2018 Federal Benefits Open Season Information and Resources from OPM

Article Title: 2018 Federal Benefits Open Season
Open Season is November 12 – December 10, 2018. Sign up by December 10, 2018. Please note: The Federal Benefits Open Season ends at 11:59pm Eastern Time on Monday December 10, 2018 for the Federal Employees Dental and Vision Insurance Program (FEDVIP) and the Federal Flexible Spending Account Program (FSAFEDS). Open Season for the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program (FEHB) ends at 11:59pm, in the location of your electronic enrollment system, on Monday December 10, 2018. All the resources you need to make informed decisions about your health, dental, vision, or flexible spending account benefits.Go to the Plan Comparison Tool.

Source: www.opm.gov

[tag] Federal Employee News, Federal Civil Service, 2018 Federal Benefits Open Season, Open Season, FEHB Open Season, [/tag]

OPM: Federal Happiness Stagnated in 2018, While Survey Participation Tanked

Article Title: OPM: Federal Happiness Stagnated in 2018, While Survey Participation Tanked
Snippet of Article: "...federal workers’ willingness to participate in the survey fell 5 percentage points to 40.6 percent this year, despite the fact that for the first time, the survey was conducted as a census, meaning that all employees were eligible to take the survey, instead of a randomized selection..."

Source: www.govexec.com

[tag] Federal Employee News, Federal Civil Service, Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey, [/tag]

Federal Employees Waiting until Later to Retire

Article Title: Federal Employees Waiting until Later to Retire
Snippet of Article: "...The average retirement age for federal employees is continuing to rise, hitting an average of 61.8 in the 2017 fiscal year, up by a half-year over 2015, a recent OPM report shows. At two of the largest agencies..."

Source: www.fedweek.com

[tag] Federal Employee Retirement [/tag]

'Suspicious Packages' Mailed To Clinton, Obama And CNN

Article Title: 'Suspicious Packages' Mailed To Clinton, Obama And CNN
Snippet of Article: "...The packages addressed to Clinton and Obama "were immediately identified during routine mail screening procedures as potential explosive devices and were appropriately handled as such," the Secret Service said in a statement Wednesday. "The protectees did not receive the packages nor were they at risk of receiving them." The package to Clinton was intercepted late Tuesday, and the package to Obama was intercepted early Wednesday morning..."

Source: www.nhpr.org

[tag] Hillary Clinton, Obama, CNN, Suspicious Package, Mail Bomb, [/tag]

What is the 'windfall elimination provision'?

Article Title: What is the 'windfall elimination provision'?
Snippet of Article: "...Bills recently introduced in Congress would change the formula for those who are ages 55 or younger this year. The new system, too, would be complex but “should increase Social Security benefits for a significant majority” of those who would be affected, says the National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association, which supports the bills..."

Source: www.washingtonpost.com

[tag] Windfall Elimination Provision, National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association (NARFE), [/tag]

Most federal retirees to receive 2.8 percent COLA in January

Article Title: Most federal retirees to receive 2.8 percent COLA in January
Snippet of Article: "...Monthly annuity benefits for most retired federal employees will rise by 2.8 percent in January, the largest increase since 2012, the government announced Thursday. The cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) mirrors the increase for Social Security and is..."

Source: www.washingtonpost.com

[tag] Federal Employee News, Federal Civil Service, retired federal employees COLA 2019, [/tag]

TSP Update: Changes to TSP Withdrawal Options Q and A

Article Title: TSP Update: Changes to TSP Withdrawal Options Q and A (PDF)
Snippet of Article: "...Currently, when you take a withdrawal, the money comes from your traditional and Roth balances on a pro rata basis. For example, if 80% of your account is in your traditional balance and 20% is in Roth, any withdrawal you take will be 80% traditional and 20% Roth. Under the new rules, you can still use this method, but you’ll also have the option to take your withdrawal only from your Roth balance or only from your traditional balance. These options will be available for all types of withdrawals..."

Source: www.tsp.gov

[tag] Federal Employee News, Federal Civil Service, TSP Withdrawal Options, [/tag]

U.S. navy veteran arrested in probe of suspicious letters

Article Title: U.S. navy veteran arrested in probe of suspicious letters
Snippet of Article: "...U.S. investigators have essentially ruled out terrorism after the envelopes sent to a Pentagon mail-sorting facility were flagged on suspicion of ricin, U.S. officials said on Wednesday..."

