Impact of Sequestration: One Layoff
Some good news for the federal workforce: According to a new report from the Government Accountability Office, only one federal worker was laid off due to the recent sequestration budget cuts.
Average TSP Balances and How Investors Prepared for April Market Returns
What was the average TSP balance in March 2014 compared to one year earlier? How did federal employees handle their money in March preparing for the stock market returns in April? Here are some new data from the TSP.
Social Security Benefit for Resident Alien
My wife is German, but is a resident alien of the US. Will she be entitled to a Social Security benefit even though she has not worked in the US?
Who Decides? Due Process May Be Due For A Redo
Fewer than 3% of the EEO cases were litigated are lost by agencies. The EEOC tried to put a spin on this disturbing statistic by noting that more than one-fourth of cases are settled and “Many of these resolutions contained favorable outcomes for the complainant, including monetary and non-monetary benefits.”
Hatch Act Modifications Reflected in New OPM Rule
The Hatch Act allows most federal employees to participate in some partisan political activity. The new rule issued by OPM reflects the less stringent penalties and loosening of Hatch Act restrictions on many feds.
Top 10% of Income Earners Pay 68.3% of All Federal Income Taxes
Comments about taxes are often long on vitriol but short on facts. Here are the latest data from the IRS about which income groups pay the most in taxes as well as each group’s share of all income taxes paid.
Retirement Claims Backlog Drops Slightly in April
OPM made a modest improvement in its backlog of retirement claims in April.
USPS Stamps Out Hunger
The Postal Service holds its annual Stamp Out Hunger food drive the second Saturday of each May.
Unprofessional, Uncivil and Somewhat Boorish
According to the appeals court, “somewhat boorish” actions of supervisors at Merit Systems Protection Board were the “ordinary tribulations of the workplace,” and did not add up to an actionable hostile work environment.
Sammies Award Finalists Announced
The nonprofit Partnership for Public Service has announced the 33 Samuel J. Heyman Service to America Medal finalists – outstanding federal employees who are making high-impact contributions to the health, safety and welfare of countless Americans and others around the world.
