Calendar

FELTG Executive Director Deborah Hopkins instructing a class
Feb
28
Thu
Webinar — Boosting Employee Morale: 10 Dos and Don’ts for Federal Managers
Feb 28 @ 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm

Download Registration Form

Instructor

Ann Boehm

Course Description

A tough year for federal employees? That’s an understatement. Even before the shutdown, stagnant pay and slashed benefits led to significant drops in engagement and morale, according to the Best Places to Work survey. The factors that caused this precipitous drop in morale may be beyond your control. But that doesn’t mean that you can’t do anything to get employees focused back on mission. Join FELTG instructor Ann Boehm for this important webinar where you will learn specific actions you can take to improve morale, such as:

  • Finding out what employees like about their jobs
  • Addressing misconduct and performance problems before they impact morale
  • Rewarding good employees and include those employees in planning

The federal workplace is at a critical juncture. It needs skilled and proactive managers who have the right tools to lead their employees through these difficult times. Learn from Ms. Boehm, who has held numerous leadership roles during her 26-year career as a government attorney.

Price

$225 per site (payment by February 17)

$255 per site (payments made February 18 or later)

Teleworkers may be added to a main site registration for $35 each, on a space-available basis.

Mar
26
Tue
Webinar – Aging and Cognition: The Graying of the Civil Service
Mar 26 @ 1:00 pm – 2:30 pm

Download Registration Form

Instructors

Jennifer Johnson, George Woods

Course Description

Not only can federal employees work past official retirement age, they often have to work longer. This is helping create a federal workforce with more generations working side-by-side than ever before. What does this older generation of employees mean for federal supervisors and those who advise them? This is your opportunity to find out. This 90-minute webinar is a must for attorneys, supervisors, and labor and HR specialists who handle management issues. Attorney Jennifer Johnson and Psychiatrist George Woods will lay out in detail how people change as they age, and the management approaches you may need to adopt as a result. Those who attend this timely webinar will learn how to prioritize the value of older employees’ expertise and experience, as well as make effective accommodations for them to succeed without discriminating against anyone due to age.

Attendees will also learn how to:

  • Identify the biological changes that impact functioning.
  • Understand the structural and neurocognitive changes that impact brain functioning.
  • Eliminate the barriers that keep people from confronting the issue of aging.

Don’t just wait for your older employees to retire. Learn how to maximize their strengths for a more focused and productive workplace.

Price

$275 per site (payment by March 16)                                                                                                                                  $305 per site (payments made March 17 or later)

Teleworkers may be added to a main site registration for $35 each, on a space-available basis.

Jul
15
Mon
Emerging Issues Week: The Federal Workplace’s Most Challenging Situations – Washington, DC @ International Student House (ISH) – Ella Burling Hall
Jul 15 – Jul 19 all-day

Download Registration Form

Instructors

Deborah HopkinsShana Palmieri, Katherine AtkinsonAnthony Marchese

Course Description

Navigating your role in the modern federal workplace requires not just the legal knowledge, but also the practical skills to handle the most intense and challenging situations. For example, do you know what to do in the following scenarios?

  • An employee with bipolar disorder is having a manic episode in the workplace.
  • An employee threatens violence or suicide.
  • An employee claims she is being sexually harassed by one of your best performers.
  • You’ve heard reports that another manager is bullying an employee.
  • An employee is requesting leave or telework as a reasonable accommodation.
  • An employee is wasting time on social media when he is supposed to be working.

We will provide you the specific legal, practical and clinical guidance you need to reply effectively in these and many other difficult situations during our all-new Emerging Issues Week. You’ll gain the tools to better understand how to:

  • Deal with employees who have mental and behavioral health issues.
  • Handle sexual harassment and bullying claims.
  • Manage risk in your agency.
  • Handle the conflicts that take your employees off task.
  • Respond appropriately to the most challenging reasonable accommodation requests.

Daily Agenda:

Monday

Handling Behavioral Health Issues: An overview of the ADA requirements on accommodating individuals with mental impairments and other behavioral health issues; your agency’s legal obligation to provide its employees with a safe workplace; types of mental disabilities and how they may exhibit in the workplace; PTSD, substance abuse disorders; dos and don’ts when working with employees who have behavioral health issues.

Tuesday

Dealing with Threats of Violence: Handling the psychiatric emergency; legal considerations for federal agencies; dangerous scenarios during the notice period; myths and facts about targeted violence in the workplace; dealing with suicidal employees; individual characteristics that put an employee at higher risk of committing an act of violence; how to develop and implement an in-house threat management team to deal with threat assessments, risk management, and the best ways to keep employees safe during a crisis; steps to take if someone becomes violent in the workplace.

Wednesday

Employee Conflict Management: Managing vs. leading; difficult employee personality types; potential generational conflicts; using structured communication with your employees; learning how to “Flex” in difficult conversations with others; conflict resolution skills; utilizing a team-based approach in the federal government.

Thursday

Harassment Allegations and Investigations: Differentiating between EEO and non-EEO harassment; investigating harassment allegations; the intersection with criminal investigations; bullying; special considerations in light of #MeToo and #TimesUp.

Friday

The Nontraditional Workplace: Telework, Reasonable Accommodation, and Technology Challenges: Accountability for a mobile workforce; telework or flexible schedules as reasonable accommodation; challenges with technology in the federal workplace.

Pricing

Early Bird Tuition (register by July 1):

  • 5 days = $2170
  • 4 days = $1780
  • 3 days = $1370
  • 2 days = $970
  • 1 day = $530

Standard Tuition (register July 2 – July 19):

  • 5 days = $2270
  • 4 days = $1880
  • 3 days = $1470
  • 2 days = $1070
  • 1 day = $630

 

Metro, Parking, Directions

Metro: The International Student House (1825 R Street NW) is located in convenient proximity to the Red Line. Exit Metro at the Dupont Circle station and proceed to the Q Street/North exit. Head north (you will come off the escalator facing north; if you use the elevator take a left after exiting) on Connecticut Avenue to R Street NW (approximately one block). Turn right onto R Street NW. Cross 19th Street NW and the International Student House will be on the left side of the street approximately halfway down the block. If you reach the Bikeshare dock, you’ve gone too far. Approximate walk time: 7-10 minutes.

Parking: Street parking is metered and is limited to two hours, unless you have a Washington, DC, Zone 2 parking pass. The closest parking garage is at 11 Dupont Circle, approximately two blocks from the International Student House (1825 R Street NW). Approximate walk time: 5 -7 minutes.

From the Carlyle Hotel: After exiting the Carlyle Hotel, turn left. At the first intersection, R Street NW, turn right. Proceed approximately one block. The International Student House (1825 R Street NW) will be on your right, just past the Bikeshare dock. Approximate walk time: 4-6 minutes.

Cancellation and No-show Policy for Registered Participants: Cancellations made after the cancel date on the registration form will not be refunded or given credit toward future courses. Pre-paid training using the “Pay Now” option will not be refunded or given credit toward future courses. No-shows will not be refunded or given credit toward future courses.

Mar
19
Thu
Webinar – Using Progressive Discipline in the Federal Workplace
Mar 19 @ 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm

FELTG is making its webinars easier to access during the COVID-19 closures and emergency telework scheduling, to ensure that proper training is still available when the majority of employees are working at home. Contact us at 844.283.3584 or [email protected] to find out how this applies to our webinars, or how you can bring FELTG’s off-the-shelf or custom webinars directly to your agency.

Download Registration Form

Instructor

Deborah Hopkins

Course Description

The Trump Executive Orders made it clear that progressive discipline is not mandatory. However, that doesn’t mean it can’t be an important tool, particularly when considering whether an employee should be fired on the heels of new misconduct. Join FELTG as we dive into when and how to effectively use progressive discipline. The 60-minute webinar will also cover the foundations of discipline, the differences between performance and misconduct; the options to discipline; and the tricky concept of comparator employees. This webinar is part of the Navigating Challenges in the Discipline Process series.

Price

  • Early Bird Tuition: $240 per site, per session (payment made by March 9).
  • Standard Tuition: $270 per site, per session (payment made March 10 or later).

Teleworkers may be added to a main site registration for $40 per teleworker, on a space-available basis.

Mar
25
Wed
Webinar – COVID-19 Guidance for the Federal Workplace: Medical Inquiries, Leave, and More
Mar 25 @ 2:30 pm – 3:00 pm

Course Description

In a matter of weeks, the COVID-19 pandemic has drastically changed the federal workplace, the country, and the world. In this free 30-minute webinar, FELTG President and attorney at law Deborah Hopkins discusses two areas where the response to this virus has impacted the federal workplace:

  • ADA and EEOC guidance on the medical impact of COVID-19 in the federal workplace
    • Including medical inquiries, fitness for duty exams, and clearance to return to work
  • OPM and White House guidance on agency operations during the COVID-19 pandemic
    • Including telework, evacuation orders, and weather and safety leave

Instructor

Deborah Hopkins

Price and Registration

FREE. Registration is currently full. However, if you use the registration link below FELTG will add you to the wait list, and after the webinar’s conclusion we will email you a link so you can view the recorded presentation.

Register here. Enrollment is limited to the first 200 individuals and space is not guaranteed.

If you are one of the first 200 participants to register, you will receive a confirmation email from Zoom webinars confirming your registration and containing important access information.
Apr
16
Thu
Webinar – Due Process Violations: How One Mistake Could Cost You the Case
Apr 16 @ 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm

FELTG is making its webinars easier to access during the COVID-19 closures and emergency telework scheduling, to ensure that proper training is still available when the majority of employees are working at home. Contact us at 844.283.3584 or [email protected] to find out how you can bring FELTG’s off-the-shelf or custom webinars directly to your agency.

