Monday, November 10, 2014

newser: Every USPS Employee's Data Hacked in Breach

Article Title: Every USPS Employee's Data Hacked in Breach
Snippet of Article: "...the compromised data," data that sounds pretty broad: It includes names, birthdates, SSNs, addresses, and employment history for every single USPS employee—that's 800,000 people. ..."


Source: www.newser.com

[tag] Federal Employee News, Federal Civil Service, USPS Data Breach 2014, [/tag]

Saturday, November 1, 2014

End of Daylight Saving Time is Sunday, November 2

Article Title: Daylight Saving Time 2014: When Does It Begin? And Why?
Snippet of Article: "...Why do we spring forward and fall back? Does daylight saving time (DST) really save energy? Is it bad for your health? There is no consensus, but experts do offer some answers...."


Source: nationalgeographic.com

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

Sunday, October 26, 2014

Do Congressional money bags and trust-fund politicians in Congress represent the average American?

Article Title: The Money Bags in Congress
Snippet of Article: "...Nevertheless, it’s safe to say that regardless of who wins, deep-pocketed Americans of all political persuasions will be amply represented in next year’s Congress. Our lawmakers are loaded! There are 189 millionaires out of 538 members according to an analysis of financial data by Roll Call. That’s 35%—an impressive concentration of wealth few country clubs can beat...."


Source: barrons.com

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

Saturday, October 25, 2014

Retirees to get 1.7% COLA but what about current federal workers

Article Title: 1.7% COLA for Retirees… What About Current Federal Employees?
Snippet of Article: "...Based on comments from past years, here is one of the first questions many readers will ask: “I am still working for the federal government. Will my pay also go up 1.7% in January?” Here is the quick answer:..."


Source: fedsmith.com

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

Thursday, October 23, 2014

White House Fence Jumper Beats-Down Secret Service Dogs on White House Lawn

Article Title: Secret Service Dogs OK After Battling White House Fence Jumper
Snippet of Article: "...The canines, named Hurricane and Jordan, were taken to a veterinarian after the attack and treated for minor bruising. Both were cleared to return to duty. ..."


Source: abcnews.go.com

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

Thursday, October 16, 2014

Ebola patient told CBS that she called the CDC several times with concerns

Article Title: Amber Vinson, Dallas Ebola Patient, Says CDC Gave Her Green Light To Fly
Snippet of Article: "...Vinson told CBS Dallas Fort Worth that she was feeling ill before boarding her flight. She had a low grade fever, but she said that officials told her it was okay to get on the plane. Vinson told CBS that she called the CDC several times with concerns...."


Source: www.huffingtonpost.com

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

Thursday, October 9, 2014

Alleged: U.S. Investigative Services (USIS) company did not give proper notice of mass layoffs under federal law

Article Title: Lawsuit: USIS didn’t give mandated notice
Snippet of Article: "...The mass layoffs were in response to the federal Office of Personnel Management not renewing two contracts for background checks of federal employees. More than 2,500 USIS workers have lost their jobs, although the company said it expects many to be hired by whatever company scores the government contract...."


Source: www.sharonherald.com

[tag] Federal Employee News, Federal Civil Service, U.S. Investigative Services (USIS), [/tag]

Wednesday, October 8, 2014

Why shop Walmart? Is this the way the American working-class should be treated?

Note added by the Federal Employee News: Walmart is encouraging government subsidies by stealing away employee health benefits. In turn, this places a burden on the government and eventually an increase in taxes to pay for it. At the same time, hard working people lose a much needed employee benefit. Where you spend your money or don't spend your money makes a bold statement to retailers.

Article Title: Wal-Mart cuts health benefits for 30,000 part-timers
Snippet of Article: "...More of Wal-Mart's employees signed up for health benefits this year than the company expected, which boosted the company's costs. ... Employees who lost the Wal-Mart coverage option would now be eligible for government subsidies on Obamacare exchanges. ..."


