USPS: Taking Bold Actions to Deliver Affordable Mail Service for the Future
The author says that the Postal Service is taking steps to adapt to a changing marketplace to survive financially and meet evolving market needs.
Current Events
Current news and events impacting the federal workforce, both current federal employees and federal retirees.
Reversal in the TSP: Investors Buying Instead of Dumping the C Fund
How have you fared in the investment volatility facing the stock market? TSP investors dumped shares of the C fund throughout 2011 started buying again in January.
Highly Paid Federal Administrative Positions: Where Are They and How Much Do They Make?
There is a wide disparity between federal employees in a similar job classification based on their agencies. Here are some statistics.
Repeating the Same Mistakes: Does HR Understand Performance Appraisal?
The MSPB recently overturned the removal of a DoD employee for unacceptable performance. The author analyzes the circumstances surrounding the case.
Pending Legislative Proposals Targeting Pay and Benefits
A number of proposals have emerged in Congress in the last several months that are aimed at federal employees, and often not in a good way. NTEU has vowed to fight Republicans in the upcoming election and has compiled a list of the legislative proposals targeting the federal workforce to help make its case.
FLRA Finds Air Traffic Controller Union Breached Labor Law But Allows Future Violations
The FLRA writes that changing its constitution to “punish” controllers who leave its bargaining unit and return, was an unfair labor practice retroactively but not “prospectively.” The unions’ action was to “punish unit members who escaped the unconscionable terms and conditions unilaterally imposed by the FAA . . . by going to work for FAA management.”
Failure to Disclose Conviction Leads to Removal Without Appeal
A probationary employee failed to disclose on his application for a supervisory EO Specialist position with the Department of Labor that he had previously been convicted of a crime. The agency ran a background check and discovered otherwise.
St. Louis Leads Way in Welcoming Veterans Home
The author reflects on a recent parade in St. Louis he attended honoring veterans and its reminder of how he believes more needs to be done to support veterans and their sacrifices for the country.
Future Federal Employees Will See Increased Pension Contributions Under Payroll Tax Cut Deal
Lawmakers have reached a final agreement on extending the payroll tax cut through the end of 2012. Part of the terms of the agreement will require future federal employees to contribute more toward their pensions to help offset the cost of extending unemployment benefits.
The Barbershop Bailout
The Senate barbershop in DC used by some in Congress had a $300,000 operating deficit last year which prompted the Senate to give it some extra cash to sustain its operations. One former senator blames the shop’s federal employees for its financial problems.