Download Registration Form

Instructor

Deborah Hopkins

Course Description

Due process is a simple, yet often misunderstood, concept. FELTG President Deborah Hopkins will explain constitutional due process, how it applies to the federal workforce, and what happens if your agency violates it. (Hint: You will lose your appeal.)  This 60-minute webinar, part of the Navigating Challenges in the Discipline Process series, will cover Ward and Stone violations, the role of the proposing and deciding officials and the discipline timelines as required by Executive Order 13839.

Price

  • Early Bird Tuition (payment required by April 10, 2020):
    • 1 line: $100
    • 2-5 lines: $185
    • 6-9 lines: $260
    • 10-15 lines: $340
    • 16-20 lines: $425
  • Standard Tuition (payments made April 11, 2020 or later):
    • 1 line: $115
    • 2-5 lines: $215
    • 6-9 lines: $290
    • 10-15 lines: $370
    • 16-20 lines: $455

Additional teleworkers may be added for $40 each, if space is available.

Apr
29
Wed
Virtual Training Event – UnCivil Servant: Holding Employees Accountable for Performance and Conduct
Apr 29 – Apr 30 all-day

Download Individual Registration Form

Course Description

FELTG’s flagship course UnCivil Servant empowers federal supervisors and advisers to confidently handle the challenges that come with supervising in the federal workplace. We hope that you never have to fire an employee. But it’s important that you have the tools to effectively address poor performance and misconduct, should the need arise.

Over the course of two half-days, UnCivil Servant identifies misconceptions about performance and misconduct-based actions and provides you with simple step-by-step guidance for taking swift, appropriate and legally defensible actions. The program also covers the very latest with Executive Order 13839, plus OPM regulations on performance and conduct.

Join FELTG for this special event, from wherever you are working – agency office or home. The program will be presented live, and you’ll have time to ask questions and get answers in real time. Note: This course fulfills OPM’s mandatory training requirements for new supervisors found at 5 CFR 412.202(b).

This program runs from 12:30 – 4:00 eastern each day, with a 30-minute break from 2:00 – 2:30 eastern.

Download Individual Registration Form

Instructor

Deborah Hopkins

Who Should Attend

Federal supervisors and managers; attorneys; Labor and Employee Relations Specialists; EEO specialists; union representatives.

Agenda

Wednesday, April 29

Accountability for Conduct and Performance, Part I: Accountability and supervisory authority; discipline and misconduct theory and practice; the five elements of discipline; off-duty misconduct; penalty defense and due process.

Thursday, April 30

Accountability for Conduct and Performance, Part II: Discipline procedures and appeals; disciplinary documents; defining unacceptable performance; dealing with poor performers; performance-based removal procedures.

Price

  • Early Bird Tuition: $210 per session, $395 for both sessions (register by April 20).
  • Standard Tuition: $225 per session, $425 for both sessions (register April 21-30).
  • Rates per registrant.
  • Want to register a group? Group discounts available though April 20. Contact FELTG.

Event FAQs

  • Can I attend Virtual Training from my government computer?
    • FELTG uses Zoom Webinars (not Zoom Meetings) to broadcast its Virtual Training Institute events. Many government computers and systems allow Zoom access. If for some reason your firewall will not allow access, you’re welcome to use your personal email address to register, and to attend the sessions from your personal device.
  • What if I want to attend a session but have a schedule conflict?
    • FELTG plans to record every session, and will make recordings available for purchase after the conclusion of the event. FELTG also plans to offer this live event periodically.
  • Can I share my access link with co-workers?
    • No. Registration for this event is per individual, and access links may not be shared. Each link may only be used by one person.
  • Can I register a teleworker?
    • This event is individual registration, so the cost is the same whether the person is teleworking or in an agency facility.
  • How do I receive a group rate discount?
    • If an agency wishes to register 10 or more attendees for the full event, a group discount will be applied if all registrations are received and paid for together. Group discount deadline is April 20.
  • Can I earn CLE credits for this class?
    • CLE applications are the responsibility of each attendee; FELTG goes not apply for the credits on behalf of attendees.  If you are seeking CLE credit, attendees may use the materials provided by FELTG in submission to your state bar. Attendees may also request a certificate of completion which will contain the number of training hours attended.
  • Can I earn HRCI credits for attending this class?
    • Each session is approved for 1.5 hours of HRCI general recertification credit. The HRCI course numbers will be available upon the conclusion of the training.
May
14
Thu
Webinar – Handling Law Enforcement Officer Discipline
May 14 @ 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm

FELTG is making its webinars easier to access during the COVID-19 closures and emergency telework scheduling, to ensure that proper training is still available when the majority of employees are working at home. Contact us at 844.283.3584 or [email protected] to find out how you can bring FELTG’s off-the-shelf or custom webinars directly to your agency.

Download Registration Form

Instructor

Ann Boehm

Course Description

The federal workforce is full of incredibly talented and dedicated law enforcement personnel across many agencies. Like all federal employees, these LEOs deserve a workplace free of toxic and misbehaving coworkers. Ann Boehm, who spent most of her 26 years as a government attorney with federal law enforcement agencies, will explain how conduct standards for LEOs may differ from other feds, and she will highlight  the Douglas factors that are of specific importance when disciplining officers. This 60-minute webinar will also cover off-duty misconduct, Giglio determinations, and what to do when LEOs commit felonies. This is the final webinar in the three-part Navigating Challenges in the Discipline Process series.

 

Price

  • Early Bird Tuition (payment required by May 5, 2020):
    • 1 line: $100
    • 2-5 lines: $185
    • 6-9 lines: $260
    • 10-15 lines: $340
    • 16-20 lines: $425
  • Standard Tuition (payments made May 6, 2020 or later):
    • 1 line: $115
    • 2-5 lines: $215
    • 6-9 lines: $290
    • 10-15 lines: $370
    • 16-20 lines: $455

Additional teleworkers may be added for $40 each, if space is available.

Jun
16
Tue
Virtual Training Event – Reasonable Accommodation Spotlight: Challenges and Trends in Federal Agencies
Jun 16 – Jun 17 all-day

Download Individual Registration Form

Course Description

If there’s one issue that comes up in every training class regardless of the audience or topic, it’s Reasonable Accommodation in the federal workplace. Now’s your chance to attend a two-day event focused entirely on appropriately and legally handling reasonable accommodation requests, including the more complicated scenarios where there’s not an easy answer. FELTG’s Virtual Training Institute proudly presents Reasonable Accommodation Spotlight: Challenges and Trends in Federal Agencies.

Let FELTG’s experienced instructors guide you through the complexities in the reasonable accommodation process, and show you the best ways to avoid pitfalls, so that your agency provides appropriate, useful, and legally-defensible accommodations for individuals who are entitled to receive them. Covering everything from the foundations of the law to challenges such as providing accommodations to teleworkers, allowing emotional support animals in the workplace, accommodating stress, properly handling requests for medical documentation, and including the very latest EEOC guidance on COVID-19 and more, this is a class you can’t afford to miss. Plus, you’ll have multiple opportunities to ask your Reasonable Accommodation questions – and get answers in real time.

This program runs from 12:30 pm – 4:00 pm eastern each day, with a 30-minute break from 2:00 – 2:30 pm.

6

Who Should Attend

Reasonable Accommodation Coordinators; EEO managers and directors; EEO specialists; EEO counselors and investigators; federal supervisors and managers who have employees with reasonable accommodation requests; attorneys; Labor and Employee Relations Specialists; union representatives.

Agenda

Tuesday, June 16 – Reasonable Accommodation: The Foundations and Challenges

12:30 – 4:00 pm eastern (break from 2:00 – 2:30), with Instructor Meghan Droste

Course topics: Overview of Reasonable Accommodation law and the Reasonable Accommodation process; the “regarded as” provision of the Americans with Disabilities Act; a closer look at complicated cases involving determining essential functions, the definition of qualified individual, agency obligations during the interactive process, and undue hardship claims.

Wednesday, June 17 – Reasonable Accommodation Trends

12:30 – 4:00 pm eastern (break from 2:00 – 2:30), with Instructor Katherine Atkinson

Course topics: Requests for telework, flexible work schedules, and leave as Reasonable Accommodation; accommodating the commute; accommodating stress; handling requests for a new supervisor as accommodation; accommodating service animals vs. emotional support animals in the workplace; medical documentation; medical exams and inquiries; updated COVID-19 guidance from EEOC.

 

 

Price

  • Early Bird Tuition: $295 per session, $560 for both sessions (register by June 5).
  • Standard Tuition: $330 per session, $595 for both sessions (register June 6-17).
  • Rates per registrant. No split registrations.

Event FAQs

  • Can I attend Virtual Training from my government computer?
    • FELTG uses Webex to broadcast its Virtual Training Institute events. Many government computers and systems allow Webex access. If for some reason your firewall will not allow access, you’re welcome to use your personal email address to register, and to attend the sessions from your personal device.
  • Can I share my access link with co-workers?
    • No. Registration for this event is per individual, and access links may not be shared. Each link may only be used by one person.
  • Can I register a teleworker?
    • This event is individual registration, so the cost is the same whether the person is teleworking or in an agency facility.
  • Can I earn CLE credits or EEO refresher training for this class?
    • CLE applications are the responsibility of each attendee; FELTG does not apply for the credits on behalf of attendees.  If you are seeking CLE credit, attendees may use the materials provided by FELTG in submission to your state bar. Attendees may also request a certificate of completion which will contain the number of training hours attended. Attendees may also request a certificate for EEO refresher hours upon completion of this program.
  • How do I receive a group rate discount?
    • Group rates are available for agencies registering 10 or more individuals for the full event. Group discounts are available through June 5.

