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Civil Rights for Civil Servants
Hear Shaun Southworth and Lydia Taylor explain federal employee rights, public service, workplace systems, and the people navigating them.
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DOJ Blocks Release of RIF Plans in California Federal Layoff Case
A new filing in the California RIF lawsuit reveals the Biden administration’s decision to keep federal layoff plans—formally called Agency RIF & Reorganization Plans (ARRPs)—under ...
What the State Department, Education, and HHS RIFs Mean for Federal Employees
The July 11 layoff notices at the U.S. State Department sent shockwaves through the federal workforce. More than 1,350 employees—civil service and Foreign Service alike—were told t...
HHS RIF Notice Failures: RIF Notice Comes After You’re Locked Out
For many Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) employees, July 14 wasn’t just another Monday—it was the moment they found out they’d already been separated. At 5:00 PM, ema...
HHS RIF Notices May Violate Federal Regulations
Federal Reduction in Force (RIF) procedures are governed by strict timelines and procedural safeguards. So when employees at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) began...
What to Do If You're Hit by a RIF at State or Any Federal Agency
Last Friday, over 1,300 employees at the State Department received notice of a Reduction in Force (RIF). Most were career civil servants; some were Foreign Service officers. For ma...
Supreme Court RIF Ruling: What Judge Illston’s New Order Means
Federal employees nationwide have been bracing for mass reductions in force (RIFs) after the Supreme Court lifted Judge Illston’s previous block on agency layoffs. But a late Wedne...
Southworth PC Hiring Remote Attorneys for Federal Practice
If you’re an attorney with courtroom fire and a heart for public service, Southworth PC invites you to consider joining our team. We are expanding to hire two, possibly three, remo...
What Happens After a Federal RIF Notice
If you’ve received a Reduction in Force (RIF) notice or fear one is coming, understanding what triggers a fresh 60-day notice—and what doesn’t—can protect your job, retirement time...
Supreme Court RIF Decision: Common Questions, Answered
Yesterday’s Supreme Court move has many federal employees on edge. Let’s be clear: the Court did not approve mass firings. Instead, it lifted an injunction that paused certain Redu...
Supreme Court Ruling on RIFs: What Federal Employees Need to Know
The Supreme Court issued a ruling in Trump v. AFGE that left many federal employees feeling anxious and confused. Let’s unpack what this decision actually means for you so you can ...
The Supreme Court’s Silence on RIF: What Federal Employees Should Know
Federal employees across agencies are anxiously refreshing for news on the Supreme Court’s ruling on the nationwide RIF (Reduction in Force) injunction. As of today, no decision ha...
OPM Suitability Rule: 5-Day Removal Notices Ahead?
The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) has proposed a suitability and fitness rule that could reshape federal employment protections as you know them. The public comment period c...
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