Some in the incoming administration, including the President, have voiced support for the changing of marijuana from a Schedule I to a Schedule III substance. Meanwhile, the drug is legal in 38 states for medicinal purposes, and 24 for recreational purposes. And we continue to receive questions regarding Federal employees …
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Employee Relations, Supervisor TrainingAvailable:
June 3UnCivil Servant: Holding Employees Accountable for Performance and Conduct – June 10-11, 2025
FELTG’s flagship course UnCivil Servant empowers Federal supervisors and advisers to confidently handle the challenges that come with supervising in the Federal workplace. It shatters misconceptions about performance and misconduct-based actions and gives you simple step-by-step guidance for taking swift, appropriate, and legally defensible actions. This course fulfills the 5 CFR 412.202(b) …
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Employee Relations, Supervisor TrainingAvailable:
June 10Leading people is tough. Conflict happens. But is conflict always a bad thing? This class will explain how to address workplace conflict clearly and directly – without excess emotions. It will also cover how accountability impacts morale, and all of the small and simple actions supervisors can take to become …
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Employee Relations, Supervisor TrainingAvailable:
June 12If only there was a checklist that you could use to determine the correct penalty to address employee misconduct. Oh right, there is: the 12 factors identified in the Merit Systems Protection Board’s landmark Douglas v. VA decision. Yet, look at any recent batch of MSPB decisions, and you’ll find continued confusion …
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July 10Do you want to take your knowledge and understanding of MSPB law to a new level? Have you let your skills languish while the Board sat empty and quorum-less for several years? Want to confidently address the knotty Federal employment law issues that challenge even the most experienced advisors? FELTG’s …
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July 22What Supervisors and Advisors Should Know About Workplace Accommodations in 2025 – July 29, 2025
This year, it is more important than ever for supervisors, reasonable accommodation coordinators, EEO specialists, LR/ER specialists, HR staff, attorneys, and union reps to understand the process for determining when an employee is legally entitled to a reasonable accommodation, whether the request is related to an individual’s disability, pregnancy-related medical …
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EEO Training, Employee Relations, Litigation & Advocacy, Supervisor Training, Private Sector TrainingAvailable:
July 29This week of FELTG training focuses on conducting administrative investigations in the Federal workplace with an emphasis on employee misconduct, including workplace harassment. Workplace Investigations Week always includes the most up-to-date information on the skills, trends, and cases, including OPM’s regulations on investigative leave. Monday, August 11: Administrative Investigations: The …
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August 11Whether you’re representing your agency before the Merit Systems Protection Board or the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, there is one ultimate goal: Win the case. This interactive course will prepare you for these kinds of hearings. Wednesday, August 27: Developing a Theory In this session, you’ll learn strategies for developing …
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EEO Training, Employee Relations, Litigation & AdvocacyAvailable:
August 27UnCivil Servant: Holding Employees Accountable for Performance and Conduct – September 3-4, 2025
FELTG’s flagship course UnCivil Servant empowers Federal supervisors and advisers to confidently handle the challenges that come with supervising in the Federal workplace. It shatters misconceptions about performance and misconduct-based actions and gives you simple step-by-step guidance for taking swift, appropriate, and legally defensible actions. This course fulfills the 5 CFR 412.202(b) …
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Employee Relations, Supervisor TrainingAvailable:
September 3MSPB Law Week – September 8-12, 2025
Change happens in the world of Federal employee relations, and it often comes quickly. Those who succeed continuously sharpen their MSPB skills and refresh their knowledge. Those who don’t fall behind. FELTG’s MSPB Law Week provides an all-encompassing week of training that offers the most effective guidance and up-to-date information …
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September 8Whether you’re an HR professional, Employee Relations practitioner, EEO specialist, supervisor, or agency counsel, you have undoubtedly faced a leave-related challenge or two. And chances are, you may have struggled with some of the more complicated scenarios. Leave and medical issues create a complex and seemingly burdensome issue, one often …
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EEO Training, Employee Relations, Litigation & Advocacy, Supervisor TrainingAvailable:
September 22Whether it’s a disgruntled employee or customer, or a domestic issue that follows an employee to work, workplaces are at a distinct risk of violent incidents. And that risk may be heightened when it’s a Federal workplace. How do you prepare yourself to protect the lives of those around you? …
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EEO Training, Employee Relations, Supervisor Training, Private Sector TrainingWhen Domestic Violence Impacts the Workplace: Ensuring a Safe and Supportive Environment
