Federal Manager's Daily Report: Monday, November 1, 2004 FEDweek is the largest information resource in the federal government with now over one million weekly readers. To Subscribe, Go to http://www.fedweek.com/subscribepopup.htm *********************************************************** Valued Added Service to Our Readers:
Federal Job Search http://www.fedweek.com/Jobs/default.asp Job Bulletin Board http://www.fedweek.com/Jobs/default.asp Unlimited Internet Access for as low as $10.90 http://fedweek.sparklist.com/t/294971162/821889/148/0/ Our Readers Will Get Special Discounted Travel Rates Including, Airfare, Hotels, RV's, Car Rentals, and Special Weekend Getaways--Anywhere in the world http://fedweek.sparklist.com/t/294971162/821889/339/0/ ********************************************************** In This Week's Issue 1. New Round of Base Closings Slated for 2005 2. OPM Issues Memo on Excused Absence for Voting 3. Fall Symposium Features Budgeting's Future 4. Brand New Federal Employees Legal Survival Guide Just Legal Survival Guide http://www.fedweek.com/pub/index.php ************************************************************ 1. New Round of Base Closings Slated for 2005 It's too early to tell how many civil service jobs will be lost or shuffled in the process, but the process will go forward next year as a new round of base closings and restructuring takes shape. According to the Department of Defense, a key component to the 2005 base realignment and closure initiative is whether a military installation "contributes to and accommodates joint operations," or joint war-fighting, to combat "21st century threats like global terrorism." By prioritizing certain facilities and functions, the 2004 initiative will affect thousands of civil service jobs due to mission changes or transfers of entire functions from one base to another. DoD keeps the actual list secret until release, though Congress gets it early. The announcement comes next year and the actions are subject to an up or down vote -- no changes -- although actual base closures and realignments take place over several years and not much happens immediately. BRACs from 1988 to 1995 closed 97 bases and realigned 57, and that DoD figures it has about 23 percent of excess infrastructure at this time, said DoD sources. They said that Pentagon officials are valuing "speed and surprise," have noted that, "multi-service cooperation in the transportation field in recent years has greatly leveraged the Army's combat projection power," and that they intend to merge certain military research and laboratory facilities this time around. 2. OPM Issues Memo on Excused Absence for Voting The Office of Personnel Management has issued a memo on granting federal employees excused absence, or limited time off from work, for voting in the federal, state, county or municipal elections or referendums on any civic matter in their communities. It said agencies have discretionary authority to grant time off as long as it does not interfere with operations, but noted that time off "should rarely be needed," due to extended hours are polling places. "Generally, where the polls are not open at least three hours either before or after an employee's regular work hours, an agency may grant a limited amount of excused absence that will permit the employee to report for work three hours after the polls open or leave from work three hours before the polls close, whichever requires the lesser amount of time off," according to OPM. It said "regular work hours" should be based on employees normal work schedules, and that "if an employee is scheduled to work from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and the employee�s polling place is open from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., the employee should not be granted excused absence for voting, since the employee would still have at least three hours after the end of his or her work schedule to vote. However, if an employee is scheduled to work from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and the employee's polling place is open from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., the employee may be granted 30 min of excused absence from 4:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., if requested." If an employee's voting place is beyond normal commuting distance and cannot vote by absentee ballot, the agency may grant up to a day of excused absence, said OPM, adding that if more time is needed, the employee may request annual leave or leave without pay as needed. 3. Fall Symposium Features Budgeting's Future Federal budget and program professionals will gather next month to hear what is in store for them in the coming years. The American Association for Budget and Program Analysis event, its annual Fall Symposium, has chosen as its theme "Is the Past Prologue? What Is in Store for the Next Four Years." There will be plenty of budget heavy-hitters speaking there. The one-day confab is scheduled for Friday, November 19, in Washington D.C. For more information phone 703-941-4300 or visit www.aabpa.org. 4. Brand New Federal Employees Legal Survival Guide Just Published New Publication Announcement: The Federal Employees Legal Survival Guide http://www.fedweek.com/pub/index.php Passman & Kaplan announces the October 2004 publication of the SECOND EDITION of the Federal Employees Legal Survival Guide. This comprehensive book, first published by Passman & Kaplan in 1999, has been called the definitive how-to guide for enforcing the rights of federal employees. The second edition of the Guide includes 100 PAGES OF ADDITIONAL NEW MATERIAL (now 616 total pages) and useful advice. New features include information on internet legal research, preparing for and conducting a hearing, sample discovery requests, and up-to-date contact information for federal personnel agencies. The Guide also includes a listing of frequently used civil service acronyms and practical appendices of sample forms, charts illustrating appeal rights, and commonly-needed deadlines. As with the first edition of the Guide, Passman & Kaplan has attempted to move away from the "legalese" which so often complicates an already-bewildering array of regulations and policies. Although the Federal Employees Legal Survival Guide, Second Edition is clearly an invaluable resource for practioners, Passman & Kaplan has maintained its commitment to target the book to the average federal employee. *********************************************************** To place your order for The Federal Employees Legal Survival Guide just go to http://www.fedweek.com/pub/index.php and place your secure order online. The cost of this publication is only $49.95 Plus $6 s&h--Remember, this is a 616 page reference that is chalked full of invaluable information that every federal manager must have! Or you can mail your order with payment of $55.95 to FEDweek, PO Box 5519, Glen Allen, VA 23058. This is a one of a kind book you can't afford to be without! Published by FEDweek 11541 Nuckols Rd. Suite D Glen Allen, VA 23059 (804) 288-5321 Website: http://www.fedweek.com [EMAIL PROTECTED] --- You are subscribed to federalmanagersdailyreport as [EMAIL PROTECTED] To unsubscribe, send a blank email to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
