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

Federal Unions Score Major Victory: Stay Mindful and Engaged

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Late last night, federal employees across the country received hopeful news: a federal judge froze an order that threatened to dismantle key union protections across multiple agenc...

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When a RIF Feels Like a Bad Joke: Protecting Your Privacy and Peace of Mind

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If you’re an HHS employee who received a Reduction in Force (RIF) notice on April 1st, you already know this doesn’t feel like a coincidence—it feels like a punchline. But the real...

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IRS Layoffs Have Started—Here's How to Mindfully Navigate a RIF

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If you've heard whispers about federal layoffs turning into reality, you're not alone. Late last week, the IRS began issuing Reduction in Force (RIF) notices, starting with its Off...

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When You Receive a RIF Notice: Stay Grounded and Strategic

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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...

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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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Facing an MSPB Appeal? Here’s What You Need to Know

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If you’re a federal employee facing an adverse action—such as termination, demotion, or suspension—you may have the right to appeal to the Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB). Th...

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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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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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Losing Your Federal Job Without Cause: What to Do Now

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If you’ve just been let go from your federal job without warning or cause, I want you to know—you are not alone. This is a brutal, unfair experience, and nothing I say will take th...

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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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