Mike Causey's Federal Report is the best way to stay up to date on the latest issues affecting federal pay, benefits, and retirement. Plus, Mike's funny. New Federal Report columns can be found each weekday morning right here on FederalNewsRadio.com. Bookmark Mike's homepage or have his columns delivered directly to your email.

January jumpers: Why some feds are retiring now

When they take the plunge into retirement, about half of all federal and postal workers do it in December or January, Senior Correspondent Mike Causey says. So is that a quirk of the calendar, or something else.

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Survivor: Endangered feds

For most of 2011, it looked as if federal workers were about to be bent, folded, stapled or otherwise mutilated by politicians. After the dust settled, the government is still with us. How come?

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The Best of Mike Causey 2011

What were the most popular Mike Causey columns from this year? Here they are listed for you!

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Are feds prepared to shovel it?

When it comes to shoveling it, official Washington is years ahead of anybody else. Senior Correspondent Mike Causey says this applies to snow-day policy matters too.

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Name your buyout price

Would you take a buyout if the boss offered you one? You might want to decide now because if and when an offer comes, it won't be on the table very long, Senior Correspondent Mike Causey says.

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To COLA or not to COLA...

Are you better off financially slogging it to work or sleeping in five days a week? Some people say that all things considered they would be better off as a retiree than as an office serf. So do the math, Senior Correspondent Mike Causey says.

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2011: A wash for feds

For most of this year federal workers, postal employees and retirees have been running scared. The issue has been trying to figure out what Congress and the White House could and would do to them, Senior Correspondent Mike Causey says. The bottom line, after all that fear and pain, is nothing. At least so far...

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A big holiday thanks to federal workers

Whatever your reason for working this holiday weekend, be assured that Senior Correspondent Mike Causey feels your pain, but thankfully from afar.

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Village of the Darned Week

The second most trying time in government starts today and runs through the start of the new year. It is a time when many offices are deserted and those with people resemble the Village of the Darned. Check it out, if you dare, Senior Correspondent Mike Causey says.

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Gifts: What would Justin Bieber do?

If you work for Uncle Sam and you plan on buying your boss a holiday gift, think cheap. And if a contractor tries to shower you with goodies either say no, or get a copy of "Prison For Dummies."

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The secrets of well-endowed feds

Do you know any well-endowed feds? You know — people who have more than it takes? So how did they get that way? Check out Mike Causey's Federal Report and learn the secrets of the masters.

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Inflation down but COLA is steady

Inflation dropped last month but that won't have any impact on the 3.6 percent cost-of-living adjustment coming to retired feds in a couple of weeks. But some will get more than others.

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Send in the clowns ... never mind they're here!

Did it ever occur to you that the well known "Mess In Washington" may partially be your fault. As in, who represents you in the House and Senate, and how did they get here, Senior Correspondent Mike ponders.

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Your "ClusterFlux" GPS

According to some experts, the ancient Mayans played soccer with human heads. We know for a fact that politicians play chicken with paychecks — as in your paycheck, Senior Correspondent Mike Causey says.

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For feds, deja vu all over again

If the bad news coming out of Congress sounds familiar, there is a reason for it, Senior Correspondent Mike Causey says. You've heard it lots of times this year, and we're only halfway through the month of December ...

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Where are you on the S-list?

Thanks to the behavior of Congress, federal workers no longer top the national S (for super) list of "Most Loathed Professions." But you are definitely on it, Senior Correspondent Mike Causey says.

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TSP: Cruel nanny or lifeguard?

Is Uncle Sam protecting you, or ripping you off, by limiting your TSP fund choices? The answer depends on whom you ask, Senior Correspondent Mike Causey says.

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Monday madness checklist

There is still time, but not much, to pick your 2012 health plan. Missing the boat could mean you'll shell out much too much money in premiums. And doing the wrong thing could translate into a $14,000 mistake, Senior Correspondent Mike Causey says.

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Give yourself a pay raise

Want to know a way to get more money that doesn't involve a gun, mask or duct tape? It can be done if you take action before quitting time on Monday, Senior Correspondent Mike Causey says.

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Hate-your-mate health tip

You can save a lot of money on health insurance premiums if you live the good life and hate your wife...or husband. Senior Correspondent Mike Causey gives some unorthodox tips for navigating through the health insurance open season, which closes next Monday.

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