Cancellation and No-show Policy for Registered Participants: Cancellations made after the cancel date on the registration form will not be refunded or given credit toward future courses. Pre-paid training using the “Pay Now” option will not be refunded or given credit toward future courses. No-shows will not be refunded or given credit toward future courses.

Jul
1
Wed
Webinar – Performance and Conduct Problems During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Holding Remote Employees Accountable
Jul 1 @ 1:00 pm – 2:15 pm

Download Individual Registration Form

Instructor

Deborah Hopkins

Course Description

FELTG’s flagship courses, such as UnCivil Servant, have empowered supervisors and their advisors to confidently handle the challenges that come with supervising federal employees.

But what if those employees are not in the physical workspace, and instead are working remotely, as most federal employees currently are (and most will likely be for the foreseeable future)? FELTG President and attorney at law Deborah Hopkins will address and provide guidance on handling employee conduct and performance issues during a pandemic.

Over the course of 75 minutes, Ms. Hopkins will address challenges such as remote employees, who:

  • Refuse to report to duty after the agency re-opens.
  • Misuse technology or violate time and attendance protocols.
  • Fail to perform their critical element(s) at an acceptable level.

Many employees are thriving under remote work, but others continue to struggle with performance. It’s imperative to agency mission that you use the right tools to swiftly and effectively address poor performance and misconduct, regardless of where the employee is doing – or NOT doing – the actual work.

Learning Objectives

Attendees will learn how to:

  • Take disciplinary action against a teleworking employee.
  • Determine whether a non-performer should be put on a demonstration period during emergency telework.
  • Manage a demonstration period remotely.

Price

  • Early Bird Tuition (payment required by June 22, 2020):
    • 1 line: $140
    • 2-5 lines: $225
    • 6-9 lines: $300
    • 10-15 lines: $385
    • 16-20 lines: $465
  • Standard Tuition (payments made June 23, 2020 or later):
    • 1 line: $165
    • 2-5 lines: $260
    • 6-9 lines: $340
    • 10-15 lines: $420
    • 16-20 lines: $495

Additional teleworkers may be added for $40 each, if space is available.

Jul
20
Mon
Virtual Training Event – Emerging Issues Week: The Federal Workplace’s Most Challenging Situations
Jul 20 – Jul 24 all-day

Download Individual Registration Form

Course Description

COVID-19. Workplace harassment. Union negotiations. Telework. Mental health crises. These are just a few of the issues federal agencies are working through in 2020.

Navigating your role in the modern federal workplace requires not just the legal knowledge, but also the practical skills to handle the most intense and challenging situations. And the challenges you face today may not be the same as the challenges you faced last week, last month, or last year. And if that weren’t enough, there’s now a global pandemic to contend with.

For example, do you know what to do in the following scenarios?

  • An employee with bipolar disorder is having a manic episode in the workplace.
  • An employee threatens violence or suicide after the social isolation caused by COVID-19 has taken its toll.
  • An employee claims she is being sexually harassed by one of your best performers.
  • You’ve heard reports that another manager is bullying an employee.
  • Your entire team is working remotely, but you need to meet with everyone to discuss a project or deadline.
  • An employee is wasting time on social media when he is supposed to be working.
  • The union is using abrasive language directed at agency leadership and management officials.

We will provide you the specific legal, practical and clinical guidance you need to reply effectively in these and many other difficult situations during our updated-for-2020 Emerging Issues Week. You’ll gain the tools to better understand how to:

  • Deal with employees who are experiencing mental and behavioral health issues.
  • Handle sexual harassment and bullying claims.
  • Interact with the union in an effective way.
  • Manage a mobile workforce and handle reasonable accommodation requests.
  • Deal with threats of violence – from suicide to mass shootings – in the federal workplace.

Who Should Attend

Attorneys; Labor and Employee Relations Specialists; EEO managers and directors; EEO specialists; Reasonable Accommodation Coordinators; federal supervisors and managers; security officers; union representatives.

Instructors

Deborah HopkinsShana Palmieri, Katherine Atkinson, Ann Boehm

Daily Agenda:

Monday, July 20

Handling Behavioral Health Issues: Course topics: An overview of the ADA/ADAAA and Rehabilitation Act requirements on accommodating individuals with invisible disabilities – with a focus on mental impairments and other behavioral health issues; types of mental disabilities and how they may exhibit in the workplace; accommodations for behavioral health-related disabilities; working with employees who have PTSD, handling substance abuse misuse and disorders; last chance agreements; dos and don’ts when working with employees who have behavioral health issues.

Tuesday, July 21

Dealing with Threats of Violence: Course topics: Handling the psychiatric emergency in the workplace; threatening behavior and the direct threat analysis; myths and facts about targeted violence in the workplace; dealing with suicidal employees; individual characteristics that put an employee at higher risk of committing an act of violence; how to develop and implement an in-house threat management team to deal with threat assessments, risk management, and the best ways to keep employees safe during a crisis; steps to take if someone becomes violent in the workplace.

Wednesday, July 22

Harassment Allegations and Investigations: Course topics: Differentiating between EEO and non-EEO harassment; protected categories; avenues of redress for the aggrieved; investigating harassment allegations; developing an investigative plan; dealing with difficult witnesses; witness and management rights during the investigation stage; agency obligations; the intersection with criminal investigations; bullying; special considerations in light of #MeToo and #TimesUp.

Thursday, July 23

The Nontraditional Workplace: Telework, Reasonable Accommodation, and Technology Challenges: Accountability tools for managing a mobile workforce; updated COVID-19 telework guidance from OPM, the White House, and EEOC; return to work challenges in the wake of COVID-19; handling requests for telework, leave, or flexible schedules as reasonable accommodation; challenges with technology in the federal workplace including technology-related misconduct.

Friday, July 24

Working in a Unionized Environment: What every supervisor and advisor should know about federal labor unions; collective bargaining agreements; official time; LR meetings; an overview of the Federal Service Labor-Management Relations Statute; fundamental employee, union, and management rights; unfair labor practices; controlling official time; handling information requests; the current status of the Executive Orders.

Pricing

Early Bird Tuition (register by July 6):

  • 5 days = $2190
  • 4 days = $1795
  • 3 days = $1385
  • 2 days = $980
  • 1 day = $540

Standard Tuition (register July 7 – July 24):

  • 5 days = $2290
  • 4 days = $1895
  • 3 days = $1485
  • 2 days = $1080
  • 1 day = $640

 

Seminar registration includes a printed copy of the materials. In order to receive materials by the training date, please register by July 6 and provide a shipping address. Registrations received after July 6 will also receive printed materials, but materials are not guaranteed to arrive by the training date.

Event FAQs

  • Can I attend Virtual Training from my government computer?
    • FELTG uses Webex for this Virtual Training Institute event. Many government computers and systems allow Webex access. If for some reason your firewall will not allow access, you’re welcome to use your personal email address to register, and to attend the sessions from your personal device.
  • Can I earn CLE credits for this class?
    • CLE applications are the responsibility of each attendee; FELTG does not apply for the credits on behalf of attendees.  If you are seeking CLE credit, attendees may use the materials provided by FELTG in submission to your state bar. Attendees may also request a certificate of completion which will contain the number of training hours attended.
  • Can I share my access link with co-workers?
    • No. Registration for this event is per individual, and access links may not be shared. Each link may only be used by one person.
  • Can I register a teleworker?
    • This event is individual registration, so the cost is the same whether the person is teleworking or in an agency facility.
  • How do I receive a group rate discount?
    • Group rates are available for agencies registering 10 or more individuals for the full event. Group discounts are available through July 6.
Jul
27
Mon
Virtual Training Event – EEO Refresher Training 2020
Jul 27 all-day

Download Individual Registration Form

Course Description

Counselors and investigators, here’s a little secret: The eight hours of refresher training that you are required to receive every year does not have to be the same old boring training. FELTG believes that your eight-hour refresher training can and should be interesting, engaging and compelling.

By attending five courses during FELTG’s summer conference-like virtual training Federal Workplace 2020: Accountability, Challenges, and Trends you’ll be able to earn all eight of your hours and receive critical guidance on important EEO topics, such as: EEO timelines, best practices for interviewing complainants and witnesses, trends in reasonable accommodation, the very latest on sexual orientation and gender discrimination, what happens when disabilities and FMLA overlap, and more. Plus, you’ll get the chance to ask questions of the resident authorities who collectively have seen almost everything in the world of EEO. Attendees will also receive a certificate of attendance verifying they’ve met the annual training requirement. We hope to see you there.

At-a-Glance Schedule

  • Monday, July 27: 12:30 – 4:00 pm eastern (3 refresher hours)
  • Wednesday, July 29: 9:30 am – 4:30 pm eastern (5 refresher hours)

Who Should Attend

EEO Counselors and EEO Investigators; others with an interest in EEO law are welcome to attend

Download Individual Registration Form



Monday, July 27, 2020

Counselor & Investigator Refresher Jump Start

Pre-session
12:30 – 4:00 pm EDT (break from 2-2:30)
What Every Counselor and Investigator Needs to Know in 2020
Presented by Katherine Atkinson, Attorney at Law, FELTG Instructor

(Earn 3 EEO counselor & investigator refresher hours)

Hey counselors and investigators! FELTG’s special event Federal Workplace 2020: Accountability, Challenges, and Trends provides an opportunity for you to pick up your mandatory annual refresher training with useful, timely, and engaging guidance. Ms. Atkinson kicks things off with an in-depth presentation on the foundational issues that EEO professionals need to know – everything from jurisdiction and pre-complaint counseling considerations, to best practices for interviewing complainants and witnesses.

