The Office of Personnel Management is encouraging federal workers to step away from their computers on Oct. 27 to participate in a noontime rally and fitness walk to launch the new Feds Get Fit wellness awareness campaign. OPM Director John Berry will be joined by Kathleen Merrigan, deputy secretary at the Agriculture Department; Dr. Howard Koh, assistant secretary for health; Rear Admiral Penelope Slade-Sawyer, acting director of the president's council on physical fitness and sports; Darryl Haley, former NFL player for the New England Patriots; and Lorenzo Alexander of the Washington Redskins. The rally will take place from noon to 1 p.m. on the National Mall. OPM is encouraging federal agencies to grant up to 2 hours of excused absence for federal employees and their families to participate in the event.
Meanwhile, Government Executive has a new special report that focuses on new benefit offerings -- including wellness programs and telework flexibilities -- that aim to make federal employees healthier and happier.
Brittany Ballenstedt
Brittany Ballenstedt writes Nextgov's Wired Workplace blog, which delves into the issues facing employees who work in the federal information technology sector. Before joining Nextgov, Brittany covered federal pay and benefits issues as a staff correspondent for Government Executive and served as an associate editor for National Journal's Technology Daily. She holds a bachelor's degree in journalism from Mansfield University and originally hails from Pennsylvania. She currently lives near Travis Air Force Base, Calif., where her husband is stationed.
JOIN THE DISCUSSION
By using this service you agree not to post material that is obscene, harassing, defamatory, or otherwise objectionable. Although Nextgov does not monitor comments posted to this site (and has no obligation to), it reserves the right to delete, edit, or move any material that it deems to be in violation of this rule.