Friday, April 27, 2012

New Secret Service conduct standards,

Article Title: US Secret Service Tightening Conduct Standards

Snippet of Article: "...The new standards released Friday specify that agents on international trips may not allow foreigners into their hotel rooms, may not visit so-called “non-reputable” establishments, and may not drink alcohol within 10 hours of going on duty...."

Source: voanews.com secret service conduct standards,

Monday, April 23, 2012

Social Security Number Breach Larger Than Thought

Article Title: 750,000 More Social Security Numbers Stolen by Hackers

Snippet of Article: "...Officials originally estimated that about 24,000 people had their records stolen after a computer tracked to Eastern Europe infiltrated a server beginning March 30, then changed that number to 182,000 victims. Health officials now believe a total of nearly 900,000..."

Source: socialsecuritynewsgroup.blogspot.com Social Security Breach, Social Security Numbers, Social Security Hacking,

GSA Probe Coming

Article Title: Lieberman calls for broader GSA probe into spending, hearings

Snippet of Article: "...Lieberman said he wants Miller to investigate the other regions “to make sure that there’s no similar behavior such as what we found in Region 9.” Speaking on “Fox News Sunday,” the senator said his committee also plans to hold hearings..."

Source: www.washingtonpost.com GSA,GSA Region 9, GSA Probe, Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee,

Will Congress Preserve Americans Right to One and Two Day Delivery Standard of Mail?

Article Title: Senate to Debate, Vote on Postal Bill – April 23

Snippet of Article: "...doesn’t do enough to ensure the USPS will be able to continue to provide the service the American people have every right to expect.”..."

Source: news-postal.blogspot.com Destruction of the postal service, lowering service standards, mail processing plant closures, mail service standards, postal bill, Save the Postal Service

Tuesday, April 17, 2012

Postal buyout incentives, early retirements, but still more plant closures

Article Title: Senate Seeks Ways to Save Postal Service

Snippet of Article: "...bill being debated on the Senate floor this week was recently modified to take into account the concerns of mostly rural states. For instance, it would:

• Cut in half the number of mail processing centers the Postal Services currently wants to close — from 252 to 125 — allowing more U.S. areas to maintain overnight first-class mail delivery for at least three more years...."

Source: www.time.com Postal buyout incentives, Early Retirements, mail processing center closures,

Thursday, April 5, 2012

GSA “Hats Off Program” reaps nice benefits for Federal Employees

Article Title: GSA employee rewards program now also under scrutiny

Snippet of Article: "...Under a so-called “Hats Off Program,” operated by officials in the GSA’s Pacific Rim Region – and possibly other regions – “at least $200,000 worth of taxpayer funded iPods, gift cards and other valuable items were handed out to employees for questionable reasons at best,” wrote committee Chairman John Mica , R-Fla., and Rep. Jeff Denham , R-Calif...."

Source: www.govexec.com “Hats Off Program” , GSA, General Services Administration,

Tuesday, April 3, 2012

$822,000 General Services Administration (GSA) conference raises ire

Article Title: GSA head out after lavish spending by agency

Snippet of Article: "...It's supposed to set the standard for government efficiency and cost-cutting -- something a scathing new report clearly shows the GSA didn't do. The report has forced three top Washington officials out of their jobs..."

Source: www.cbsnews.com

Tuesday, March 27, 2012

USPS proposed health plan proposal would "massively disrupt or destroy the FEHBP"

Article Title: USPS plan to set up own health plan faces lawmakers' skepticism

Snippet of Article: "...One health care expert said the USPS health plan proposal would "massively disrupt or destroy the FEHBP." ..."

Source: www.federalnewsradio.com FEHBP, Postal Service Health Plan, Destruction of the Federal Employee Health Plan,

Saturday, March 24, 2012

Is there an app for that? Android and iPhone Apps

Article Title: Etch A Sketch Craziness? Yep, There's an App For That

Snippet of Article: "...Republican presidential candidate, former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum holds an Etch A Sketch during a rally in Mandeville, La., ..."

