Monday, January 26, 2015

OPM Director: " I am doing all I can to encourage Americans, especially Latinos..."

Article Title: Three Weeks Left to #GetCovered
Snippet of Article: "... affordable health care. This is something I am passionate about. I am doing all I can to encourage Americans, especially Latinos, to go to healthcare.gov and find the right plans for them. That is why earlier today I joined with Mayor Vaughn Spencer of Reading, Pennsylvania to help him spread the word. ..."


Source: www.opm.gov

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

Friday, January 23, 2015

Democrats Propose a 3.8 Percent Pay Raise for Federal Workers, Republicans Support Downsizing to Smaller Gov

Article Title: Dems Propose a 3.8 Percent Pay Raise for Federal Workers
Snippet of Article: "...The lead sponsor of the bill, Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-Va.), said his Federal Adjustment of Income Rates Act, or the FAIR Act, is needed because federal wages have not kept up with inflation over the last five years...."


Source: www.theblaze.com

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

Monday, January 19, 2015

Report says richest 1% will control most wealth by 2016

Article Title: Report says richest 1% will control most wealth by 2016
Snippet of Article: "...The world's richest 1% will soon amass wealth that represents more than the entirety of that owned by the rest of the people on our planet, a new report released Monday by the British anti-poverty charity Oxfam claims...."


Source: www.usatoday.com

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

Thursday, January 15, 2015

FBI arrests Ohio man, foils attack on Capitol

Article Title: FBI arrests Ohio man, foils attack on Capitol
Snippet of Article: "...The joint FBI/Homeland Security bulletin stated Cornell’s alleged activities “highlight” the support for ISIS here in the U.S. and the use of social media by followers of the radical gang...."


Source: www.bostonherald.com

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

Monday, January 12, 2015

Jim Moran: Federal workers shouldn’t expect anything from new Congress

Article Title: Jim Moran: Federal workers shouldn’t expect anything from new Congress
Snippet of Article: "...Moran’s successor, Rep. Don Beyer (D-Va.), promises to be supportive of the federal workforce, but he doesn’t have the seniority, contacts and chits that Moran accumulated over a generation. Plus, Moran was a rank-and-file fed, working from 1968 to 1974 as a budget analyst at the former Department of Health, Education and Welfare...."


Source: www.washingtonpost.com

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

Friday, January 9, 2015

President Obama to propose free community college program for up to 9 million students

Article Title: Obama to propose free community college program for up to 9 million students
Snippet of Article: "..."It's not just for kids," Obama said. "We also have to make sure that everybody has the opportunity to constantly train themselves for better jobs, better wages, better benefits."..."


Source: www.chicagotribune.com

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

Thursday, January 8, 2015

Obama’s Statement On The Deadly Islamic Jihad Attack On Charlie Hebdo Omits Free Speech, Freedom Of The Press And Islam


Article Title: Obama’s Statement On The Deadly Islamic Jihad Attack On Charlie Hebdo Omits Free Speech, Freedom Of The Press And Islam
'The future does not belong to those who slander the prophet of Islam.'Snippet of Article: "...Barack Obama at UN two weeks after the Benghazi jihad attack: 'The future does not belong to those who slander the prophet of Islam.' ..."

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

Saturday, December 27, 2014

OPM: FERS Annuity Supplement


Article Title: OPM: FERS Annuity Supplement
Snippet of Article: "...The special retirement supplement is paid in addition to gross monthly Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) annuity benefits. It represents what you would receive for your FERS civilian service from the Social Security Administration (SSA) and is calculated as if you were eligible to receive SSA benefits on the day you retired. Eligibility for the annuity supplement continues until the earlier of (1) the last day of the month before the first month for which you would be entitled to actual Social Security benefits or (2) the last day of the month in which you reach age 62. ..."

