By now, most federal workers have figured out that this is not a drill. That being a civil servant (while still a good thing) can be nerve-wracking, too. Retirement applications are approaching all-time high levels, even as cash-strapped federal agencies are eliminating pre-retirement seminars, which are invaluable for mid-career and retirement age workers.

For many feds, it is hard to keep track of what is happening, which threats are real and who their political adversaries are. What are the real threats vs. what are simply the round-up-the-usual-suspects proposals that have been kicking around for years. Among things feds are pondering include questions like:

• When are federal workers (as in what year or decade) going to get their next pay raise?
• What are the odds that the White House plan to slightly shrink future federal and Social Security retirement benefits will be approved by Congress?
• If you are under the FERS retirement program and you plan to retire before age 62 (when you can collect Social Security), will the financially invaluable FERS supplement be available when you want and need it?
• For members of the federal family, what’s the difference between the draconian cuts called for in the House GOP budget vs. those proposed by President Obama. Some people say they are more alike than not.
• How come some federal agencies are furloughing employees while others seem to have found a way to avoid or reprogram the sequestration-triggered budget cuts? What is the latest in the furlough situation?

Questions are a lot more fun than finding and articulating real (as in accurate) answers. But we’re going to try. Today at 10 a.m. (EDT) I will join the National Institute of Transition Planning team on their For Your Benefit radio show. We’ll take a look at the state of the federal workforce as of right now.

NITP chief Bob Leins will talk about the financial and tax implications of furloughs and life in general for members of the federal workforce. Benefits expert and Government Executive columnist Tammy Flanagan will look at pre-retirement planning, the best-day-to-retire (regardless of when you plan to retire) and other benefits related issues. What are the biggest threats to your pay-benefits package? I’ll talk about the complicated (trust me) legislative proposals that are out there and the future of sequestration.

Listen if you can (1500 AM or online), and if you have questions email them to me at mcausey@federalnewsradio.com

NEARLY USELESS FACTOID

Compiled by Jack Moore

Apple’s announcement this week that its cash holdings total about $145 billion have led to some aggressive business advice from all corners. Financial prognosticators have (perhaps tongue-in-cheek) called on the tech company to acquire everything from online streaming service Netflix and credit card giant Visa to the entire country of Hungary. However, as Slate reports, “it’s doubtful either of those companies would settle for a measly “145 billion, and countries aren’t technically for sale.”

MORE FROM FEDERAL NEWS RADIO

SES members honored for saving $94 billion in 2012
Each year, the Presidential Distinguished Rank Awards honor members of the Senior Executive Service for their accomplishments. But this year, one very important group of federal employees was left out.

PHOTO GALLERY: 28th Annual Distinguished Presidential Rank Awards Ceremony

HUD reorg will close dozens of field offices, affect 900 workers
A major restructuring at the Department of Housing and Urban Development will close or consolidate dozens of the agency’s field offices nationwide and affect 10 percent of its 9,000-member workforce.

Copyright © 2024 Federal News Network. All rights reserved. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area.