Source: www.reuters.com

[tag] Federal Employee News, Federal Civil Service, [/tag]

Envelopes sent to Mattis, Navy chief test positive for ricin

Article Title: Envelopes sent to Mattis, Navy chief test positive for ricin
Snippet of Article: "...have initially tested positive for the deadly poison ricin at the Pentagon’s mail facility, according to a report. The packages, which were delivered Monday, were intercepted before making it into the sprawling headquarters..."

Source: nypost.com

[tag] Federal Employee News, Federal Civil Service, ricin, Pentagon Mail Facility, [/tag]

Using Government Software and Information to “Resist” Administration

Article Title: Using Government Software and Information to “Resist” Administration
Snippet of Article: "...Hrabar: “And so we ran the license plate, and it was a car registered to Jeremy Wiley, so you have his car parked outside a house that he does own. As of very recently, and someone saw him through the window, which is also… Interviewer: “Also, we’re able to run license plates through?” Hrabar: “You can—We cannot do it officially..."

Source: www.fedsmith.com

[tag] Federal Employee News, Federal Civil Service, Hatch Act, Trojan Horse, LexisNexis abuse, [/tag]

Federal Employee allegedly Does Work for Socialists at Government Job

Article Title: New O'Keefe Video: Federal Employee Does Work for Socialists at Government Job
Snippet of Article: "...The Government Accountability Office has announced that due to the statements on the Project Veritas video, Natarajan Subramanian has been removed from all authority and responsibility and access to GAO computers has been terminated. Moreover, GAO is reviewing all of his work for bias..."

Source: pjmedia.com

[tag] Federal Employee News, Federal Civil Service, Trojan Horse, Telework, Government Accountability Office (GAO), [/tag]

Best Dates to Retire 2019

Article Title: Best Dates to Retire 2019
Snippet of Article: "...It’s time for our annual look ahead at the best dates to retire in the next year. As always, your retirement coverage under the Civil Service Retirement System (including CSRS Offset) or the Federal Employees Retirement System (including transfers to FERS) will be an important factor in choosing the best date..."

Source: www.govexec.com

[tag] Federal Employee News, Federal Civil Service, [/tag]

Trailer company raided by feds found ways around E-Verify

Article Title: Trailer company raided by feds found ways around E-Verify
Snippet of Article: "...A company insider at a North Texas trailer manufacturer under investigation for hiring dozens of undocumented immigrants told WFAA that company executives knew ways around federal immigration checks. In what is being called the largest operation of its kind in a decade, 300 U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents descended on Load Trail and detained 159 undocumented immigrants employed there, copied computer servers, employment records and financial documents..."

Source: www.wfaa.com

[tag] Federal Employee News, fighting illegal immigration, federal immigration checks, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, [/tag]

Text of a Letter from the President to the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President of the Senate

Article Title: Text of a Letter from the President to the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President of the Senate
Snippet of Article: "...Title 5, United States Code, authorizes me to implement alternative plans for pay adjustments for civilian Federal employees covered by the General Schedule and certain other pay systems if, because of “national emergency or serious economic conditions affecting the general welfare,” I view the increases that would otherwise take effect as inappropriate..."

Source: www.whitehouse.gov

[tag] Federal Employee News, Federal Civil Service, 2019 federal employee pay increase, [/tag]

Trump cancels federal employee pay increases, citing financial concerns

Article Title: Trump cancels federal employee pay increases, citing financial concerns
Snippet of Article: "...The president said he's determined that for 2019 "both across-the-board pay increases and locality pay increases will be set at zero..."

Source: www.cbsnews.com

[tag] Federal Employee News, Federal Civil Service, 2019 federal employee pay increase, [/tag]

Opportunity for Voluntary Early Retirement and Separation for Select NLRB Agency Positions

Article Title: NLRB Reviewing Applications for Opportunity for Voluntary Early Retirement and Separation for Select Agency Positions
Press Release from NLRB: August 22, 2018

WASHINGTON, DC — On August 7, 2018, the National Labor Relations Board (“NLRB” or “Agency”) announced that it was offering voluntary early retirement and voluntary separation to employees holding eligible positions in the Agency under the Voluntary Early Retirement Authority (VERA) and Voluntary Separation Incentive Payments (VSIP) programs. The window period for the submission of applications for the VERA and VSIP programs ended on August 21, 2018. Applying for the VERA and VSIP opportunities was entirely voluntary. As of the close of the application period, 38 Agency employees holding positions within the Agency eligible for VERA and VSIP submitted applications to participate in the opportunity for voluntary early retirement and separation.

