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

When Agencies Cap “5s”: The Hidden Risks of Forced Performance Ratings

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For many federal employees, a performance year ends with a quiet shock: strong feedback all year, solid results, and then a rating capped at a “3” because the office “can’t give to...

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How OPM’s Push for Forced Distribution Could Impact Your Federal Career

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OPM’s recent announcement that it wants to “normalize” agency performance ratings should get every GS-9 and above employee’s attention. Behind the technical language is a major shi...

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OPM’s New RIF Proposal: How Performance Ratings Could Cost You Your Job

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Federal employees have long relied on a RIF system grounded in objective factors—tenure, veterans’ preference, and credible measures of service time. The new OPM proposal rewrites ...

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