Source: money.cnn.com
*Bolding added

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

Monday, October 6, 2014

U.S. Postal Service denies curbside mail delivery to development

Article Title: U.S. Postal Service denies curbside mail in Palmer, Bethlehem Township development
Snippet of Article: "...After receiving mail for a week upon moving into the Maple Shade Estates development in July, his mail delivery suddenly stopped. The U.S. Postal Service, under a cost savings plan, told residents it would no longer be delivering to individual homes and wants developer Tuskes Homes to construct cluster mailboxes...."


Source: www.lehighvalleylive.com

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

Thursday, October 2, 2014

Congressman Darrell Issa (CA-49) and the Oversight and Government Reform Committee needs serious reform

Opinion

Article Title: Congressman Darrell Issa (CA-49) and the Oversight and Government Reform Committee needs serious reform
It appears Congressman Darrell Issa, Chairman of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform and the committee both need to go. This committee has been a complete failure and gives more of an appearance of a government privatization initiative as opposed to an oversight committee. Referencing Issa's own committee website, the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform Mission Statement reads as:

  • The Committee on Oversight and Government Reform has legislative jurisdiction over the District of Columbia, the government procurement process, federal personnel systems, the Postal Service and other matters. Our primary responsibility, however, is oversight of virtually everything government does – from national security to homeland security grants, from federal workforce policies to regulatory reform and reorganization authority, from information technology procurements at individual agencies to government-wide data security standards.


  • Oversight, in my opinion, is defined as "the action of overseeing something". Oversight should be just that ...oversight! Not an after-the-fact whining and complaining about government failure instead of a committee that has failed to notice or do something about issues before the damage is done. However, instead of 'reforming' and 'overseeing' government entities, he and his committee have done nothing but allow the Postmaster General to purposely slow the mail and destroy the postal network infrastructure with more mail processing plant closures to come. The Secret Service has failed to properly secure the White House which falls under the realm of committee oversight that is tasked with the primary "responsibility for oversight of virtually everything government does". The CDC is now being criticized for the handling of the first Ebola incident in the country. The Veterans Affairs agency has seen its serious issues, as well as the IRS. Yet instead of being proactive and being the watchdogs (oversight) of our government and correcting issues before they fester into big problems, the committee has stood idle until the damage is done and then whines like little children that these agencies are failures. Wake up Issa and committee! Stop complaining and do something to protect America's infrastructure instead of trying to tear it down. Privatization of our national infrastructure is not the answer.Our government is supposed to be our government, not a privately run , for profit, corporate entity! Mr. Issa, repair our government, don't rip it apart! How about going to work on the aforementioned issues and stop whining after the fact.


    Source: Federal Employee News

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

    Wednesday, October 1, 2014

    White House intruder already stopped with hatchet in his waistband last month

    Article Title: White House Intruder’s Past Raises Concern
    Snippet of Article: "...Virginia officials said Mr. Gonzalez was charged with reckless driving, one felony count of eluding police and possession of a sawed-off shotgun. He was released after posting a bond. Last month, Secret Service officers stopped Mr. Gonzalez in front of the fence on the White House’s South Lawn after they noticed a hatchet in his waistband, the officials said. ..."


    Source: www.nytimes.com

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

    Too many security breaches

    Article Title: Long List of Breaches and Scandals for Secret Service Under Obama
    Snippet of Article: "...The Secret Service under President Barack Obama has been scarred over and over by security breaches and public embarrassments. ..."


    Source: www.nbcnews.com

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

    Monday, September 22, 2014

    Where can I find OPM guidance on furloughs?

    Article Title: Where can I find OPM guidance on furloughs?
    Snippet of Article: "...The U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) has prepared human resources guidance for agencies and employees in the event of furloughs. There are two types of furloughs: administrative furlough, shutdown furlough, ..."


    Source: www.opm.gov

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

    Tuesday, September 16, 2014

    Former DoD worker pleads guilty to $2.2M in fraudulent federal healthcare claims

    Article Title: Former DoD worker pleads guilty to $2.2M in fraudulent federal healthcare claims
    Snippet of Article: "...As a federal employee stationed overseas, Hargett was enrolled since 2002 in the Foreign Service Benefit Plan. Because of his service in the Army, he also was eligible for healthcare coverage from the Veterans Affairs Department. From January 2007 through April 2012, Hargett submitted fraudulen..."


