What Should a Federal Employee Do Now? Layoffs, Executive Orders & Elon Musk

On February 27, 2025   /   Employment Law, Federal Employment, Federal RIF, Trump Administration   /   Leave a comment
What Should a Federal Employee Do Now? Layoffs, Executive Orders & Elon Musk

Federal employees are enduring emotional whiplash from Trump’s first five weeks in office, as the administration and Elon Musk have attempted to brute-force their ‘drained swamp’ vision of federal agencies on the workforce. A sweeping shake-up is underway, as large-scale layoffs, executive orders, and a controversial mandate from Musk fuel concerns about the stability of government operations. Despite mounting resistance, the upheaval shows no signs of slowing down, with each new policy change intensifying the

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Social Security Administration Closes EEO Office

On February 26, 2025   /   Discrimination, Employment Law, Federal Employment, Federal RIF, Trump Administration  
Social Security Administration Closes EEO Office

In a shocking development, the Social Security Administration (SSA) recently announced the closure of the Office of Civil Rights and Equal Opportunity. As part of its decision, the agency has reportedly placed 100 employees on administrative leave for 30 days pending termination. The SSA has confirmed that the office’s primary functions of processing Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) complaints and handling reasonable accommodation requests will be redistributed to other SSA divisions, in compliance with statutory requirements.

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President Trump Fires EEOC Commissioners, Agency Continues Investigations

On January 29, 2025   /   EEOC, Employment Law   /   Leave a comment
President Trump Fires EEOC Commissioners, Agency Continues Investigations

President Trump made an unprecedented move to fire two Democratic commissioners, Jocelyn Samuels and Commission Chair Charlotte Burrows, of the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), on January 27, 2025, in an apparent effort introduce partisan bias into the agency’s decision making. The move also stalls policy making at the agency. Without three sitting members, the commission does not have a quorum, and the EEOC cannot move forward on any policy changes until successors are

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Mass Email Asks Federal Employees to Commit to a “Reformed” Workforce, or Resign

On January 29, 2025   /   Employment Law   /   Leave a comment
Mass Email Asks Federal Employees to Commit to a “Reformed” Workforce, or Resign

The U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) has sent a mass email to federal employees, outlining an option for voluntary resignation with pay through September 30, 2025. According to OPM, employees interested in the offer were instructed to respond directly to the email to indicate their intent to resign. Federal employees who choose to resign by February 6th would qualify for the “severance” package. However, not all employees are eligible. Agency heads will determine certain

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The New FTC Noncompete Ban: A Guide for Employees

On May 24, 2024   /   Employment Law, Federal Trade Commission, Non-Compete Agreement, Non-Compete Agreement  
The New FTC Noncompete Ban: A Guide for Employees

In a recent landmark vote, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) banned nearly all existing and future noncompete agreements. The FTC has long argued that binding noncompete agreements are an unfair method of competition under Section 5 of the FTC Act.  For employees, understanding the details of this new regulation and knowing the necessary steps to take is crucial, as the new rule will significantly reshape the employment landscape. Who Will Be Affected? The FTC’s ban

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FTC Votes ‘YES’ on Nationwide Noncompete Ban

On May 6, 2024   /   Employment Law, Federal Trade Commission, Non-Compete Agreement, Non-Compete Agreement   /   Leave a comment

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) recently voted to ban almost all existing and future noncompete agreements. The Final Rule states that noncompetes are considered an unfair method of competition that violates Section 5 of the FTC Act.  The ban will not apply to noncompetes held by senior executives. The Final Rule defines a senior executive as someone earning more than $151,164 annually and holds a policy making position. The ban will also not apply to

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EEOC Issues Final Rule for Pregnant Workers Fairness Act

On May 6, 2024   /   EEOC, Employment Law, Pregnancy Discrimination   /   Leave a comment

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) issued its final regulation to carry out the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA), previously enacted in 2023.  The PWFA requires covered employers to make reasonable accommodations related to an employee’s pregnancy, childbirth, or pregnancy-related medical conditions. Employers are not required to make accommodations if doing so would cause undue hardship. The Final Rule on the PWFA intends to “fill the gaps” of federal protection for employees. The Final Rule

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New Supreme Court Decision Holds that a Forced Transfer Demonstrates Employment Discrimination

On April 24, 2024   /   Discrimination, Employment Law, Supreme Court   /   Leave a comment

The Supreme Court unanimously vacated a decision that requires discriminated employees to demonstrate a “materially significant” disadvantage for discrimination claims. The Court held that employees, under Title VII of the Civil Human Rights Act of 1964 (Title VII), must only show some harm with respect to “an identifiable term or condition of their employment”, but that harm need not be significant.   The Supreme Court’s decision stems from Muldrow v. City of St. Louis, Missouri, a lawsuit brought by

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FTC to Vote on Noncompete Ban Proposal

On April 22, 2024   /   Employment Law, Non-Compete Agreement   /   Leave a comment

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has announced that it will vote on a proposed rule that would ban most noncompete agreements for employees. If passed, the FTC predicts the new rule would increase employee wages and expand career opportunities.  The noncompete ban would apply to paid or unpaid employees, as well as independent contractors. The ban would make it unlawful to enter into, attempt to enter into, or maintain the enforceability of noncompete agreements. Employers

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EEOC Report Reveals Gender and Ethnic Disparities in Federal Workforce

On January 5, 2024   /   EEOC, Employment Law   /   Leave a comment
EEOC Report Reveals Gender and Ethnic Disparities in Federal Workforce

A federal agency has released a set of comprehensive reports focusing on the status of women in the federal government. The reports from the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) explore the experiences of American Indian and Alaskan Native, African American, and Hispanic and Latina women to offer critical insights into their representation, career progression, and compensation within the federal sector.  Analyzing data from fiscal year 2020 (FY2020) , the reports compare the participation, retention, advancement, and

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