Learning takeaways

Attendees will learn how to:

  • Understand timeliness issues like tolling and estoppel.
  • Identify the appropriate bases for dismissing a complaint.
  • Prepare and conduct effective witness interviews.

 



Wednesday, July 29, 2020

Handling EEO Challenges

Session 5
9:30 – 10:45 am EDT
Reasonable Accommodation in 75 Minutes
Presented by Dwight Lewis, former EEOC Chief AJ/Dallas Region, FELTG Instructor.

(Earn 1.25 EEO counselor & investigator refresher hours and 1.25 CLE credits)

As the Chief Administrative Judge of the EEOC’s Dallas Region for many years, Dwight Lewis saw his fair share of cases where agencies made reasonable accommodation mistakes. In this fast-paced session, Mr. Lewis will prepare you to be better equipped to navigate the reasonable accommodation process and avoid those mistakes he’s seen so often. The session will cover everything from defining a disability to determining undue hardship, and will highlight the importance of the interactive process in determining what accommodation is reasonable.

Learning takeaways

Attendees will learn how to:

  • Effectively navigate the interactive process.
  • Determine when telework would be an appropriate accommodation.
  • Explain who gets to choose the accommodation, and why
Session 6
11:15 am – 12:30 pm EDT
The Latest on Sexual Orientation and Transgender Discrimination
Presented by Deborah J. Hopkins, Attorney at Law, FELTG President.

(Earn 1.25 EEO counselor & investigator refresher hours and 1.25 CLE credits 

Deborah Hopkins PortraitThe Supreme Court will be handing down a decision on the Zarda, Bostock, R.G. & G.R. Harris Funeral Homes cases before thistraining event. FELTG President Deborah Hopkins will share her analysis of the High Court ruling and explain the impact it will have on the federal workplace. Over 75 minutes, Ms. Hopkins will also bring you up to speed on the law, gender stereotyping as sex discrimination, same-sex discrimination, harassment not motivated by sexual desire, and much more.

Learning takeaways

Attendees will learn how to:

  • Understand the statutory authorities that prohibit sex-based discrimination.
  • Define terms and concepts that apply to LGBTQ+ employees.
  • Identify actions that get agencies into EEO trouble.
Session 7
1:30 – 2:45 pm EDT
When the ADA and FMLA Collide
Presented by Barbara Haga, President/Federal HR Services, FELTG Senior Instructor.

(Earn 1.25 EEO counselor & investigator refresher hours and 1.25 CLE credits)

Navigating the FMLA is one of the most complex challenges a federal agency can face unless, of course, it is navigating the ADA at the same time. FELTG Senior Instructor Barbara Haga will compare and contrast coverage under the FMLA and coverage under the ADA, discuss the tricky role of medical documentation, and review leave under the FMLA and as a reasonable accommodation.

 

Learning takeaways

Attendees will learn how to:

  • Explain the difference between a serious health condition and an ADA disability.
  • Handle excessive absences under FMLA.
  • Request the appropriate medical documentation, without violating employee rights to confidentiality.
Session 8
3:15 – 4:30 pm EDT
Navigating the Morass of Mixed Cases
Presented by Bob Woods, Attorney at Law, FELTG Instructor.

(Earn 1.25 EEO counselor & investigator refresher hours and 1.25 CLE credits)

Few things create as much confusion among even experienced federal attorneys, EEO specialists, or HR professionals as mixed cases. We are here to help. Join Bob Woods as he untangles this often-complicated area when MSPB and EEOC both have potential jurisdiction over a case. What do you do when a mixed case lands on your desk? You’ll learn if you attend this session.

 

Learning takeaways

Attendees will learn how to:

  • Discuss procedural options for processing mixed cases.
  • Identify potential jurisdictional issues in mixed case processing.
  • Explain the role of the Special Panel.

 



 

Pricing

  • Early bird price is $725.
  • See registration for full pricing details.
  • Early Bird discounts available until July 15!

 

Event FAQs

  • Can I attend Virtual Training from my government computer?
    • FELTG uses Webex for this Virtual Training Institute event. Many government computers and systems allow Webex access. If for some reason your firewall will not allow access, you’re welcome to use your personal email address to register, and to attend the sessions from your personal device.
  • Can I earn CLE credits for this class?
    • CLE applications are the responsibility of each attendee; FELTG does not apply for the credits on behalf of attendees.  If you are seeking CLE credit, attendees may use the materials provided by FELTG in submission to your state bar. Attendees may also request a certificate of completion which will contain the number of training hours attended.
  • Can I share my access link with co-workers?
    • No. Registration for this event is per individual, and access links may not be shared. Each link may only be used by one person.
  • Can I register a teleworker?
    • This event is individual registration, so the cost is the same whether the person is teleworking or in an agency facility.
  • How do I receive a group rate discount?
    • Group rates are available for agencies registering 10 or more individuals for the EEO refresher registration option. Group discounts are available through July 15.

 

Virtual Training Event – Federal Workplace 2020: Accountability, Challenges, and Trends During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Jul 27 – Jul 31 all-day

Download Individual Registration Form

Course Description

Summer heralds the arrival of warmer weather, and with it the federal conference season. But with a pandemic not yet behind us, you may be wary of attending a crowded function or, perhaps, you find that getting approval for travel is even more difficult than usual. In fact, the pandemic is making the possibility of attending summer federal conferences less likely each day.

There’s no need to despair, and no need to give up on high-quality training: join the virtual FELTG Forum this summer, from wherever you’re working. FELTG’s experienced and widely respected instructors come together for a training event focused on making sure you’re prepared to effectively manage the federal employment challenges that are new, complicated, and critical to your and your agency’s success. Plus, unlike a conference where you have to register for the full event, this training event allows attendees to register for only the sessions they prefer to attend. It’s better than a conference!

Whether you’re a supervisor, HR professional, EEO practitioner or an attorney, this event has something for you. Attendees will receive clear strategies and straight-forward guidance for holding employees accountable for performance and conduct, deftly handling the most complex EEO challenges, and identifying and handling those pesky issues that are new — or will be soon enough. Along the way, EEO counselors and investigators can earn their annual refresher hours, and attorneys can pick up CLEs, including two hours for their legal ethics requirements.

And here’s the best part: You can select whichever sessions you want. Join us for the whole event. Or join us for one day, or just one session. It’s up to you.

Avoid the crowds. Save your agency money. And get the important training you need from instructors you trust.

Who Should Attend

Attorneys; Labor and Employee Relations Specialists; EEO managers and directors; EEO specialists; Reasonable Accommodation Coordinators; federal supervisors and managers; security officers; union representatives.

Download Individual Registration Form



Monday, July 27, 2020

Counselor& Investigator Refresher Jump Start

 

Pre-session
12:30 – 4:00 pm EDT (break from 2-2:30)
What Every Counselor and Investigator Needs to Know in 2020
Presented by Katherine Atkinson, Attorney at Law, FELTG Instructor

(Earn 3 EEO counselor & investigator refresher hours)

Hey counselors and investigators! FELTG’s special event Federal Workplace 2020: Accountability, Challenges, and Trends provides an opportunity for you to pick up your mandatory annual refresher training with useful, timely, and engaging guidance. Ms. Atkinson kicks things off with an in-depth presentation on the foundational issues that EEO professionals need to know – everything from jurisdiction and pre-complaint counseling considerations, to best practices for interviewing complainants and witnesses during a global pandemic.

Learning takeaways

Attendees will learn how to:

  • Understand timeliness issues like tolling and estoppel.
  • Identify the appropriate bases for dismissing a complaint.
  • Prepare and conduct effective witness interviews.


Tuesday, July 28, 2020

Spotlight on Accountability

 

Session 1
9:30 – 10:45 am EDT
The Foundations of Accountability: Discipline and Performance
Presented by Deborah J. Hopkins, Attorney at Law, FELTG President

(Earn 1.25 CLE credits)

This session begins with a discussion on the foundation of supervisory authority, and it will clarify the too-common misconceptions that prevent federal agencies from taking successful misconduct and performance-based actions against employees. Attendees will learn the five elements that must be present in a disciplinary case, the principles for holding employees accountable to perform acceptably, and will leave with the guidance necessary to avoid the roadblocks that lead to actions that fail when under the scrutiny of the MSPB, EEOC, or in grievance arbitration.

Learning takeaways

Attendees will learn how to:

  • Recognize the differences between performance and conduct.
  • Identify the due process errors that doom a disciplinary or performance case.
  • Successfully take a defensible disciplinary or performance-based action that complies with the law, regulations, and Executive Orders.
Session 2
11:15 am – 12:30 pm EDT
Charges and Penalties in Disciplinary Cases
Presented by Ann Boehm, Attorney at Law, FELTG Instructor

(Earn 1.25 CLE credits)

If you’ve been in the business for more than a few days, you know the importance of drafting legally-sufficient disciplinary charges, and making a reasonable penalty determination. Yet many agencies still lose cases because of poorly drafted charges. This session will cover the art and science behind drafting disciplinary charges, including the types of charges, parts of a charge, how charges are interpreted, and alternative charges. From there the discussion will cover the factors required to determine an appropriate penalty for employee misconduct.

