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
Obama's Remarks on His Pick for Chief Performance Officer
President-elect Obama has selected Nancy Killefer as the government's "Chief Performance Officer."
Posted: January 7, 2009 11:17 AM | Full Story
Feds Central to Enhancing Government Performance
"The people who deliver those services, the government employees themselves, will be central to this effort," she said, echoing Obama's remarks that the federal work force itself would be the key to enhancing government performance.
Posted: January 7, 2009 11:22 AM | Full Story | Discuss this Story
- Killefer Selected as First Chief Performance Officer
- Reforming the "20th-Century Bureaucracy" Under a President Obama
Big Job at a Small Agency
The Federal Labor Relations Authority has a new chairman who gave up a lucrative career as a labor and employment law attorney to had an agency with a large backlog and morale problems. The FLRA is now hiring and trying to reduce the backlog.
Posted: January 7, 2009 7:44 AM | Full Story | Discuss this Story
No Verdict in Two Trials of Federal Agent
Two murder trials against a Border Patrol agent ended up without a verdict. The agent said he shot a Mexican who had illegally crossed with his siblings into the United States in self-defense as the illegal immigrant came at him with a rock. The prosecution argued otherwise. After a second trial without a verdict, prosecutors announced they wouldn't pursue charges in another trial now, but left open the possibility by filing a motion to dismiss “without prejudice."
Posted: January 7, 2009 7:17 AM | Full Story | Discuss this Story
Trillion Dollar Deficit
The federal budget deficit will hit an an unbelievable $1.2 trillion for the 2009 budget year. The Congressional Budget office also sees a $703 billion deficit for 2010.
Posted: January 7, 2009 9:28 AM | Full Story | Discuss this Story
Uncle Sam to the Rescue Saving Local Government Jobs
The Obama administration wants to create “or save" 3 million jobs. “The vast majority of government jobs will be state and local jobs being saved," said one official. The jobs the Obama team supports in the public sector aren't brand new federal jobs but state and local jobs, threatened by worsening state budget woes.
Posted: January 7, 2009 7:05 AM | Full Story | Discuss this Story
Workload Jam at SSA
Social Security Administration officials estimate that as many as 10,000 people a day will become eligible for retirement benefits over the next 20 years, as the first post-World War II generation retires. "You're talking about more work coming in the door and less people to do it," said the agency which is counting on the internet to help with the workload.
Posted: January 7, 2009 7:35 AM | Full Story | Discuss this Story
Spending Retirement Funds on A Legal Defense
A federal retiree says he is innocent of wrong doing and has spent much of his retirement money to defend himself against one count of conspiracy in an alleged scheme to re-label and sell faulty diversionary grenades to military and police department agencies. The charge could lead to five years in prison and a fine but he has been offered a plea that would avoid going to jail.
Posted: January 7, 2009 7:24 AM | Full Story | Discuss this Story
Federal Annuity Keeps on Giving--Even After Death
A Massachusetts resident has been sentenced to prison and ordered to pay the federal government back $139,758 after failing to notify the Office of Personnel Management of his mother's passing and continuing to collect her federal retirement checks.
Posted: January 7, 2009 7:01 AM | Full Story | Discuss this 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
- Leaving Government Before Retirement? What Happens To Your Benefits?
- What Happens to Your Federal Employee Benefits if You Die While Still Working?
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
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