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

Federal Employees with Disabilities: Know Your Rights Amid Workplace Changes

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If you're a disabled federal employee, you may have noticed an unsettling shift in workplace policies. Many agencies are pushing employees back into offices, making it harder for t...

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TSA Union Protections Revoked: What It Means for Federal Employees

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A major decision has just shaken the federal workforce: The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has revoked union protections for TSA screeners. This means no more collective bar...

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VA Employees: A Major Workforce Reduction Is Coming – Here’s How to Prepare

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If you work at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), your job security just changed. The VA has officially announced a department-wide reduction in force (RIF) and reorganizatio...

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Think Your Federal Job Is Safe? Think Again.

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Many federal employees assume their jobs are secure—until reality hits. Unfair discipline, probationary terminations, and return-to-office struggles can leave even the most dedicat...

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Fired on Probation? A Landmark MSPB Ruling Could Change Everything

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If you were terminated while on probation, a groundbreaking ruling by the Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB) may signal that your firing was unlawful. Thousands of federal emplo...

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Performance and Conduct Best Practices in Federal Employment

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If you're a federal employee feeling anxious about your job security—especially when it comes to unfair discipline or performance-based actions—you are not alone. The reality is th...

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Understanding Performance Improvement Plans (PIPs) in Federal Employment

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If you’re a federal employee, you may have concerns about your agency unfairly questioning your performance. Even if you’re not facing a Performance Improvement Plan (PIP) right no...

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OSC Seeks Reinstatement of 5,000 Federal Probationary Employees—What You Need to Know

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If you’re a federal employee in your probationary period—or if you’ve recently been terminated—you’re likely facing uncertainty and frustration. The Office of Personnel Management ...

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Federal Probationary Employees: OPM Walks Back Directive—What Now?

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If you're a probationary federal employee—or know someone who is—pay close attention. The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) has just issued a new memo clarifying that agencies, ...

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Federal Employees: Know Your Rights Amid Office Chaos

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If you've been paying attention to recent news, you know that federal employees are being forced back into office spaces that are barely functional—some without desks, working Wi-F...

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Federal Probationary Terminations: What We Know About Class Actions and Individual Challenges

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Federal Probationary Terminations: What We Know About Class Actions and Individual Challenges

Are Recent Probationary Terminations Illegal?

A federal judge in California recently...

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Dellinger Case: A Major Turning Point for Federal Whistleblowers

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A significant legal battle is unfolding that could impact every federal employee, especially those relying on whistleblower protections. The case of Hampton Dellinger, the head of ...

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More ways to learn

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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.

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.

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Mindfulness

Work Peacefully

Use practical mindfulness tools to create space between workplace pressure and the decision you make next.

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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.

Meet Shaun & Lydia

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