Domestic violence significantly impacts the workplace. Nearly one in four women and one in nine men experience severe intimate partner physical violence, sexual violence, or stalking – and nearly three-quarters of those victims are harassed by their abuser at work. This leads to lost productivity, declining performance, and increased potential …
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Employee Relations, Supervisor TrainingManaging Chronic Performance and Conduct Issues
Whether it’s up-and-down roller coaster performers or repeat offenders of misconduct, chronically challenging employees eat up time, create workplace stress, and dampen productivity. And it will only get worse until you address the issue. FELTG President Deborah J. Hopkins shares the tools necessary to address performance issues and lays the …
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Employee Relations, Supervisor TrainingWant to reduce conflict, increase productivity, and limit absenteeism, turnover, and even removals? That’s impossible, you say. Maybe not, if you learn how to effectively manage individuals whose behavior repeatedly generates workplace conflict. This two-hour presentation teaches how to recognize employees with high-conflict personalities, whether it’s individuals who blame their peers …
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Employee Relations, Supervisor TrainingAntisemitism is never acceptable. However, recent remarks by celebrities, athletes, and news networks have made antisemitism seem more commonplace, in all facets of life, including the workplace. Title VII makes it illegal to discriminate against someone based on, among other things, religion. However, this is one of the protected categories …
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EEO Training, Employee Relations, Supervisor TrainingFor many, it’s the most difficult and unpredictable part of the workplace investigation — conducting the interview. This is especially the case when the witness has suffered trauma. And it’s likely to happen, considering these sobering statistics: Seven to eight percent will have PTSD at some point in their lifetimes. …
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EEO Training, Employee Relations, Workplace Investigations, Supervisor TrainingSexual harassment is a term of art that while easy to allege, isn’t always easy to prove. However, just because something may not rise to the level of Title VII sexual harassment, doesn’t mean it’s not inappropriate or that it should be tolerated in the workplace. FELTG President Deborah Hopkins, …
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EEO Training, Employee Relations, Supervisor TrainingThese are the Cases You Really Should Settle
We get it. You don’t want to look like you did something wrong. But here’s the thing: Settling a case does not mean there were flaws in your case, nor is it an admittance of liability or wrongdoing. This training will explain why so many disputes are settled and why …
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EEO Training, Employee Relations, Litigation & AdvocacyWouldn’t it be great if your first reaction to a reasonable accommodation request didn’t involve increased heartbeat, immediate beads of sweat, or fear? It doesn’t have to be that way. You can be the supervisor (or advisor) who sees the benefit of the interactive process and confidently navigates it to find a …
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EEO Training, Employee Relations, Supervisor TrainingOn the surface, probationary periods seem rather simple. An employee is given a year to prove they are a good fit for the job, and if they aren’t, it’s an easy separation process, right? Generally, yes, but there can be challenges. What if you are unable to make an appropriate …
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Employee Relations, Supervisor TrainingNumerous pitfalls can derail an agency’s disciplinary action, whether it’s suspension, demotion, or removal – and even make a bad situation worse. The most “effective and efficient” approach isn’t always traditional disciplinary action. This two-hour training explains why, how, and when to use numerous alternative actions, including not just clean …
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Employee Relations, Litigation & Advocacy, Supervisor TrainingYou can’t discipline an employee for AWOL unless it has reached a certain number of days. Employees can’t be removed for AWOL. You can’t be charged AWOL for time that you were physically present in the office. None of these statements are true; they are AWOL myths. This training deconstructs …
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Employee Relations, Supervisor TrainingEach presidential administration brings its own priorities and policies to the White House, but the speed with which the Trump Administration has issued Executive Orders regarding the Federal workplace is unprecedented. In this 60-minute review, FELTG President Deborah J. Hopkins provides up to-minute guidance on what several new Federal workplace-related …
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EEO Training, Employee Relations, Litigation & Advocacy, Supervisor TrainingTaking Performance and Misconduct-based Actions: Implementing Executive Order 13839 Policies in 2025
President Trump recently reinstated the policies outlined in his 2018 Executive Order 13839: Promoting Accountability and Streamlining Removal Procedures Consistent With Merit System Principles — and you are now on the clock. Agencies have until March 7 (yes, March 7, 2025) to report to OPM all policies that have been …
