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Shaun Southworth leading a federal employment training session with members of the Southworth PC team
 

When to Hire an Attorney as a Federal Employee—and When You Might Not Need One

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As a federal employment attorney who's spent over 20,000 hours in this field, I often get asked the same sincere question: “Do I really need an attorney?” The concern is real. Lega...

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Fired Probationary Feds: Who’s Getting Reinstated—and Who’s Not

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A federal judge recently issued a major decision affecting thousands of probationary federal employees who were terminated during the Trump administration. While the original rulin...

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Could Your Layoff Be a Mistake? What HHS Employees—and All Feds—Need to Know

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If you work at the Department of Health and Human Services—or know someone who does—you may want to sit down for this. This week, Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. acknowledge...

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How to Stay Grounded and Take Smart Action When A RIF Hits

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If you’ve just received a Reduction in Force (RIF) notice—or you’re anxiously waiting to see if one is coming—know this: you’re not alone, and you are not powerless. What you’re go...

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Mass Layoffs at the HHS: Here's What You Can Do Next

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If you're a federal employee—especially in public health—you’ve likely heard the devastating news. Over 10,000 HHS employees were just swept out in one of the largest mass layoffs ...

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Federal Judges Stood Up Federal Employees’ Rights

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If you're feeling anxious about the current political climate and its potential impact on your federal career, you're not alone. The uncertainty that comes with changes in administ...

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Top Officials Leaked Sensitive Info—Here's How You Can Avoid This Risk

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Recent news about high-ranking officials mishandling sensitive national security information through private messaging apps like Signal should serve as a powerful reminder to all f...

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Can a President Really Shut Down a Federal Agency?

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News of President Trump’s recent order to close the Department of Education has sent waves of confusion and concern across the federal workforce. If you're a federal employee—even ...

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OPM’s “Five Things” Directive: What Should Federal Employees Do?

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If you've been keeping up with the latest federal workplace developments, you may have noticed a wave of uncertainty surrounding OPM’s new directive: the so-called “Five Things” em...

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Federal RIFs: What You Need to Know and How to Protect Yourself

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A major shift may be coming for federal employees. The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) have issued a new memo outlining a two-pha...

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The Mindful Federal Employee is part of a broader public-education ecosystem from Shaun Southworth, Lydia Taylor, and Southworth PC. Use the resource that fits the question and the moment.

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Civil Rights for Civil Servants

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About the people behind the work

Shaun Southworth & Lydia Taylor

Meet the federal employment attorneys behind this public-education work and the podcast Civil Rights for Civil Servants.

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