Current news and events impacting the federal workforce, both current federal employees and federal retirees.
The process of determining the annual pay raise for federal employees is proceeding slowly, as usual, with its usual twists and turns. The latest twist: President Bush has issued an alternative pay plan that would still grant a pay increase but lower than most federal employees would like. Here is the text of the President’s letter.
Federal supervisors have the option of imposing leave restrictions on a person who may be abusing leave. Here are the steps a supervisor should take leading up to this process.
Recent articles have generated considerable discussion on the site about the cost incurred by those who try to time the market with frequent buying and selling of their TSP funds. A few readers contend that it costs the TSP considerably more to balance the lifecycle funds than the costs incurred by those trading frequently. Does anyone know the actual costs of the lifecycle fund rebalancing and how do these costs compare to the costs created by those frequently trading the I fund?
A financial economist complained that her supervisor took adverse personnel actions against her in retaliation for whistleblowing. The administrative judge and the MSPB blew off the allegations but a federal court sends the case back to the Board. It found, among other things, that the Board erred in holding that an action that never actually occurred cannot serve as the basis for a protected disclosure.
Out of a few million Thrift Savings Plan participants, there are several thousand who trade their funds on a frequent basis. This activity is costing a few million dollars a year in additional expenses. The TSP is considering a recommendation to limit the number of TSP trades that a participant could make during a month.
While the Air Force tolerated (an employee) continuing in his job “despite his inability to perform his full duties, the Air Force was not required to do so indefinitely.”
Many federal retirees continue to work after leaving federal service. Here is a report on the jobs outlook in the defense industry located in the Southwestern United States–a popular destination for retirees.
An employee of DHS was fired by the agency for unauthorized absences on numerous occasions. The former fed went to federal court after having an arbitrator rule against her. In court, she argued the agency had improperly considered previous disciplinary actions in its decision.
In addition to the typical defense that he was fired because he was a “whistleblower”, this Air Force employee argued that his “employment contract” with the government did not outline the standard of review for indefinite suspensions. Fortunately for agencies, the court held that an agency is not required prior to hiring a new employee “to provide…all the case law that may become relevant….”
A firefighter at a Naval Air Station had 26 years of federal service. He had a big problem with duty assignments and complained at length in a “loud and abrasive” manner. He got fired and then contended the removal was based on retaliation for being a whistleblower. It didn’t work and a court upholds the removal.
