Probationary Feds: Why “Fully Successful” Ratings Won’t Always Save Your Job
federal employment irs terminations mindfulness at work mspb appeals probationary employees Aug 20, 2025A recent watchdog report revealed that the IRS terminated over 7,000 probationary employees—even though 99% of those with ratings were marked “Fully Successful” or higher. Performance was not the deciding factor in these separations. For many federal employees, this is a sobering reminder: during probation, strong reviews alone do not guarantee job security.
Certain categories—law enforcement, military spouses, and critical filing-season roles—were exempted. But for most, termination letters cited performance even when records showed otherwise. Later, the agency attempted to rehire some, yet fewer than half returned. Thousands more accepted “deferred resignation” offers, leaving their federal careers in limbo.
Why Your Probation Status Matters
Probationary status changes everything. Unlike tenured federal employees, probationers have limited rights when facing separation. That’s why your first step is to clarify your timeline. In writing, ask HR:
-
What is my probation end date?
-
What is my service computation date?
Knowing these dates is critical because appeal rights shift dramatically once probation ends.
Documentation Is Your Shield
Even if your performance is strong, never assume the system will remember it for you. Save copies of your performance plan, midyear reviews, awards, training certificates, and positive feedback emails. Store them somewhere safe and accessible. A well-organized record can make the difference in reemployment discussions, EEO claims, or later disputes.
Reading the Fine Print in Termination Notices
Not all notices are created equal. A letter might cite probationary termination, performance action, or reduction in force (RIF). Each triggers different rights and remedies. If you receive a notice, read the stated reason line by line. Compare the timing against agency policy—many agencies promise 30 days’ notice, and if your letter doesn’t align, that could be significant.
Don’t Rush to Resign
Deferred resignation or “voluntary” exit deals can close important doors. Before signing, speak with your union, a qualified attorney, or your agency’s employee-assistance resources. Always ask: Will I be eligible for reemployment? What happens to my pay and benefits? Are settlement terms confirmed in writing? Clarity now prevents regret later.
Staying Proactive and Visible
Performance still matters—not because it will always prevent termination during probation, but because visibility and documentation provide leverage. Meet regularly with your supervisor to clarify expectations. After major wins, send a short recap email. These paper trails can establish credibility if questions arise later.
For Supervisors: Integrity Counts
If you lead others, be transparent. Document honestly, avoid canned language, and communicate directly with your team. Misusing generic phrasing—like citing “performance” when it’s not the real issue—erodes trust and exposes agencies to unnecessary disputes.
Federal employment law is shifting, especially with recent Supreme Court rulings and OPM’s updated rules that allow agencies greater discretion during probation. Staying informed and documented is your best safeguard.
Legal Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as legal advice. While I am a federal employment attorney, this post does not create an attorney-client relationship. Every situation is unique, and legal outcomes depend on specific facts and circumstances.
Categories
All Categories #careerprotection #doge #federalemployment #mindfulness #stressmanagement administrative cuts administrative law administrative leave administrative procedure act afge afge lawsuit afge v. trump agency closures agency cuts agency funding risks agency independence agency reorganization agency shutdown agency shutdowns ai and privacy ai in government ai surveillance alien enemies act alternative pay plan americorps cuts apa appeals court trends appointments clause at-will status attorney hiring attrition vs rif awards policy awol defense bipartisan legislation black federal employees black federal workers black women in federal service bls bls independence blue collar federal workers box breathing budget cuts budget law budget transparency bureau of labor statistics burnout prevention career protection career stability careerprotection cdc advisory committee cdc employee rights cdc recall cdc terminations cfpb layoffs cfpb rif checks and balances civil rights civil rights enforcement civil rights protection civil service civil service integrity civil service protection civil service protections civil service reform civil service rights class action class action lawsuits class actions classified information collective bargaining competitive service rights conflict of interest congressional budget bill congressional budget cuts constitutional law constitutional rights contract obligations coping with stress court orders cpsc credibility in hearings ctap cybersecurity threats d.c. home rule act d.c. national guard data integrity dc home rule act deferred resignation deferred resignation program deferred resignation programs dei dei ban dei cuts dei executive order dei in government dei in stem dei policies dei research dei retaliation deia democracy protection department of education department of state dhs dhs discipline directed reassignment disability rights disaster readiness disaster response disciplinary defense discovery process discrimination discrimination law disparate impact district court injunctions dod pay freeze dod reorganization doe injunction doge doge reform doj lawsuit drp buyouts drp decisions due process due process federal employment due process rights due process violations dueprocess eeo challenges eeo complaints eeo guidance eeo laws eeo process eeo protections eeo rights eeoc eeoc claims eeoc complaints eeoc guidance elon musk emergency response policy emergencymanagement employee protections employee rights employee stress management employeeprotections employment law eo 14210 eopf audit epa epa discipline epa layoffs equal protection equity in government ethics in government executive order executive order 14251 executive order 14317 executive order challenge executive orders executive overreach executive power faca fbi reform fda oversight fed chair fed legal help fed strong community federal benefits federal benefits cuts federal budget law federal buyouts federal career defense federal career protection federal court updates federal discipline federal employee advocacy federal employee discipline federal employee ethics federal employee protection federal employee protections federal employee rights federal employee rights, federal employee support federal employees federal employment federal employment law federal employment rights federal employment stability federal employment, federal funding federal hiring freeze federal hiring reform federal job cuts federal job protection federal job rights federal job security federal job termination federal jobs federal labor rights federal law federal layoff rights federal layoffs federal pay federal pay freeze federal pensions federal probation federal records compliance federal retirement federal