Source: www.opm.gov
[tag] Federal Employee News, Federal Civil Service, [/tag]

Friday, December 19, 2014

Federal retirees and survivors will receive a 1.7% Cost-of-Living adjustment (COLA) effective December 1, 2014

Article Title: Holiday Greetings from Retirement Services!
Snippet of Article: "...You will see the increase in the January 2, 2015, payment. Why wait until you receive your annual mailer at the end of December to see your new monthly annuity amount. Simply go to Services Online (SOL) (www.servicesonline.opm.gov) to see your new annuity amount...."


Source: www2.opm.gov

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

Sunday, December 14, 2014

Postal Service investigating cause of stalled deliveries as complaints rise

Article Title: USPS investigating cause of stalled deliveries as complaints rise
Snippet of Article: "...When our investigation into Post Office package delays aired on Tuesday our social media accounts lit up with people claiming their packages are making it to Houston Processing Center and then the trouble starts...."


Source: abc13.com

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

Tuesday, December 9, 2014

Security beefed-up prior to release of CIA Interrogation Report

Article Title: Impending CIA Interrogation Report Creates Fear of Violence
Snippet of Article: "...The Muslim world has erupted many times before when the U.S. and the West have been accused of religious and cultural slights. The chairman of the House Intelligence Committee said that if this report is released, groups like ISIS will take full advantage...."


Source: abcnews.go.com

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

Saturday, December 6, 2014

TSA Week in Review: 30 Loaded Firearms, Smoke Grenade, Machete, and More

Article Title: TSA Week in Review: 30 Loaded Firearms, Smoke Grenade, Machete, and More
Snippet of Article: "...We continue to find inert grenades and other weaponry on a weekly basis. Please keep in mind that if an item looks like a real bomb, grenade, mine, etc., it is prohibited. When these items are found at a checkpoint or in checked baggage, they can cause significant delays because the explosives detection professionals must respond to resolve the alarm. Even if they are novelty items, you are prohibited from bringing them on the aircraft. Read here on why inert items cause problems...."


Source: tsa.gov

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

Friday, December 5, 2014

CDC: This year's flu vaccine is not as effective because the current strain of the virus has mutated

Article Title: CDC: Flu shot less effective this year because current virus has mutated
Snippet of Article: "...Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Thursday, a day after the agency advised doctors this year's flu vaccine is not as effective because the current strain of the virus has mutated. Dr. Tom Frieden said researchers are worried that with this particular strain of the virus, "we could have a season that is more severe than most with more hospitalizations and more deaths."..."


Source: www.cnn.com

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

Tuesday, November 25, 2014

Postal Service Letters From Santa Program

Article Title: USPS letters from Santa
Snippet of Article: "...To help your child get into the Christmas spirit have the children send their letter to Santa with the postmark no later than December 15. Then just watch the mail for Santa's letter to your child. - See more at: http://www.actionnewsjax.com/news/news/usps-letters-santa/njD2y/#sthash.vqxxiE8J.dpuf..."


Source: www.actionnewsjax.com

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

Monday, November 24, 2014

Health, dental and vision insurance open season continues

Article Title: Open Season November 10, 2014 - December 8, 2014
Snippet of Article: "...This is the time of year to ensure that you have the right health, dental or vision insurance coverage for you and your family. It is also time to consider the money you can save on your out-of-pocket medical and dependent care expenses for 2015...."


Source: www.opm.gov

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

Friday, November 21, 2014

NSA secret test targets domestic computer systems

Article Title: Revealed: NSA targeting domestic computer systems in secret test
Snippet of Article: "...Newly released files show a secret National Security Agency program is targeting the computerized systems that control utilities to discover security vulnerabilities, which can be used to defend the United States or disrupt the infrastructure of other nations...."


Source: www.cnet.com

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

Friday, November 14, 2014

Postmaster General Patrick Donahoe to Retire in February

Article Title: Postmaster General Donahoe to retire in February
Snippet of Article: "...Postmaster General and U.S. Postal Service CEO Patrick R. Donahoe will retire Feb. 1 after 39 years with the Postal Service. Megan J. Brennan..."


Source: www.usatoday.com

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

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]