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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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Understanding Federal Disability Retirement
When medical conditions make it impossible to meet the core duties of your federal job—even with reasonable accommodation—disability retirement may offer a stable path forward. Thi...
Shutdown Day 29: Court Blocks RIFs, Talks Resume, Key Deadlines Loom
The federal shutdown continues into its fourth week, but this past week brought a mix of progress, pressure, and one major legal win for federal employees. Here’s what matters most...
“F It” Framework for Federal Employees Facing RIFs
When a RIF notice lands, it hits more than your inbox—it hits your nervous system, your family rhythm, and your ability to think clearly. While legal challenges continue, you still...
Shutdown Update: What’s Really Happening — and When It Could End
As October 2025 unfolds, the federal shutdown shows no signs of quick resolution. Beneath the headlines, this is less a funding glitch and more a contest of leverage. Congress has ...
NASA’s New “Spy Agency” Label and Federal Employee Rights
At the end of August, the President signed an executive order that reclassified several science and service agencies — including NASA, the National Weather Service, and parts of th...
Immigration Raid at Georgia EV Plant: Lessons for Federal Employees
On September 4, federal agents conducted the largest single-site immigration raid in Homeland Security Investigations’ history at the Hyundai–LG battery plant construction site in ...
Unsafe Federal Office Conditions: What You Can Do
As more agencies push employees back into the office full-time, many federal workers are finding that their buildings aren’t ready. Reports of mold, pests, broken elevators, and ev...
How Federal Employees Can Prepare for a Government Shutdown
Step One: Know Your Status
The single most important action to take today is clarifying whether you are exempt, excepted, or furloughed. Exempt positions remain funded, excepted e...
OPM Cancels 2025 FEVS: What Federal Employees Need to Know
For years, the Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey (FEVS) has been the government’s tool to measure morale, engagement, and inclusion across agencies. But after months of delay, OPM ...
MSPB RIF Appeals: How the 30-Day MSPB Deadline Works
If you’ve been affected by a reduction-in-force (RIF), your right to appeal to the Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB) comes with a strict clock. Under federal rules, you have 30...
How to Challenge a RIF at the MSPB Using the 3-Layer Error Hierarchy
If you're facing a Reduction in Force (RIF) and appealing to the Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB)—especially on your own—there’s one legal insight that could change everything...
Mindful Tools for Federal Employees Facing RIF Anxiety
If recent Reduction in Force (RIF) discussions have you feeling exhausted, you’re not alone. Many federal employees are riding an emotional rollercoaster this year—navigating shift...
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Shaun Southworth & Lydia Taylor
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