FedUpward Podcast - Tips for Federal Government Employees

What does it actually take to remove a federal employee for serious performance or conduct issues—and can the process be improved without sacrificing due process?
We welcome Maureen Klovers of We the Doers back to the FedUpward Podcast to discuss the organization's new report, "Fast but Fair Federal Firing," which examines the experiences of federal managers who have navigated the removal process firsthand.
Their research found that removing an employee took an average of 21 months in the cases studied, consuming hundreds of hours of supervisors' time before accounting for the work of HR, legal teams, unions, and others.
Love and Maureen discuss why those delays matter for high-performing employees, team morale, and agency missions; the inconsistencies between agencies; and why lasting civil service reform may ultimately need to come from Congress rather than executive action.
They also explore We the Doers' recommendations for creating a clearer, more consistent system that preserves employee due process while giving managers better tools to address genuine performance and conduct problems—and what the organization plans to tackle next.
Learn more about We the Doers and read the report here: https://wethedoers.org/ 
Connect with Love:
Coaching: https://www.fedupwardcoaching.com/ 

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/love-rutledge

Facebook: facebook.com/fedupward

The FedUpward Podcast gives federal employees and friends of feds strategies and tips for navigating everyday problems. This is a place for federal employees to network, share ideas, and get better.
Don't get fed up. Get FedUpward!

Federal service builds a unique set of skills—but figuring out how those skills translate to your next opportunity isn't always easy.
Karen Lee, founder of FedsForward, joins the podcast to discuss how federal employees can navigate career transitions without leaving their public service identity behind.
Karen shares how FedsForward is helping current and former federal employees better understand their value, identify career pathways across government, industry, nonprofits, academia, and beyond, and connect their experience to real opportunities. She also gives listeners a preview of the next generation of the organization's free career technology platform, coming in fall 2026, which will offer improved career insights, job matching, and tailored application support.
Plus, Karen discusses Career Forward, Feds Forward's seven-week cohort-based career program designed for professionals who are actively job searching, exploring what comes next, or struggling to turn their experience into a focused career strategy.
Whether you're preparing to leave federal service, considering a move to another sector, or simply wondering what your experience could qualify you to do next, this conversation offers a reminder that your federal career isn't just where you've been—it's an asset you can carry forward.
Learn more about FedsForward here: https://www.fedsforward.com/ 
Connect with Love:
Coaching: https://www.fedupwardcoaching.com/ 

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/love-rutledge

Facebook: facebook.com/fedupward

The FedUpward Podcast gives federal employees and friends of feds strategies and tips for navigating everyday problems. This is a place for federal employees to network, share ideas, and get better.
Don't get fed up. Get FedUpward!

The federal workforce has changed dramatically over the past two years—but what do those changes mean for the people behind the mission?
In this special episode, I join WUSA9's Larry Miller to discuss the human side of today's federal workforce. From navigating career disruptions and identity shifts to finding new purpose after public service, we discuss what I've learned through six years of interviewing federal employees and the organizations supporting them. We also explore the need for civil service modernization, the challenges facing recruitment, and why community matters now more than ever.
Whether you're a current federal employee, recently transitioned out of government, or simply interested in the future of public service, this conversation offers thoughtful perspective, practical resources, and a reminder that no one has to navigate these changes alone.
Subscribe to Larry Miller's YouTube channel: youtube.com/@larrymillerd/videos 
Federal Fallout reporting on WUSA9: wusa9.com/federal-fallout 
Connect with Love:
Coaching: https://www.fedupwardcoaching.com/ 

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/love-rutledge

Facebook: facebook.com/fedupward

The FedUpward Podcast gives federal employees and friends of feds strategies and tips for navigating everyday problems. This is a place for federal employees to network, share ideas, and get better.
Don't get fed up. Get FedUpward!

A proposed rule from the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) and the Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB) could significantly reshape how federal agencies handle employee performance, discipline, and removals. But what do these changes actually mean for federal employees and supervisors? You need to know so you can comment officially via the Federal Register by August 3, 2026.
Former MSPB executive Raymond Limon joins the FedUpward podcast to break down the proposed rule and explain why it has sparked concern across the federal workforce. They discuss the potential elimination of the long-standing Douglas Factors, the legal framework that has guided disciplinary decisions for more than four decades, and what their removal could mean for consistency, due process, and agency accountability.
The conversation also explores the proposal's requirement for 30-day Performance Improvement Plans (PIPs), annual supervisory training, and the broader implications of OPM and MSPB issuing joint regulations. Ray explains how these changes could affect managers, employees, and the future independence of the MSPB, especially in light of recent Supreme Court decisions.
So listen for some much needed context to understand one of the most consequential federal workforce proposals in years—and why participating in the public comment process matters.
Read the Douglas Factors: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/employee-relations/reference-materials/douglas-factors/
The proposed rule: https://public-inspection.federalregister.gov/2026-13445.pdf
Check out Ray's website: https://www.meritserviceadvocates.com/
Connect with Love:
Coaching: https://www.fedupwardcoaching.com/ 

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/love-rutledge

Facebook: facebook.com/fedupward

The FedUpward Podcast gives federal employees and friends of feds strategies and tips for navigating everyday problems. This is a place for federal employees to network, share ideas, and get better.
Don't get fed up. Get FedUpward!

For decades, Bob Tobias has helped shape the federal workforce—from fighting landmark legal battles on behalf of federal employees to founding the renowned Key Executive Leadership Program at American University. In this episode of FedUpward, Bob reflects on his remarkable career, the leadership principles that continue to influence thousands of federal managers, and why trust, vulnerability, and relationships are the foundation of effective leadership.
 Bob also shares the deeply personal story behind his transition to writing poetry after retirement, discussing how childhood experiences, leadership, and self-reflection inspired his new collection, "What Lives in Me." Whether you're an aspiring supervisor, an experienced executive, or simply interested in personal growth, this conversation offers timeless lessons about leadership, resilience, and leaving a meaningful legacy.
 Ger your copy of "What Lives in Me" - https://finishinglinepress.com/product/what-lives-in-me-by-robert-m-tobias
Key Executive Leadership Program at American University - https://www.american.edu/spa/key/mpagpt.com 
Connect with Love:
Coaching: https://www.fedupwardcoaching.com/ 

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/love-rutledge

Facebook: facebook.com/fedupward

The FedUpward Podcast gives federal employees and friends of feds strategies and tips for navigating everyday problems. This is a place for federal employees to network, share ideas, and get better.
Don't get fed up. Get FedUpward!