|
National Volunteer Month is a time to celebrate and recognize the contributions of volunteers. It is an opportunity to join the impact of volunteerism and encourage more people to get involved in their communities. This is a great month to reaffirm your commitment to giving back.
Why should you volunteer through Volunteer.gov?
-
Make a tangible impact: From building trails to restoring wildlife habit to preserving historic battlefields and monuments and allowing visitors to witness firsthand the positive results of your efforts.
-
Connect with history and nature: Immerse yourself in stunning landscapes, learn about different histories and ecosystems, and contribute to the site while unearthing stories from the past.
-
Develop valuable skills: Gain practical experience in areas like trail maintenance, resource management, visitor services, or historic and museum resources. Learn targeted skills like plant or animal identification and management, historic preservation, event planning, or public speaking. The opportunities for growth are endless!
-
Meet passionate people: Build camaraderie with fellow volunteers and staff who share your passions.
-
Boost your well-being: Volunteering has been shown to reduce stress, increase happiness, and improve mental and physical health.
Veterans' Preference – Confirming Your Information
Veterans who are eligible for veterans' preference should review their personnel information to confirm that their preference has been correctly documented. Employees can easily do this by using the Employee Personal Page (EPP): https://www.nfc.usda.gov/epps/eplogin.aspx.
Once logged into EPP, you can view your status and preference by choosing the “Vet Status and Preference” option in the left-hand menu.
If you find that your preference codes are incorrect, please take this opportunity to request an update to your information. You can do that by using the Microsoft Form below to submit the required documentation. That may include DD-214s, VA letters and/or marriage certificates. https://forms.office.com/g/D0fvS7mgr9.
Employees are asked to confirm their information and submit any updates by Wednesday, April 9. HRD will make corrections to veterans’ preference information, and you may see notifications in your eOPF regarding those updates.
Please note: Derived veterans’ preference for spouses is limited to those who have a service-connected disability rating of 100%.
|
Voluntary Early Retirement Authority (VERA)
Voluntary Early Retirement Authority (VERA) was made available for USDA employees on Feb. 6, 2025, and will continue through Feb. 28, 2026. There are no restrictions on positions for USDA’s VERA and all eligible employees are welcome to apply, with the exception of employees on time-limited appointments.
Employees eligible for VERA are required to:
- Be at least 50 years old with at least 20 years of creditable Federal service or be of any age with at least 25 years of creditable Federal service.
- Be serving in a position covered by the agency's VERA plan.
- Separate by the end of the open window for VERA, which is Jan. 10, 2026.
IMPORTANT: VERA is not necessary for employees who are already eligible for a voluntary retirement.
For more information about your eligibility and retirement annuity estimates visit the GRB Benefits & Retirement Navigator. More information and resources can also be found at the MRP HR Benefits Retirement page.
|
Updates on the Reasonable Accommodation Process
For employees who submitted a request for a reasonable accommodation as a result of the Executive Order for Return to In-Person Work, the requests will be processed, but due to the volume it may take a few weeks. In the meantime, supervisors may grant an interim (temporary) reasonable accommodation if the employee can perform the essential job functions and it does not cause an undue hardship. If so, the supervisor can send a written notification to the employee stating the specific interim accommodation that is being granted and that the final decision may be different than what is being requested.
Should supervisors have any questions or need verification of the submission of an employee’s RA request, please contact the MRP Reasonable Accommodations Team at RARequest@usda.gov.
|
HR Provides Guidance on Requesting Annuity Estimates
We are asking employees who would like to have an annuity estimate prepared by HR to put that request in our GRB Benefits and Retirement Navigator. Here are three documents providing instructions on how to access the navigator through ConnectHR:
|
Where To Go if You Have an Immediate Health Problem While at Work
Did you know that the USDA South Building has a medical facility that provides a variety of services to USDA employees?
Whether you have a chronic health condition or suffer from a minor health issue, you can seek help and the staff is ready and equipped to take care of you. They can develop a medical chart for you so that you can monitor on a regular basis your weight and blood pressure. There’s also a unique machine called InBody Scanner that measures body composition, so if you are interested in knowing your body composition, check out this option. There’s no radiation involved with this scanner. The scanning is by appointment only.
For employees who are breastfeeding, there’s a private room available to pump and store the milk. Breastfeeding employees can either call first or walk in and ask for a room. Breastmilk can be stored in the facility for only 24 hours; afterward, any leftover milk will be discarded. The employee is responsible for maintaining the cleanliness of the room and refrigerator.
