The National Treasury Employees Union says the program that replaced the Federal Career Internship Program does not do enough to level competition in the federal hiring system.
Host Mike Causey is joined on today\'s show by Susan R. Johnson, president of the American Foreign Service Association, and Federal Times senior staff writers, Stephen Losey and Sean Reilly. October 5, 2011
The latest OPM report on Latinos in the federal government shows no improvement in 2009 and 2010. They remain the most underrepresented racial and ethnic group in the federal workforce, making up eight percent of employees. OPM has convened a council to recommend improvements.
McManus explains the ways feds are showing resilience and areas that satisfaction could use a boost.
Democratic lawmakers want to codify the White House\'s hiring reform initiative to ensure that agencies keep working at making their processes faster and simpler. Rep. John Sarbanes (D-Md.) said the process is too complicated and changing it is key to attracting the best and brightest.
Federal hiring still takes too long and asks too much of applicants. But the agency hiring process is inching closer to mirroring the private sector. Officials, academics, analysts and union representatives agreed that agencies need to take the next steps to maintain progress.
Postal workers and federal employees groups are urging the \"supercommittee\" to reject President Barack Obama\'s proposed increase in employee retirement contributions and support his cap on contractors\' salaries. The Federal-Postal Coalition also wants lawmakers to preserve Saturday mail delivery, despite USPS\' wishes.
Can you stand a little good news? Do you remember how to react to it? The good news is that health insurance premiums in the FEHBP are only going up an average of 3.8 percent next year. That\'s almost half the increase in 2011. Check out what you will be paying next year, Senior Correspondent Mike Causey says.
Federal employees will see an average of 3.8 percent increase in healthcare premiums in 2012, the lowest rate hike since 2008 and about half of last year\'s increase. On average, enrollees with self-only coverage will pay $2.32 more per bi-weekly pay period, and enrollees with family coverage will pay $6.18 more, the Office of Personnel Management said.
Agency leaders, employee unions and associations are recommending ways to improve upon the age-old problem of supervision in the federal workforce. They\'re hoping to reassure employees that they\'re being treated fairly, while showing the public that the government is working efficiently. The President\'s Labor-Management Council is reviewing the plan.
The announcement is expected Tuesday morning. Average premiums increased 7.2 percent in fiscal 2011.
The Office of Personnel Management has created a task force to lead efforts to stop payments to retirees who have died. An inspector general report released Thursday revealed that OPM had paid $601 million in benefits to dead people since 2006.
Most federal employees remain satisfied at work, despite pay freezes and budget cuts. But a sizeable chunk of workers believe that pay raises and promotions are not based on merit and that their supervisors don\'t know how to handle poor performers. The Office of Personnel Management released these findings as part of the 2011 Employee Viewpoint Survey.
The Office of Personnel Management has paid more than $600 million to deceased annuitants in the last five years.
Over 67 percent of feds said their agencies have not told them of their telework status.