Protect Your Well-being: A Mental Health Guide for Federal Employees
Mental health in the federal workplace is a dynamic issue due to our society’s rapidly changing views about mental health. Not long ago, even mild mental health conditions could lead to office suspicion, hostility, retaliation, and removal from the service. Fortunately, things have improved significantly during the past few decades. There is more awareness regarding […]
Applying for OPM Disability Retirement
There are currently two retirement systems in the federal government. The first one is the Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS). The other, more common system is the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS). Regardless of which system you fall under, you can receive disability benefits. To do so, you first need to submit a detailed retirement […]
Unlock Your Future: How to Fast-Track Your Early Retirement as a Federal Employee
Did you know there are actually three types of early retirement for federal employees? Contrary to popular belief, federal employees have a decent amount of flexibility when it comes to early retirement. However, early retirement usually comes at a cost. Depending on your age and situation, the cost of early retirement may be relatively low […]
How Long Does FERS Disability Retirement Last?
If you are currently on the Federal Employee Retirement System (FERS) disability retirement, you probably have a mix of relief and concern. You might be relieved because of the assistance that payments provide for your life. But you might be concerned because you are unsure how long your retirement will last. In general, many employees […]
Empower Your Case: Key Examples of a Hostile Work Environment
Working for the federal government can be demanding and challenging, but it should not be discriminatory or hostile. If you are a federal employee who is suffering in a hostile work environment, take comfort in knowing that you have several legal protections against workplace misconduct. You can also have a strong and effective advocate from […]
Empower Your Family: How FMLA Supports Federal Employees.
The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) is a landmark piece of legislation that gives employees with serious health conditions a sizable amount of leave to take care of themselves. Employees can also receive leave to care for a family member with a medical condition. It is an important right for American workers, but few […]
Are Title 38 Veterans Affairs Employees Considered Federal Employees?
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is an agency of the federal government. This means that all veterans affairs employees are, strictly speaking, employees of the federal government. However, unlike employees in other departments, such as the Department of Defense or the Department of Energy, many VA employees fall under two unique personnel systems that […]
What Is the Veterans Employment Opportunities Act (VEOA) of 1998
Congress passed the Veterans Employment Opportunities Act (VEOA) in 1998 to reward veterans for their service in the armed forces. Specifically, VEOA grants veterans a hiring preference, making it easier for them to get jobs in the civilian service. It provides certain retention benefits as well. VEOA also gives veterans who are federal employees or […]
Your Ally in Government: How the OSC Protects Federal Employees
The U.S. Office of Special Counsel (OSC) is a federal agency that focuses on helping whistleblowers. The OSC primarily investigates claims of whistleblower retaliation and, if necessary, takes action against bad actors. Thus, the OSC plays a critical role in protecting whistleblowers and encouraging them to report bad actors. Read on to learn more about […]
Navigate the Hatch Act with Confidence: An Essential Guide for Federal Employees.
The executive branch of the federal government and its numerous employees need to work for the benefit of all Americans. Therefore, federal employees need to maintain an appearance of political impartiality within the workplace. To help employees be impartial, Congress passed the Hatch Act of 1939. The Hatch Act places several limitations on the kinds […]