Learning takeaways

Attendees will learn how to:

  • Discuss the MSPB and Federal Circuit lead cases involving penalty determination.
  • Defend the penalty using the Douglas Factors – or related penalty defense factors.
  • Draft effective proposal and decision letters.
Session 3
1:30 – 2:45 pm EDT
Providing Performance Feedback That Makes a Difference
Presented by Anthony Marchese, Ph.D., Coach/Author/Trainer, FELTG Instructor

There is one action you can take that, when done effectively, could have a major impact on your team’s morale and productivity, and that is providing employees with honest feedback – and not just at mid-year or annual review time. Especially crucial, in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, is continuing to provide feedback to remote employees. This session presentation will equip participants to nurture a culture of candor, while exposing feedback myths and ineffective practices. Plus, you’ll learn how to have difficult conversations that produce actionable outcomes.

Learning takeaways

Attendees will learn how to:

  • Identify the best practices for nurturing a culture of healthy feedback.
  • Prepare for routine and high-stakes conversations by learning to use a thoughtful approach to employee conversations.
  • Distinguish between opposing mindsets and their impact upon how feedback is received/acted upon.
Session 4
3:15 – 4:30 pm EDT
What to Do When Performance Goes Bad
Presented by Bob Woods, Attorney at Law, FELTG Instructor

(Earn 1.25 CLE credits)

When it comes to the PIP, the DP, the ODAP, or whatever your agency calls it, a lot of the advice you get is BS. But not from FELTG. This session gets to the heart of how to handle performance challenges, for employees in the office or on telework status. Attendees will learn the FELTG-Way to manage an employee’s opportunity to demonstrate acceptable performance. And if the employee fails the DP, attendees will be able to confidently, effectively, and quickly remove the employee for poor performance.

Learning takeaways

Attendees will learn how to:

  • Identify the required elements of performance cases.
  • Implement a legally-sufficient opportunity period to demonstrate acceptable performance (formerly a PIP).
  • Remove a poor performer in 31 days.


Wednesday, July 29, 2020

Handling EEO Challenges

Session 5
9:30 – 10:45 am EDT
Reasonable Accommodation in 75 Minutes
Presented by Dwight Lewis, former EEOC Chief AJ/Dallas Region, FELTG Instructor

(Earn 1.25 EEO counselor & investigator refresher hours and 1.25 CLE credits)

As the Chief Administrative Judge of the EEOC’s Dallas Region for many years, Dwight Lewis saw his fair share of cases where agencies made reasonable accommodation mistakes. In this fast-paced session, Mr. Lewis will prepare you to be better equipped to navigate the reasonable accommodation process and avoid those mistakes he’s seen so often. The session will cover everything from defining a disability to determining undue hardship, and will highlight the importance of the interactive process in determining what accommodation is reasonable.

Learning takeaways

Attendees will learn how to:

  • Effectively navigate the interactive process.
  • Determine when telework would be an appropriate accommodation.
  • Explain who gets to choose the accommodation, and why.
Session 6
11:15 am – 12:30 pm EDT
The Latest on Sexual Orientation and Transgender Discrimination
Presented by Deborah J. Hopkins, Attorney at Law, FELTG President

(Earn 1.25 EEO counselor & investigator refresher hours and 1.25 CLE credits 

Deborah Hopkins PortraitOn June 15, 2020, the Supreme Court issued a decision in Zarda, Bostock, R.G. & G.R. Harris Funeral Homes that definitively set the level of protection for LGBTQ employees in this country. FELTG President Deborah Hopkins will share her analysis of the High Court ruling and explain the impact it has on the federal workplace. Over 75 minutes, Ms. Hopkins will also bring you up to speed on gender stereotyping as sex discrimination, same-sex discrimination, harassment not motivated by sexual desire, and much more.

Learning takeaways

Attendees will learn how to:

  • Understand the statutory authorities that prohibit sex-based discrimination.
  • Define terms and concepts that apply to LGBTQ+ employees.
  • Identify actions that get agencies into EEO trouble.
Session 7
1:30 – 2:45 pm EDT
When the ADA and FMLA Collide
Presented by Barbara Haga, President/Federal HR Services, FELTG Senior Instructor

(Earn 1.25 EEO counselor & investigator refresher hours and 1.25 CLE credits)

Navigating the FMLA is one of the most complex challenges a federal agency can face unless, of course, it is navigating the ADA at the same time. Add in the COVID-19 pandemic and you’ve got a complicated recipe that requires special attention. FELTG Senior Instructor Barbara Haga will compare and contrast coverage under the FMLA and coverage under the ADA, discuss the tricky role of medical documentation, and review leave under the FMLA and as a reasonable accommodation.

 

Learning takeaways

Attendees will learn how to:

  • Explain the difference between a serious health condition and an ADA disability.
  • Handle excessive absences under FMLA.
  • Request the appropriate medical documentation, without violating employee rights to confidentiality.
Session 8
3:15 – 4:30 pm EDT
Navigating the Morass of Mixed Cases
Presented by Bob Woods, Attorney at Law, FELTG Instructor

(Earn 1.25 EEO counselor & investigator refresher hours and 1.25 CLE credits)

Few things create as much confusion among even experienced federal attorneys, EEO specialists, or HR professionals as mixed cases. We are here to help. Join Bob Woods as he untangles this often-complicated area when MSPB and EEOC both have potential jurisdiction over a case. What do you do when a mixed case lands on your desk? You’ll learn if you attend this session.

 

Learning takeaways

Attendees will learn how to:

  • Discuss procedural options for processing mixed cases.
  • Identify potential jurisdictional issues in mixed case processing.
  • Explain the role of the Special Panel.

 



Thursday, July 30, 2020

Trends in Federal Employment Law

Session 9
9:30 – 10:45 am EDT
Performance and Conduct Problems During a Pandemic: Holding Remote Employees Accountable
Presented by Deborah J. Hopkins, Attorney at Law, FELTG President

(Earn 1.25 CLE credits)

Deborah Hopkins PortraitOne of the biggest challenges facing agencies during this COVID-19 pandemic – and its potential aftermath – is that so much of the workforce is no longer in the workplace. And with varying return to work orders across the country, there’s not a one-size-fits-all approach to where things stand. How do you handle performance issues? What about conduct? What happens if an employee refuses to report for duty? While many employees are thriving under remote work, others continue to struggle with conduct or performance. It’s imperative to agency mission that you use the right tools to swiftly and effectively address these problems, regardless of where the employee is doing – or NOT doing – the actual work.

Learning Objectives

Attendees will learn how to:

  • Follow the appropriate steps to discipline an employee for telework-related misconduct.
  • Conduct a performance demonstration period while an employee is working remotely.
  • Identify the agency’s options when an employee refuses to report for duty.
Session 10
11:15 am – 12:30 pm EDT
Understanding and Working with Your Agency’s OIG
Presented by Scott Boehm, former Senior Intelligence Advisor/Department of Defense Inspector General, FELTG Instructor

Your agency’s Office of Inspector General employs investigators, auditors, evaluators, and, sometimes, armed special agents. Its mission is to prevent and detect waste, fraud, and abuse, and promote economy, effectiveness, and efficiency of agency operations. It does so by investigating potential violations of law or misconduct and auditing or evaluating the agency’s operations and systems. If it sounds like your OIG’s mission may overlap or interconnect with your office’s mission, you’re right. So what happens when you’re investigating misconduct, and the OIG is investigating as well? What’s the role of the OIG if you uncover criminal behavior in the workplace? How does the OIG handle whistleblower disclosures? It’s important that you not only have a clear picture of what your agency’s OIG does, but also how to work with them. Now you have the chance to learn what you need to know.

Learning takeaways

Attendees will learn how to:

  • Recognize the various types, purposes, and qualifications of Inspector Generals.
  • Identify the agency information that the OIG has access to, and any limitations it has on that information.
  • Determine whether an event or action triggers your responsibility
Session 11
1:30 – 2:45 pm EDT
EEO Trends in a COVID-19 World
Presented by Katherine Atkinson, Attorney at Law, FELTG Instructor

(Earn 1.25 EEO counselor & investigator refresher hours and 1.25 CLE credits)

The workplace has been turned upside down over the last few months as more than a million federal employees left their agency facilities to work from home. Now agencies are returning people to the workplace. Just because nobody was in the office for a while doesn’t mean that EEO problems have vanished, too. Ms. Atkinson will explain how applying the basic EEO framework can answer the current EEO issues you may be facing, such as providing telework as reasonable accommodation for people with underlying health conditions, agencies’ legal authority to administer medical exams related to COVID-19, and the virus-related problems agencies have seen lately regarding race and national origin discrimination.

Learning takeaways

Attendees will learn how to:

  • Understand the areas where COVID-19 and EEO intersect.
  • Identify the elements of a direct threat analysis and how it applies to a global pandemic.
  • Explain the scenarios where virus-related comments about race and national origin rise to the level of a hostile work environment.
Session 12
3:15 – 4:30 pm EDT
Case Law Update: EEOC, FLRA, MSPB, and More
Presented by Ann Boehm, Attorney at Law, FELTG Instructor

(Earn 1.25 CLE credits)

In the world of federal employment law, things can change quickly; there has been more action in the past three years than in the previous 35. Join FELTG Instructor Ann Boehm for a review of the most recent and relevant cases, regulations, studies and reports from the EEOC, FLRA and MSPB, plus information from OPM and the Office of Special Counsel and where things stand with the Executive Orders. Attendees will leave with knowledge of recent developments and with an in-depth analysis of the current employment law climate and its impact on the federal workplace.

Learning takeaways

Attendees will learn how to:

  • Identify the most critical recent decisions from the EEOC and FLRA.
  • Explain the status and impact of President Trump’s Executive Orders regarding the federal workplace.
  • Understand the current status of the MSPB and how the lack of quorum impacts agency actions and appeals.

