Goals, Objectives, and the Everyday Employee
Federal employees who perform civil service work year in and year out do not need to have their evaluations tied to the agency’s strategic planning process.
Human Resources
Federal HR news topics include federal employee unions, labor relations, bargaining, pay/leave and benefits.
How the Air Force Protects Its Employees from Harmful Opinions and Info
When telephones were invented, the federal bureaucracy was flustered: How can federal employees be trusted with this new device? The issue today is the Internet. The regulators in the Air Force trust people to fly and maintain sophisticated technology–but the cyber command is determined to keep personnel from having access to “dangerous information” delivered by the new technology.
MSPB Regulations Revisions: A Couple of Issues Worth Watching
The Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB) has issued a final rule revising its regulations. Here is a summary of the changes that will be of interest to many of your readers in the federal community.
New Pay-For-Performance Twist Coming to Your Agency
Pay for performance has been a controversial subject on which millions of dollars has been spent by lawyers, managers, HR specialists and unions. Here’s a new twist to the idea: Eliminating the time requirement for competitive promotions and leaving the agency with discretion as to how soon to push an employee through the system.
The Best Performance Appraisal Advice I Ever Borrowed (Part II)
The author provides performance appraisal advice based on a document developed by the EPA for its managers.
AFGE Attacks FLRA General Counsel (GC) Over Proposed Changes
The vast majority of unfair labor practice allegations are filed by unions against agencies. Determining the winner or loser in these cases often depends on getting information and who has the power to get the information. Proposed changes to the regulations have generated a response from the largest federal employee union. Here is a summary and observations from an experienced labor relations professional who worked for several agencies.
Future Retirees: Do You Know Your MRA?
If you are a federal employee and do not know your MRA (Minimum Retirement Age), you are probably in the CSRS system. There is a financial penalty for FERS retirees who leave government under the MRA +10 provision. Look before you leap!
Labor and Employee Relations in 2007: The Very Best Stories of the Year
Author and consultant Bob Gilson takes a look back at some of the “Litigation of Silly Assertions” that emerged from the federal community in 2007.
The Box and The Road
One solution to a problem is to create a box: a delineation of acceptable behavior and a chance to demonstrate the ability to follow it. If you are a supervisor, do you have the persistence to go down the road of following a solution through to its end after creating the box?
Evaluating EEO As If It Really Mattered
Writing a performance standard for EEO is different than in other areas. Here is why it is different and a suggestion for writing a better standard.