Source: Android and iPhone Apps Etch A Sketch App

Thursday, March 22, 2012

Budget plan calls for extending pay freeze through 2015

Article Title: GOP budget plan extends federal pay freeze, changes retirement benefits

Snippet of Article: "...The Republican budget plan for fiscal 2013 calls for extending the federal pay freeze through 2015, increasing federal retirement contributions and cutting the federal workforce by 10 percent. ..."

Source: www.federalnewsradio.com Republican budget plan, Federal pay freeze, 2015 pay freeze,

Saturday, March 17, 2012

Outfox Social Security

Article Title: How to Outsmart Social Security

Snippet of Article: "...A new working paper offers guidance on how to maximize this present value of benefits, depending on the circumstance. The authors, economists John Shoven at Stanford University and Sita Nataraj Slavov at Occidental College, received a grant from the Social Security Administration for their research..."

Source: Social Security News

Thursday, March 15, 2012

Mail Processing Facility Closure "utter disaster" says...

Article Title: Closure of Frederick Mail Processing Facility 'utter disaster,' according to director of union organization

Snippet of Article: "...sent to Baltimore to be sorted, has been an “utter disaster,” overwhelming the Baltimore plant and leading to mail delays of, in some cases, more than a month, said Richard Shelley, who works at the Baltimore Processing and Distribution Facility ..."

Source: herald-mail.com

Tuesday, March 13, 2012

Justice Department employees may see furloughs

Article Title: Justice warns of 5-week furloughs for 100,000 employees

Snippet of Article: "...More than 100,000 Justice Department employees — about 86 percent of the agency's workforce — would be furloughed for five weeks on average if automatic budget cuts take effect in January, a department spokeswoman said Tuesday...."

Source: www.federaltimes.com Federal Employee furloughs, Justice Department employees, sequestration budget cuts,

Friday, March 9, 2012

Postal Service suspending mail processing network consolidations

Article Title: Postal Service suspending mail processing network consolidations during the election mailing season

Snippet of Article: "...efforts include suspending mail processing network consolidations during..."

Source: Postal Newsgroup mail processing network consolidations, moratorium,

Thursday, March 8, 2012

Processing facility closures or consolidations not completed by the end of August will be put on hold

Article Title: Closure of some mail sites to be delayed for US vote

Snippet of Article: "...It announced on Wednesday that it would put any processing facility closures or consolidations not completed by the end of
August on hold until early 2013...."

Source: www.chicagotribune.com

Saturday, March 3, 2012

Los Alamos National Laboratory buyouts on the way

Article Title: Los Alamos Residents Brace for Layoffs at Lab

Snippet of Article: "...need to lay off up to 11 percent of its 7,600 permanent employees, a target that officials hope can be reached through volunteers. On Thursday, the lab’s director, Charles F. McMillan, met with employees to explain the terms of buyouts..."

Source: www.nytimes.com Federal Employee Buyouts, Early Retirements,

Wednesday, February 29, 2012

If RIF, what will be offered

Article Title: CSRS and break in service

Snippet of Article: "...If RIF, what will be offered to me for my retirement plan? 2. CSRS versus FERS..."

Source: federaltimes.com RIF,

Tuesday, February 14, 2012

More early retirement and buyouts for Agriculture Department

Article Title: The 2013 budget request: agency by agency

Snippet of Article: "...started closing 260 offices this year, plans to further use early retirement and buyouts to eliminate 900 more positions in 2013. Budget cuts forced..."

Source: www.federaltimes.com Early Retirements, Federal Employee Buyouts,

Friday, February 10, 2012

Bill to cut Federal Employee and Postal Pensions approved by House Panel

Article Title: House Panel Approves Bill To Cut Postal, Federal Pensions

Snippet of Article: "...legislation (H.R. 3813) was shepherded through the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee by a pair of politicians who are well-known opponents of postal workers: Committee Chairman Darrell Issa (R-CA) and Rep. Dennis Ross (R-FL)..."

