People

COVID premium pay varies across Veterans Affairs

The lack of national direction from the Department of Veterans Affairs on issuance of pandemic "premium pay" has left regional VA networks and local facilities to decide which employees get additional pay for working on the front lines of the pandemic -- and how much.

People

GAO tracks diversity in the intelligence community

Although steps have been taken to address workforce diversity, a recent report underscored gaps in strategic planning among intelligence community elements.

People

OPM rule would elevate performance in layoff decisions

The current rules for reductions in force have performance last on the list of factors to consider in the determining which employees to keep, with the type of job coming first and followed by veterans preference and service length after.

Digital Government

New bill would shed light on 'midnight regulations'

A new bill would require the Government Accountability Office to provide Congress with information about rules published during the ending days of the Trump administration.

People

OPM succession shuffle sparks Schedule F concerns

Experts worry that an executive order with the potential to politicize the civil service could do lasting damage, even if rescinded by the incoming Biden administration.

People

VA vaccine distribution will require 'Herculean effort,' says VA official

The agency is preparing to receive initial shipments of vaccines, but getting it to rural areas of the country will be a challenge.

Modernization

Pandemic spotlights the promise and weakness of government tech

Governments should not aim for "a return to the technology status quo before the pandemic," according to a new white paper by Microsoft and the Partnership for Public Service.

People

Gender pay gap persists in the federal workforce

Incomplete data on promotion by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission limit the ability of agencies to ensure equal opportunity for promotions across gender, race and ethnicity, the report says.

Cybersecurity

Prepping the cyber workforce of the future

Big picture skills like digital literacy and critical thinking are more important to building a public-sector cybersecurity workforce than small gains in federal hiring procedure, experts say.

People

House chairs seek 'full accounting' of Schedule F conversions

The lawmakers requested information about any political appointees given civil service positions and about any positions converted to the new personnel category created by President Trump.

Digital Government

House Dems look to funding bill to block Schedule F

A group of House Democrats including Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) are pushing for appropriators to block the implementation of the Schedule F federal employee reclassification in a must-pass funding bill needed to avoid a government shutdown.

People

OMB seeks to reclassify workforce under Schedule F

The agency is gearing up to make 88% of its positions subject to at-will employment.

People

VA union claims victory in termination case

In win for the National VA Council, the Federal Labor Relations Authority dismissed the VA's exceptions to an arbitrator's award that requires it to reinstate union employees fired without performance improvement plans.

Acquisition

Tech experts call on feds to coordinate benefits solutions

With surges in unemployment insurance applications straining legacy IT systems at the state level, digital services specialists say that the federal government should take a more central role in fielding tech infrastructure.

People

Lawmakers probe telework's impact on federal jobs, hiring

Although the move to telework has presented challenges, agency officials told senators at a hearing emphasized the benefits in terms of hiring and productivity.

People

NTEU looks for a 'fresh start' for federal employees under Biden

The union's blueprint for immediate action joins with NAPA's working group on the federal workforce in calling for the next director of OPM to abandon a regulation-heavy approach.

People

NAPA working group floats proposal to roll back Trump's workforce orders

A team at the National Academy of Public Administration wants the incoming president to order a reduction in the number of General Schedule job classifications while expanding the use of recruitment, relocation and retention payments.

Acquisition

Thrift Board taps Accenture for consolidated records contract

The Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board plans to roll out new features to plan participants, including electronic signatures.

People

Federal panel sides with VA on union contract

The Federal Service Impasses Panel largely sided with the Department of Veterans Affairs in a contract ruling in a case between the VA and the National Veterans Affairs Council (NVAC).

People

OPM veterans on the Biden-Harris transition team

In advance of the General Services Administration designating Biden as president-elect and releasing transition funds, the Biden-Harris team is working outside of government, consulting with former officials and experts.