Current news and events impacting the federal workforce, both current federal employees and federal retirees.
Beginning Oct. 31, federal employees will be allowed to take up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave to address “qualifying exigencies” stemming from an immediate family member’s call or order to active military duty.
Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) has put forth legislation that passed the Senate that would give veterans a 3.6% COLA to match that of Social Security recipients.
Lost in the interest over the 3.6% COLA announced by Social Security (and reported in FedSmith) on Wednesday, October 19th, are several other Social Security changes for 2012.
The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) allows eligible employees to take up to 12 weeks of protected leave each year to care for a family member who has a serious health condition. The Department of Labor changed the law in June 2010 clarifying the definition of a son or daughter. The author offers explanation of the changes.
Presidential Candidate Ron Paul recently released his “Plan to Restore America” as part of his campaign. It contains a myriad of spending cuts, some of which are directly related to federal employees.
In preparing, and filing a Federal Disability Retirement application under FERS or CSRS, a Federal or Postal worker who is contemplating filing for Federal Disability Retirement benefits must make the connection between “the forms,” “the evidence”, and “the law.”
Senator John Thune (R-SD) has introduced legislation that would create an option for individuals who believe they are under-taxed to voluntarily send extra money to the U.S. Treasury.
The total number of federal employees has increased in the last 30 years. But has the federal workforce actually “expanded?”
A group of federal employee unions and advocacy groups have sent a letter to the chairs of the Committee on Deficit Reduction expressing both disapproval and support for some of the President’s recent deficit reduction ideas.
Recently, the author submitted this White Paper to congressional representatives to help them understand the state of the Federal labor relations program. The author believes Federal labor relations stifles initiative and impedes needed change in Agencies. Read this White Paper and decide for yourself whether or not the points it seeks to make are valid.