 



Friday, July 31, 2020

Ethics 

Post-session A
10:00 am – 12:00 pm EDT
Ethics for the Government Attorney
Presented by Ann Boehm, Attorney at Law, FELTG Instructor

(Earn 2.0 CLE ethics credits)

You have to earn your Ethics CLE credits, so you might as well do it the FELTG way and really learn something. Ms. Boehm, who spent more than 25 years working in employment law at federal agencies, will provide content focused specifically for government attorneys. Ms. Boehm will discuss ethics in relation to defining the client, filings and pleadings, contractors, personal conduct and more. Attendees will have the opportunity to work their way through ethically challenging hypothetical scenarios and to ask questions, and get answers, from someone who has experienced the same challenges you’re facing today.

Pricing

  • Early bird pricing for individual sessions start at $125. Daily and full event discounts available.
  • Early bird EEO refresher track pricing is $725.
  • See registration for full pricing details.
  • Early Bird discounts available until July 15!

 

Event FAQs

  • Can I attend Virtual Training from my government computer?
    • FELTG uses Webex for this Virtual Training Institute event. Many government computers and systems allow Webex access. If for some reason your firewall will not allow access, you’re welcome to use your personal email address to register, and to attend the sessions from your personal device.
  • Can I earn CLE credits for this class?
    • CLE applications are the responsibility of each attendee; FELTG does not apply for the credits on behalf of attendees.  If you are seeking CLE credit, attendees may use the materials provided by FELTG in submission to your state bar. Attendees may also request a certificate of completion which will contain the number of training hours attended.
  • Can I share my access link with co-workers?
    • No. Registration for this event is per individual, and access links may not be shared. Each link may only be used by one person.
  • Can I register a teleworker?
    • This event is individual registration, so the cost is the same whether the person is teleworking or in an agency facility.
  • How do I receive a group rate discount?
    • Group rates are available for agencies registering 10 or more individuals for the Main Access or Ethics All Access registration options only. Group discounts are available through July 15.

 

Jul
29
Wed
Virtual Training Event – EEO Refresher Training 2020
Jul 29 all-day

Download Individual Registration Form

Course Description

Counselors and investigators, here’s a little secret: The eight hours of refresher training that you are required to receive every year does not have to be the same old boring training. FELTG believes that your eight-hour refresher training can and should be interesting, engaging and compelling.

By attending five courses during FELTG’s summer conference-like virtual training Federal Workplace 2020: Accountability, Challenges, and Trends you’ll be able to earn all eight of your hours and receive critical guidance on important EEO topics, such as: EEO timelines, best practices for interviewing complainants and witnesses, trends in reasonable accommodation, the very latest on sexual orientation and gender discrimination, what happens when disabilities and FMLA overlap, and more. Plus, you’ll get the chance to ask questions of the resident authorities who collectively have seen almost everything in the world of EEO. Attendees will also receive a certificate of attendance verifying they’ve met the annual training requirement. We hope to see you there.

At-a-Glance Schedule

  • Monday, July 27: 12:30 – 4:00 pm eastern (3 refresher hours)
  • Wednesday, July 29: 9:30 am – 4:30 pm eastern (5 refresher hours)

Who Should Attend

EEO Counselors and EEO Investigators; others with an interest in EEO law are welcome to attend

Download Individual Registration Form



Monday, July 27, 2020

Counselor & Investigator Refresher Jump Start

Pre-session
12:30 – 4:00 pm EDT (break from 2-2:30)
What Every Counselor and Investigator Needs to Know in 2020
Presented by Katherine Atkinson, Attorney at Law, FELTG Instructor

(Earn 3 EEO counselor & investigator refresher hours)

Hey counselors and investigators! FELTG’s special event Federal Workplace 2020: Accountability, Challenges, and Trends provides an opportunity for you to pick up your mandatory annual refresher training with useful, timely, and engaging guidance. Ms. Atkinson kicks things off with an in-depth presentation on the foundational issues that EEO professionals need to know – everything from jurisdiction and pre-complaint counseling considerations, to best practices for interviewing complainants and witnesses.

Learning takeaways

Attendees will learn how to:

  • Understand timeliness issues like tolling and estoppel.
  • Identify the appropriate bases for dismissing a complaint.
  • Prepare and conduct effective witness interviews.

 



Wednesday, July 29, 2020

Handling EEO Challenges

Session 5
9:30 – 10:45 am EDT
Reasonable Accommodation in 75 Minutes
Presented by Dwight Lewis, former EEOC Chief AJ/Dallas Region, FELTG Instructor.

(Earn 1.25 EEO counselor & investigator refresher hours and 1.25 CLE credits)

As the Chief Administrative Judge of the EEOC’s Dallas Region for many years, Dwight Lewis saw his fair share of cases where agencies made reasonable accommodation mistakes. In this fast-paced session, Mr. Lewis will prepare you to be better equipped to navigate the reasonable accommodation process and avoid those mistakes he’s seen so often. The session will cover everything from defining a disability to determining undue hardship, and will highlight the importance of the interactive process in determining what accommodation is reasonable.

Learning takeaways

Attendees will learn how to:

  • Effectively navigate the interactive process.
  • Determine when telework would be an appropriate accommodation.
  • Explain who gets to choose the accommodation, and why
Session 6
11:15 am – 12:30 pm EDT
The Latest on Sexual Orientation and Transgender Discrimination
Presented by Deborah J. Hopkins, Attorney at Law, FELTG President.

(Earn 1.25 EEO counselor & investigator refresher hours and 1.25 CLE credits 

Deborah Hopkins PortraitThe Supreme Court will be handing down a decision on the Zarda, Bostock, R.G. & G.R. Harris Funeral Homes cases before thistraining event. FELTG President Deborah Hopkins will share her analysis of the High Court ruling and explain the impact it will have on the federal workplace. Over 75 minutes, Ms. Hopkins will also bring you up to speed on the law, gender stereotyping as sex discrimination, same-sex discrimination, harassment not motivated by sexual desire, and much more.

Learning takeaways

Attendees will learn how to:

  • Understand the statutory authorities that prohibit sex-based discrimination.
  • Define terms and concepts that apply to LGBTQ+ employees.
  • Identify actions that get agencies into EEO trouble.
Session 7
1:30 – 2:45 pm EDT
When the ADA and FMLA Collide
Presented by Barbara Haga, President/Federal HR Services, FELTG Senior Instructor.

(Earn 1.25 EEO counselor & investigator refresher hours and 1.25 CLE credits)

Navigating the FMLA is one of the most complex challenges a federal agency can face unless, of course, it is navigating the ADA at the same time. FELTG Senior Instructor Barbara Haga will compare and contrast coverage under the FMLA and coverage under the ADA, discuss the tricky role of medical documentation, and review leave under the FMLA and as a reasonable accommodation.

 

Learning takeaways

Attendees will learn how to:

  • Explain the difference between a serious health condition and an ADA disability.
  • Handle excessive absences under FMLA.
  • Request the appropriate medical documentation, without violating employee rights to confidentiality.
Session 8
3:15 – 4:30 pm EDT
Navigating the Morass of Mixed Cases
Presented by Bob Woods, Attorney at Law, FELTG Instructor.

(Earn 1.25 EEO counselor & investigator refresher hours and 1.25 CLE credits)

Few things create as much confusion among even experienced federal attorneys, EEO specialists, or HR professionals as mixed cases. We are here to help. Join Bob Woods as he untangles this often-complicated area when MSPB and EEOC both have potential jurisdiction over a case. What do you do when a mixed case lands on your desk? You’ll learn if you attend this session.

 

Learning takeaways

Attendees will learn how to:

  • Discuss procedural options for processing mixed cases.
  • Identify potential jurisdictional issues in mixed case processing.
  • Explain the role of the Special Panel.

 



 

Pricing

  • Early bird price is $725.
  • See registration for full pricing details.
  • Early Bird discounts available until July 15!

 

Event FAQs

  • Can I attend Virtual Training from my government computer?
    • FELTG uses Webex for this Virtual Training Institute event. Many government computers and systems allow Webex access. If for some reason your firewall will not allow access, you’re welcome to use your personal email address to register, and to attend the sessions from your personal device.
  • Can I earn CLE credits for this class?
    • CLE applications are the responsibility of each attendee; FELTG does not apply for the credits on behalf of attendees.  If you are seeking CLE credit, attendees may use the materials provided by FELTG in submission to your state bar. Attendees may also request a certificate of completion which will contain the number of training hours attended.
  • Can I share my access link with co-workers?
    • No. Registration for this event is per individual, and access links may not be shared. Each link may only be used by one person.
  • Can I register a teleworker?
    • This event is individual registration, so the cost is the same whether the person is teleworking or in an agency facility.
  • How do I receive a group rate discount?
    • Group rates are available for agencies registering 10 or more individuals for the EEO refresher registration option. Group discounts are available through July 15.

 

Aug
19
Wed
Virtual Training Event – Effectively Managing and Communicating With Federal Employees
Aug 19 – Aug 20 all-day

Download Individual Registration Form

Course Description

The one-size-fits-all approach to managing others is ineffective, and that becomes particularly apparent when the majority of your staff is teleworking.  Drawing upon the latest research and best practices in behavioral science, communication, team effectiveness, and generational studies, while making special consideration of the increased use of telework during the COVID-19 pandemic, FELTG Instructor Dr. Anthony Marchese will share his insight and practical strategies to ensure you are managing for success.

Sessions will be held from 12:30 pm – 4:00 pm eastern, with a break from 2:00-2:30 pm.

Instructor

FELTG Instructor Dr. Anthony Marchese

Anthony Marchese, PhD

Who Should Attend

Federal supervisors and managers; attorneys; Labor and Employee Relations Specialists; EEO specialists; union representatives.