    Source: www.fiercegovernment.com

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

    Tuesday, September 9, 2014

    Southeastern and Northeastern US to Take Disproportionate Hit in Next Round of Mail Processing Facility Closures

    Map as found on Goverment Executive
    Map as found on Goverment Executive
    Article Title: Southeastern and Northeastern US to Take Disproportionate Hit in Next Round of Mail Processing Facility Closures
    Snippet of Article: "...According to data map found on govexec.com identifies heavily unionized portions of the United States, as well as extreme population growth areas, will face the biggest attacks on service and displacement of the working-class in the next round of mail processing facility closures. ..."

    Source: npmhu317.blogspot.com
    [tag] Federal Employee News, Federal Civil Service, [/tag]

    Monday, September 8, 2014

    USAJobs site is being fine tuned for customer satisfaction

    Article Title: USAJobs site still leaves something to be desired for users
    Snippet of Article: "...The federal government’s human resources department fixed many of the problems that led to the troubled launch of USAJobs.gov in 2011, but the agency still wants to fine tune its employment database...."


    Source: www.washingtonpost.com

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

    Monday, September 1, 2014

    Despite the absence of a federal increase, 13 states raised their minimum wages

    Article Title: 'Revving' economy calls for higher wages, Obama says on Labor Day
    Snippet of Article: "...Despite the absence of a federal increase, 13 states raised their minimum wages at the beginning of this year. Those states have added jobs at a faster pace than those that did not raise the wage..."


    Source: www.cleveland.com

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

    Thursday, August 28, 2014

    Some VA employees are standing up for veterans by blowing the whistle on what they have seen at VA hospitals

    Article Title: Local VA employee to speak with federal investigators
    Snippet of Article: "...NASHVILLE, TN (WSMV) - A Hendersonville man has added his name to the list of employees who have agreed to speak with federal investigators about what he saw at VA hospitals...."


    Source: www.wsmv.com

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

    Saturday, August 23, 2014

    Government employees subjected to data breach through cyber attack, to include undercover investigators


    Article Title: U.S. undercover investigators among those exposed in data breach
    Snippet of Article: "...A cyber attack at a firm that performs background checks for U.S. government employees compromised data of at least 25,000 workers, including some undercover investigators, and that number could rise, agency officials said on Friday...."

    Source: www.reuters.com
    [tag] Federal Employee News, Federal Civil Service, [/tag]

    Friday, August 22, 2014

    20Stamps App Will Convert Your Pics Into Postage Stamps

    Article Title: 20Stamps - Turn Photos Into Real US Postage Stamps
    Snippet of Article: "...20Stamps - the world’s first app to turn your favorite photos into real US postage stamps. Amaze your friends and family by sending cards and letters with custom photo postage featuring your family, your pet, wedding portrait or any other treasured personal picture. Now you can make custom postage stamps..."


    Source: Android and iPhone Apps and News

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

    Thursday, August 21, 2014

    Darrell Issa Investigation Benefits Ex-Aide

    Article Title: Darrell Issa Investigation Benefits Ex-Aide
    Snippet of Article: "...Sen. Jay Rockefeller (D-W. Va.) has accused House oversight committee chairman Darrell Issa (R-Calif.) of inappropriately intervening in an ongoing Federal Trade Commission case against a company being represented by a legal group run by a former Issa staffer...."


    Source: www.motherjones.com

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

    Tuesday, August 19, 2014

    H.R. 1780: bill could require most federal employees to leave the FEHB Program...

    Article Title: Federal Employees Union Says Obamacare Could 'Hurt' Members
    Snippet of Article: "...Among the bills is H.R. 1780, sponsored by Michigan Republican Dave Camp. The NTEU says the bill could hurt workers because it would "require most federal employees to leave the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program...and instead join health plans established under the Affordable Care Act."..."


    Source: www.weeklystandard.com

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

    Monday, August 18, 2014

    Windfall Elimination Provision and Social Security

    Article Title: Windfall Elimination Provision
    Snippet of Article: "...The Windfall Elimination Provision primarily affects you if you earned a pension in any job where you did not pay Social Security taxes and you also worked in other jobs long enough to qualify for a Social Security retirement or disability benefit...."


