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.

Long-term impact of 'Pay Interruptus'

Is a temporary pay freeze better than a permanent cut in your federal benefits package? Or are people ignoring the long-term effects of a "temporary" pay freeze, Senior Correspondent Mike Causey wonders.

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Who's the $4 million fed?

Thanks largely to transfusions from outside retirement plans, Uncle Sam now has 208 employees with million-dollar Thrift Savings Plan accounts, Senior Correspondent Mike Causey says,and there's at least one person whose 401(k) plan is worth more than $4 million.

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Election-year survival kit — for politicians

A number of self-proclaimed insiders, reporters, lobbyists, think tank residents and a select group of psychics think they know what what's going to be in the election-year survival kit for members of Congress, Senior Correspondent Mike Causey says ... and they say you are not going to like it.

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The thumb of all fears

Congress is about to deal you a hand you won't like, Senior Correspondent Mike Causey says. So what if you could pick your predicament? What's the lesser of evils that may be coming your way?

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Diet pensions on the menu?

While many federal workers are worried about their future retirement benefits, some experts say that a possible change in pension rules wouldn't be that big a deal, Senior Correspondent Mike Causey reports ... or would it?

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The Biggest Loser — fed version

Many times in life we are faced with options — sometimes a variety — and none of them are good. That's definitely true for current and retired federal government workers, Senior Correspondent Mike Causey says.

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Washington freezes, San Diego sneezes

When there is a major weather event in the Washington, D.C., area, feds in other cities watch, in horror and/or amusement. Like Monday when OPM tested its brand-new foul weather policy, Senior Correspondent Mike Causey says.

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Washington's weather wimps bite back

Monday's weather delay for the D.C. region has people in Chicago, Boston and Pittsburgh wondering why we are such weather wimps. But it may be their fault too, Senior Correspondent Mike Causey says.

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Snatching defeat from the jaws of victory

A couple of weeks back, Senior Correspondent Mike Causey wrote a rare "this-is-good-news" column about federal workers. He would now like to withdraw that column and apologize for what turned out to be irrational exuberance.

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The long gray line: Your retirement

If you've retired in the last year, you know all about the long wait to get a full annuity payment. OPM has declared war on the backlog, but how does it win? Some experienced feds suggest you can help your own case, Senior Correspondent Mike Causey says.

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Custer's last stand and your retirement

Why is your decision to retire someday, or take a buyout right away, something like the problem Gen. Custer faced during the Battle of the Little Big Horn? Senior Correspondent Mike Causey explains.

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'Jaws 4' coming: Guess who's bait?

There is a new "Jaws 4" movie taking shape and federal and postal workers may play prominent roles as the primary bait. Check it out, if you dare, Senior Correspondent Mike Causey says.

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Young feds: Endangered species

What do younger federal workers have in common with the Javan Rhino, the Hawaiian Monk Seal and the Giant Chinese Salamander? All of them are on the rare or endangered species list, Senior Correspondent Mike Causey says. But that may be about to change.

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Holiday checkout

If you are working today — or even if you aren't — Senior Correspondent Mike Causey would like to hear from you. We'll protect your identity but we just want to know what you are up to on a federal holiday. But for reasons best not detailed here, if you do respond would you do it early in the day because Mike has a plan.

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IRS buyouts — lightning strikes twice

The Internal Revenue Service has decided to offer a limited number of buyouts to many of the same employees who were asked if they would take $25,000 to retire last year. Other agencies are also making plans for limited, quick-decision buyouts.

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Buyouts gaining steam — be ready

Reading about buyouts is as exciting and unrewarding as hearing about million-dollar lottery winners, unless you find out you may have one of the winning tickets, Senior Correspondent Mike Causey says.

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You've got friends in high places, seriously ...

Do you have the feeling that all politicians hate you? Are you disappointed that the proposed federal pay raise will bring the average worker less than $400 a year? There may be light at the tunnel, Senior Correspondent Mike Causey says — whether its sunshine or a freight train is yet to be determined.

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Uncle Sam's PMS: What's next?

If you are a government worker you know first hand what PMS is, Senior Correspondent Mike Causey says. Now we've devised a test to see if maybe, just maybe, you know too much and have been in government too long. Check it out, if you dare.

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Is your job on the chopping block?

More than 320,000 government jobs disappeared over the last two years and while that's a lot, it is relatively good news for people who work for IRS, Defense, the VA and other federal operations, Senior Correspondent Mike Causey says.

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Perfect storm: Your buyout lifeboat

That wave you see out there just could be the long-anticipated retirement tsunami, and if coupled with expanded buyout offers it could create the perfect storm, Senor Correspondent Mike Causey says. So, is your lifeboat ready?

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