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.
Is the “Fork in the Road” Back? What Federal Employees Need to Know
If you've sensed a familiar chill in the air around your agency, you're not alone. Reports are surfacing that federal agencies are once again circulating what many of us remember a...
DEI Policy Changes: Seeing Things for What They Are
Policy changes around diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) seem to be accelerating—and not always in ways that promote fairness. For many federal employees, particularly those wh...
When You Receive a RIF Notice: Stay Grounded and Strategic
If you’re a federal employee who’s just received a Reduction in Force (RIF) notice, you may be feeling overwhelmed, anxious, or even blindsided. Please know this: you are not alone...
How to Stay Grounded and Take Smart Action When A RIF Hits
If you’ve just received a Reduction in Force (RIF) notice—or you’re anxiously waiting to see if one is coming—know this: you’re not alone, and you are not powerless. What you’re go...
Mass Layoffs at the HHS: Here's What You Can Do Next
If you're a federal employee—especially in public health—you’ve likely heard the devastating news. Over 10,000 HHS employees were just swept out in one of the largest mass layoffs ...
Navigating a Reduction in Force (RIF): Everything Federal Employees Need to Know
As a federal employee, receiving a Reduction in Force (RIF) notice can be one of the most challenging and unsettling experiences of your career. If you’ve just received one, you’re...
No Reasonable Expectation of Privacy: A Reminder to Federal Employees
If you’ve logged into your government computer recently and noticed a stark privacy warning, you’re not alone. USDA employees saw it this week—and similar policies exist across nea...
Can a President Strip Union Rights? NTEU Pushes Back With a Lawsuit
Imagine this: one day you have collective bargaining rights, and the next, they’re gone—stripped away with the stroke of a presidential pen. That’s not fiction. It’s the stark real...
Why Scientists Are Leaving—and Why It Matters
A recent Nature poll suggests a staggering 75% of America’s top scientists are considering leaving the country. While online polls have their limitations, this figure raises a deep...
Is National Security Being Used Against Federal Unions?
A remarkable and deeply concerning legal move is unfolding—one that may affect the future of union protections for hundreds of thousands of federal employees. As we practice mindfu...
Federal Judges Stood Up Federal Employees’ Rights
If you're feeling anxious about the current political climate and its potential impact on your federal career, you're not alone. The uncertainty that comes with changes in administ...
Protecting Your Federal Career Amid Layoff Concerns
An exclusive Washington Post story has revealed a draft White House document suggesting that massive layoffs—ranging from 8% to 50%—may hit various federal agencies. While the docu...
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.