Workforce Watch Podcast

Yoreim Virella Rivas

The federal workforce is changing rapidly in ways that affect millions of employees and the communities they serve. Hosted by HR expert Y. Virella, Workforce Watch explains what these changes mean for everyday workers. Each week, Y. breaks down the shifts that often go unnoticed in the headlines from agency reorganizations and buyouts to contract changes, union challenges, and evolving public service programs. These aren’t just bureaucratic details; they shape how government works and how people’s jobs, benefits, and rights are protected.

Episodes

  1. 09/05/2025

    Workforce Watch Ep.10: U.S. Job Market Flips, Federal Pay Raise, CDC Return, and Looming Shutdown

    For the first time since 2021, unemployed workers now outnumber job openings — 7.24 million vs. 7.18 million (CNN Business, Sept. 4). In this episode of Workforce Watch, we break down what this labor market shift means for workers, industries, and everyday Americans. Here’s what we cover in Issue 18 of the Newsletter and Episode 10 of the podcast: 📉 The U.S. labor market loses worker leverage as unemployment rises. 💰 Trump proposes a 1% raise for most federal workers, while law enforcement gets 3.8%. 🏢 CDC orders staff back after a tragic campus shooting, raising morale and safety concerns. 🌍 State Department layoffs followed by new hires leave workers in limbo. ⚠️ A potential government shutdown looms as the Sept. 30 deadline approaches. 🌪️ FEMA struggles with staffing shortages during disaster season. ✊ Federal unions sue over new bans on collective bargaining. 🏨 Spotlight: U.S. tourism slump costs billions and threatens hospitality jobs. Grab your cafecito ☕ and listen in for the breakdown of workforce disruption, policy shifts, and what it all means for your career, community, and the future of work. 🔗 Read the full newsletter: workforcewatch.substack.com 🛡️ Disclaimer: Workforce Watch is an independent newsletter created in a personal capacity. All views and opinions expressed are solely my own and do not reflect the views of any federal agency, department, or employer. Content is created during personal time using publicly available information and is intended for educational and informational purposes only.

    16 min
  2. 08/08/2025

    Workforce Watch Ep.7: We Told You This Was Coming: 1.97M Jobless Claims and 148K Federal Workers Gone

    In this episode of Workforce Watch, we break down the alarming surge in jobless claims—the highest since 2021—and the quiet rewriting of economic data that’s obscuring the real toll on workers. Job growth for May and June has been drastically revised downward, while over 148,000 federal workers have already exited under Trump’s second term. We also cover the firing of the Bureau of Labor Statistics Chief, the VA terminating union contracts, and how mass layoffs and anti-labor policies are reshaping the workforce under the guise of AI, innovation, and efficiency. 🎧 Tune in for the full breakdown—what it means for federal and private workers, and why this moment feels less like a correction and more like class warfare. 📍Topics: Jobless claims reach 1.97 million Federal workforce departures top 148,000 Labor data credibility under attack Trump’s anti-union EO moves forward IRS & FEMA reversals AI, automation, and the unraveling of job security Perfect for federal employees, policy watchers, and anyone trying to stay informed while making cafecito. ☕ Subscribe to Workforce Watch on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. 🛡️ Disclaimer: Workforce Watch is an independent newsletter created in a personal capacity. All views and opinions expressed are solely my own and do not reflect the views of any federal agency, department, or employer. Content is created during personal time using publicly available information and is intended for educational and informational purposes only.

    13 min
  3. 08/01/2025

    Workforce Watch Ep.6: Federal Worker Burnout, USDA Relocations & NSF Layoffs: The Mental Health Toll of Mass Cuts

    In Episode 6 of the Workforce Watch podcast, we unpack the mental health crisis unfolding in the federal workforce as mass layoffs, forced relocations, and reorgs intensify. From the USDA’s plan to relocate 3,100 workers to NSF’s decision to cut one-third of its staff, federal employees are describing their work conditions as soul-crushing—and we’re breaking down why. You’ll hear: Real worker testimonies about burnout, insomnia, and rising job insecurity How current agency cuts are echoing the USDA's 2019 relocations Why cybersecurity and public service delivery are now at risk New Trump admin policies on religion at work—and what civil rights groups are saying Higher ed in crisis: layoffs, hiring freezes, and the politicization of research How laid-off feds are turning to digital activism to keep the public informed This is more than workforce news—it’s a warning about what happens when we dismantle the very institutions meant to serve us. 🎧 Listen now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you tune in. 🛡️ Disclaimer: Workforce Watch is an independent newsletter created in a personal capacity. All views and opinions expressed are solely my own and do not reflect the views of any federal agency, department, or employer. Content is created during personal time using publicly available information and is intended for educational and informational purposes only.