Agenda

Wednesday, August 19 – Managing Effectively

12:30-4:00 pm eastern (break from 2:00-2:30)

Course description: Dr. Marchese will explain the difference between managing and leading, and help you to identify your strength and hone your supervisory skills. Using realistic agency scenarios, participants will learn how to understand and leverage individual differences to develop a meaningful management methodology that is targeted to the needs of their employees and those of the agency.

Learning Objectives

Attendees will learn how to:

  • Identify strategies for managing difficult employees.
  • Successfully manage a mobile workforce.
  • Employ a specific set of skills to resolve workplace conflicts – including virtual conflicts.

Thursday, August 20 – Communicating Effectively

12:30-4:00 pm eastern (break from 2:00-2:30)

Course description: What is stopping you and your team from developing innovative solutions to your most challenging problems? Oftentimes, the problem lies in a unit’s lack of communication. In Day 2 of this interactive virtual training, Dr. Marchese will share several strategies for improving communication with your staff – and it starts with you providing ongoing feedback on employee performance.

Learning Objectives

Attendees will learn how to:

  • (And how often to) communicate performance expectations.
  • Recognize the differences between positive and negative framing.
  • Hold difficult conversations with employees.

Price

  • Early Bird Tuition: $275 per session, $525 for both sessions (register by August 10).
  • Standard Tuition: $330 per session, $595 for both sessions (register August 11-20).
  • Rates per registrant. No split registrations.

Event FAQs

  • Can I attend Virtual Training from my government computer?
    • FELTG uses Webex to broadcast its Virtual Training Institute events. Many government computers and systems allow Webex access. If for some reason your firewall will not allow access, you’re welcome to use your personal email address to register, and to attend the sessions from your personal device.
  • Can I share my access link with co-workers?
    • No. Registration for this event is per individual, and access links may not be shared. Each link may only be used by one person.
  • Can I register a teleworker?
    • This event is individual registration, so the cost is the same whether the person is teleworking or in an agency facility.
  • How do I receive a group rate discount?
    • Group rates are available for agencies registering 10 or more individuals for the full event. Group discounts are available through August 10.

Cancellation and No-show Policy for Registered Participants: Cancellations made after the cancel date on the registration form will not be refunded or given credit toward future courses. Pre-paid training using the “Pay Now” option will not be refunded or given credit toward future courses. No-shows will not be refunded or given credit toward future courses.

Sep
8
Tue
Virtual Training Event – Accommodating and Understanding Employees with Hidden Disabilities
Sep 8 all-day

Download Individual Registration Form

Course Description

From chronic pain and chronic fatigue to depression and diabetes, employees may be suffering from physical or mental impairments that aren’t obvious. Meanwhile, far too many federal employees and supervisors have a perception that if a disability isn’t visible, then it must not be “real.” And then there’s the fact that most employees are working remotely during pandemic, making the accommodation process even more challenging for HR professionals, supervisors, and the people who advise them.

Successful reasonable accommodation requires a two-pronged approach:

  1. An understanding of how to properly navigate the legal requirements, and
  2. Practical strategies to determine the most effective accommodation based upon knowledge of the actual impairments.

FELTG President and attorney at law Deborah Hopkins will kick off this virtual training with a thorough review of the ADA and Rehab Act requirements, plus EEOC guidance on accommodating individuals with mental impairments, behavioral health issues, and other hidden disabilities. Then Licensed Clinical Social Worker Shana Palmieri will discuss the best approaches to take – and those to stay away from – as you work with employees to accommodate their unseen disabilities.

If you attend, you will also have multiple opportunities to ask questions – and get answers in real time. And you will leave this training with a holistic and legally sound approach to providing reasonable accommodations to employees with hidden disabilities. This program runs from 12:30 pm – 4:00 pm eastern, with a 30-minute break from 2:00 – 2:30 pm.

Learning takeaways:

  • Understand “qualified individual,” “essential functions,” and other terms integral to determining whether to grant reasonable accommodation.
  • Successfully take part in the interactive process.
  • Determine whether telework is an appropriate accommodation.
  • Explain how certain impairments may impact employee performance.
  • Communicate effectively with employees during the reasonable accommodation process.

See the Agenda below for a more detailed list of topics.

3

Download Individual Registration Form

Who Should Attend

Reasonable Accommodation Coordinators; EEO managers and directors; EEO specialists; EEO counselors and investigators; federal supervisors and managers who have employees with reasonable accommodation requests; attorneys; Labor and Employee Relations Specialists; union representatives.

Agenda

Part 1 – Reasonable Accommodation: The Legal Groundwork

12:30 – 2:00 pm eastern, with Instructor Deborah Hopkins

Course topics: Overview of Reasonable Accommodation law and the Reasonable Accommodation process; the “regarded as” provision of the Americans with Disabilities Act; a closer look at complicated cases involving determining essential functions, the definition of qualified individual, agency obligations during the interactive process, undue hardship claims, medical documentation, telework as accommodation.

Part 2 – Reasonable Accommodation: Practical Applications

2:30 – 4:00 pm eastern, with Instructor Shana Palmieri

Course topics: Understanding common behavioral health conditions, including PTSD, depression, anxiety, and personality disorders; methods for accommodating employees with hidden disabilities; effective communication strategies; handling the behavioral health emergency.

Price

  • Early Bird Tuition: $325 (register by August 31).
  • Standard Tuition: $365 (register September 1-8).
  • Rates per registrant. No split registrations.

Event FAQs

  • Can I attend Virtual Training from my government computer?
    • FELTG uses Webex to broadcast its Virtual Training Institute events. Many government computers and systems allow Webex access. If for some reason your firewall will not allow access, you’re welcome to use your personal email address to register, and to attend the sessions from your personal device.
  • Can I share my access link with co-workers?
    • No. Registration for this event is per individual, and access links may not be shared. Each link may only be used by one person.
  • Can I register a teleworker?
    • This event is individual registration, so the cost is the same whether the person is teleworking or in an agency facility.
  • Can I earn CLE credits or EEO refresher training for this class?
    • CLE applications are the responsibility of each attendee; FELTG does not apply for the credits on behalf of attendees.  If you are seeking CLE credit, attendees may use the materials provided by FELTG in submission to your state bar. Attendees may also request a certificate of completion which will contain the number of training hours attended. Attendees may also request a certificate for EEO refresher hours upon completion of this program.
  • How do I receive a group rate discount?
    • Group rates are available for agencies registering 10 or more individuals. Group discounts are available through August 31.

Cancellation and No-show Policy for Registered Participants: Cancellations made after the cancel date on the registration form will not be refunded or given credit toward future courses. Pre-paid training using the “Pay Now” option will not be refunded or given credit toward future courses. No-shows will not be refunded or given credit toward future courses.

Sep
9
Wed
Virtual Training Event – UnCivil Servant: Holding Employees Accountable for Performance and Conduct
Sep 9 – Sep 10 all-day

Download Individual Registration Form

Course Description

FELTG’s flagship course UnCivil Servant empowers federal supervisors and advisers to confidently handle the challenges that come with supervising in the federal workplace. We hope that you never have to fire an employee. But it’s important that you have the tools to effectively address poor performance and misconduct, should the need arise.

Over the course of two half-days, UnCivil Servant identifies misconceptions about performance and misconduct-based actions and provides you with simple step-by-step guidance for taking swift, appropriate and legally defensible actions. The program also covers the very latest with Executive Order 13839, plus OPM regulations on performance and conduct.

Join FELTG for this special event, from wherever you are working – agency office or home. The program will be presented live, and you’ll have time to ask questions and get answers in real time. Note: This course fulfills OPM’s mandatory training requirements for new supervisors found at 5 CFR 412.202(b).

This program runs from 12:30 pm – 4:00 pm eastern each day, with a 30-minute break from 2:00 – 2:30 eastern.

Download Individual Registration Form

Instructor

Deborah Hopkins

Who Should Attend

Federal supervisors and managers; attorneys; Labor and Employee Relations Specialists; EEO specialists; union representatives.

Agenda

Wednesday, September 9

Accountability for Conduct and Performance, Part I: Accountability and supervisory authority; discipline and misconduct theory and practice; the five elements of discipline; off-duty misconduct; penalty defense and due process.

Thursday, September 10

Accountability for Conduct and Performance, Part II: Discipline procedures and appeals; disciplinary documents; defining unacceptable performance; dealing with poor performers; performance-based removal procedures.

Price

  • Early Bird Tuition: $295 per session, $560 for both sessions (register by September 1).
  • Standard Tuition: $330 per session, $595 for both sessions (register September 2-10).
  • Rates per registrant. No split registrations permitted.
  • Want to register a group? Contact FELTG.

Event FAQs

  • Can I attend Virtual Training from my government computer?
    • FELTG uses Webex for this Virtual Training Institute event. Many government computers and systems allow Webex access. If for some reason your firewall will not allow access, you’re welcome to use your personal email address to register, and to attend the sessions from your personal device.
  • What if I want to attend a session but have a schedule conflict?
    • FELTG also plans to offer this live event periodically, so check our calendar for upcoming dates.
  • Can I share my access link with co-workers?
    • No. Registration for this event is per individual, and access links may not be shared. Each link may only be used by one person.
  • Can I register a teleworker?
    • This event is individual registration, so the cost is the same whether the person is teleworking or in an agency facility.
  • How do I receive a group rate discount?
    • If an agency wishes to register 10 or more attendees for the full event, a group discount will be applied if all registrations are received and paid for together. Group discount deadline is September 1.
  • Can I earn CLE credits for this class?
    • CLE applications are the responsibility of each attendee; FELTG does not apply for the credits on behalf of attendees.  If you are seeking CLE credit, attendees may use the materials provided by FELTG in submission to your state bar. Attendees may also request a certificate of completion which will contain the number of training hours attended.
  • Can I earn HRCI credits for attending this class?
    • Each session is approved for 3 hours of HRCI general recertification credit. The HRCI course numbers will be available upon the conclusion of the training.
Oct
27
Tue
Webinar – Solving Problems with Disciplinary and Performance Documents
Oct 27 @ 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm

Download Registration Form

Instructor

Deborah Hopkins

Course Description

A majority of federal employees say their managers fail to take the necessary steps to address poor-performing coworkers – in fact, the 2019 Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey reported that only 34% of employees are happy with how their supervisors handle poor performers. And there is a general sense throughout government that in most agencies, misconduct is not being handled effectively. The problem often isn’t that supervisors are not addressing performance and conduct problems – it’s that they’re doing it incorrectly.

