12 Steps to Prepare For a Reduction in Force

As federal agencies undergo workforce reductions, many employees are left wondering what the next round of the Reduction in Force (RIF) will look like and whether it will impact them.

Some of you may be unaffected, while others could face sudden job loss with little to no warning. Many federal employees recently were caught off guard, leaving them unprepared for the transition.

Federal employees who suddenly receive notice may be handed a box and asked to vacate the premises immediately. Without prior preparation, this can create significant challenges. To mitigate the risks, you should take proactive steps to safeguard your financial well-being.

12 Steps to Prepare For a Reduction in Force

These things are ALWAYS a good idea. But even more so in this environment. Below are 12 critical steps every federal employee should take now to prepare for a potential RIF.

1. Download Your Electronic Official Personnel File (EOPF)

Once an employee leaves their position, they lose access to their EOPF, which contains all essential service records, including SF-50 forms. Since this document is not accessible through the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) or other portals after departure, you should download and save a copy while you still have access. Instructions for obtaining an EOPF can be found at fedimpact.com/get-your-eopf.

2. Download the Last Three Years of Your Pay Stubs

Payroll processors vary across agencies, but all employees should access their pay stubs and download at least three years’ worth of records. These documents serve as essential proof of earnings, which can impact pension calculations. You should ensure you have a clear record of your high-three average salary for retirement purposes. If verifying benefits such as life or health insurance, it may be necessary to download up to five years of records.

3. Download Your Training Record

For employees considering reemployment in the federal workforce or advancing in their careers, a training record is crucial. This document outlines certifications and training history, which can be valuable for updating resumes and applying for future positions.

4. Update Your Login Information for Your Payroll Processor

Many payroll processors require government-issued access cards for login. Once an employee departs, he/she may lose the ability to access payroll systems. To prevent this issue, you should update your login credentials, ensuring that you use a personal email instead of a government-issued one.

5. Update Your Email Associated with Your Thrift Savings Plan

Federal employees who use a government email for their Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) accounts may face access issues after leaving. Since two-factor authentication may send a code to an inaccessible government email, you should update your TSP login credentials to use a personal email before departure.

6. Get Your Retirement Estimate

Most agencies provide online portals where employees can generate retirement estimates. While these estimates are not definitive, they provide a useful projection of benefits. You should obtain and save multiple estimates with different retirement dates to explore various scenarios.

7. Ensure that Your Veteran’s Preference is Indicated on Your SF50

Veteran’s preference plays a significant role in RIF rankings. You should check Block 23 on your SF-50 forms to ensure your status is correctly documented. If errors are found, contacting the agency’s HR department immediately is essential, though it may be challenging due to recent reductions in HR personnel.

8. Make Sure You Have a Copy of Your Military Deposit Receipt

Employees who have made military deposits should verify and save their deposit receipts, which should be available in their EOPF. Those who have not yet made deposits should begin the process immediately, as military deposits must be completed before separating from federal service. Processing these deposits involves multiple steps, including obtaining earnings records from the Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS) and working with HR to calculate and make the payment.

9. Save Important Documents

Employees should review their emails and work files to identify any essential documents they may need after leaving federal service. While classified or sensitive information should not be retained, personal records and non-sensitive work documents should be saved before access is lost.

10. Save Contact Information

Once an employee departs, reconnecting with former colleagues may be difficult if contact details are lost. You should compile a list of professional contacts, including personal emails and phone numbers, to maintain important connections.

11. Update Your Beneficiary Information

Ensuring that beneficiary designations are up to date is a critical step in financial planning. You should review and update beneficiary forms for your life insurance, retirement accounts, and TSP. Forms and instructions for updating beneficiaries can be found at fedimpact.com/beneficiaries.

12. Have Cash on Hand for this Transition Period

Employees affected by a RIF may experience delays in receiving final paychecks, benefits, or retirement payouts. Maintaining a financial cushion can help ease the transition. One strategy for quickly increasing savings is to temporarily reduce contributions to TSP while still contributing enough to receive the employer match. You should assess your financial situation and ensure you have enough liquidity to cover expenses during the transition period.

Preparing for the Future & Next Steps

I encourage you to know your numbers. When you know your numbers, your financial decisions become obvious. I created this 22-part RIF training series to help you to better understand all the different levers that are in the RIF process, whether it’s a voluntary separation through an early out, or an involuntary separation through a discontinued service retirement, or something in between.

Many federal employees are being caught flatfooted and unprepared. Some have even been walked out with no time to take care of personnel matters. So don’t wait! Bottom line, don’t rely on others to take care of you. Take stock in your own career and retirement.