**Office of Human Resources Management and Labor Relations**

***CO Human Resources Employee Relations***

***Executive Resources Marketing and Veterans Outreach***

***Worklife and Benefits Compensation and Classification***

***Oversight and Effectiveness Recruitment and Placement Policy***

***Labor Management Relations Human Resources Development***

***Workforce Planning Workforce Information Systems Team***

**[Special Emphasis Programs/Observances]{.underline}**: Women's History
Month Kick-Off program is scheduled March 9, 2006, keynote speaker,
Assistant Secretary for Public and Intergovernmental Affairs, The
Honorable Lisette M. Mondello. **(Mike Watson)**

**[Staffing Operations]{.underline}:** Twenty-nine new employees were
processed and five vacancy announcements were posted. **(Mike Watson)**

######## 

**[Worklife and Benefits Service]{.underline} - Notice Regarding FAQs
for Registered Nurses under FERS:** The Worklife and Benefits Service
issued a notice to Human Resources offices on March 2, 2006, introducing
a new item which has been added to the OHRM/LR Web site, Benefits
Frequently Asked Questions Section - Sick Leave Credit for Registered
Nurses (RN's) under the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS).  As
of March 24, 2002, RN's under FERS, are eligible to include their unused
sick leave in their annuity computation. More detailed information can
be found at
[[http://vaww1.va.gov/ohrm/Benefits/FERS/CRNAcredit.htm]{.underline}](http://vaww1.va.gov/ohrm/Benefits/FERS/CRNAcredit.htm).
**(Maxcine Sterling)**

**[Recruitment & Placement Policy Service]{.underline} -- Hybrid
Qualification Standards Development Training:** Recruitment & Placement
Policy Service is preparing to launch the next round of hybrid
qualification standards development. On March 1 & 2, Steven Jackson
coordinated a training session which included presentations by Barbara
Panther, Ann Williams, Allan Porta, Carol Mellen, John Murray, Marianne
Gray, Mary Park and Nevin Weaver. The training was for the Subject
Matter Experts who will be developing new qualification standards for
the following occupations: Blind Rehabilitation Specialist, Pharmacist,
Physical Therapist, Occupational Therapist, Physician Assistant,
RN/CRNA, Social Work Associate and Respiratory Therapist. ***(Barbara
Panther)***

**Voluntary Separation Incentive Payments (VSIP):** On March 1^st^ the
Office of Personnel Management approved VA's request for 978 VSIPs for
use at the VAMC New Orleans. The VSIPs will be a key management tool as
they redesign a healthcare delivery system for veterans in the area.
Also, the request from the Palo Alto HCS was approved for 58 VSIPs.
***(Barbara Panther)***

**PIV PILOT:** Caren Eirkson is heading a team which is traveling to the
VBA Regional Office in Roanoke \[Caren was in Roanoke during the week of
February 27\], and VISN 5 facilities (Baltimore, Washington, DC, and
Martinsburg) during the month of March. The team is holding workshops at
each location to assist the facilities in setting up the process they
need to use for the PIV process. e-QIP is being folded into the process.
These facilities should begin using the new processes in April.
***(Barbara Panther)***