Pay & Benefits

  • Family members of active duty service members and military retirees would see new fees under the Defense Department's proposal to consolidate TRICARE plans, as part of the fiscal 2015 budget request sent to Congress Tuesday.

    March 05, 2014
  • With rare exceptions, unions representing federal and postal workers have endorsed Democratic president candidates since the Kennedy administration. Senior Correspondent Mike Causey wants to know how that's working out...

    March 05, 2014
  • The White House's fiscal 2015 budget proposal released Tuesday aims to boost funding for federal-employee training, which has been hard hit by across-the-board sequestration cuts in recent years. The budget also proposes a 1 percent pay increase for federal employees and leaves untouched federal retirement programs.

    March 04, 2014
  • After a rocky start to the year, fund performance for the Thrift Savings Plan rebounded last month. A strong February on Wall Street helped fuel across-the-board gains in all five of the TSP's regular funds, according to statistics released Tuesday by the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board.

    March 04, 2014
  • Back in the day, teleworking was an unusual perk that many bosses didn't like. Today lots of people are doing it, but some of them say it has a downside, especially during snowstorms, Senior Correspondent Mike Causey says.

    March 04, 2014
  • How can three nearly identical feds the same age, same agency, same grade and same job get paychecks of different amounts? Hint: Some feds are more equal than others, Senior Correspondent MIke Causey says.

    March 03, 2014
  • Given the choice, would you choose a date with Justin Bieber, an evening with Beyonce or a $25,000 buyout? Given the odds, chances are you will never have to make a choice, Senior Correspondent Mike Causey says. But be prepared...

    February 28, 2014
  • Unrequited love can, in and of itself, be romantic. But it can also be painful and costly, Senior Correspondent Mike Causey says. So, is it time for federal unions to reevaluate their long-time relationship with politicians?

    February 27, 2014
  • The Senate subcommittee with oversight of the federal workforce will take up the issue of federal-employee compensation and sinking employee morale. Sen. Jon Tester (D-Mont.), the subcommittee chairman, said at the National Treasury Employees Union's annual legislative conference that the hearing would focus, in part, on making sure federal pay stays competitive with the private sector.

    February 26, 2014
  • Federal Times writers Andy Medici and Sean Reilly and NARFE legislative director Jessica Klement will talk about some of the issues affecting feds in 2014. February 26, 2014

    February 26, 2014
  • When you are expecting a big expensive wedding cake and somebody brings you a single Twinkie it can strain the relationship. That's sort of the situation today between federal and postal unions and the White House, Senior Correspondent Mike Causey says.

    February 26, 2014
  • While the latest rounds of buyouts and early retirements span agencies as diverse as the Naval Sea Systems Command and the Interior Department's Bureau of Land Management, one thing many of them have in common is the targeted nature of the offers. In many instances, agencies are targeting offers to employees in specific job areas or agency locations.

    February 25, 2014
  • The Pentagon says its spending plan acknowledges defense spending is on a downward trajectory, and reduces force structure in order to balance other priorities such as readiness. If sequestration stays in place, the calculus will change, Defense officials say.

    February 25, 2014
  • Was there a monster under your bed when you were a kid? Did demons lurk in your closet waiting for lights out? Well they may be gone, but now as an adult civil servant there's a real terror lurking out there, Senior Correspondent Mike Causey says.

    February 25, 2014