The medical staff also provide dietary consultation to help people decrease their cholesterol levels and blood pressure.
The staff are highly professional and friendly. Why don’t you drop by and introduce yourself and inquire? These are their names:
- Dr. Lataya Whitaker
- Taneisha Davis, Nurse
- Nicole James, Nurse
- Ashley Rodriquez, Nurse
- Brittany Ofori, Nurse
The medical unit offers the following free services:
- Treatment for acute and minor injuries
- Vaccinations for flu, COVID, Tetanus
- Wellness physicals
- Medication refills
- Chronic disease management
- Educational outreach
The medical unit is located in the South Building on the 1st floor, Wing 4, Room 1411.
The name and information for the facility is:
Dr. Gregory L. Parham Medical Unit
United States Department of Agriculture
Department of Administration
Office of Operations (OO)
Safety, Sustainability and Emergency Operations Division
1400 Independence Ave. S.W.
Washington, DC 20250
Office number: 202-720-9522
Email: practice.kareo.com/medical unit
|
Reminder: EAP is Here for You
The Employee Assistance Program (EAP) offers free, confidential, brief counseling services to any employee and/or immediate family member who may be experiencing stress-related problems; family, marital and relationship issues; mental and emotional distress; legal and financial concerns; or problems with grief.
Short-term counseling (up to 6 sessions) is provided. The EAP also provides referrals to legal and financial services. All contacts with the EAP are confidential. If the problems presented are beyond the scope of the EAP services, referrals are made utilizing your health plan to local area resources.
- The EAP can be reached at 1-800-222-0364 and they are available 24 hours a day and seven days a week.
- You can also visit the Federal Occupational Health website at http://www.foh4you.com
|
Spring Clean-Up
 Spring is a time of growth: for flowers, for lawns and for weeds. Whether you eagerly or grudgingly head out to do your yard chores, the tips below will help you do them safely.
Lawn & Garden Tools – Spring is a great time to check your tools to ensure they are in good working condition. Pick up tools after use and avoid leaving them on the ground, where someone (including you!) may step on or trip over them. Ensure that water hoses are routed around walkways, when possible, or lay flat across walkways. Observe all manufacturer instructions for safe tool operation, including wearing appropriate eye or hearing protection, or other recommended personal protective equipment.
Pesticides – Be alert to yard signs and flags that indicate that a lawn has been sprayed with pesticides and keep children and pets away from these areas. If you are applying pesticides, be sure you read and understand the pesticide product label and observe all stated precautions. Wash any clothing items that may have come into contact with pesticides separately from children’s clothing, towels or bedding.
Burning Yard Waste – Follow all local regulations, which may include obtaining a burn permit, observing a setback for structures and other considerations. Safety tips for burning and preventing devastating wildfires are available at Smokeybear.com. Always monitor fires, keep a water supply readily available and be prepared to call 911 if your burn gets out of control.
Monthly Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Training
The AMS Office of Civil Rights has been offering Alternative Dispute Resolution training on the first Monday of every month at 1 p.m. ET. These meetings are virtual and will be held via Zoom. There is no need to register.
Dates:
|
Federal Voluntary Retirement and Benefits Webinar
Whether you are eligible to retire now or in 30 years, it is important to know about your federal retirement and benefits. The more you know, the better equipped you will be to make decisions and prepare for your financial future.
The Human Resources Operations, Benefits Team, will be hosting some informative townhall events throughout this fiscal year. These webinars will provide information regarding your retirement plan and include benefit options into retirement. These will be offered via Microsoft Teams once per quarter during the 2025 fiscal year. The last webinar was held on Feb. 26.
The Feb. 26 webinar focused on Voluntary Retirement and NOT Early Retirement (VERA) or the Deferred Resignation Program (DRP). If you are interested in learning more about VERA retirement, we encourage you to visit our website or the GRB Retirement & Benefits Navigator.
No registration is required to attend these events. If you missed the Feb. 26. offering, there are additional events scheduled throughout the fiscal year. Links to those events will be sent as we get closer to those dates. We look forward to you joining us!
Future webinar dates:
- May 22, at 2 p.m. ET
- Aug. 5, at 11 a.m. ET
|
Submissions for The Voice are due by COB Monday in order to publish the same week. All submissions should be sent to AMSVoice@usda.gov for consideration.
|
