In This Issue: February 4, 2020 Previous Issue | Archive| Photo Galleries

2019 Tax Season W-2 Availability Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) – Change in Family Status FEHB Post-56 Military Deposit Package Overview Update from NFC on PP26 NFC Federal Tax Issue February is Healthy Heart Month Be Prepared Winter Weather is Coming….Are You Telework Ready? Reporting of Crimes Accepting Applications for the Spring 2020 Excellence in Government (EIG) Fellows Program Career Service Awards New Employees Mandatory Training on February 13 New Paid Parental Leave Law EQPR 1st Quarter Review Due FY 19 Employee Performance Ratings Free Flu Shots Available Now GPO Vacancy Announcements Featured Training Opportunities Adobe InDesign Training and Certification Program Mid-Career FERS Retirement Lean Six Sigma Green Belt Certification – Session #1 Conflict Resolution and Confrontation Management Data Analytics Certification Program About GPO Headlines

2019 Tax Season- W-2 Availability—[Finance] 2019 W-2’s are available on the Employee Personal Page (EPP). Employees have the option to print their W-2 electronically via EPP. Employees can access W-2 statements by logging into the Employee Personal Page Self Service Module. You must have your EPP User ID and Password to access the system:

• Access EPP • Select W-2 • View a list of W-2 Statements Summary • Select View PDF • Print a copy of the 2019 W-2 • View the 2019 W-2 Tax Details

For easier tax preparation purposes, if you use TurboTax, you can also import a copy of the 2019 W-2 statement through EPP! Instructions will be available on the intranet under HC Info at Your Fingertips.

Select New User Sign Up and follow the instructions to establish your EPP account. Quick, Fast and Easy! It’s that simple! Questions? Contact the HC-Benefits Office at 512-1173 or Payroll Office at 512-0825.

NOTE: Employees who are not current EPP users may establish an account at https://www.nfc.usda.gov/EPPS/eplogin.aspx .

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Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) – Change in Family Status—[Human Capital] This is the first in a series of Qualifying Life Events (QLE) Communications to offer guidance for applicable changes in federal benefits coverage outside of Open Season.

If you experience a change in family status, such as • marriage • divorce • death of a spouse • birth of a child or • a child who turns age 26

For FEHB purposes, the change in family status requires documentation such as:

• Marriage Certificate (opposite and same-sex marriage)

• Birth Record/Certificate for Birth of Child • Foster Child Certification Statement • Adoption Certificate • Divorce Decree • Death Certificate

SPECIAL NOTE: Child Turning Age 26 Once your child turns age 26, they are no longer covered as an eligible family member under your health insurance plan. If you have only one eligible family member remaining, your child turning age 26 is a QLE that allows you to decrease your enrollment to Self Plus One. If you have no eligible family members remaining, you may decrease to Self Only. Grandchildren Grandchildren are not eligible family members, however, grandchildren can qualify as a foster child if all the foster child requirements are met.

Submit your enrollment change from 31 days before to 60 days after the change in family status by completing Form SF-2809, and submitting it along with the applicable documentation to HC-Benefits within the specified time limit for processing.

Questions? Contact the HC-Benefits Office at 2-1173.

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Post-56 Military Deposit Package Overview—[Human Capital] Date: February 26, 2020 Time: 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. Learn how your military service time could count towards your civilian retirement! The Benefits Office will be discussing how to prepare a Post-56 military deposit package to “buyback” your creditable military service. Topics Discussed:

• Military Service Qualifications • How military “buyback” works • The forms and procedures to make a Post-56

Military Deposit Open to all GPO Employees. Regional Employees - This training is available to you via Skype Business. Make sure you indicate you will be connecting via Skype and we will send you the Skype meeting information and workshop handout the day before the session begins.

To register for this session: click here Questions? Contact the HC-Benefits Office at 202-512-1173. Back to top

Update from NFC on PP26 NFC Federal Tax Issue—[Finance] As you are aware, NFC erroneously computed Federal tax withholdings on many GPO employees’ pay in PP26. For some employees, Federal taxes were over-withheld, while some were under-withheld. For employees whose Federal taxes were over-withheld, NFC has completed processing adjustments. Employees paid via Direct Deposit should have seen that adjustment posted to their bank account. For employees whose Federal taxes were under-withheld in PP26, NFC stated in their latest update (January 30, 2020) that they continue to work in partnership with the Department of Agriculture, Treasury, and the Internal Revenue Service to resolve the issue. NFC further stated that additional information will be forthcoming in the near future.

