Digital Government
OPM Sees Eye-to-Eye With Outside Experts on Its Future Role in Governmentwide Personnel Policy
The federal government’s human resources agency said it is incorporating many of the ideas proposed by the National Academy of Public Administration in its upcoming strategic plan, but some will require funding increases and congressional action.
Digital Government
Biden to Mandate COVID-19 Vaccinations for All Feds
The executive order, slated to be announced Thursday, would remove exceptions that allowed federal workers and contractors to remain unvaccinated if they agreed to regular testing for COVID-19.
Digital Government
OPM Announces Leave Transfer Program for Feds in Four States Following Hurricane Ida
Feds in Louisiana, Mississippi, New York and New Jersey could be able to take extra time off to recover from the storm.
Digital Government
OPM Issues Guidance on Weather Leave in Age of Telework, Disasters
As the remnants of Hurricane Ida created disruptions throughout the eastern United States, the Office of Personnel Management highlighted how workplace flexibilities can mesh with the federal government’s current maximum telework posture.
Digital Government
Annual Defense Policy Bill Includes Repeal of Two-Year Probationary Period for Pentagon Hires
The reduction of the probationary period to one year is among several provisions in the 2022 National Defense Authorization Act that will affect civilian personnel.
Digital Government
Biden Formalizes Plan for Average 2.7% Raise for Civilian Feds in 2022
The White House published an alternative pay plan for the federal workforce providing a 2.2% across the board raise along with an average increase of 0.5% to locality pay.
Digital Government
What Still Needs to Happen for Feds to Get a Pay Raise Next Year
President Biden has until the end of this month to formally announce his plan to give federal workers an average 2.7% pay raise in 2022.
Digital Government
OPM Rule Eases Agency Hiring of Interns
Under regulations slated for publication Wednesday, agencies will be able to hire job candidates still in college to temporary jobs and can eventually convert them to permanent positions.
Digital Government
Feds Could Be Fired, Imprisoned for Lying About Vaccination Status
Unions may have to bargain over vaccination policy implementation after the fact.
Digital Government
New OPM Director Committed to 'Rebuilding' the HR Agency, Federal Workforce
Ahuja says she wants the agency to reassert itself in helping departments governmentwide become model 21st century employers.
Digital Government
Social Security 'Overwhelmed' by Mail, Infuriating Customers Seeking Documents
With most employees teleworking during the pandemic, the watchdog faulted the agency for not having a system to track and return customers’ identification documents.
Digital Government
Biden Announces Vaccine-or-Masks Mandate for Feds, Some Contractors
Federal employees will have a choice: get vaccinated, or wear masks when indoors at federal facilities and subject themselves to regular COVID-19 testing.
Digital Government
OMB Reinstitutes Mask Mandate in ‘High Transmission’ Regions, Including D.C.
The return of masking requirements at federal facilities comes amid concerns about the COVID-19 Delta variant.
Digital Government
House Panel Advances Bill Providing Feds Paid Family Leave
Republicans question the methodology of a last-minute preliminary study by the Congressional Budget Office, despite the fact that CBO does not do full reports until bills are sent to the House floor.
Digital Government
GPO To Offer Full-Time Telework After COVID
Around one-third of the agency’s 1,500 employees will be able to work entirely remotely, and officials said some will be able to move out of the Washington, D.C., area.
Digital Government
Senate Confirms OPM Director in Close Vote
With Vice President Kamala Harris breaking a tie, lawmakers installed the first permanent director for the federal government’s HR agency in more than a year.
Digital Government
Most Federal Employees Will Receive Friday Off for Juneteenth
President Biden signed a bill Thursday afternoon making the anniversary of the end of slavery a federal holiday, and OPM confirmed that federal workers will have Friday off.
Digital Government
OPM Finalizes Rule Easing Rehiring of Ex-Feds
Under new rules, federal agencies will be able to rehire former federal workers at a higher pay grade than when they left government.
Digital Government
Feds’ Engagement and Job Satisfaction Rises Despite—or Because of—Pandemic
Officials who administered the annual Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey warned against making sweeping conclusions about the 2020 results, due to changes in the survey's timing and some of its content.
Digital Government