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Employee Relations, Labor Relations & Union Training, Litigation & Advocacy, Supervisor TrainingAn employee does not follow an order. Seems like an open-and-shut case of insubordination, right? Think again. Was it a refusal or simply a failure to comply? When you charge an employee with insubordination, you must prove intent along with the other elements of the charge. This class explains what …
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Employee Relations, Labor Relations & Union Training, Workplace Investigations, Litigation & Advocacy, Supervisor TrainingThe administration has highlighted that agencies should swiftly and properly deal with employees who engage in misconduct. In many cases, progressive discipline is a win-win for agencies. It’s a valuable tool to (hopefully) correct an employee’s misconduct. But, if it doesn’t have its intended effect, it gives the agency a …
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Employee Relations, Labor Relations & Union Training, Litigation & Advocacy, Supervisor TrainingMaybe you envision yourself donning a Sherlock Holmes hat and cape. Or, perhaps, your model is the masterful Benoit Blanc of Knives Out Mystery fame. If only the work of a Federal administrative investigation was as easy as these fictional detectives make their jobs seem. Instead, there are more than …
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Employee Relations, Supervisor TrainingSay Whaaat?!? Respectful Communication in the Workplace
Subtle and overt language, joking, off-handed comments, and offensive comments and gestures can lead to a hostile work environment. And that includes ill-advised, even if not ill-intentioned, phrases such as “hold down the fort” and “low man on the totem pole.” Being a respectful communicator means more than just not …
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EEO Training, Employee Relations, Supervisor Training, Private Sector TrainingAvailable:
By AppointmentUnraveling the Mysteries of Mixed Cases
“Who wrote this statute? Somebody who takes pleasure in pulling wings off flies?” The process for handling mixed cases has confused and frustrated many EEO practitioners, HR professionals, agency attorneys, and aggrieved employees – not to mention Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito, author of the aforementioned quote. In this 60-minute …
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EEO Training, Employee Relations, Litigation & AdvocacyAvailable:
By AppointmentEvery agency has employees who struggle with performance, but there is a reliable solution for addressing unacceptable performance. A successful Performance Demonstrate Period (DP) will either lead to sustained improved performance or a defensible performance-based removal or demotion. This fast-paced class guides you through the critical steps to reaching that …
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Employee Relations, Supervisor TrainingAvailable:
By AppointmentMost Federal agencies settle employment disputes — whether they initiate as grievances, EEO complaints, or as appeals of agency disciplinary actions. While it’s common to assume that settlement means the agency has a flaw in its case, it has no direct tie to liability or admissions of wrongdoing. Often, it’s …
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EEO Training, Employee Relations, Litigation & AdvocacyAvailable:
By AppointmentA lot of employees think all hostile work environment cases involve sexual harassment. That is not true – a number of other EEO categories may be implicated in allegations of workplace harassment. Hostile environment harassment can be alleged based on any protected category: sex, race, color, national origin, religion, age, …
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EEO Training, Employee Relations, Supervisor TrainingAvailable:
By AppointmentManaging and Supporting Employees with Bipolar Disorder
An estimated 2.8% of the U.S. population experiences the diagnosis of bipolar disorder, which carries a stigma and corresponding myths and misconceptions. To help employees be successful in the Federal workplace, it’s important for agencies to develop a clear understanding of what to do (and what not to do) if …
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By AppointmentHandling Teleworker Performance and Conduct Challenges
Telework isn’t for everyone, and some employees will struggle regardless of whether they’re at home or in an office. Unacceptable performance and misconduct should never be overlooked. This class will address and provide guidance on handling employee conduct and performance issues for those who work from home. It’s imperative to …
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Employee Relations, Supervisor TrainingAvailable:
By AppointmentWhen it comes to unacceptable performance, the one action you can’t afford to take is not acting. Yet, when you do take a performance-based action, there are limitless mistakes that can trip you up and result in lost appeals. In this course, you’ll learn how to avoid the mistakes routinely made when …
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Employee Relations, Supervisor TrainingAvailable:
By AppointmentTaking Defensible Misconduct-based Actions
If you’re confused, uncertain, or even timid about holding employees accountable for misconduct, this is the class for you. We’ll provide a step-by-step process for taking successful and defensible misconduct-based actions, while bringing you up to speed on topics such as charge drafting, penalty defense, assessing evidence, due process, burdens …
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Employee Relations, Litigation & Advocacy, Supervisor TrainingAvailable:
By AppointmentCharges and Penalties Under MSPB Law
