People
OPM details pandemic emergency paid leave program
This special leave will be available through the end of the fiscal year or until the $570 million fund is exhausted, OPM documents say.
Modernization
$2.1 billion in UI modernization comes with oversight
Labor Secretary Marty Walsh told a panel of House Appropriators that the agency's planned $2.1 billion investment in state unemployment systems needs oversight and monitoring, and metrics for measuring success.
Acquisition
Biden orders $15 minimum wage for federal contractors
The new minimum wage is set to take effect in early 2022. Agencies will have to include the $15 wage floor in any new contract solicitations starting on January 30, 2022 and have this minimum wage in new contracts by March 30, 2022.
People
Federal employee job satisfaction climbed during pandemic
The survey documents the rapid change to teleworking postures in government under the COVID-19 pandemic.
People
Union touts productivity gains from telework
Feds overwhelmingly want to keep the ability to telework additional days each week, according to the results of a survey released by the National Treasury Employees Union.
People
OPM nominee plans focus on telework, IT, retirement
Kiran Ahuja, a veteran of the Office of Personnel Management, told lawmakers that she thinks that the lack of consistent leadership in the top position at OPM has taken a toll on the ability of the agency to complete longer term IT modernization projects.
Digital Government
Lawmakers mull changes to federal climate data sharing
Multiple federal science agencies produce data on climate risks, but some experts say that the current information-sharing structure is fragmented and often confusing.
People
AFGE presses Congress to oppose pay and hiring flexibilities for NSF
The measure, which would expand the hiring authorities of the director of the National Science Foundation, "bears a striking resemblance" to Schedule F, said AFGE national president Everett Kelley.
Digital Government
House Dems back bill to put guardrails around IGs
The proposal would limit the power of the president to remove inspectors general to for cause reasons and outline exactly who can serve as an acting IG.
Digital Government
Senate bill would give feds paid family and medical leave
The bill, introduced by Sen. Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), picks up on efforts in the House to expand paid leave for feds championed by Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-N.Y.).
Digital Government
Lawmakers talk agency performance plans, TMF
During a hearing before a subcommittee of the House Oversight and Reform Committee, agency officials and lawmakers talked about the potential difficulties posed by TMF repayment requirements when some modernization efforts don’t result in easily quantifiable cost savings.
People
OPM digs into the post-pandemic puzzle of remote work and locality pay
An Office of Personnel Management official said on Thursday that the office is looking into pay administration rules in terms of remote work as part of broader efforts to provide guidance for the long-term future of a more dispersed federal workforce.
People
Now hiring for next set of Presidential Innovation Fellows
Originally a brainchild of the Obama-Biden tech office, the Presidential Innovation Fellows program is now looking for its eighth cohort of in-house federal tech innovators. How has it changed, and what lessons might the program offer for recruiting top tech talent into the government?
Modernization
House Oversight presses for details on TMF repayment plans
A group of House Democrats is asking administrators of the revolving Technology Modernization Fund how they will make sure its payback mechanisms don't "atrophy" after the massive surge in money from the American Rescue Plan.
People
New OPM survey heralds rethink of federal job design
The new Federal Workforce Competency Initiative looks to update definitions of skills and abilities needed to are core competencies for different jobs.
Cybersecurity
ODNI plans recruitment ad campaign
Intelligence agencies are seeking STEM employees and a more diverse workforce.
People
SSA under pressure to reopen Trump-era union contract
The Social Security Administration is under fire from unions and congressional Democrats unhappy with the agency's pace in implementing the Biden administration's changes to labor-management relations, and many are seeking the ouster of the Trump-appointed agency heads.
Digital Government
Federal buildings, vehicles set to go green in Biden's $2T infrastructure package
Updates to federal facilities and an emphasis on electric vehicles are just part of the Biden administration's $2 trillion jobs and infrastructure plan announced on Wednesday.
People
Unions, agencies encouraging feds to get vaccinated
Early results from federal workforce campaigns suggest that vaccine uptake could present challenges once availability for all age groups is no longer an obstacle.
People