FedSmith.com - Daily Headlines

Concerned About Your Health Care Costs?

Fri, 13 Nov 2009 07:09:56 CST

On average, federal employees spend about seven percent of their income on health care, but that amount varies considerably. Federal employees should consider the total cost of their health care.

The FLRA's "Covered-By" Cover-Up (Part Two)

Fri, 13 Nov 2009 08:06:22 CST

The author says that a test applied by the Federal Labor Relations Authority clashes with fundamental principles of collective bargaining.

13 Years in Prison for Former Congressman

Fri, 13 Nov 2009 17:41:27 CST

William Jefferson, the former U.S. congressman caught with $90,000 in marked currency stuffed in his freezer, has been sentenced to 13 years in prison for using his office to solicit bribes.

Man Killed by Vice-President's Secret Service Vehicles

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 08:15:26 CST

Two U.S. Secret Service armored vehicles used to protect Vice President Biden struck and killed a pedestrian in Temple Hills, Maryland early Wednesday morning.

Have You Considered a High-Deductible Health Plan?

Fri, 13 Nov 2009 08:39:59 CST

According to OPM, of the 2.2 million Federal Employees Health Benefits Program policyholders, 71 percent are in preferred provider organization plans; 27 percent are in health maintenance organizations; and 2 percent are in consumer-directed health plans and HDHPs.

Unaffordable Health Insurance

Fri, 13 Nov 2009 07:22:24 CST

Congress legislates its own health benefits under the political cover of doing it "for" the Civil Service. While the range of coverage options offered by the FEHB program is impressive, the only role Congress has is to set the annual contribution percentages between the employee and the government. Most lower-paid federal employees are financially constrained from choosing the higher-cost plans.

It's Health Plan Open Season!

Sun, 15 Nov 2009 19:05:49 CST

After all the time and money spent each year to inform federal workers about their health plan changes, prices and options, about 6 percent actually switch health plans. This year could be different.

Postal Service Customer Satisfaction Reaches 4-Year High

Fri, 13 Nov 2009 10:40:49 CST

94 percent of customers surveyed rated the Postal Service as "excellent, very good or good" in the period July 1 to Sept. 30, 2009.

Preparing for Budget Cuts in Agencies

Fri, 13 Nov 2009 08:27:52 CST

The Office of Management and Budget has asked all cabinet agencies, except defense and veterans affairs, to prepare two budget proposals for fiscal 2011. One would freeze spending at current levels. The other would cut spending by 5%.

Hanged Fed and Possible Insurance Scam

Fri, 13 Nov 2009 07:13:50 CST

Investigators trying to solve the mystery of a census taker found hanging from a tree with the word "fed" scrawled on his chest are examining whether he manipulated the scene in order to conceal a suicide and make a life insurance claim possible for his son.

Seeking Out Political Appointees Converting to Career Positions

Fri, 13 Nov 2009 07:07:04 CST

It is a common practice for officials of an administration to "burrow in" and become federal employees during a change of administrations. OPM is requiring agencies to get approval for "current political Schedule A or Schedule C Executive Branch employee or a former political Schedule A or Schedule C Executive Branch employee who held the position within the last five years" before appointing them to a competitive or excepted service position.

Hasan to Be Charged With Premeditated Murder

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 11:54:47 CST

Army officials intend to charge Maj. Nidal M. Hasan with premeditated murder in last week's killing of 12 soldiers and a civilian at Fort Hood.

10 Reasons Supervisors Give for Not Trying to Resolve Employee Problems

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 07:33:47 CST

The author asks whether a fairly widely held belief is true i.e., that Federal management takes disciplinary action only if it has absolutely no choice and often not even then. Where does this idea come from and, if true, what should Agency leadership do about it?

The FLRA's "Covered-By" Cover-Up (Part One)

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 07:06:52 CST

The Federal Labor Relations Authority owes agencies and unions clear rules that are easy to apply. The author says that has not been done and provides an example of the torturous path the federal labor relations program sometimes follows.