Merit Systems Protection Board

In today’s Federal Newscast, federal employees would receive mandatory Internet of Things cybersecurity training under a new bill introduced by Congressman Ro Khanna (D-CA).

The Merit Systems Protection Board praised recent Office of Personnel Management guidance designed to help agencies better assess job candidates and their qualifications. But the assessment tools OPM offers to agencies for a fee are often too expensive, MSPB said.

Federal employees, members of Congress and good government governments remember the late House Oversight and Reform Committee Chairman, Elijah Cummings, as a champion for the federal workforce and a staunch and vocal supporter of whistleblowers.

While all of the focus on the OPM-GSA merger has been on OPM’s shortcomings, it is safe to say that the federal government as a whole has not covered itself with respect to management issues.

Stress is real, and it can be a killer. Federal workers are not immune to job-related stress, and many occupy jobs that cause high levels of stress. So several agencies have employee assistance programs.

Under the latest guidance from the Office of Personnel Management, agencies have new deadlines now to review and then streamline their existing performance management and disciplinary procedures for federal employees.

The House-passed 2020 defense authorization bill includes paid family leave for federal employees, as well as another legislative attempt to block the Trump administration’s proposed OPM-GSA merger.

All eyes are on Customs and Border Protection to make sure it holds accountable agents caught making lewd comments in a Facebook group.

The MERIT Act falls short of its purported goal of improving public service, Tom Temin writes.

Another group has recommended the Social Security Administration share its Death Master File with Treasury to cub improper payments.