The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) has released updated guidance concerning various aspects of federal employment, including leave and awards. Notably, only exceptional workers are expected to receive top awards under new performance rules, with agencies urged to adopt ‘objective’ ratings for employee evaluations. The guidance covers various scenarios for awards and clarifies when federal employees can utilize administrative leave. Additionally, there have been revisions concerning bonuses for federal employees, emphasizing that only high performers should be recognized.