff Done in Large Organizations: Hack Your Bureaucracy Authors Join FEDtalk
Getting anything done in a bureaucracy can be hard, but Marina Nitze and Nick Sinai have found success and are sharing their tips and tricks in a new book. Now, they are working to ensure employees at every level and in every kind of bureaucracy can create change despite their environment.
FLRA on Labor-Management Forums
The FLRA educates federal employees, unions, and managers on what Labor-Management Forums are, how they can be integrated into the collective bargaining process using Pre-Decisional Involvement (PDI), and on ways they can improve labor-management relations.
Coalition of Agencies Push for Cyber Workforce Paradigm Shift
The drumbeat of agencies, working groups, and commissions calling for heightened national attention to the cybersecurity workforce ratcheted up again last week, with a new report from the interagency Federal Cyber Workforce Management and Coordinating Working Group advocating for “strategic changes” to the nation’s approach to developing a cyber workforce.
The Board Mitigates Removal for Department of Defense Employee Charged with Stealing Cafeteria Food
In June 2014, the appellant, a Security Specialist at the Department of Defense, took an extra $5.00 worth of food from the agency cafeteria without paying for the additional food.
American Bar Association Issues Report on Legal Professions Future, Highlights Government Private Sector Divide
The American Bar Association (ABA) issued a report this month on the future of the legal profession. The report highlights COVID-19’s impact on the profession and the changes that can expect to stay post-pandemic.
Social Security Announces 2023 Cost of Living Adjustment, Largest in Decades
Retirees and veterans will see an 8.7 percent increase in their Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits starting in 2023, the Social Security Administration (SSA) announced last week.
Nominations Update: Over 400 Positions Filled, Several Hundred to Go
President Biden has to fill roughly 4,000 politically appointed positions in the executive branch and independent agencies. Of these, roughly 1,200 require Senate confirmation.
The Role of the SES: A Necessary Bridge That Must Be Rebuilt
Leadership and morale are intrinsically linked. Ultimately, the first step forward in addressing team morale and agency performance must be to invest in and strengthen career leadership.
Defend Yourself & Your Agency Against Retaliation Claims
Federal agencies and managers across the Executive Branch may be surprised when the U.S. Office of Special Counsel (OSC) arrives to investigate a complaint of whistleblower reprisal or other alleged Prohibited Personnel Practices (PPP).