Federal agencies offering buyouts or early outs continues to grow

Title: A new wave of federal workers is poised to emerge

Article Snip: "...Meanwhile, the roster of federal agencies offering buyouts or early outs continues to grow. In fiscal 2010, OPM gave 14 agencies permission to offer buyouts. Twelve were allowed to offer early retirements. In fiscal 2011, OPM gave 12 agencies permission to offer buyouts and twelve were allowed to offer early retirements...."

Reference: www.bizjournals.com
Federal Employee Buyouts, early outs,

Retirement services backlog being addressed

Title: OPM tackles retirement backlog with more staff, better technology

Article Snip: "...The Office of Personnel Management is trying to tackle its retirement services backlog with more staff and upgraded technology. ..."

Reference: www.federalnewsradio.com

State Department warns that "concrete steps" must be taken...

Title: US mulls closing embassy in Syria as security worsens

Article Snip: "...
State Department warns that "concrete steps" must be taken, expresses concern about "deteriorating security situation in Damascus"; US official: Syrian gov't doesn't ..."

Reference: www.jpost.com

Federal Employee COLA Update

Title: 2012 outlook eases slightly with COLA’s return

Article Snip: "...After two years of no increases, COLAs are back. The Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) increased 3.6 percent...."

Reference: federaltimes.com

Federal retirement question

Title: Four retirement options

Article Snip: "...Q. I am a 58-year-old letter carrier covered under the Federal Employees Retirement System with 27½ years of s..."

Reference: federaltimes.com