No action from employees is required, per NFC guidance. Back to top

February is Healthy Heart Month—[Human Capital] Do you Know Your Numbers? Knowing your numbers will help manage your care and protect your heart. On February 19 and 20 from 7:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m., Medical will be offering blood cholesterol, basic metabolic panel, height, weight and blood pressure screenings. There will a fee for the blood work. Please stop by Medical to sign up and to get a price list. You must sign up by February 13. For more information please contact Medical at 202- 512-2061.

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Be Prepared Winter Weather is Coming….Are You Telework Ready? —[Human Capital] Teleworkers should be prepared to telework if inclement weather causes an agency closure. Make sure you stay tuned to weather updates and if inclement weather is in the forecast, take your laptop and other required technical equipment and work home. Telework-ready employees are those who have a signed and approved telework agreement in place, have work they can perform at an alternate site and have the required technical capabilities in place. Employees who want to participate in the program should complete and submit a Telework Application Form 2921 to their supervisor. Employees can apply, or re-apply after voluntarily discontinuing participation, at any time. For more information go to the GPO Telework Page.

Questions? Contact Terri Leeds at tleeds@gpo.gov Back to top

Reporting of Crimes—[Human Capital] Just so you know - ALL EMPLOYEES: Reporting of Crimes. All GPO Employees must report within five (5) calendar days to the Office of General Counsel any felony charge or any charge of any crime that occurs while employed with the Government Publishing Office, where if convicted, there is the possibility of incarceration. Source: GPO Directive 655.3B, Standards of Conduct for Government Printing Office Officers and Employees, dated September 24, 2012.

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Accepting Applications for the Spring 2020 Excellence in Government (EIG) Fellows Program—[Human Capital] Applications are now being accepted for participation in the Spring 2020 Excellence in Government Fellows program. Strengthen your leadership skills through a proven combination of challenging action-learning projects, executive coaching, and government-wide networking.

All applicants must be PG-13, PG-14, PG-15 or equivalent to apply. The deadline to file an application is February 28, 2020. All application packages must be submitted to Mandi Osoba, HC-WDET, Room C-565D.

Learn more about the program and download the application package here.

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Career Service Awards—[Human Capital] Congratulations to the employees who reached their career service anniversaries in October, November and December 2019. Employees receiving awards will be individually recognized by their business unit. For those interested in taking a group photo with Director Hugh N. Halpern, please report to the Director’s office on Tuesday, February 18th at 11:00 am. Back to top

New Employees Mandatory Training on February 13, 2020—[EEO] Anti-Harassment in the Workplace The Office of Equal Employment Opportunity is pleased to announce an opportunity for all employees who have not completed both the mandatory Anti-harassment in the Workplace workshops. The workshop is mandatory and is a condition of employment. Please plan to attend the scheduled session below. If you have not attended the workshop, you are required to attend the workshop. Since all employees are required to take this workshop periodically, all other employees who need to take the class may register and attend if space permits. Field Office employees can attend via

Nightside workshops are conducted every August when Congress is out of session for an extended time interval. Nightside employees should attend in August.

Skype. Field Office employees should note the need for Skype on their registration form. Employees “needing an accommodation” should ask their supervisors to submit a request to EEO at least one week in advance of the workshops. Workshop on Tuesday, February 13, 2020, WDET, C-565, Training Room 1

• Anti-Harassment: 9:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.

Please use GPO form 2993 to register. Information on these and other topics can be found on the following GPO Intranet site: Office of Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO).

