Federal Daily - March 17, 2008

Report: Military Compensation Stacks Up Favorably to that of Civilians

The Tenth Quadrennial Review of Military Compensation, released March 13, reports that servicemembers’ pay and benefits compare favorably with those of their civilian counterparts. The review commission convened by DoD found that the average enlisted servicemember earned about $5,400 more in 2006 than a civilian counterpart with comparable education and experience in terms of cash compensation—and $10,600 more when certain benefits were included. The typical officer averaged $6,000 more than civilians with comparable education and experience, and $17,800 more with benefits included. Among its recommendation, the commission suggested that DoD investigate pay-for-performance incentives for outstanding servicemembers. It also recommended that DoD retain its current time-in-service pay table, rather than replace it with a time-in-grade pay table. But it suggests the military adopt a program that awards servicemembers “constructive credit” to better reward those who are promoted early, and to accommodate skilled professionals like physicians who enter the military at higher rank. The commission also suggested the military adjust the Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) dependency differential, so that all members without dependents will receive BAH payments equal to 95 percent of the “with dependents” rate for their pay grade. To see more, go to: www.defenselink.mil/prhome/docs/Tenth_QRMC_Feb2008_Vol%20I.pdf.

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GAO: EPA Library Closing Plan Mired in Problems

The Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) effort to close four EPA libraries was seriously flawed and mired in agency management and oversight problems, said a Government Accountability Office (GAO) report. GAO looked at how well the agency handled its library reorganization in the wake of a $2 million budget cut in 2006. The GAO report, released March 13, documented numerous problems with the way EPA handled the closures. For example, the agency failed to obtain appropriate input from staff or relevant experts to accommodate library users before closing the facilities. Also, GAO said EPA lacks a strategy to ensure continuity of library services and does not know whether its actions have impaired access to environmental information. GAO recommended—and EPA agreed—that EPA should continue its moratorium on further changes until it takes suggested corrective actions. The four closed libraries have not reopened. “EPA should return to making decisions that are based upon reasonably obtainable economic and technical information,” said Charles Orzehoskie of the American Federation of Government Employees Council of EPA, Local 238. “Initiating these changes now would improve EPA staff morale,” said Orzehoskie in testimony before a House on Science and Technology subcommittee investigating the library closings.  To see more, go to: www.afge.org/Index.cfm?Page=PressReleases&PressReleaseID=832 or the GAO report at: www.gao.gov/highlights/d08304high.pdf.

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House Panel OKs Bill to Expand Federal Telework

A House committee approved legislation to expand and strengthen federal telework initiatives. The legislation, if passed into law, would allow more federal employees to telework and create a method to track federal agencies’ telework progress. The bill, H.R. 4106, was approved March 13 on a voice vote by the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee. The bill would require all federal agencies to: develop a telework program that allows employees to telework at least 20 percent of every two-week work period; designate a senior-level employee to serve as a “telework managing officer;” and incorporate telework into their continuous operational planning. A companion bill, S. 1000, last fall was approved by the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee. National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU) President Colleen M. Kelley, who supports the measure, applauded the House panel’s vote. “Experience has shown that telework has many advantages,” said Kelley. “It can increase workplace productivity as well as save energy and enhance the overall quality of life at work and at home.” To see more, go to: www.nteu.org/PressKits/PressRelease/PressRelease.aspx?ID=1233.

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