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

When Inclusion Becomes a Risk: Mindfulness for the New Federal Landscape

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If you're feeling shaken by the latest federal mandate to eliminate Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs, you're not alone. Recent orders require agencies to erase DEI i...

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How DEI Protects Merit and Strengthens Federal Agencies

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You may have heard some people say that Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs are just “reverse discrimination.” But that belief doesn’t hold up under legal or practical ...

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A $42M Move During a Hiring Freeze? Let That Sink In.

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Many federal employees are feeling stunned, frustrated—even betrayed—by the news that the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) is spending $166,000 to relocate just one employee ba...

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Supreme Court Pauses Rehire Order: What Probationary Feds Should Know

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In a legal development that’s raising eyebrows across the federal workforce, the Supreme Court has temporarily blocked a California judge’s order that would’ve required the Trump a...

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Federal Employees: What You Need to Know About the HHS Layoffs

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The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has just announced a major reduction in force (RIF), affecting over 10,000 federal employees across critical divisions such as the...

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Mass Firings of Federal Employees: What You Need to Know

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Recent mass firings of federal employees have created a legal and bureaucratic mess. Over 24,000 probationary federal employees were terminated under questionable circumstances, an...

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Judges' Ruling to Reinstate Employees May Shake Up Federal Layoff Plans

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The federal workforce just experienced a major shake-up. Two federal judges ruled that thousands of previously fired probationary employees were wrongfully terminated, forcing agen...

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Federal Employees: What Happens to Your Pay & Benefits in a Shutdown?

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Government shutdowns are a stressful reality for federal employees, bringing uncertainty about pay, benefits, and financial stability. While the rules can change, here’s what you n...

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Think Your Federal Job Is Safe? Think Again.

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Many federal employees assume their jobs are secure—until reality hits. Unfair discipline, probationary terminations, and return-to-office struggles can leave even the most dedicat...

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Facing an MSPB Appeal? Here’s What You Need to Know

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If you’re a federal employee facing an adverse action—such as termination, demotion, or suspension—you may have the right to appeal to the Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB). Th...

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Protecting Your Medical Privacy as a Federal Employee

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Did you know that your federal agency is legally required to keep your medical information confidential—even if you don’t have a disability? Many employees assume that only HIPAA p...

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Are You Really on Probation? You Might Have More Rights Than You Think

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If you’ve recently been fired during what your agency called your probationary period, don’t assume you have no recourse. Every year, thousands of federal employees are let go unde...

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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.

Podcast

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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Mindfulness

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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.

Meet Shaun & Lydia

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