Workforce

• Koskinen: Furloughs possible for IRS employees

  Employees at the Internal Revenue Service may face two days of furloughs before the end of the fiscal year. IRS Commissioner John Koskinen detailed stark budget realities in an agency-wide e-mail to employees.

  Budget

  January 14, 2015
• Why can’t the government dominate in cyber space?

  Former DHS Deputy Secretary Jane Holl Lute discusses the difficulty of establishing a strong cybersecurity program within the federal government on this week's Women of Washington radio show.

  Women of Washington

  January 14, 2015
• In OPM cyber breach, security experts spy fundamental problem

  While it's far from a full-fledged cyberattack, the "technical malfunction" that besieged an Office of Personnel Management Web portal Monday underscores a governmentwide problem that's not easy to fix, according to experts.

  Technology

  January 13, 2015
• Is the SES pay-for-performance appraisal system working?

  With fewer SES awards being handed out, Carol Bonosaro, president of the Senior Executives Association, wonders whether executives are performing less well than they did in years past or if the standards simply have gotten too tough?

  Management

  January 13, 2015
• Workforce obstacles hamper digital tech growth at agencies, study says

  Agency management is mostly gung-ho about bringing new digital technology into the workplace, but hurdles such as a sluggish acquisition process and a workforce lacking tech-related skills keep the federal government from innovating, according to a new study.

  Technology

  January 13, 2015
• House, Senate bills push for 3.8 percent federal pay raise

  Companion bills introduced in the House and Senate would give federal employees a 3.8 percent pay raise next year. Federal employees received 1 percent pay raises in both 2014 and 2015, after three years of pay freezes.

  Congress

  January 13, 2015
• John Palguta, Vice President for Policy, Partnership for Public Service

  Some save lives by fighting disease, developing vaccines or rescuing children from sexual predators. Others save money by fighting fraud. Still others save human dignity by pursuing justice, no matter how long it takes or how far they have to go. They are the Samuel J. Heyman Service to America Medalists. You've only got until the end of the week to nominate an outstanding federal employee for the 2015 awards. John Palguta is vice president for policy at the Partnership for Public Policy. He joined Tom Temin on the Federal Drive to explain the criteria and what the Sammies mean.

  Federal Drive

  January 13, 2015
• A taxing tax season: Press 2 to weep

  When you make that call to the Internal Revenue Service with a tax question or a plea for help, maybe you'd better pack a lunch, says Senior Correspondent Mike Causey. You might be on hold for a very long time.

  Mike Causey

  January 13, 2015
• OPM disables Web portal after retirees’ information potentially exposed

  The Office of Personnel Management disabled a Web portal used by federal retirees Monday to address a malfunction that may have left some retirees' personal information exposed.

  Technology

  January 12, 2015
• Tim McManus, Partnership for Public Service

  The federal hiring process is too complicated to give people a fair shot at working for your agency, according to the Merit Systems Protection Board. Tim McManus is Vice President for Education and Outreach at the Partnership for Public Service. On In Depth with Francis Rose, he said it's possible to fix the hiring process without compromising your agency's core principles.

  All News

  January 12, 2015
• John Pickett, Senior Economist, Office of Inspector General, USPS

  A better work-life balance at the Postal Service will help the agency, its employees and its customers. That's according to the agency's Inspector General, who has a plan to introduce more workplace flexibility for Postal Service employees. The IG says the plan should make everyone that interacts with the agency happier and more productive. John Pickett is senior economist for the Postal Service's Office of Inspector General. On In Depth with Francis Rose, he shared details on how to implement a new work-life balance plan.

  All News

  January 12, 2015
• 2015 challenge to agencies: Get the right people for the job

  Thanks to big data, agencies are learning where their skills gaps are. To close them, they'll have to get around some archiac personnel regulations, according to a panel of experts on the Federal Drive.

  Federal Drive

  January 12, 2015
• When is fair and open recruiting not fair?

  Certain recruiting and hiring authorities within agencies "threaten the principle of fair and open competition," according to the latest report from the Merit Systems Protection Board. Former DHS CHCO Jeff Neal offers his take.

  Management

  January 12, 2015
• Engineering a train wreck, or, China can you spare a yuan?

  If you ran a business and were dedicated to delivering what others can't and won't - at bargain basement prices - would you rethink your mission? Senior Correspondent Mike Causey asks that question in today's column.

  Mike Causey

  January 12, 2015