    Source: www.ssa.gov

    [tag] Federal Employee News, Federal Civil Service, Windfall Elimination Provision [/tag]

    Friday, August 15, 2014

    50 Senators Sign Letter To Sen. Richard C. Shelby (R-Ala) and Sen. Mike Johanns (R-Neb.) Urging A Moratorium On Mail Processing Facility Closures

    Article Title: 50 Senators Call for Moratorium on USPS Facility Closures
    Snippet of Article: "...“This one-year moratorium will give Congress the time it needs to enact the comprehensive postal reforms that are necessary for the Postal Service to function effectively into the future,” the group said in a letter to Appropriations Committee Chairman Barbara A. Mikulski, D-Md., and ranking member Sen. Richard C. Shelby, R-Ala...."


    Source: rollcall.com

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

    Wednesday, August 13, 2014

    Teachers, Parents: Don’t Buy School Supplies at Staples


    Article Title: Don’t Buy School Supplies at Staples
    Snippet of Article: "...“Staples and the USPS have made it clear,” APWU’s Dimondstein said. “They intend to continue to privatize postal retail operations, replace living-wage Postal Service jobs with low-wage Staples jobs, and compromise the safety and security of the mail. We intend to keep up the pressure until Staples gets out of the mail business.”

    As the flyer says, “When you shop for supplies – for your classroom or your home – don’t shop at Staples. Most other office- and school-supply chains honor Staples coupons.”..."


    Source: www.apwu.org
    [tag] Federal Employee News, Federal Civil Service, [/tag]

    Tuesday, August 12, 2014

    Should ‘essential’ federal employees receive additional shutdown pay?

    Article Title: Should ‘essential’ federal employees receive additional shutdown pay?
    Snippet of Article: "...Campbell-Smith wrote that “courts have determined almost universally that an FLSA claim accrues, for limitations purposes, when an employer fails to pay workers on their regular paydays, and that a violation of the Act also occurs on that date.”..."


    Source: www.washingtonpost.com

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

    Friday, August 8, 2014

    Happy Birthday Smokey Bear; Interesting Facts About Smokey


     Smokey Bear turns 70
    Smokey Bear turns 70
    Article Title: Smokey Bear turns 70, but don't bring candles
    Snippet of Article: "...Smokey Bear was created in 1944 because of fears that America's enemies would set forest fires while most U.S. firefighters were in battle overseas. When the war ended, Smokey stuck around — and he is now at the center of the longest-running public service announcement campaign in U.S. history...."

    Source: www.usatoday.com
    [tag] Federal Employee News, Federal Civil Service, Smokey Bear, [/tag]

    Thursday, August 7, 2014

    Your Post Office's are being sold at huge discounts, destroying America's infrastructure, as well as our history


    America's Post Office for Sale
    Article Title: The Fire Sale of the Post Offices
    Snippet of Article: "...The PAEA is at once accomplishing a long-stated aim of conservative think tanks and the Republican Party to privatize the 239-year old service while throwing a windfall of public property onto the market from which Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-California, is profiting. Those properties include hundreds of architecturally distinguished buildings, many containing unique works of art. The National Trust for Historic Preservation has named America’s pre-war post offices among its most endangered treasures...."

    Source: consortiumnews.com
    [tag] Federal Employee News, Federal Civil Service, Post Office for Sale, [/tag]

    Tuesday, July 22, 2014

    FAA: Flights to Israel Halted

    Article Title: F.A.A. Halts U.S. Flights to Israel
    Snippet of Article: "...The Federal Aviation Administration instructed American air carriers on Tuesday not to fly to Israel for 24 hours, and major airlines canceled their flights, after a rocket fell about a mile from Ben-Gurion International Airport outside Tel Aviv. All three United States carriers with scheduled service to Israel — Delta Air Lines, United Airlines and US Airways..."


    Source: www.nytimes.com

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

    Saturday, June 14, 2014

    Too many federal employees and contractors have security clearances

    Article Title: Clearance investigations need tighter control, IG says
    Snippet of Article: "...One background check reviewer at USIS claimed to have completed 15,152 case reviews over the course of one month..."


    Source: www.federaltimes.com

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