Expert's View:
New for 2009: Death Benefits Changes
If you work for the federal government, are married, and die while still on the payroll, your surviving spouse will be entitled to certain benefits. . . writes benefits expert Reg Jones.
Employees Voice Views on Performance Issues
Only relatively small minorities of federal employees think the government does a good job of either rewarding good performance or dealing with poor performers, survey results released by OPM show. More
Other Indicators Are Mixed
The survey meanwhile found that 91 percent believe their work is important, 84 percent like their work, 73 percent believe it gives them a feeling of personal accomplishment, and 68 percent said there are satisfied with their jobs overall. More
No OPM Nominee Yet
With less than a week to go before the start of the Obama administration, there still has been no nominee to head OPM. More
Expert's View: New for 2009: Death Benefit Changes
If you work for the federal government, are married, and die while still on the payroll, your surviving spouse will be entitled to certain benefits, writes benefits expert Reg Jones. More
New Smoking Policies Set
GSA has issued a memo to agencies regarding smoking in and around federal buildings that it owns or leases, most significantly strengthening the restrictions on smoking close to doors and other air intake points and eliminating certain designated inside smoking areas that had been allowed under prior policy, such as separately ventilated areas. More
New Withdrawal Policy Affects TSP
A recently enacted change in law involving required distributions from tax-favored retirement savings plans does apply to the Thrift Savings Plan, the TSP has said. More
Possible Further Changes Coming
The change in the required distributions is for 2009 only and will have to be renewed legislatively if it is to be extended. More
NSPS Raise Breakdown Detailed
DoD has announced how raises will break down in the NSPS system, saying it is paying an across the board raise of 1.74 percent and locality raises equaling local general schedule locality adjustments to employees who are rated at least level 2 in the five-level rating system. More
Dependent Care Reimbursement Policy Changes
The FSAFEDS flexible spending account program has changed how it processes claims for dependent care, in order to comply with IRS policy that such plans cannot reimburse participants for care to be provided in the future. More
Note on Order of Legal Corner Items
The following Federal Legal Corner item should have been published before the item that was published in the January 7 FEDweek newsletter.
Federal Legal Corner: Recommended Changes to EEOC Policies
This is the first of two articles on suggested changes to the EEOC federal sector regulations and procedures. More