Hiring Freeze Could Cause Continued Headache for Managers
Hiring Headache
The governmentwide hiring freeze has now been extended through October 15, 2025, according to a White House memo sent to agencies in early July. Currently, the hiring of employees for civilian positions dealing with immigration enforcement, national security or public safety (i.e., medical personnel, food safety inspectors, firefighters, air traffic controllers and National Weather Service employees) is exempt from the freeze. Additionally, the freeze does not apply to military members or political appointees. The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) will be able to grant further exemptions as needed.
The federal hiring freeze will have been in place for almost nine months by the time it is lifted in October. Coupled with the ongoing downsizing of the federal workforce, the hiring freeze has caused headaches for many managers within agencies who are struggling to maintain workplace efficiency goals. Even after the hiring freeze has been lifted by the Trump administration, agencies will still be capped to one new hire for every four federal employees who leave their jobs, meaning federal managers will continue to face an uphill battle of understaffing and a backlog of work for their already overworked employees. Understaffing within an agency can cause burnout in employees, leading to tensions within the office and making way for allegations of wrongdoing against federal managers. A FEDS Protection professional liability insurance (PLI) policy can help protect federal managers if they are subject to allegations of misconduct and wrongdoing while the hiring freeze continues to cause workplace difficulties.
Mistake Mitigation
Burnout and inefficiency due to understaffing may result in federal managers being blamed for the shortcomings of their office from agency officials. The continued hiring freeze leaves federal managers and supervisors vulnerable to allegations being made against them by employees and agency officials. Trying to meet expectations from agency officials regarding efficiency while juggling an understaffed agency will cause difficulties for federal managers, putting them at higher risk of making decisions and mistakes that lead to allegations of wrongdoing.
If mistakes are made, managers could be subject to investigations into their actions taken and instructions given. Allegations and investigations can lead to disciplinary actions, which can lead to suspensions and terminations, or even personal capacity lawsuits against you. If an allegation is made against you, it is a necessity, not luxury, to have knowledgeable and effective counsel advocating on your behalf.
Professional Protection
As the professional liability insurance (PLI) provider endorsed by the leading federal manager associations, FEDS Protection offers federal employee PLI policies with $1 million, $2 million, or $3 million in civil liability protection for attorney’s fees and indemnity costs in the event you are sued in your civil capacity. The FEDS policy also includes $200,000 of legal representation coverage for administrative actions and $100,000 of coverage for criminal defense costs.
Annual premiums for FEDS Protection PLI start at $290. Additionally, federal managers, supervisors, and law enforcement officers are eligible for a reimbursement of up to 50% the cost of their PLI policy through their agency. To learn more about how a FEDS PLI policy can protect you and your career, visit www.fedsprotection.com or call (866) 955-FEDS, Monday-Friday, 8:30am-6pm EST to speak directly to a representative.
*This article is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice.
