The Foreign Service Journal, March 2022

AFSA NEWS THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | MARCH 2022 75 AFSA Webinar: Reviewing Your Retirement Plan In the first webinar of 2022 from AFSA’s federal ben- efits series, held on Jan. 11, Retiree Vice President John Naland guided retired AFSA members through a range of issues that affect retirement planning. Topics covered included: how to review and update your annuity records, how to keep beneficiary designations current, what your survivor needs to know, the importance of monitoring your Thrift Savings Plan, when to take Social Security early, whether to sign up for Medicare Part B, federal reemployment rules, and other pertinent issues. Naland also encouraged retirees to maintain their AFSA membership to stay informed and connected, and to contrib- ute to and benefit from AFSA’s advocacy efforts. Members can view a recording of the video at afsa.org/ videos, or visit AFSA’s one-stop shop for retirement at afsa . org/retirement-services, which offers extensive resources fo r retirees. n We have made it clear to department leadership, in no uncertain terms, that people are angry that their employer cannot manage the basic duty of paying them correctly and on time. We have also expressed our determination to pursue all necessary measures to ensure that affected employ- ees receive interest on all back pay, and we had an initial consultation with a private attorney to explore whether it is possible to obtain damages from the department to make employ- ees and retirees whole for the injury they have suffered. We intend to request that the Office of the Inspector Gen- eral thoroughly investigate this disaster so that there can be accountability. AFSA continues to do everything we can to push the department to solve this problem, to provide relief for our members, and to ensure a problem of this magnitude never happens again. Please continue to share your stories with us at member@afsa.org. n Payroll Problems Continued from page 67 ISTOCKPHOTO.COM/BROVECTOR