rif federal statistics federal wage system federal workforce federal workforce laws federal workforce policy federal workforce protection federal workforce protections federal workforce rights federal workforce stability federal workplace federal workplace protections federal workplace rights federalemployeeresources federalemployment fehb fehb audit fehb benefits fehb termination fema fema cuts fers fers annuity supplement fers pension fers retirement fers supplement fevs 2025 filing deadlines financial preparedness first amendment first amendment retaliation first amendment rights flra fmcs cuts food safety for-cause removal foreign emoluments clause fork in the road free speech furlough guidance furlough rights gao report government accountability government agencies government budget cuts government careers government downsizing government ethics. government funding, government integrity government job security government jobs government layoffs government oversight government policy changes government regulations government shutdown government transparency government waste government workforce governmentjobs governmentreform gsa workforce harassment hatch act health benefits health coverage hhs employees hhs lawsuit hhs layoffs hhs reduction in force hhs reorg hhs rif historical accuracy hr letters hr modernization hr policy hr system failures hud layoffs ice hiring ig firings impoundment control act independent agencies inspector general institutional knowledge insurrection act interior department irs delays irs layoffs irs reduction in force irs terminations irs workplace issues job loss recovery job protection job protections job reclassification job search job security job security strategies job termination judge illston ruling judge illston rulings judicial independence know your rights labor relations law day 2025 layoffs legal advice legal advocacy legal challenges legal compliance legal defense legal protection legal representation legal rights legal rights for feds legal strategy legal update legal updates legal updates for federal employees legalsupport lgbtq rights lisa cook local democracy locality pay luévano consent decree mass layoffs mcmahon v. new york medical accommodation medical ethics medical privacy mental health merit hiring plan merit system merit system principles merit systems merit systems protection merit systems protection board merit-based hiring military spouses mindful federal employee mindful federal employment mindful leadership mindful workplace mindfulness mindfulness at work mindfulness at work, mindfulness for employees mindfulness in government mindfulness in the workplace mspb mspb appeal mspb appeals mspb deadlines mspb reinstatement mspb rights mspb ruling museum staff rights national guard national security national security law nationwide injunctions ndas in government nepotism law nih funding nih rif ninth circuit ninth circuit stay nlrb ofccp omb omb apportionment omb apportionments open season opm opm contracts opm final rule opm firings opm guidance opm hiring memo opm hiring policies opm lawsuit opm memo 2025 opm policy opm policy update opm reform opm regulations opm rule opm rulemaking opm ruling opm staffing crisis opm suitability rule opm termination opm waivers osc case osc closure osc complaints osc investigation osc nomination osc nominee osc reversal osha investigations parental leave pension reform pentagon job cuts performance improvement plan performance improvement plans performance management personnel file expungement pocket rescission political appointees political appointments political discrimination political interference posse comitatus postal service presidential authority presidential ethics privacy act privacy rights pro se representation probationary employee rights probationary employees probationary federal employees probationary federal employment probationary period probationary status probationary termination probationaryemployees prohibited personnel practices project 2025 protect federal career protecting federal career protecting federal careers public comment violations public health public safety emergency public sector downsizing public service public service stress management public trust publicservice reasonable accommodation reasonable accommodations reconciliation bill reduction in force rehabilitation act religious accommodation religious discrimination religious freedom relocation rights remote law jobs remote work removal notice period reorganizing government act reporter shield rollback retaliation retaliation protection retention register retirement planning retirement processing return to office rfk jr. rhode island case rif rif alternatives rif anxiety rif appeals rif avoidance rif cases rif deadlines rif defense rif guidance rif injunction rif law rif lawsuit rif lawsuits rif layoffs rif litigation rif notice rif notices rif preparation rif procedures rif resources rif rights rif rules rif strategy rif supreme court case rif supreme court decision rif suspension rif updates rifs rule of law russell vought schedule f schedule g scientific innovation scientificworkforce scotus layoffs scotus lets education department rifs move forward security clearance self-representation senate legislation separation of powers ses protections ses ratings severance pay sf 50 guide sf-50 guide shadow docket smithsonian review social security social security data socialsecurity ssa ssa data breach ssa layoffs staffing shortages state department state department layoffs state department rif state secrets doctrine stress management stress reduction student loans suitability review suitability standards supreme court supreme court decisions supreme court ruling supreme court rulings supreme court rulings, supreme court shadow docket supreme court stay taxpayer privacy tdys telework telework policies telework policy telework protections telework rights telework rules termination title 5 protections title 5 rights title vii toxic leadership transparency trial period trump administration trump legal issues trump v. afge tsa tsa workers tsp unfair labor practice union contracts union protections union rights unionrights universal injunctions unlawful terminations usaid shutdown usda relocation usps independence va employees va job cuts va layoffs va mission review va rif va staffing va staffing crisis va union contracts va union rights veteran care veterans affairs veterans health administration veterans preference veteransaffairs virtual hearings war powers resolution watchdog oversight whistleblower protection whistleblower protections whistleblower retaliation whistleblower rights work-life balance worker rights worker safety workforce downsizing workforce equity workforce reduction workforce restructuring workforce rights workplace accessibility workplace accommodations workplace culture workplace dei workplace disability rights workplace discipline workplace discrimination workplace diversity workplace fairness workplace justice workplace leadership workplace mindfulness workplace protections workplace resilience workplace retaliation workplace rights workplace safety workplace stability workplace stress workplace stress management workplace surveillance workplace violence workplace wellness workplaceprivacy workplacerights workplacewellness wrongful termination