    15 min
  4. 07/10/2025

    Workforce Watch Ep. 3. Federal Mass Layoffs Resume, Disaster Response Falters, and Hiring Freezes Extends

    🚨 Supreme Court greenlights federal mass layoffs. Schumer demands answers after Texas flood response fails. Trump extends hiring freeze through October. In this episode of Workforce Watch, I break down the most critical federal workforce developments impacting public service, safety, and science. We cover: The July 8 SCOTUS decision allowing mass federal layoffs before legal review Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson’s powerful dissent warning of constitutional overreach Chuck Schumer’s call for an investigation into how staffing cuts delayed Texas flood aid Trump’s hiring freeze extension and its ripple effects on government capacity OPM’s walk-back on controversial Trump-era hiring essay prompts Massive MSPB appeal backlogs leaving fired workers in limbo EPA retaliation against scientists—and why it matters The backlash to Trump’s so-called “Gold Standard Science” executive order I also spotlight how cuts to FEMA, NOAA, and other critical agencies are putting lives at risk—and why we must rebuild the federal workforce before the next crisis. 🎧 Whether you’re a fed, nonprofit leader, or civic-minded citizen, tune in for expert HR insight, plain-language analysis, and grounded commentary on what these policies mean for our future. Subscribe to Workforce Watch on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Substack to stay informed, grounded, and ready. 🛡️ Disclaimer: Workforce Watch is an independent newsletter created in a personal capacity. All views and opinions expressed are solely my own and do not reflect the views of any federal agency, department, or employer. Content is created during personal time using publicly available information and is intended for educational and informational purposes only.

    18 min
  5. 07/03/2025

    Federal Layoffs Paused—But America’s Brain Drain Has Begun | Workforce Watch Ep. 2

    Federal layoffs may be on pause—for now—but the deeper crisis is here: a mass exodus of scientists, public health experts, and policy minds from federal service. In this episode of Workforce Watch, Yoreim breaks down the latest federal workforce rulings, the legal battles brewing behind the scenes, and the chilling brain drain reshaping America’s scientific future. Plus: What the fall of Chevron means for agency power, why OPM's FedScope data overhaul matters, and the grassroots networks rising from the rubble. 🎙 Hosted by Yoreim, a proud Latina public servant, Workforce Watch offers real talk, critical context, and cultural clarity on what’s really happening inside the federal government. 📌 Topics Covered: Supreme Court’s shadow docket & EO 14210 The scientific brain drain from agencies like NASA, NSF & EPA The fall of Chevron & its impact on agency authority HHS and State Department layoffs OPM’s FedScope data changes FEMA’s budget crisis & whistleblower protections 💡 Subscribe on Substack for deep dives, breakdowns, and bonus content: https://workforcewatch.substack.com/ 🛡️ Disclaimer: Workforce Watch is an independent newsletter created in a personal capacity. All views and opinions expressed are solely my own and do not reflect the views of any federal agency, department, or employer. Content is created during personal time using publicly available information and is intended for educational and informational purposes only.

    18 min
  6. 06/26/2025

    Episode 1: Inside the Collapse: Layoffs, Loyalty Tests, and the Fight for Federal Power

    The federal workforce is under attack—and this week proves it. From cyber threats triggered by U.S. airstrikes on Iran to mass agency layoffs, power grabs, ICE arrests, and the war on remote work, this episode of Workforce Watch exposes the escalating dismantling of our public institutions and the real-world impact on our democracy, safety, and everyday lives. Host Yoreim Virella breaks down: The fallout of the DOGE initiative and 280K+ federal layoffs Imminent Iranian cyberattacks and DHS's inability to respond SCOTUS, Senate, and OPM decisions reshaping job protections The racist erasure of Latino leaders and ICE targeting journalists “Big Balls” Coristine and Musk's infiltration of federal agencies Why the return-to-office push is really about control, not productivity The rise of Fired But Fighting, a powerful watchdog group of laid-off feds Plus: How the attacks on workplace flexibility disproportionately harm worker's with disabilities, caregivers, and workers of color—and what you must know to stay ahead. 🧠 Stay informed. Stay powerful.💥 Hit play for the federal tea you won’t hear on mainstream media. Disclaimer: Workforce Watch is a personal podcast focused on breaking down federal workforce developments, public policy, and the lived experience of public servants. All views are my own and do not represent the views of any agency or employer. Content is created during personal time using publicly available information.

    19 min
  7. SEASON 1, EPISODE 1 TRAILER

    Introducing Workforce Watch: Federal Workforce News, Mass Layoffs & the Fight to Save Public Service

    280,000 federal workers laid off. 27 government agencies restructured. And it’s barely making headlines. Welcome to Workforce Watch, the go-to podcast for breaking down federal workforce news, mass layoffs, HR policy changes, and the fight to protect public service and democracy. Hosted by Yoreim Virella Rivas—a federal HR expert with 13+ years of experience across nonprofit, private, and government sectors—this show explains how massive government restructuring is quietly dismantling labor rights, eliminating vital public programs, and reshaping the future of work in America. Every week, you’ll get insider briefings on what’s happening inside federal agencies, what these changes mean for workers and communities, and why we need to act now. 🎧 Hit subscribe if you care about labor rights, democracy, public service, and what’s really happening inside government. Follow Workforce Watch for weekly updates on federal workforce policy, public sector layoffs, and how political shifts are changing the future of work in real time. Disclaimer: Workforce Watch is a personal podcast focused on breaking down federal workforce developments, public policy, and the lived experience of public servants. All views are my own and do not represent the views of any agency or employer. Content is created during personal time using publicly available information.

    5 min

Trailer

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

The federal workforce is changing rapidly in ways that affect millions of employees and the communities they serve. Hosted by HR expert Y. Virella, Workforce Watch explains what these changes mean for everyday workers. Each week, Y. breaks down the shifts that often go unnoticed in the headlines from agency reorganizations and buyouts to contract changes, union challenges, and evolving public service programs. These aren’t just bureaucratic details; they shape how government works and how people’s jobs, benefits, and rights are protected.