For additional information, please use one of the following contacts:

• Registration, Doug Davis (202) 512-2389 • Anti-harassment in the Workplace, James

Wiggins, EEO Specialist on x2-0747 Back to top

New Paid Parental Leave Law—[Human Capital] GPO will be implementing the new paid parental leave law. However the agency is waiting for the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) to publish the regulations needed to implement the new law, which the agency needs before Human Capital can tackle employee questions and concerns. OPM must go through the Administrative Procedures Act (APA) regulatory process, and plans to issue proposed regulations by late spring that will provide the opportunity for the public to submit their comments. Questions? Contact HC Policy Office at 202-512-2225. Back to top

EQPR 1st Quarter Review Due—[Human Capital] For all Managers and Supervisors: 1st quarter EQPRs will be accepted into the new EQPR system until Friday, February 14. Back to top

FY 19 Employee Performance Ratings—[Human Capital] All FY19 Employee Performance Plans and signed final ratings have been uploaded into the eOPF system. Employees can log in to the system to access their documents.

Click here for more information on the eOPF system and access Help Guides.

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Free Flu Shots Available Now—[Human Capital] Get Yourself and Your Family Vaccinated! A yearly flu vaccine is the first and most important step in protecting against flu viruses. Free shots will be available in the Medical Section (C-509) on a first come, first-served basis. The Flu Clinic will be operating during the following times: Tuesday Wednesday and Thursday:

• 1st Shift - 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon and 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.

• 2nd and 3rd shift – 11:00 p.m. – 2:00 a.m.

Vaccines are available for all GPO Employees, Contractors, and Tenants (must show ID) Please bring the Flu Vaccine Checklist Form which is accessible from HC’s Medical Services Information Page.

If you have any questions, please contact the Medical Section at x2-2061. Back to top

GPO Vacancy Announcements—[Human Capital] Here is a list of the current positions available at GPO: Number Position Title Closing Date 20-10699538-MP-LTT Supply Technician (Inventory), PG-2005-6, Shift 1 02/05/2020

20-10695972-MP-AS Supervisory Printing Services Specialist, PG-1654-13 (Dallas) 02/06/2020

20-10695512-MP-TS Equal Employment Specialist, PG-0260-13, Shift 1 02/06/2020

20-10704487-MP-MMP Senior Criminal Investigator, GI-1811-13; Shift 1 02/07/2020

20-10706563-IMP-MMP Supervisory General Engineer; PG-0801-14; Shift 1 (GPO Only) 02/11/2020

20-10708239-DE-TS Police Officer, PG-0083-04- Shift 1-Shift 2 / 2 vacancies

02/14/2020

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Featured Training Opportunities—[WDET] To view the 90-day schedule click here. All courses are open to all GPO employees (unless stated otherwise). Back to top

Course Date Time Adobe InDesign Training and Certification Program Enroll today to become familiar with Adobe’s desktop publishing and typesetting software that can be used to create posters, magazines, presentations, and more!

February 6, 2020 8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.

Mid-Career FERS Retirement Optimize your TSP and FERS annuities, calculate your Social Security benefits, and recognize how your health and life insurance benefits carry over into retirement!

February 11, 2020 8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.

Lean Six Sigma Green Belt Certification – Session #1 Get started with the most sought-after business process credentials today! Learn how to use quality-improvement methods that focus on reducing defects, streamlining processes, and improving quality, helping to qualify you as an expert in your field.

February 25 – 26, 2020 8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.

Conflict Resolution and Confrontation Management Poorly managed conflict in the workplace leads to reduced teamwork, productivity, and quality. Enroll today to develop the skills necessary to handle conflict in an intelligent and effective manner!

February 27, 2020 8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.

Data Analytics Certification Program This program is essential for individuals and organizations seeking to leverage data for competitive advantage. Enroll in this 5-day program to gain in-depth knowledge and practice with data analysis, using Microsoft Excel!

March 3, 2020 8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.

To enroll in a class: 1. Visit the GPO Training website 2. Sign in and search for the course on the CATALOG page 3. Find a class and click the REGISTER button Questions? View the Step by Step instructions, here. Back to top

About GPO Headlines—[Employee Communications Office] GPO Headlines is your single source for important news, updates, and information. GPO Headlines is issued each Tuesday—if there’s no news, we will skip an issue. GPO Headlines is sent to all GPO e-mail addresses and posted to the intranet. Send your comments, questions, or suggestions about this issue or other topics you'd like to see addressed to: Employee Communications Office, or to Heather Lawson, Editor, at hlawson@gpo.gov. Back to top