Drafting appropriate charges and choosing a defensible penalty are two crucial parts of the disciplinary process. FELTG is here to make sure you have the tools you need to make the right decision in employee discipline. Course topics include how to structure charges and specifications, identifying alternate charges, charging down and proving …
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Employee Relations, Litigation & Advocacy, Supervisor TrainingAvailable:
By AppointmentMaximizing Accountability in Performance
Wouldn’t it be nice if you had an appraisal system that helped managers effectively and quickly deal with unacceptable performance in the Federal workplace – and survive third-party review? Believe it or not, regardless of your current appraisal system, you can hold employees accountable if you know the parameters. This …
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By AppointmentFundamentals of MSPB: Nuts and Bolts
This course is an excellent introduction for those new to the field, as well as those trying to align their actions and policies with the most current case law, regulations, and Executive Orders. Regardless of your skill level or experience, you’ll leave this class with the practical guidance necessary to …
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Employee Relations, Litigation & AdvocacyAvailable:
By AppointmentLegal writing in Federal sector employment law is a specialized craft. Attend this one-day training to ensure that your cases are not lost because of poorly or ambiguously written documents. FELTG will help you sharpen the skills you need to produce effective, defensible, and legally sound discipline and performance documents, …
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Employee Relations, Litigation & Advocacy, Supervisor TrainingAvailable:
By AppointmentAccountability for Conduct and Performance
One of the quickest ways to damage workplace morale is when employees see a coworker getting away with unacceptable performance or misconduct. The less you look away from these problems, the more likely it is for good employees to stay. This class offers an immersion into accountability principles, regardless of …
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Employee Relations, Supervisor TrainingAvailable:
By AppointmentAbsence Management: Controlling Leave Use and Abuse
Is there a more maddening or confusing element of workplace management than navigating the alphabet soup of employee leave – AWOL, LWOP, FMLA, PPL, etc.? This class imparts the knowledge and skills to deal with any leave-related situation. This training covers all types of leave and leave entitlements, ensuring you …
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Employee Relations, Supervisor TrainingAvailable:
By AppointmentGot Nexus? Accountability for Off-duty Conduct
The borderline between on-duty and off-duty has become increasingly blurred with the omnipresence of social media and many employees working flexible hours from home. Yet, one thing has remained clear and constant: If you’re going to discipline someone for what they do on their own time, you need to show …
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Employee Relations, Supervisor TrainingAvailable:
By AppointmentFeds Gone AWOL: What to Do When Employees Don’t Show Up
You can’t discipline an employee for AWOL unless it has reached a certain number of days. Employees can’t be removed for AWOL. You can’t be charged AWOL for time that you were physically present in the office. None of these statements are true; they are AWOL myths. This training will …
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Employee Relations, Supervisor TrainingAvailable:
By AppointmentAdvanced MSPB Law: Navigating Complex Issues
Do you want to take your knowledge and understanding of MSPB law to a new level? Want to confidently address the knotty Federal employment law issues that challenge even the most experienced advisors? This in-depth, highly interactive training event, taught by FELTG’s team of top MSPB practitioners and topic authors, …
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Employee Relations, Litigation & AdvocacyAvailable:
By AppointmentEverything You Need to Know About Probationary Periods
What if you are unable to make an appropriate determination at the end of an employee’s probationary period? Must you notify employees when their probationary periods are coming to an end? Can you discipline or PIP someone during a probationary period? On the surface, probationary periods seem rather simple. An …
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By AppointmentDealing With Medical Issues in Misconduct Cases
With the rise in mental health diagnoses, substance abuse disorders, and the physical challenges that come with an aging workforce, Federal supervisors can expect a corresponding increase in employees failing to meet conduct standards due to physical or mental impairments. This course will walk you through a step-by-step process for …
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By AppointmentAdministrative Hearings and Witness Preparation
Learn how to prepare an engaging and effective case, targeted to the appropriate forum: MSPB or EEOC. This class will methodically describe the keys of each step in prepping your case, whether it’s getting witnesses ready, developing the record, objecting to documents, preparing your lines of questioning, or closing statements. …
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EEO Training, Employee Relations, Litigation & AdvocacyAvailable:
By AppointmentConducting Effective Discovery
In the world of Federal employment law, discovery is an integral part of the litigation process. Discovery is your opportunity to obtain the information and documents that are critical to your case. But discovery is fraught with potential mistakes, some of which could lead to sanctions – or even cause …
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