Digital Government

House Democrats Aim to Add Paid Family Leave for Feds to Defense Policy Bill

A proposed amendment to the fiscal 2020 National Defense Authorization Act would provide all federal workers with 12 weeks of paid family leave.

Digital Government

President Trump Signs Taxpayer First Act

The law will force the IRS to improve its customer experience while providing tools to move faster in hiring.

Digital Government

Can ‘Pods’ Bring Quiet to the Noisy Open Office?

Now that office walls have come down, workers are ducking into closet-sized “pods” for privacy and quiet. Is this a retreat from the open office or the next phase of it?

Digital Government

OPM Announces New ‘Data Scientist’ Job Title

Officials hope that an "unofficial" data science marker for federal jobs could help both with recruitment of new federal workers as well as improve evidence-based policymaking and data management efforts.

Digital Government

OPM Still Lacks Legal Analysis of Proposed Merger with GSA

Lawmakers in both parties expressed outrage at the lack of documents provided to support the Trump administration’s proposal.

Digital Government

House Approves 3.1% Pay Raise and Blocks OPM Furloughs, Merger

Lawmakers dealt the Trump administration’s proposal to merge OPM and GSA another setback.

Digital Government

'People Are Crying When They Come Into Work:' Unions Protest OPM-GSA Merger

Lawmakers said they will try to amend an appropriations bill to block the acting OPM director from following through on her threat to lay off 150 agency employees.

Ideas

The Problem With Diversity in Computing

Tech’s discriminatory culture might never change, no matter how many women and people of color are invited into the room.

Digital Government

People-First Policies Will Help Close the Government’s Skills Gap

Human capital strategies should be baked into long-term strategic plans, a GAO executive said.

Digital Government

Federal Employees Suing OPM Score Win in Lawsuit Over Data Hacks

Appeals court overrules district-level finding, says federal employee unions have standing to sue.

Digital Government

Interior Department Announces Modest Cutback to Telework

Beginning next month, front-line employees with telework agreements will be required to report to a physical office once a week, while supervisors will be eligible only for situational telework.

Digital Government

More than Half of D.C.-Area Feds Say Agencies Aren’t Supportive of Telework Amid Metro Closures

Majority of respondents to a GovExec.com/Government Business Council survey report that the temporary shutdown of six Metrorail stations would have at least a moderate impact on their ability to do their jobs.

Digital Government

Job Density Is Increasing in Superstar Cities and Sprawling in Others

A study finds job density increased in the U.S. over a 10-year period. But four cities: New York, Chicago, San Francisco, and Seattle, accounted for most of it.

Digital Government

OPM Leader Threatens Furloughs, RIFs if Congress Doesn’t Approve GSA Merger

The administration has given lawmakers until the end of June to greenlight the merger, or else roughly 150 OPM employees could lose their jobs this fall.

Policy

House Appropriations Package Now Includes Contractor Back Pay

There is still a chance federal contractors unpaid during the 35-day shutdown could get back pay.

Digital Government

House Panel Approves 3.1% Pay Raise for Feds in 2020

The bill advanced by the House Appropriations Committee to the House floor Tuesday also would increase funding for a number of civilian agencies.

Ideas

Gaming’s Biggest Week Gives Clues to Serious Technology’s Future

Advancements in virtual and augmented reality may get government gaming a boost.