Keep Records of All Conversations Related to Reduction in Force or Change in Your Employment Status or Position

Several agencies have told their employees this week that information on continued processes to cut the Federal workforce will no longer come in writing by email but will only be conveyed verbally via team, branch, division, organization, bureau, or agency level meetings and townhalls.

A tip for Feds in this situation are to keep a handwritten notebook (not typed on your Federal device) of meeting notes that includes for each meeting or event--

▶️ email address that sent the meeting invite, including any names of persons in the from line

▶️ date and time sent

▶️ if the invite was not by email, who directed you to attend the meeting

▶️ subject of meeting

▶️ meeting speakers' names and titles,

▶️ date of meeting,

▶️ start and end times,

▶️ method of delivery (teleconference, in person)

▶️ details of what was discussed and said by whom

This should be done for any meeting where change in employee status is raised...even by those you trust such as a supervisor.

Make copies of any written information received to date regarding personnel status changes and keep it in a file with your documentation.

And yes this may sound paranoid but...

▶️ Once you are back in the office, I suggest that you do NOT carry your entire notebook into a meeting. Don't leave it at work or unattended or in an unlocked location in case it is confiscated. Take notes on a single page (NOT your personal phone) and consolidate the information later with your other notes.

▶️ If you aren't allowed to take notes in a meeting (I'm hearing phones may be excluded from meetings once in the office) then document what was said as soon as possible afterwards.

(I've been subject to these tactics used by a past federal supervisor who was doing illegal things at an agency before that person was finally under investigation and terminated. Just sayin'....unprecedented times call for unprecedented (and frankly, depressing) things to protect yourself.)

Do this for EVERY conversation. Even one with your supervisor you like a lot; don't take a reassignment or other position before knowing the facts. You don't want to make a decision you think saves you and it hurts you. I've seen employees jump from competitive appointment-based positions to excepted service and they don't realize that the RIF processes between the two are different.

💙 I stand with you. I see you. And I'm advocating for you. I'm dialing daily to talk to Congressional members about the value of the Federal workforce and the dignity with which they should be treated, given their oath of office and service to our nation.💙

Original LinkedIn post is found here: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/shauna-weatherly_several-agencies-have-told-their-employees-activity-7292897278132895745-nOEW?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop&rcm=ACoAAA6vqSABLArM73HgjpmDnYG-5LRTJXgTTYQ

DISCLAIMERS:

CONSULT YOUR AGENCY HR OFFICE OR AN ATTORNEY KNOWLEDGABLE IN FEDERAL EMPLOYEE LAW OR PAY BEFORE MAKING ANY DECISION OR TAKING ANY ACTION THAT IMPACTS OR CHANGES YOUR FEDERAL EMPLOYMENT STATUS.

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