Digital Government

Obama weighs cap on federal employee bonuses

A draft memo reveals that the Obama administration is considering capping federal employee bonuses for the next two years, on top of the two-year pay freeze already in place.

Digital Government

Who is the 'average' fed?

If you are someone who gets incensed every time you hear something about 'overpaid' feds -- or if you are a non-fed who believes that stuff -- here is something you should read.

People

Streamlined job application process pays off, OPM says

The time it takes to hire a new federal employee has decreased thanks to changes in the hiring process, OPM says.

Digital Government

Are bills targeting the federal workforce destined to fail?

Rep. Tom Marino (R-Pa.) introduced a bill May 5 to freeze most federal hiring. But will Marino's legislation (or other similar bills) ever get anywhere?

People

OPM builds how-to site for hiring managers

A new website will give the federal government one-stop access to recruitment resources such as multimedia learning tools and interactive forums with experts.

Digital Government

Managers: Put down the BlackBerry and engage your employees

Office of Personnel Management Director John Berry tells federal managers that staring at their smart phones won't create a more open culture.

Digital Government

Why breaking rank is sometimes a good thing

Office of Personnel Management Director John Berry recounts how one employee saved the day by ignoring agency protocol.

People

OPM tests tech for more collaborative workforce

OPM has started several collaborative technologies to create a more open workplace culture, according to OPM Director John Berry.

Digital Government

Why telework is in an agency's best interest

Teleworking is moving beyond just letting agency employees work from home; it's becoming a key element in continuity-of-operations planning, efforts to reduce pollution, and plans to save billions on unneeded real estate.

Modernization

OMB sets deadline for telework IT policies

The Office of Management and Budget is giving agencies 90 days to develop or update policies on buying IT to enable and promote the federal government’s adoption of telework.

Digital Government

Will PM title change lead to better management? Readers doubt it.

A new IT program manager title is in the works. But, will the title make much of an impact in terms of actually improving federal IT?

People

OPM releases new time-to-hire reporting requirements

Federal agencies will soon be required to submit reports every quarter showing how long it takes them to hire new personnel, according to recent guidance from the Office of Personnel Management.

People

OPM has pilot program for online platform for job applicants

The new Assess online platform may eliminate the old "knowledge, skills, abilities" method of sizing up candidates.

People

Telework guidance incorporates Telework Act

The Office of Personnel Management on April 18 issued a telework guide to help agencies implement the Telework Enhancement Act and to serve as a resource on the law for rank-and-file feds.

People

Making federal managers into successful teleworkers

With the passage of the Telework Enhancement Act last year, there is a strong push in the government to increase the number of federal employees -- including managers -- who telework on a regular basis.

People

Shutdown Watch: OPM shares furlough information; Progress on 2011 budget is mixed

The impending government shutdown could put up to 800,000 feds temporarily out of work.

People

Administration provides shutdown details: What you can expect

Although President Barack Obama has repeatedly denounced a government shutdown in recent weeks, officials in his administration say they are cognizant that funding for the government expires April 8 and contingency plans are being prepared.

Digital Government

Is this really the best time to ask about feds' job satisfaction?

The Office of Personnel Management launched its 2011 Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey the same week the government might shut down.

People

Better performance management starts with better supervisors

Improving the process of evaluating federal employees is a challenge, but experts have lots of good advice.

People

New designation for federal IT managers

Federal employees who manage one or more large IT programs might soon have a new official title: IT program manager.