Hiring and Firing Policies

Some 70,000 affected by USAJobs.gov application system failure

The Office of Personnel Management has confirmed that federal job applications for up to 70,000 people were lost as a result of a system outage from Aug. 7 to Aug. 9.

  • By Alice Lipowicz

How to use Facebook without getting fired

Government employees can safely use Facebook if they follow some simple guidelines concerning people they know -- and people they don't.

  • By Carlos A. Soto

OPM not doing enough to protect privacy on background checks, GAO says

The Office of Personnel Management handles about 2 million background checks a year, but it needs to do more to ensure that privacy is protected, GAO says.

  • By Alice Lipowicz

Google fires engineer for stalking

Google fires engineer for violating teens’ privacy rights.

  • By John Breeden II

DHS restructures IT workforce

The Homeland Security Department is restructuring its workforce to achieve a more even balance between federal information technology personnel and contractors.

  • By Rutrell Yasin

Sexting case outcome changes the rules on workplace privacy

Supreme Court rules that government employers can look at private messages on employer-owned equipment, as long as they have a legitimate reason to do so.

  • By Kathleen Hickey

Message from agencies: Don't work here!

Federal agencies, mired in outdated technology and bureaucratic management, are their own worst enemies in efforts to hire and retain top talent.

  • By Government IT Community

Tales from the federal hiring labyrinth: Readers tell their stories

An information technology professional who expressed his frustration at trying to find a job in government finds plenty of kindred souls among GCN readers.

  • By Kevin McCaney

Do federal hiring processes discourage qualified applicants?

Although officials lament the shortage of qualified IT security professionals to fill critical roles in government ranks, one frustrated applicant complains that cumbersome hiring policies discourage those who want the jobs.

  • By William Jackson

VA scandal brings out the critics and cynics

Numerous readers have written to say that they are not surprised about recent allegations of misconduct at the Veterans Affairs Department.

  • By John Stein Monroe

DOD, OPM conclude Defense personnel system needs overhaul

The National Security Personnel System should be rebuilt because of systemic problems, a task force finds.

  • By Doug Beizer
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