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

How to Protect Yourself in a Federal RIF

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If you're a federal employee concerned about a Reduction in Force (RIF), preparation is key. The first step? Check your most recent SF 50—this document plays a significant role in ...

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Federal Employees: RIFs Are Coming—Here’s What You Need to Do Now

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Federal agencies are actively preparing for workforce reductions following an executive order issued on February 11, 2025. While we don’t yet know exactly how each agency will impl...

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OSC Investigates Unlawful Firings of Probationary Federal Employees

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If you’re a federal employee in your probationary period, you may have felt the looming uncertainty that comes with it. Recent developments show that concern may be justified—but a...

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How Federal Employees Should Handle the OPM Email Request

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If you’re a federal employee who received an email from OPM asking for five bullet points on your work activities, you may be wondering how to respond—especially as major agencies ...

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Federal Employees and Reckless Leadership: How to Protect Your Career

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By now, you may have heard about the chaos caused by a recent email demanding federal employees justify their jobs in five bullet points—or face termination. This directive, report...

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Legal Insight: Why Failure to Respond to the OPM Email Is NOT a Resignation for Federal Employees

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Introduction: A Legal Trap for Federal Employees?

Federal employees across the country recently received an email from the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) with the subje...

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Protecting Sensitive Data: A Major Ruling on Treasury System Access

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A major federal ruling just sent a clear message: sensitive government data must be protected under the law. In a case brought by 19 state attorneys general, a federal judge issued...

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Supreme Court’s Ruling on Independent Federal Officials: What Federal Employees Need to Know

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A recent Supreme Court decision has raised important questions about job security and independence within federal agencies. While the ruling may seem like a temporary victory for g...

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Federal Court Blocks Key DEI Restrictions—What It Means

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A major legal decision just dropped that has big implications for workplace diversity initiatives. In National Association of Diversity Officers in Higher Education v. Trump, a fed...

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Trump’s Plan to Take Over USPS Sparks Legal Concerns

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In a significant move, President Donald Trump is reportedly planning to dissolve the United States Postal Service's (USPS) governing board and integrate the agency into the Commerc...

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Military Spouses & Remote Work: What This Means for You

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There’s good news for military spouses in federal employment! The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) recently issued a memo affirming that military spouses are exempt from return...

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The Judiciary’s Role in Federal Oversight

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Recent legal developments surrounding foreign aid freezes highlight a critical aspect of our constitutional system: checks and balances. As federal employees, it’s essential to und...

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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

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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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