VERA changes the normal retirement eligibility to allow employees the opportunity to voluntarily retire earlier, with an immediate annuity, with 20 years of service at age 50, or at 25 years of service regardless of age. VSIP provides a financial incentive for employees to voluntarily separate by optional retirement, voluntary early retirement, or resignation. The NLRB offered VERA and VSIP opportunities only to employees in eligible job categories. The VERA and VSIP program offering was part of an initiative to address staffing imbalances and to reposition the Agency to better carry out its mission.

Established in 1935, the National Labor Relations Board is an independent federal agency that protects employers and employees from unfair labor practices, and protects the right of private sector employees to join together, with or without a union, to improve wages, benefits and working conditions. The NLRB conducts hundreds of workplace elections and investigates thousands of unfair labor practice charges each year. The Office of the General Counsel is independent from the Board and is responsible for the investigation and prosecution of unfair labor practice cases, for the conducting of secret ballot elections to determine whether employees desire union representation, for the overall supervision of field offices around the country, and for the general oversight of the Agency’s administrative, financial, personnel and human capital operations.

Source: www.nlrb.gov

[tag] Federal Employee News, Federal Civil Service, [/tag]

This drug-busting agency has more power than the DEA, but we can't tell how they use it

Article Title: This drug-busting agency has more power than the DEA, but we can't tell how they use it
Snippet of Article: "...has a commitment to privacy, but a look at local drug investigations found that postal inspectors are spending a lot of time with canine companions, and..."

Source: www.cincinnati.com

[tag] Federal Employee News, Federal Civil Service, [/tag]

Bill would protect veterans, federal workers who use medical cannabis

Article Title: Bill would protect veterans, federal workers who use medical cannabis
Snippet of Article: "...A new push has been announced to protect veterans and federal workers who use medical marijuana. Wednesday, Congressman Charlie Crist (D-FL) announced a bipartisan bill that would make it illegal to fire or..."

Source: www.fox13news.com

[tag] Federal Employee News, Federal Civil Service, [/tag]

White House Opposes Senate Pay Raise Proposal

Article Title: White House Opposes Senate Pay Raise Proposal
Snippet of Article: "...The Office of Management and Budget announced Tuesday that it is “concerned” about a provision of the Senate’s latest minibus spending package that would provide a 1.9 percent pay raise for federal civilian employees next year..."

Source: www.govexec.com

[tag] Federal Employee News, Federal Civil Service, [/tag]

Government Jobs vs. Government Contractor Positions-Which is Best?

Article Title: Government Jobs vs. Government Contractor Positions-Which is Best?
Snippet of Article: "...The retirement benefits are usually cited as one of the more robust offerings. The Federal Employee Retirement System (FERS) functions as a pension or annuity, providing a defined benefit upon retirement. The calculation is generally simple. For the FERS Basic Annuity Formula for those who retire at age 62 with at least 20 years of service is 1.1 percent of your average salary over your three-year highest paid period per year of service. That means if you work 30 years, and your highest three-year average is $60,000 per year, your annuity is $19,800 annually or $1,650 per month..."

Source: www.savingadvice.com

[tag] Federal Employee News, Federal Civil Service, [/tag]

Repeal of Windfall Elimination Provision? Joint resolution passes California state Assembly, aims to increase Social Security benefits for public sector employees

Article Title: Joint resolution passes California state Assembly, aims to increase Social Security benefits for public sector employees
Snippet of Article: "...The California State Assembly passed Assembly Joint Resolution No. 41, or AJR 41, on June 25, requesting that Congress and the president repeal the Government Pension Offset and the Windfall Elimination Provision from the Social Security Act..."

Source: www.dailycal.org

[tag] Federal Employee News, Federal Civil Service, Windfall Elimination Provision, Government Pension Offset, Social Security, [/tag]

Declaration of Independence

Article Title: Declaration of Independence
Snippet of Article: "...The Declaration of Independence states the principles on which our government, and our identity as Americans, are based...Abraham Lincoln called it “a rebuke and a stumbling-block to tyranny and oppression.” It continues to inspire people around the world to fight for freedom...Read a transcript of the document here..."

Source: www.archives.gov
[tag] Declaration of Independence, 4th of July, Independence Day, [/tag]

Important changes to TSP withdrawal options

Article Title: Important changes to TSP withdrawal options
Snippet of Article: "...you’ll also have the option to take your withdrawal only from your Roth balance or only from your traditional balance. These options will be available for all types of withdrawals. Read the TSP Q&A relating to the changes at..."

