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Labor and Employee Relations in 2008: The Wonderful Stories of the Year
The author recaps FedSmith stories that its authors couldn't have made up had they tried all year. These stories require no suspension of belief by the reader. All are provably true.

Posted: January 6, 2009 8:37 PM | Full Story

A Simple Change to Your TSP Contributions Could Save You Money
If you are not careful in making your regular TSP investments, you could be making a mistake that will cost you a significant amount of money. Highly compensated federal employees should consider making a flat payment to the TSP each pay period. This column explains why this is could be important to you.

Posted: January 6, 2009 7:59 AM | Full Story

A Four-Day Weekend (With Pay) Coming This Month
Some readers will be getting a four-day weekend in January. Other readers will get a three-day weekend. Here is how the holiday will work.

Posted: January 6, 2009 8:26 AM | Full Story

Using the Federal Employee Health Plan As a Model
There is one big problem with using the FEHBP as a model for the nation: It offers no government health plan at all. And, in the FEHBP system, all of the risks are assumed by private-sector plans, not by the taxpayers. But under the proposed new government health plan, taxpayers would be saddled with all the risks, losses, and liabilities—just as with the recent series of big bailouts.

Posted: January 5, 2009 8:10 PM | Full Story | Discuss this Story

American Culture in 2009
Postage stamps reflect American culture. Here is the line-up of the commemorative stamps being issued by the Postal Service for 2009--and how we see ourselves (or at least how the Postal Service chooses to portray American culture).

Posted: January 6, 2009 8:07 AM | Full Story

Funny Business in Minnesota
"Strange things keep happening in Minnesota, where the disputed recount in the Senate race between Norm Coleman and Al Franken may be nearing a dubious outcome. Thanks to the machinations of Democratic Secretary of State Mark Ritchie and a meek state Canvassing Board, Mr. Franken may emerge as an illegitimate victor."

Posted: January 5, 2009 10:32 AM | Full Story | Discuss this Story

FBI Going on Hiring Binge
The FBI has launched a hiring blitz involving 2,100 professional staff vacancies and 850 special agents aimed at filling its most critical vacancies.

Posted: January 6, 2009 6:47 AM | Full Story | Discuss this Story

Thrift Savings Plan Funds All Up in December--Ending a Dismal Year of Returns
After five straight years of positive returns for all of the TSP funds, 2009 was a disappointment. While all of the funds were up in December, all but two of the funds lost money in 2008. The biggest loser: The I fund which, incidentally, had the biggest positive return for December 2008.

Posted: January 5, 2009 9:02 AM | Full Story

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Phil Varnak is a professional writer and trainer on federal HR management issues with several decades of experience working for the federal government.

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Marilyn (Thorbahn) Loeser is a writer/editor for the Postal Service. Marilyn has been a journalist for more than 30 years and is currently a freelance feature writer specializing in travel.

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