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.
Listen to the podcastNews, rights, tools & learning
Federal Employee Resource Center
Search timely updates, plain-English explainers, practical guides, podcasts, and mindful-action resources. Start with the question you are trying to answer.
Introducing Lydia Taylor: New Voice, Same Mission
At Southworth PC, we’ve always believed in showing up—early, often, and with purpose—for the federal employees who need us. Today, we’re proud to formally introduce someone who’s h...
House Bill Targets FERS Annuity Supplement and Adds New Filing Fees
What Survived the House Vote—And Why It Matters
Last week the House advanced the “Big Beautiful Bill Act,” stripping out two headline-grabbing ideas—the move from a high-3 to a hi...
DOGE Lawsuit Could Reverse Musk-Led Agency Actions
Why This “Slow-Burn” Case Deserves Your Attention
News of the Reduction-in-Force injunction may dominate headlines, but a quieter lawsuit in Washington, D.C. could have an even br...
Ninth Circuit Stay Decision Looms Large Over RIF Pause
Why One Court Order Holds Thousands of Careers in the Balance - Here are my answers to common questions we have received
Judge Illston’s nationwide injunction has frozen every Red...
Nationwide RIF Injunction: Why the Ninth Circuit Decision Matters
Federal employees across 21 agencies—including the VA, IRS, and Department of Education—are holding their breath this week. A nationwide injunction blocking a massive Reduction in ...
How This Week’s RIF Ruling Could Impact Your Federal Career
Federal employees on Reduction-in-Force (RIF) notices are standing on edge this week. The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals may rule as early as May 29 on whether to lift a nationwide...
A Warning Wrapped in Policy Shifts
Black federal workers—especially those in HR, EEO, DEI, and civil rights compliance roles—are being pushed out at an alarming rate. If you're paying attention, you know this isn't ...
Preliminary Injunction Freezes RIF Actions Across Federal Agencies
On May 23, Judge Susan Illston issued a pivotal preliminary injunction converting her earlier temporary restraining order into a longer-term legal block. This order prohibits all a...
Federal RIF Injunction: What GS‑9+ Employees Should Know
On May 22, U.S. District Judge Susan Illston converted a temporary restraining order into a preliminary injunction that blocks 21 federal agencies from issuing or finalizing Reduct...
Supreme Court Stay Imperils MSPB & NLRB Autonomy
On May 22, the Supreme Court issued a late-night order allowing President Trump to remove the heads of the Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB) and National Labor Relations Board ...
A Federal RIF Freeze: What the Latest Court Ruling Means
Federal employees, especially those recently impacted by Reduction in Force (RIF) notices, received a powerful message this week: the law still protects your job. In a pivotal hear...
How to Appeal a Federal RIF to the MSPB
If you’ve received a Reduction in Force (RIF) notice, you’re likely navigating shock, anxiety, and an avalanche of questions. As a federal employee, the stakes are high—your pensio...
More ways to learn
Choose the format that helps you understand what is happening.
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.
Mindfulness
Work Peacefully
Use practical mindfulness tools to create space between workplace pressure and the decision you make next.
Explore mindfulness resourcesAbout 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 & LydiaThe Federal Employee Briefing
The important developments, without the all-day scroll.
Join 3,900+ federal employees getting sourced workforce news and practical next steps on weekdays. It is a free public-service resource from Southworth PC.