Pay and Benefits News

• Despite vocal congressional opposition, TSP moving ahead with I fund changes

  The Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board said it’ll continue its plans to move the international fund to an emerging markets index, despite bipartisan congressional concern that the move would expose employees’ retirement assets to Chinese interests.

  TSP
  November 13, 2019
• Are you overpaying for health insurance? Probably

  If wasting a couple-thousand dollars next year is no big deal to you, you can skip this.

  Mike Causey Federal Report
  November 13, 2019
• Ft. Meade families are suing military housing company nine months after promises to improve living conditions

  DoD and military housing companies promised to clean up their act, but some military families at Ft. Meade aren’t seeing the results.

  Defense
  November 12, 2019
• OPM retirement backlog grows for first time in months

  The Office of Personnel Management in October received the lowest number of retirement claims in a month since April, but the agency’s claims backlog grew for the first time since June.

  OPM
  November 12, 2019
• OPM unveils updated plan comparison tool as Open Season gets underway

  In today’s Federal Newscast, Open Season is underway and the Office of Personnel Management says it has updated its tool for participants to compare plans.

  Federal Newscast
  November 12, 2019
• Should astronauts be furloughed, too?

  If one of the next furloughs happens while a team of American astronauts are heading for the Moon, will they be forced to abort their mission and return to Earth?

  Mike Causey Federal Report
  November 12, 2019
• Telework or snow day? OPM offers up leave policy reminders ahead of winter weather

  With winter around the corner, the Office of Personnel Management is reminding federal employees how they should respond to an operating status announcement, and when telework comes into play.

  OPM
  November 11, 2019
• BLM to offer buyouts for workers who don’t want to relocate

  In today’s Federal Newscast, the Bureau of Land Management said it will offer both early-outs and buyouts to parts of its workforce.

  Federal Newscast
  November 08, 2019
• Surprise: You’ve gotta work another 5 years, sorry!

  Planning on enrolling in the Federal Employee Health Benefits Program after retirement? Ever hear of the 5-year rule? Many haven’t. Until it’s too late.

  Mike Causey Federal Report
  November 08, 2019
• Paid family leave for feds showing up in union contracts

  The idea of extending paid family leave for federal employees comes up year after year in Congress. Bob Tobias thinks it’s long overdue, and in fact the policy is making its way into some union contracts already.

  Federal Drive
  November 07, 2019