- FMA Contributes to FedForum - August 9, 2022
FMA contributes to the quarterly FEDforum, hosted on FedManager.com. The prompt for this quarter's article was "back to square one."
In many ways, a federal employee who has been promoted to become a manager or supervisor is starting at square one. And at the beginning, you need all the help and support you can get, you need all the help and support you can get.
With new challenges and unknowns, things to learn like how to deal with poor performers, and a shift of focus from ‘getting things done’ to enabling others to get things done, among many other shifts and priorities. The Federal Managers Association (FMA) recognizes the challenges these new managers face and is ready to be of immediate assistance. These new managers may have years of experience and valuable knowledge, but for many, this new beginning requires a completely new toolkit to allow them to become successful managers and leaders. Some agencies do better than others about providing managerial training quickly. Sadly, we have heard of many other instances where training was delayed for many months. In either case, FMA stands ready to assist these new managers find their way to becoming the best leaders they can be, while also looking out for their interests.- Read More
- House Adopts FMA-Endorsed Bipartisan Amendment that would Prevent a Schedule F - July 14, 2022
On July 14, the House adopted the FMA-endorsed the Connolly-Fitzpatrick amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) (H.R. 7900) that would prevent any administration from creating a "Schedule F" without Congressional approval. The amendment passed by a vote of 215-200. Later in the day, the House approved H.R. 7900 by a vote of 329-101.
FMA opposed the original Executive Order that created Schedule F in late 2020, and will work to ensure the bipartisan amendment that would block a similar action remains part of the final conference report.
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- FMA WINS FOIA APPEAL THAT REQUIRES U.S. MARSHALS SERVICE TO DISCLOSE PREVIOUSLY REDACTED INFORMATION - JULY 11, 2022
The U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Information Policy, recently remanded a FOIA request filed by FMA Chapter 373 back to the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) "for further processing of the responsive records" after USMS improperly redacted information from an earlier disclosure that hid the identity of some agency executives and the tens of thousands of dollars in bonuses they received from taxpayer funds. Click here to read more.
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- The Time to Improve Telework in the Federal Government is Now - June 21, 2022
Hear it from FMA, FEDMANAGER.COM -
The last update to federal telework policy was the Telework Enhancement Act of 2010, more than twelve years ago—long before the Covid-19 pandemic forced most Americans to quarantine and rely on telework. Given the monumental advances in technology and the best practices learned in recent years, the Federal Managers Association (FMA) is encouraged to see telework policy being discussed again, and proud to endorse the Telework Metrics and Cost Savings Act (H.R. 7951), introduced by Reps. Gerry Connolly (D-VA) and John Sarbanes (D-MD). We applauded the House Committee on Oversight and Reform vote to advance the bill for consideration on the full House floor.
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- House committee pushes forward on encouraging federal telework expansion - June 16, 2022
FMA endorsed the Telework Metrics and Cost Savings Act (H.R. 7951) and applaud the committee vote to pass the bill. It is ready for consideration for the full House of Representatives. FMA National President Craig Carter is quoted in the article below.
By Drew Friedman, Federal News Network
Members of the House Oversight and Reform Committee took another step to encourage federal agencies to expand their telework programs for the long-haul.
Going beyond anecdotes from many feds that say telework improves work productivity and employee satisfaction, Reps. Gerry Connolly (D-Va.) and John Sarbanes (D-Md.) want to look at data to back up those statements.
The Telework Metrics and Cost Savings Act, which the committee passed 23 to 17 along party lines on June 15, would require the Office of Personnel Management to create data collection standards and gather more information on the outcomes of telework expansion. Connolly and Sarbanes hope data on the benefits of telework would encourage more agencies to increase telework opportunities for eligible employees.- Read More
- FMA IRS Member Points Out Problems of Pay Compression - May 6, 2022
Erich Wagner, Government Executive -
As Congress begins consideration of what could be the largest pay raise for federal workers in 20 years in 2023, some federal workers near the top of the General Schedule pay scale say the debate will have no impact on their paychecks.
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- FMA APPLAUDS HOUSE VOTE ON FY20 APPROPRIATIONS - December 18, 2019
- On Tuesday, December 17, 2019, the House of Representatives approved two spending packages that would fund the federal workforce for the remainder of Fiscal Year 2020. The funding package includes a 3.1 percent average for federal employees, comprised of a 2.6 percent across-the-board salary increase and a 0.5 percent average boost to locality pay. FMA is pleased with this development, which the association worked for throughout 2019.FMA supports both the pay raise and the spending deal. We urge the Senate to approve the measures, and President Trump to sign the bills into law, prior to the expiration of the current continuing resolution.
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- FMA, OTHER MANAGER GROUPS SUPPORT PICK FOR OPM - May 26, 2017
Federal Managers Groups Largely Support Trump OPM Pick
By Erich Wagner, Government Executive
The Trump administration’s nomination of George Nesterczuk to serve as director of the Office of Personnel Management is already making waves among groups that represent federal workers.
While groups representing managers voiced varying levels of support for the announcement Wednesday, a union official was warier of the choice.
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