Source: The Postal Newsgroup Darrell Issa (R-Calif.), Dennis A. Ross (R-Fla.), Federal Retirement Cuts, Federal Employee Retirement,

Wednesday, January 25, 2012

2011 Buyout Figures / Early Retirements

Article Title: GPO Reports Results of Buyouts / Early Outs

Snippet of Article: "...GPO offered buyouts and early outs to the agency's employees during the second half of calendar year 2011 as a result of overall Government cutbacks and projected reductions in appropriated funding. The buyout..."

Source: whattheythink.com

Friday, January 20, 2012

Blue Button technology arrives for Federal Employee Health Plans

Article Title: Federal health plans to offer Blue Button digital health-record access

Snippet of Article: "...the Blue Button technology, whose use was spearheaded by the Veterans Affairs Department, will make it easer to share digital records with family members and physicians...."

Source: www.federalnewsradio.com Blue Button technology

Monday, January 9, 2012

Federal Employee Pay Increase for 2013 is minuscule

Article Title: AFGE Statement on Proposed Federal Employee Pay Raise

Snippet of Article: "...American Federation of Government Employees National President John Gage today issued the following statement in response to the Obama administration's proposed 0.5% federal employee pay raise for 2013..."

Source: www.sacbee.com

Monday, January 2, 2012

Federal worker rule

Article Title: Wait is over for federal worker rule but worries persist

Snippet of Article: "...It took DHS' U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services almost two years to issue the final worker rule. The rule was welcomed with a mixture of relief and anxiety...."

Source: www.saipantribune.com

Wednesday, December 28, 2011

Federal employees' pay gains are slowest in 10 years

Article Title: Federal workers' pay gains are the slowest in 10 years

Snippet of Article: "...None of the wage gains kept pace with inflation. The federal pay numbers are the first full budget-year results since President Obama canceled automatic cost-of-living pay hikes..."

Source: www.usatoday.com
COLA, cost-of-living

Monday, December 19, 2011

Lawmakers stall Federal Employee unpaid furloughs for short period

Article Title: US Lawmakers Approve Government Funding

Snippet of Article: "...A shutdown would have forced government departments to halt non-essential operations and put tens of thousands of federal employees on unpaid furlough...."

Source: voanews.com Federal furlough, Federal employees,

Friday, December 16, 2011

Postal Service attempts to shutter vital mail processing facility in national defense mecca

Article Title: Huntsville mail processing center may relocate to Birmingham

Snippet of Article: "...Huntsville resident Ray Dunavant said if the measure passes, Huntsville will lose its historic postmark; something that Dunavant says is an emblem of a community...."

Source: Rocket City
destruction of postal service, essential services, Huntsville Alabama,

Friday, December 9, 2011

Huge cuts to federal employee pay and benefits

Article Title: Federal worker union opposes House GOP payroll tax plan

Snippet of Article: "...the measure would make “huge cuts to federal employee pay and benefits.”..."

Source: Federal pay cuts,

Monday, December 5, 2011

Another postal shooting (Montgomery, Alabama)

Article Title: Post office shooting suspect charged with Attempted Murder

Snippet of Article: "...postal worker carried two guns into the mail room at the post office and fired several shots. The suspect, 29-year-old Arthur Lee Darby Jr...."

Source: eastmontgomery.wsfa.com Postal Shooting

Wednesday, November 30, 2011

Weakening of the federal retirement safety net

Article Title: Baby Boom Retirement: Financial Security Fades

Snippet of Article: "...it's vital to fend off any weakening of the federal retirement safety net..."

Source: www.theledger.com
federal retirement safety net, Medicare, Social Security,,

Monday, November 28, 2011

Federal records management system gets attention

Article Title: Obama wants better digital archive of federal records

Snippet of Article: "...announcement could be a boon for the Archives, which is facing a multi-year reorganization and earned the lowest ratings of any large federal agency in a recent survey of federal employees...."

