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

When Facts Become Fireable: What the BLS Shake-Up Means for You

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Last Friday, the President abruptly fired Dr. Erika McEntarfer, the Senate-confirmed Commissioner of the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), just hours after the release of an underw...

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Mindfulness After a DRP Decision: You Did the Best You Could

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In the wake of a major federal workforce reshuffle—particularly with agency-wide buyouts and Directed Reassignment Packages (DRPs)—many of you are lying awake wondering: Did I make...

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Avoid These Two MSPB Pitfalls if You’re Representing Yourself

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For federal employees navigating a Reduction in Force (RIF) or other adverse action, representing yourself at the Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB) can feel overwhelming. The s...

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Postal Service Health Benefits System at Risk Ahead of Open Season

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A new report from the Office of Personnel Management’s Inspector General has set off alarms for Postal Service employees and retirees: the technology infrastructure supporting the ...

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Deferred Resignations and the Hidden Toll on Federal Workers

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A staggering 154,000 federal employees—nearly 7% of the civilian workforce—are being paid not to work. Known as deferred resignations, these arrangements remove employees from acti...

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Religious Displays vs. Pride Flags: What Federal Law Really Says

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In July 2023, the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) issued a memo reminding agencies that personal expressions—religious or secular—must be treated evenhandedly in the federal w...

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How to Prepare for a Possible Government Shutdown

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As of now, Congress has failed to pass 10 of the 12 required spending bills, with current funding set to expire at midnight on September 30. For federal employees, that means it’s ...

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How to Fight a RIF Without Paying $5,000 For an Attorney

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When a Reduction in Force (RIF) notice lands in your inbox, it can feel like the floor’s fallen out from under you. The panic, confusion, and urgency are real—especially when you l...

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Schedule G and the Return of At-Will Federal Jobs

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On July 29, the Office of Personnel Management quietly released guidance that could reshape the federal civil service overnight. The memo explains how agencies can begin using a ne...

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When Leadership Fails: What Federal Employees Deserve

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A new survey shows what many of us already feel: 95% of federal employees are experiencing rising anxiety, depression, or insomnia in 2025. For those of you showing up to work desp...

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How to File a RIF Appeal with the MSPB: Your Fast-Track Guide

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When a Reduction in Force (RIF) notice lands in your inbox, the panic can be paralyzing. Questions spiral: What’s my deadline? Do I have any rights? Should I hire a lawyer? And whi...

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Paul Ingrassia Nomination Delayed: What Federal Workers Should Know

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Last week, something rare happened in Washington: a pause that actually protects the federal workforce. The Senate abruptly yanked the confirmation hearing for Paul Ingrassia, a co...

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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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