Attorneys for Federal Employees — Nationwide

Nearly 200,000 federal workers and supporters follow our updates across TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, and LinkedIn. Each briefing gives you the three stories that actually matter to your job, plain‑English legal guidance, and one short practice to protect your peace of mind. If it helps you, forward it to a colleague—new readers can subscribe at https://fedlegalhelp.com/newsletter. 

Today at a Glance

• SSA Telework Restored by Arbitrator; EPA and NASA Press Forward with Union Rollbacks — A big win for SSA employees, and a warning sign for those at EPA, NASA, and DOE.
• OPM Finally Mailing Those Late 1099-R Tax Forms — If you haven't gotten yours yet, there's a deadline you need to know.
• New Proposed Layoff Rules Could Make Your Performance Rating More Important Than Your Years of Service — This isn't final yet, but it affects every federal employee if it passes.

Top Stories:

1. SSA Telework Restored by Arbitrator; EPA and NASA Press Forward with Union Rollbacks

Source: Federal News Network — March 11, 2026

TL;DR: A labor arbitrator ordered the Social Security Administration to bring back telework for union-represented employees — ruling SSA broke its own agreement. At the same time, NASA, EPA, and the Energy Department are moving ahead with stripping union rights from their workers.

For federal employees, this means:

• If you work at SSA and are in the AFGE bargaining unit, your telework rights from before March 2025 may be coming back. Get that in writing from HR — don't assume it will just happen automatically.
• If you work at NASA, EPA, or the Energy Department, your agency may already be changing your personnel file or ending your union contract. This affects your ability to file grievances and have union representation during investigations.
• Court battles over these union rollbacks are still ongoing, but right now agencies are allowed to keep moving forward while the cases are decided.

Legal Insight:
If your agency changed your personnel file — for example, labeling your position as ineligible for union representation — get a copy and keep it. If your union contract has been ended, you may have lost your right to file a grievance or have a union rep in a disciplinary meeting. Those changes can affect your legal options. The clock may already be running on certain rights. If you're at one of these agencies and something doesn't look right, don't wait — talk to your union steward and consider speaking with a federal employment attorney.

2. OPM Finally Mailing Those Late 1099-R Tax Forms

Source: Federal News Network — March 11, 2026

TL;DR: After weeks of complaints and delays, OPM says it has mailed the remaining paper 1099-R forms to federal retirees. If you asked for a paper copy, it should arrive within three to five business days.

For federal employees, this means:

• If you asked for a paper 1099-R and don't have it by March 18, email OPM at [email protected].
• If you can log in online, your form is already waiting for you at OPM Retirement Services Online — no PIN needed.
• Tax Day is April 15. If you still can't get your form in time, you can file for an extension — but you still have to pay what you owe by April 15 or you'll face penalties.

Legal Insight:
The 1099-R is the tax form that shows how much retirement income you received last year — the IRS requires it. If you need more time to file, use IRS Form 4868 to get an extension to October 15. Just remember: an extension to file is not an extension to pay. Estimate what you owe and pay it by April 15 to avoid interest and penalties. If you've been unable to reach OPM by phone, try emailing [email protected] and keep a record of every contact you make.

3. New Proposed Layoff Rules Could Put Your Performance Rating Above Your Years of Service

Source: FEDweek — March 10, 2026

TL;DR: The government is proposing new rules that would change how federal layoffs work. Under the proposal, your recent performance ratings would count more than how long you've worked for the government when deciding who gets cut.

For federal employees, this means:

• Right now, if there's a layoff (called a Reduction in Force, or RIF), the government mostly considers how long you've worked, whether you're a veteran, and your job type when deciding who stays.
• Under this proposal, a recent performance rating — even one that was pushed lower because your agency was forced to rate fewer people at the top — could be the deciding factor in whether you keep your job.
• This is not a final rule yet. You have until May 4, 2026 to submit a public comment at regulations.gov. Your voice counts during this window.

Legal Insight:
The current rules are still in place for any layoffs happening right now. But if a RIF is coming your way, you need to understand four things today: your tenure group, your current performance rating, your veterans' preference status, and your bump and retreat rights (meaning, can you move into another position to avoid being laid off). If you think your most recent performance rating was unfair or was given without a fair process, challenge it now — through your union, your agency's appeal process, or the Merit Systems Protection Board. Waiting too long can close those doors. Because deadlines can be short, consider talking with your union and a qualified federal employment attorney.

Mindful Moment of the Day

Facing the Metrics Without Freezing 

Seeing your case counts, backlog numbers, or dashboard charts can make your brain shout, “I’ll never catch up.” Notice that first wave of panic and give yourself three deep breaths before you touch the keyboard. Then pick one tiny thing you can do in the next 15 minutes—close one file, send one update, or plan tomorrow’s top three tasks. Mindfulness here is not ignoring the numbers; it’s shrinking them down to the size of the next doable action.