In my June 6 column, I talked about the importance of planning ahead if you want your retirement application to have a better chance of speeding through the process and getting you on the annuity roll. However, what you do to smooth your way into retirement is only part of the process. In this column, I’ll talk about how your agency processes your retirement application. It’s your human resources office’s responsibility to review your retirement application to make sure you are eligible to retire on the date you have set and determine whether you are eligible to continue your health…
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The open season for health benefits, dental and vision insurance, and flexible spending accounts will run from Nov. 8 through Dec. 13. Not only will it give employees and retirees who are already enrolled the opportunity to change their health care coverage, but it will also give eligible employees who aren’t enrolled the opportunity to elect coverage. In this column, I’ll focus on the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program. Premiums will rise an average of 7.2 percent for employees’ share. That isn’t good news, but at least it’s better than the expected 8.9 percent to 10.5 percent for large-employer health programs in…
Recently a reader who is approaching retirement sent the following question to the Federal Times website: “What will get me the most bang for the buck, start using a lot of sick leave or going straight for the annuity?” I answered: “This is mother speaking: ‘Son, it’s attitudes like yours that give federal employees a bad name.’ Sick leave may only be used for approved purposes. Using it just because you want to is a violation of law.” Tough words, but true. Sick leave is a benefit that may only be used when appropriate. I think one reason employees consider inappropriate…
President Obama last year sent a memorandum to agency heads in which he sought to ensure that agencies provide employees with the broadest possible support in balancing work, personal and family obligations. In response, the Office of Personnel Management issued draft regulations for comment. Final regulations, effective July 14, broaden the definition of family members and immediate relatives for purposes of sick leave, funeral leave, voluntary leave transfer, voluntary leave bank and emergency leave transfer. The modifications were made to Part 630, on absence and leave, of the Code of Federal Regulations. Section 630.201 defines a family member as an individual with…