On GovLoop Insights’ DorobekINSIDER:
- The Administration is pushing for more performance metrics. They launched Performance.gov in June 2011. So how is it going? And why should these metrics matter? Insights from Dennis McDonald.
The SEVEN stories that impact your life
- Less than half of federal employees believe they will be rewarded or promoted for doing a good job, according to a new analysis. Government Executive reports, forty-three percent, or four out of every 10 federal workers, said they thought they would receive performance-based awards or better job opportunities at their agencies.
- The U.S. Postal Service should consider suspending or debarring one of its largest contractors, information technology firm Accenture, from future work because of the risk of fraud, the agency’s inspector general said in a newly released audit. The audit, cited Accenture’s $64 million settlement two years ago with the Justice Department to resolve kickback allegations stemming from its hardware and software recommendations to other agencies. Besides potentially cutting off future business to Accenture, the Postal Service should consider ending existing contracts, the IG said, reports Federal Times.
- Since last year’s Benghazi, Libya, attack that killed U.S. Ambassador Christopher Stephens and three others, the State Department’s watchdog office has deployed auditors to make sure diplomatic posts are safe in high-threat areas around the world. But due to the sequester, the State Department’s Office of Inspector General can’t fully cover the travel costs of its auditors. What’s more, even before the sequester, more than 100 diplomatic outposts hadn’t been inspected by the IG’s inspections office during the past five years, reports Federal Times.
- The union representing Internal Revenue Service employees said the agency has to award bonuses to top performers. The National Treasury Employees Union says it would be illegal for the IRS to cancel the bonuses and it would violate their collective bargaining agreement. The contract authorizes merit-based awards of up to $3,500 a year. Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) has criticized the IRS for its plan to award $70 million in employee bonuses. Grassley said the agency is ignoring a guidance by the White House to cancel bonuses due to budget constraints. The IRS is in the process of negotiating with the union over the matter, reports Federal News Radio.
- The FBI is looking to step up its use of surveillance drones. However, Federal News Radio reports the agency is still developing policies for the unmanned aircraft. FBI Director Robert Mueller told a Senate panel that the chief issues are privacy and safely operating drones in densely populated areas. Drones have been used to look at stationary subjects to date and they were used at night during a hostage standoff earlier this year in Alabama, Mueller said. Each deployment requires permission from the FAA.
- OMB is looking to improve the accuracy and utility of the financial data on the USASpending.gov website. The change requires agencies to establish unique identification numbers for financial awards and to check the accuracy of spending information against an official record of agency accounts. The policy update was announced in a June 12 memorandum from deputy controller Norman Dong to agency chief financial officers, reports FCW.
- And on GovLoop: Here is a staggering stat: 130 millions Americans own a smartphone, including roughly 1 out of 2 adults. That’s a technology that wasn’t even around 5 years ago. So how can government leverage this technology to connect, engage and empower government employees and the general public? Tune in to find out with the DorobekINISDER LIVE panel on June 26th at noon ET. Register for the free online webinar now.
DorobekINSIDER water-cooler fodder
- Ready to have your socks blown off? From NASA: A billion-pixel panorama from Mars Rovers and Mars Curiosity
- Linkdln:The Number One Job Skill in 2020
- On this date in 1782 – The U.S. Congress adopts the Great Seal of the United States.
Want More GovLoop Content? Sign Up For Email Updates
We have had frozen wages for over 3 yrs., and promotions?? Faghettabouit. The hiring freeze is “ON” again…<sigh> Retirements are the tsunami of the day. No one is getting hired to take their place. Glass ceiling? More like a titanium ceiling.
I agree with Julie – the Federal employees are not the real issue – how about looking into what the contractor employees are making – many salaries are pretty obcene. Also, anybody take the time to divide out the $70M in bonuses at the IRS to the number of employees (90K) – it is less than $778 per employee…… Federal employees seem to be (once again) the perverbial punching bag of the day. Zero our salaries out and your not going to make a dent in the Federal budget.
Yes many Federal employees will never get promoted. As one moves up the pay grade “pyramid”, fewer and fewer employees are needed at the level. For example, if only one supervisor is needed for 10-20 employees, only 10% will move into that level. Regardless I am grateful to be employed, have medical coverage and retirement benefits.
If you are a GS11 and above…I guess 20% doesn’t hurt as much. My co worker is a GS05 and a single mom. Twenty percent of her check is a big bite.