Immediate Next Steps After RIF Notice

Do Not Sign Anything Immediately

When you receive your RIF notice, you may also be presented with documents to sign, including acknowledgment of receipt, separation agreements, or voluntary early retirement offers. Do not sign anything beyond a simple acknowledgment of receipt until you have reviewed the documents with your union representative.

Signing certain documents could waive important rights, including your right to appeal. An acknowledgment of receipt simply confirms you received the notice — it does not indicate agreement with the RIF action. If you are unsure whether a document is a simple acknowledgment or something more, ask for time to review it.

Contact Your Union Steward

Contact AFGE Local 2883 as soon as possible after receiving your notice. Your union steward can:

• Review your RIF notice for errors or procedural violations
• Explain your rights under the collective bargaining agreement
• Help you understand your bump and retreat rights
• Connect you with legal representation if needed
• Guide you through the appeal process
• Provide emotional support and connect you with counseling resources

Review Your RIF Notice Carefully

Your RIF notice must contain specific information required by law and regulation. Read every word carefully and look for:

• Your competitive area and competitive level
• Your retention standing (tenure group, veteran preference, service computation date, performance rating)
• The effective date of the RIF action
• Information about your appeal rights
• Whether you are being offered an assignment to another position (bump/retreat)
• Any errors in your personal information, service dates, or performance ratings

Check Your Retention Standing and Service Computation Date

Your retention standing determines where you fall in the RIF order. It is based on four factors, applied in this order:

1. Tenure: Career employees (Group I) have priority over career-conditional (Group II) and term employees (Group III)
2. Veteran Preference: Veterans with 30% or more disability receive the highest preference, followed by other preference-eligible veterans
3. Length of Service: Calculated using your service computation date (SCD), which includes creditable civilian and military service
4. Performance: Your most recent three annual performance ratings are factored in, with additional retention service credit for ratings above "Fully Successful"

Errors in any of these factors could mean you are being RIF'd out of order. Request your Official Personnel Folder (OPF) from HR and compare it against your RIF notice.

Understand Your Bump and Retreat Rights

Under federal RIF regulations (5 CFR Part 351), you may have the right to "bump" or "retreat" into another position instead of being separated:

• Bumping: You may displace an employee in a lower-graded position within your competitive area if you have a higher retention standing
• Retreating: You may move into a position you previously held (or a substantially identical one) at a lower grade, displacing an employee with lower retention standing

The agency is required to offer you the best available assignment right before separating you. If they have not done so, this may be grounds for appeal. Your union can help you determine whether you have bump or retreat rights.

File for Unemployment If Applicable

Federal employees who are separated through RIF are generally eligible for unemployment compensation. The program is administered through your state's unemployment office, but the federal government pays the benefits. Key points:

• File as soon as possible after your separation date — most states have a waiting period
• You will need your SF-8 (Notice to Federal Employee About Unemployment Insurance) from your agency
• Benefits are based on your federal salary and your state's formula
• You must be actively seeking employment to continue receiving benefits
• Unemployment benefits are taxable income

Update Your Resume

Start updating your resume as soon as possible, even if you plan to appeal. Having a current resume ready gives you options:

• Create both a federal resume (for USAJobs applications) and a private-sector resume
• Document all accomplishments, skills, and certifications from your CDC work
• Update your USAJobs profile and set up job alerts
• Register for CTAP and ICTAP if eligible (see Rehirement Programs)
• Consider reaching out to professional contacts and networks

Know Your Appeal Deadlines

You have the right to appeal your RIF action to the Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB). Critical deadlines:

Additional appeal options may include:

• Negotiated grievance procedure: If covered by your collective bargaining agreement, you may be able to grieve the RIF action instead of or in addition to an MSPB appeal (but you typically cannot pursue both)
• EEO complaint: If you believe the RIF was motivated by discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, or genetic information
• Whistleblower complaint: If you believe the RIF was retaliation for protected disclosures

Contact your union steward immediately to discuss which appeal route is best for your situation. Do not wait until the last minute — gather evidence and prepare your case now.