Digital Government
GAO: Federal Agencies Lag in Retaining Veteran Employees
Between fiscal 2014 and 2018, nearly 7% of veterans left federal service, compared with only 5% of non-veterans, the watchdog agency found.
Digital Government
Survey: Most Feds Who Have Been Working From Home During the Pandemic Are Afraid to Return to Their Offices
Nearly 80% of teleworking respondents to a new survey from AFGE said they don’t feel safe going back to their traditional worksite.
Policy
Democratic Senators Introduce Bill to Include Feds in Coronavirus Response Decisions
A task force of administration and union officials would make recommendations for how agencies should protect workers during the pandemic.
Digital Government
House Lawmakers Call for Pay Parity Between Military and Civilian Federal Workers
Although the House version of a defense policy bill includes a 3% pay increase for members of the military in 2021, an appropriations bill under consideration effectively endorses only a 1% raise for civilians.
Digital Government
House Committee Investigates Whether Officials Misled Congress on OPM-GSA Merger
A recent watchdog group report cited notes from a phone call indicating the Trump administration was advised that the merger plan was illegal, an account that is at odds with what OPM officials testified before Congress last year.
Digital Government
New Legislation Would Increase Oversight Over Agency Relocations
Measure would require federal officials to conduct detailed cost-benefit analyses and provide them to inspectors general and the public for review before undertaking any effort to move federal agencies.
Digital Government
Federal Advisory Group Finds Feds Are Paid 26.71% Less than Private Sector Counterparts
In their annual report, members of the Federal Salary Council recommend updates to datasets used in determining a region’s eligibility to become a locality pay area.
Digital Government
New House COVID-19 Bill Includes Hazard Pay for Feds, Strengthens Protections for Telework and Sick Leave
Pelosi on Tuesday unveiled legislation that would provide up to $10,000 in premium pay for federal workers on the front lines of the coronavirus outbreak and would prevent agencies from exempting employees from paid sick leave benefits.
Digital Government
House Democrats Urge Leadership to Begin Paid Parental Leave for Feds Early
A group of 12 lawmakers said the new benefit for federal workers, currently slated for implementation in October, should apply retroactively to December.
Digital Government
House Legislation Would Protect Feds’ Unused Leave During Coronavirus Pandemic
Rep. Jennifer Wexton, D-Va., has introduced a bill that would ensure that federal workers who are unable to take a vacation due to the COVID-19 outbreak will not lose their paid leave.
Digital Government
Bipartisan Senate Group Urges Hazard Pay for Feds
Nineteen senators encourage authorization of a 25% pay increase for frontline federal workers during the coronavirus pandemic, along with more guidance enhancing telework, leave and other protections for employees.
Digital Government
Federal Employee Union Proposes Preconditions to Returning to Government Work Sites
The American Federation of Government Employees last week called the Trump administration’s recently unveiled plans for “reopening” the federal government “premature and imprudent.”
Digital Government
OPM Issues Guidance on Additional Paid Sick Leave for Feds During the Coronavirus Pandemic
The federal government’s human resources agency confirmed this week that most federal workers are eligible to take up to two additional weeks of paid sick leave this year related to COVID-19.
Digital Government
House Oversight Leaders Seek Childcare Payments and Other Help for Feds in Next COVID-19 Relief Bill
In a letter to House leadership, Democrats unveil a laundry list of legislative proposals to assist federal employees and contractors during the coronavirus pandemic.
Digital Government
Pentagon Mandates Homemade Masks for Some Workers
N95 respirators and surgical masks will be reserved for health care workers and patients, the Defense Department said in a series of memos this week.
Digital Government
House Lawmakers Accuse GSA of Breaching Ban on Implementing OPM Merger
Oversight panel leaders say newly uncovered emails confirm that the General Services Administration’s pending revocation of the Office of Personnel Management’s building operation authority is part of the plan to abolish the HR agency.
Digital Government
House Democrats Reintroduce Bill to Protect Telework at Federal Agencies Amid Coronavirus Fears
The measure would prohibit agencies from making across-the-board cuts to telework programs, and require annual goals for participation in such programs.
Digital Government
OPM Issues Additional Coronavirus Guidance, Encouraging Telework, Reduced Travel
The federal government’s HR agency orders all agencies to include telework in contingency plans, and encourages them to reduce “non-essential” travel.
Digital Government
Unions Report No Sign of Telework Flexibilities Amid Coronavirus Outbreak
Although both OPM and the CDC have strongly encouraged allowing employees to work remotely to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus, several agencies have yet to respond to those recommendations.
Modernization
Social Security Announces More Telework Cuts
The move comes after Congress directed the agency to reinstate telework in other offices within SSA.
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