Source: www.washingtonpost.com

Saturday, November 26, 2011

Guidance issued by OPM on workforce restructuring

Article Title: OPM issues guidance on workforce restructuring

Snippet of Article: "...A memo from OPM Director John Berry includes information for chief human capital officers on buyouts, early retirement packages, layoffs and reassignments...."

Source: www.govexec.com

Friday, November 25, 2011

Best Places to Work in the Federal Government rankings

Article Title: Getting federal employees and managers on the same page

Snippet of Article: "...listed No. 1 in this year’s Best Places to Work in the Federal Government rankings, had been rated 25th out of 30 large agencies six years ago. ..."

Source: www.washingtonpost.com

Wednesday, November 16, 2011

Federal Employee health care open season begins

Article Title: 'Open season' begins for federal employee health care

Snippet of Article: "...Even if a federal employee is happy with current health insurance, officials say it's probably a good idea to do at least a little research during "open season," which began Monday and runs through Dec. 12...."

Source: www.army.mil

Friday, November 11, 2011

USPS proposed health plan likely to cost agency more

Article Title: USPS proposal to leave federal health benefits program questioned

Snippet of Article: "...The U.S. Postal Service’s proposal to withdraw from the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program likely will cost the cash-strapped agency more money, according to a health insurance expert...."

Source: gnom.es

Tuesday, November 8, 2011

Complete ban on smoking in Federal Buildings

Article Title: Bill Aims to Snuff Smoke Spots in Fed Buildings

Snippet of Article: "...President Bill Clinton banned smoking in most federal offices by executive order in 1997. The order allowed for the establishment of smoking rooms...."

Source: www.newsmax.com

Tuesday, October 25, 2011

federal contracting bribery sentences

Article Title: 11 sentenced in federal contracting bribery scheme

Snippet of Article: "...Eleven employees and contractors with the U.S. General Services Administration, which manages basic services and buildings for federal agencies, have been sentenced in contracting bribery schemes...."

Source: www.ktul.com

Wednesday, October 19, 2011

2012 Federal Retiree COLA 3.6 percent (FERS is less)

Article Title: Federal retirees to get COLA increase

Snippet of Article: "...those who retired under the Federal Employees Retirement System and who are eligible for COLAs will receive 1 percentage point less. The FERS system generally doesn’t pay inflation adjustments until age 62..."

Source: www.washingtonpost.com 2012 COLA, 2010 Retiree COLA, Federal Retirement COLA 2012,

Tuesday, October 18, 2011

Federal Disability Retirement

Article Title: FERS and CSRS Federal Disability Retirement: Understanding the Practical Application of a Theoretical Construct

Snippet of Article: "...In preparing, formulating and filing a Federal Disability Retirement application under FERS or CSRS, the world of reality should necessarily intersect with the theoretical construct, if one is to be successful in the endeavor. Success, ultimately, is defined by an approval of a Federal Disability Retirement application, either under FERS or CSRS, from the Office of Personnel Management or..."

Source: www.fedsmith.com Federal Disability Retirement

Federal Employee Buyout for the federal National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL)

Article Title: NREL offers voluntary buyouts to employees

Snippet of Article: "...Masson said the lab currently doesn’t have plans to start forced layoffs if enough people don’t take the voluntary buyout, which includes provisions for severance pay and medical benefits...."

Source: www.bizjournals.com Federal Employee Buyout

Saturday, October 15, 2011

Federal Employee pay freeze for third year being considered

Article Title: Senators call for extending federal pay freeze for third year

Snippet of Article: "...Congress should freeze the pay of federal employees for a third year and retool calculations of their retirement benefits to help pay down the federal deficit, two senators responsible for federal personnel issues said Friday...."

Source: www.washingtonpost.com