Professional Managers Association

OPM Cites Leaks as Justification for New Government-wide NDA; Chilling Effect Predicted

In crafting a proposed nondisclosure agreement for government-wide use (see related story), OPM cited as justification recent leaks, but an employee union and a law firm specializing in federal employment law say that the government already has rules against such disclosures and that the form will have a chilling effect on employees’ free speech rights. Continues, link in comments 👇

Comer Challenges Use of Settlements in Federal Workplace Disputes; ‘Frivolous Claims’

The chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee has challenged agencies’ use of settlements to resolve federal workplace disputes, suggesting that in many cases they settle “despite a high likelihood of government success on the merits” if litigated to a conclusion.

In a letter to OPM, Rep. James Comer, R-Ky., said settlements raise concerns including “structural incentives for adjudicators that may favor informal resolution over taxpayer interests; and the incentivization of frivolous claims that produces a chilling effect on managers discipling employees when warranted.” Continues 👇

Proposed RIF Rules Would Give OPM ‘Sweeping’ Powers over Federal Workforce, Says NTEU

Proposed OPM rules to elevate the role of performance ratings in reductions in force would “throw the federal workforce into chaos as employees’ RIF register standings change with every new performance evaluation,” the National Treasury Employees Union has said.

Along with two prior sets of proposed RIF-related rules, those rules would “give OPM new, sweeping powers, contrary to congressional intent. OPM is seeking to “restructure the federal workforce by evaluating employees on subjective criteria, removing their ability to meaningfully challenge those evaluations, and then overestimating the reliability of those evaluations when determining who is subject to a RIF,” the union said in comments to the most recent proposal. Continues, link in comments 👇

FEMA tells court it is offering jobs back to employees who were let go in January The Federal Emergency Management Agency has begun offering new appointments to disaster workers whose contracts were not renewed in January.

Federal workforce trauma is creating a stumbling block for AI adoption COMMENTARY | Following massive workforce reductions — and a $165.6 billion hit to the U.S. economy — federal managers are struggling to integrate AI as low engagement collapses across agencies.