People

Retirees get back to work

Agencies' new authority to hire federal retirees for part-time government work is a win-win situation for government and employees, writes Judy Welles.

People

Information Age requires new breed of federal supervisors

The next generation of federal supervisors will have to demonstrate a different set of competencies—namely, the ability to manage independent, knowledge-based, internally motivated workers as well as greater supervisory flexibilities improved communication.

People

You might be a 'fedneck' if...

A "fedneck," according to members of the online forum FederalSoup.com, is a long-time government employee (and FedSoup fan) who can be identified by certain characteristics or behaviors.

Cybersecurity

Certifications are not a panacea for cybersecurity woes

A national certification program for cybersecurity professionals won't solve our security problems, writes Daniel Castro.

People

Ethics rule could slow DOD's revolving employment door

Defense Department employees who have worked on large procurements must get a written opinion from an ethics officer before signing on with a defense contractor.

People

Get a Life: Why feds should be thankful

Blogger Judy Welles highlights recent developments that bode well for federal workers.

People

Performance pay: We know it works

NGA, among others, has demonstrated that pay for performance works in government, writes consultant Howard Risher.

People

Unions want say in telework policymaking

A half-dozen unions have offered Office of Personnel Management Director John Berry a hand in developing policies that would ratchet up the numbers of teleworking feds.

People

Cub Scouts, Girl Scouts and women in technology

A Halloween party for some Cub Scouts reminds FCW cartoonist John Klossner about the challenges that women still face in the working world.

People

From retiring to rehiring: An insider's guide

Blogger Judy Welles outlines the key provisions of legislation that makes it easier for agencies to bring back retired feds as part-time employees.

People

NSPS is dead; long live NSPS

The National Security Personnel System, or pay for performance, may have been killed by Congress and President Obama but that doesn't mean it's dead. There's a provision in the bill that makes it possible for someone to free it from the grave.

People

GSA starts training to end misuse of schedules contracts

Task orders have become the primary means that agencies use to buy things, but procurement officers don't always understand the regulations, officials say.

People

Don't retire until you read this!

If you are planning to retire at the end of the year, or if you could retire but the economy has made you unsure, there are things you need to know.

People

Work to rule

In the physics of the workplace, every management action there will be, by definition, an equal and opposite reaction on the part of employees. So what are we to make of the demise of the National Security Personnel System?

People

Empirical evidence can help inform debate about whether a management approach will improve government

Good empirical evidence about a phenomenon can help inform the debate about whether a management approach will improve government or not, Steve Kelman writes.

People

Performance management in action

Management experts often cite the following two projects as evidence that pay for performance can work in government.

People

New law has engineers poised for more management duties

The Weapon Systems Acquisition Reform Act of 2009 highlights the need to give systems engineers greater responsibility and authority, writes John A. Thomas.

People

Obama gives the heave-ho to DOD pay for performance

One union official said the National Security Personnel System was grounds for a class-action lawsuit and stripped employees’ rights to collectively bargain pay rates with union backing.

People

4 approaches to pay for performance

Experts suggest various ways the Obama administration could move toward pay for performance without repeating the mistakes made with NSPS.

People

Research questions link between pay and performance

A researcher has found that the closer the link between pay and performance, the lower the level of performance.