Source: NPMHU 317

[tag] Federal Employee News, Federal Civil Service, TSP Withdrawal Options, TSP, ROTH, retirement, [/tag]

Federal employees sue over union restrictions

Article Title: Federal employees sue over union restrictions
Snippet of Article: "...seems to think he is above the law, and we are not going to stand by while he tries to shred workers’ rights,” said the American Federation of Government Employees national president J. David Cox Sr., in a statement that announced the lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court for the District..."

Source: www.eastbaytimes.com

[tag] Federal Employee News, Federal Civil Service, [/tag]

Trump attacks on federal worker benefits is an attack on military veterans. 1 in 4 feds are veterans. That's 2.1 million votes!

Article Title: How many veterans work for the federal government?
Snippet of Article: "...how many military veterans does the federal goverment employ? Roughly one in four of 2.1 million federal employees is a veteran, according to statistics compiled by the Office of Personnel Management..."

Source: www.washingtonpost.com

[tag] Federal Employee News, Federal Civil Service, How many veterans work for the federal government?,[/tag]

Trump’s orders show unwavering attack on federal unions, employees

Article Title: Trump’s orders show unwavering attack on federal unions, employees
Snippet of Article: "...The orders are in keeping with other actions to belittle federal unions and the pocketbooks of all federal employees. Trump wants to freeze federal pay next year and cut federal retirement benefits by $143.5 billion over 10 years. In March, his Education Department unilaterally imposed a contract on union members who had rejected it..."

Source: www.washingtonpost.com

[tag] Federal Employee News, Federal Civil Service, [/tag]

Supreme Court Destroys Workers Rights, Corporations Win Again

Article Title: Supreme Court Decision Delivers Blow To Workers' Rights
Snippet of Article: "...The inevitable result, she warned, is that there will be huge underenforcement of federal and state statutes designed to advance the well-being of workers. "[T]he edict that employees with wage and hours claims may seek relief only one-by-one does not come from Congress," Ginsburg writes. "It is the result of take-it-or-leave-it labor contracts harking back to the type called 'yellow dog,' and of the readiness of this Court to enforce those unbargained-for agreements. The FAA demands no such suppression of the right of workers to take concerted action for their 'mutual aid or protection.'" She urged Congress to correct the court's elevation of the arbitration act over workers' rights..."

Source: www.npr.org

[tag] Federal Employee News, Federal Civil Service, [/tag]

House GOP Group Envisions Massive Changes to Civil Service in Budget Proposal

Article Title: House GOP Group Envisions Massive Changes to Civil Service in Budget Proposal
Snippet of Article: "...White House plans to reduce retirement benefits for feds, including increasing employee contributions to the Federal Employees Retirement System pension by 1 percentage point per year over five years, eliminating cost of living adjustments for FERS employees, and reducing COLAs for employees in the Civil Service Retirement System. It also included plans to base pension benefits on the highest five years of an employee’s salary, instead of the current high three, and it would eliminate the FERS supplement for federal employees who retire before Social Security kicks in at age 62..."

Source: www.govexec.com

[tag] Federal Employee News, Federal Civil Service, Destruction of Civil Service Retirement (FERS), destruction of the working class, special retirement supplement (SRS), FERS supplement, [/tag]

Postal Service offers digital Informed Delivery service that emails you notification of what you will get in the mail each day

Article Title: USPS offers digital Informed Delivery service
Snippet of Article: "...Subscribers receive daily email notifications informing them of the mail or packages expected throughout the day after opting in at USPS.com or at their local post office. "I get my email around 7:30 a.m.," St John said. Customers "love it," she said...Mailers are using this technology to be informed of when items have reached their customers," St. John said..."

Source: www.semissourian.com

[tag] Federal Employee News, Federal Civil Service, Informed Delivery service,[/tag]

White House Issues Executive Order to Review Postal Finances, Pricing, Policies and Workforce Costs

Article Title: White House Issues Executive Order to Review Postal Finances, Pricing, Policies and Workforce Costs
Snippet of Article: "...the Task Force will be comprised of multiple agency heads including the: Secretary of the Treasury as Chair; Director of the Office of Management and Budget; Director of the Office of Personnel Management; and other agency heads. The Executive Order goes on to highlight consultation with the Postmaster General and the Chairman of the Postal Regulatory Commission and the Secretary of Labor. Postal Unions were not named in the EO as task force participants..."

Source: National Postal Mail Handlers Union

[tag] Postal Employee News, Federal Civil Service, Executive Order, [/tag]