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]

EPA may offer more buyouts, early retirement, depending on funding from Congress

Article Title: EPA may offer more buyouts, early retirement, depending on funding from Congress
Snippet of Article: "...the EPA could offer buyouts to an additional 2,200 to 2,500 employees. The maximum buyout a civilian federal employee can receive under current law is $25,000. “I think we will see another round of buyouts with that kind of money in play,” O’Grady said in an interview with Federal News Radio..."

Source: federalnewsradio.com

[tag] Federal Employee News, Federal Civil Service, VERA, VSIP, EPA, buyouts, [/tag]

White House Wants to Increase Federal Employee Buyout Payments

Article Title: White House Wants to Increase Federal Employee Buyout Payments
Snippet of Article: "...VSIP’s $25,000 cap has been in place since it was first enacted in 1993. The Defense pilot program came in part because of the Pentagon’s effort to reduce its headquarters staff by 25 percent by 2020..."

Source: www.govexec.com

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

What is the maximum you can get in a buyout (VSIP)

Article Title: Voluntary Separation Incentive Payments
Snippet of Article: "...The Voluntary Separation Incentive Payment Authority, also known as buyout authority, allows agencies that are downsizing or restructuring to offer employees lump-sum payments up to $25,000 as an incentive to voluntarily separate. When authorized by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), an agency may offer VSIP to employees who are in surplus positions or have skills that are no longer needed in the workforce who volunteer to separate by resignation, optional retirement, or by voluntary early retirement, if approved. By allowing employees to volunteer to leave the Government, agencies can minimize or avoid involuntary separations through the use of costly and disruptive reductions in force (RIFs). Agencies such as the Department of Defense that have been granted agency-specific VSIP authority are not required to seek OPM approval for their use of this option..."

Source: www.opm.gov

[tag] Federal Employee News, Federal Civil Service, Federal Employee Buyout, buyouts (VSIP), VSIP, [/tag]

Air Force Materiel Command plan to survey civilian worker interest in VERA/VSIP

Article Title: Robins, Air Force, DoD facing billowing cloud of cuts, consequences
Snippet of Article: "...The latest shot across the Robins bow came a few days ago with announcement of an Air Force Materiel Command plan to survey civilian worker interest in VERA/VSIP, a program that would offer up to $25,000 in incentives for retirement or separation. How many Robins workers might accept is unknown; however, at least 2,250 local workers are currently eligible to retire...."

Source: warnerrobinspatriot.com

[tag]Federal,Government,Military,Retiree, [/tag]