People
OPM tells agencies they may set up labor-management relation forums
A Trump executive order rolling back requirements for labor-management relations forums is under review, according to new guidance from the Office of Personnel Management.
People
GOP rep wants feds back in the office
Rep. Jody Hice, the top Republican on the House Subcommittee on Government Operations, says that recent CDC guidance on masks, vaccination and social distancing means that it's time for the federal government to move away from the emergency pandemic footing.
People
Few agencies sought Schedule F conversions
In the waning days of the Trump administration, only a relative handful out of hundreds of eligible agencies and department responded to an executive order that looked to reclassify vast swathes of the federal civil service as at-will employees.
Cybersecurity
Watchdog: 'Uncertainty' may undermine CBP's enforcement of social media policy
The Office of Inspector General at the Department of Homeland Security found divisions among senior Customs and Border Protection officials about the agency's social media posting policies.
People
Watchdog report finds OPM didn't always alert employees of COVID cases
The Inspector General at the Office of Personnel Management found that the agency wasn't requiring mask-wearing and failed to notify employees of COVID cases during the height of the pandemic.
Modernization
VA expecting claims backlog to peak this summer
Recent additions to the backlog of veterans affected by Agent Orange are going to add to an expected spike in the backlog of pending benefits claims at the Veterans Benefits Administration, but agency officials are still aiming to get the levels closer to pre-pandemic numbers by the end of fiscal year 2022.
Modernization
Funding is only part of the answer for UI modernization
State workforce agencies have funding for unemployment modernization and administration thanks to pandemic relief legislation but there are policy impediments, experts said.
People
OPM extends deadline on implementing Trump-era hiring policy
The Biden administration extended the deadline for federal agencies to implement portions of a Trump-era executive order aimed putting less reliance on educational attainment in federal hiring.
People
Impeachment witnesses talk public service
Four former government officials who played key roles in the first impeachment of former president Donald Trump discussed their experiences during a Public Service Recognition Week event.
People
House Dems, unions pitch plan to reclassify TSA screeners
So far, Republicans haven't signed on to a plan to alter the agency's unique personnel situation. Some experts caution that there are untended consequences from a move to put TSA officers under Title 5.
Digital Government
Lawmakers look to strengthen whistleblower protections
The bill would extend whistleblower protections to non-career employees in the Senior Executive Service, Public Health Service employees, and the commissioned officer corps at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
Acquisition
This year's Sammies includes a special COVID response category
Partnership for Public Service announced the 29 finalists for its annual Samuel J. Heyman Service to America Medals.
People
OMB job satisfaction scores plummeted in 2020
Almost 40% of OMB survey participants choose strongly disagree when presented with the statement, "my organization's senior leaders maintain high standards for honesty and integrity."
People
OPM details pandemic emergency paid leave program
This special leave will be available through the end of the fiscal year or until the $570 million fund is exhausted, OPM documents say.
Modernization
$2.1 billion in UI modernization comes with oversight
Labor Secretary Marty Walsh told a panel of House Appropriators that the agency's planned $2.1 billion investment in state unemployment systems needs oversight and monitoring, and metrics for measuring success.
Acquisition
Biden orders $15 minimum wage for federal contractors
The new minimum wage is set to take effect in early 2022. Agencies will have to include the $15 wage floor in any new contract solicitations starting on January 30, 2022 and have this minimum wage in new contracts by March 30, 2022.
People
Federal employee job satisfaction climbed during pandemic
The survey documents the rapid change to teleworking postures in government under the COVID-19 pandemic.
People
Union touts productivity gains from telework
Feds overwhelmingly want to keep the ability to telework additional days each week, according to the results of a survey released by the National Treasury Employees Union.
People
OPM nominee plans focus on telework, IT, retirement
Kiran Ahuja, a veteran of the Office of Personnel Management, told lawmakers that she thinks that the lack of consistent leadership in the top position at OPM has taken a toll on the ability of the agency to complete longer term IT modernization projects.
Digital Government
Lawmakers mull changes to federal climate data sharing
Multiple federal science agencies produce data on climate risks, but some experts say that the current information-sharing structure is fragmented and often confusing.
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