Hear It from FMA, FEDmanager.com

The Senate has a lot of business to tend to when it returns from its State Work Period on September 9. Most notably, it will have barely three weeks before the end of the current fiscal year to pass appropriations to fund the federal government for Fiscal Year 2020 (FY20) and prevent another government shutdown. Among the other important priorities on the Senate’s plate is finally confirming nominees for the Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB), the primary appeals board for federal employees.

Members, families, and friends of Chapter 3 of the Federal Managers Association (FMA) braved the stormy weather June 1 at Paradise Creek Nature Park to participate in the 31st Annual Clean the Bay Day. The team joined more than 6,000 volunteers across Virginia to clean the rivers, streams, and beaches of the Chesapeake Bay watershed and remove harmful litter and debris.

By Nicole Ogrysko, Federal News Network

The House has advanced a federal pay raise for civilian employees next year. The House passed the financial services and general government appropriations bill Wednesday afternoon with a 224-196 vote.

Specifically, the bill includes a 2.6% across-the-board pay raise with an additional 0.5% in locality adjustments to total 3.1%. The raise would apply to civilian federal employees,

By Nicole Ogrysko, Federal News Network

The Office of Personnel Management has offered up three legislative proposals this spring for congressional consideration, which the agency said will “improve, expand and harmonize” government’s efforts to restructure and reshape the federal workforce.

OPM has suggested statutory changes that would eventually allow agencies to use longer probationary periods for employees.

When DOD announced the extended probationary period in October 2016, it explained  the reason for the extension was “one year often does not allow sufficient time for a supervisor to form conclusions regarding the performance of a new employee.” It cited examples that a new hire “spends much of the first year in training before beginning work,” and “don’t have an opportunity to demonstrate all the skills associated with their positions.” Further, DOD noted “the longer probationary period offers employees a greater opportunity to showcase their talents and for supervisors to properly assess their capabilities.” FMA agrees with this assessment.

By Scott Thompson, My Federal Retirement

House Representatives Derek Kilmer (D-WA) and Tom Cole (R-OK) introduced Thursday legislation that would ensure federal employees who started their careers as temporary workers — meaning they did not have the ability to make retirement contributions — are granted the opportunity to make catch-up retirement contributions so that they can retire on time.

“FMA strongly endorses Representatives Kilmer and Cole’s leadership and bipartisan effort to allow FERS employees to buy back temporary time,” said Renee Johnson, National President of the Federal Managers Association. “Our members fully understand they would be responsible to bear the bulk of the costs, but welcome the opportunity to buy back this time and be rewarded for their years of hard work. This solution would provide an excellent option for many feds, especially those who were ‘temporary’ for many years. We urge Congress to consider and pass this legislation.”