A poorly chosen word, too many unnecessary words, the wrong charge, too much discussion of evidence – these common occurrences will derail your efforts. FELTG President and Attorney at Law Deborah Hopkins will identify the pitfalls and offer direct guidance on drafting legally-sufficient discipline and performance documents.

Attendees will learn how to:

  • Properly assess and draft mitigating and aggravating factors.
  • Identify the pros and cons of the different styles of charges.
  • Draft an effective Performance Demonstration Period initiation memo.

This webinar is part of the Fall 2020 Webinar Series.

Price

  • Early Bird Tuition: $240 per site, per webinar (payment required by October 3)
  • Standard Tuition: $270 per site, per webinar (payments made October 4)
  • Register for all eight webinars by October 3 and pay only $1825!

Teleworkers may be added to a main site registration for $40 per teleworker, on a space-available basis.

Jan
21
Thu
Webinar – Federal Employment Law: The Current Landscape
Jan 21 @ 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm

Download Registration Form

Instructor

Deborah Hopkins

Course Description

This webinar is the first in FELTG’s three-part series Toolkit for a New Administration: Essential Skills and Knowledge for Federal Supervisors, Managers, and Leaders.

January 21 — Federal Employment Law: The Current Landscape: Over the last few years, President Trump issued several Executive Orders that created significant changes to labor relations, employee accountability, EEO training, and more. What will come of those EOs? Will there finally be a full Board at the MSPB? What are the new trends in EEO law? And how has the pandemic impacted agencies’ accountability systems, particularly the management of a remote workforce? FELTG President Deborah Hopkins will discuss likely upcoming legal changes, share recent critical case law, and prepare you for the year ahead.

Pricing

Early Bird Tuition (price per webinar, payment required by January 12): $240

Standard Tuition (price per webinar, payment made by January 13 or later): $270

Teleworker lines may be added to a main site registration for $50 per person, on a space-available basis.

Cancellation and No-show Policy for Registered Participants: Cancellations made after the cancel date on the registration form will not be refunded or given credit toward future courses. Pre-paid training using the “Pay Now” option will not be refunded or given credit toward future courses. No-shows will not be refunded or given credit toward future courses.

Feb
9
Tue
Webinar – Changing Course: Understanding the Biden Executive Orders on Racial Equity, Gender Identity, and Sexual Orientation
Feb 9 @ 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm

Download Registration Form

Course Description

On his first day in office, President Joseph R. Biden made it clear that Federal employees are a priority: He took action to advance racial equity throughout the federal government and strengthen workplace discrimination protections based on sexual orientation and gender identity. A focus of this Administration early on has been to celebrate the diversity of the Federal workforce and to make it an inclusive place for all employees.

Now, it’s up to you.  Executive Orders 13985 and 13988 denote a sense of urgency, and include agency requirements with timelines to perform necessary compliance actions, some as soon as 60 days – and the clock started ticking on January 20.

In this 60-minute webinar, FELTG President and attorney at law Deborah Hopkins will give a thorough explanation of the two first-day executive orders that call upon agencies to review current policies and procedures, and develop plans to “address unequal barriers to opportunity in agency policies and programs.” This webinar will focus on the following Executive Orders, and will also discuss other applicable actions taken by President Biden:

  • Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Through the Federal Government
  • Preventing and Combating Discrimination on the Basis of Gender Identity or Sexual Orientation

So where do you start? What do the Executive Orders specifically prescribe? And what’s necessary to meet those requirements? Join us on February 9 to get those answers.

Like all FELTG training events, this webinar will be updated to the minute. You can’t afford to miss it.

Instructor

Deborah Hopkins

Pricing

Early Bird Tuition (price per webinar, payment required by February 1): $255

Standard Tuition (price per webinar, payment made February 2 or later): $285

Remote working? Teleworker lines may be added to a main site registration for $50 per person, on a space-available basis.

Interested in registering more than 50 attendees? Contact FELTG for information about large group pricing.

Cancellation and No-show Policy for Registered Participants: Cancellations made after the cancel date on the registration form will not be refunded or given credit toward future courses. Pre-paid training using the “Pay Now” option will not be refunded or given credit toward future courses. No-shows will not be refunded or given credit toward future courses.

Webinar – Changing Course: Understanding the Biden Executive Order on Labor Relations, Performance, Discipline, and Schedule F
Feb 9 @ 2:30 pm – 4:00 pm

Download Registration Form

Course Description

When President Biden signed Executive Order 14003, Protecting the Federal Workforce, he revoked President Trump’s Executive Orders 13836, 13837, and 13839 and eradicated the Schedule F classification mandated by Executive Order 13957. It’s been decades since the civil service has seen so much change in just one stroke of a pen.

This far-reaching Executive Order has significant impact on labor relations official time, contract negotiation timelines, topics of bargaining, performance and disciplinary actions for non-union employees, clean record settlements, and more.

You might have questions, such as:

  • What does this mean if your CBAs were already renegotiated?
  • Is progressive discipline going to be mandatory now?
  • Do Performance Demonstration Periods have to be longer than 30 days? Can we call them PIPs again?
  • What happens if your agency already sent Schedule F lists to OPM?
  • What will become of the OPM regulations implementing EO 13839
  • What changes if permissive bargaining is now mandatory?

In this 90-minute webinar presented by FELTG President Deborah Hopkins and FELTG Instructor Ann Boehm, you will get answers to those questions and much more. EO 14003 prescribes several specific actions that agencies must take. So where do you start? Join us on February 9 to get those answers.

Like all FELTG training events, this webinar will be updated to the minute. You can’t afford to miss it.

Instructors

Deborah Hopkins

Ann Boehm

Pricing

Early Bird Tuition (price per webinar, payment required by February 1): $295

Standard Tuition (price per webinar, payment made February 2 or later): $325

Remote working? Teleworker lines may be added to a main site registration for $50 per person, on a space-available basis.

Interested in registering more than 50 attendees? Contact FELTG for information about large group pricing.

Cancellation and No-show Policy for Registered Participants: Cancellations made after the cancel date on the registration form will not be refunded or given credit toward future courses. Pre-paid training using the “Pay Now” option will not be refunded or given credit toward future courses. No-shows will not be refunded or given credit toward future courses.

Feb
10
Wed
Virtual Training Event – UnCivil Servant: Holding Employees Accountable for Performance and Conduct
Feb 10 – Feb 11 all-day

Download Individual Registration Form

Course Description

On his first day in office, President Joseph R. Biden told political appointees he will fire them “on the spot” if they are disrespectful to their federal colleagues. The new boss made it clear: Accountability is a priority.  And there is one course that consistently provides the tools for federal supervisors and advisers to confidently and effectively address poor performance and misconduct.

Now, holding political appointees accountable is a lot easier than doing the same to civil servants. But that doesn’t mean it has to be impossible. Over the course of two half-days, FELTG’s flagship course UnCivil Servant identifies misconceptions about performance and misconduct-based actions and provides you with simple step-by-step guidance for taking swift, appropriate and legally defensible actions. The program also incorporates the very latest guidance, including Executive Order 14003 and OPM regulations on performance and conduct.

The start of a new administration is a perfect time to address accountability, break your experienced supervisors of bad habits that hurt workplace morale, and train your new supervisors the right way. Note: This course fulfills OPM’s mandatory training requirements for new supervisors found at 5 CFR 412.202(b)).

Join FELTG for this special event, from wherever you are working – agency office or home. The program will be presented live, and you’ll have time to ask questions and get answers in real time.

We hope that you never have to fire an employee. But it’s important that you have the right tools should the need arise.

Registrants for both days will also receive a copy of the textbook UnCivil Servant: Holding Federal Employees Accountable for Performance and Conduct, 5th Ed., by William Wiley and Deborah Hopkins.

This program runs from 12:30 pm – 4:00 pm eastern each day, with a 30-minute break from 2:00 – 2:30 eastern

Download Individual Registration Form

Instructor

Deborah Hopkins

Who Should Attend

Federal supervisors and managers; attorneys; Labor and Employee Relations Specialists; EEO specialists; union representatives.

Agenda

Wednesday, February 10

Accountability for Conduct and Performance, Part I: Accountability and supervisory authority; discipline and misconduct theory and practice; the five elements of discipline; off-duty misconduct; penalty defense and due process.

Thursday, February 11

Accountability for Conduct and Performance, Part II: Discipline procedures and appeals; disciplinary documents; defining unacceptable performance; dealing with poor performers; performance-based removal procedures.

Price

  • Early Bird Tuition: $370 per session, $700 for both sessions (register by January 29).
  • Standard Tuition: $400 per session, $730 for both sessions (register January 30 – February 11).
  • Rates per registrant. No split registrations permitted.
  • Want to register a group? Contact FELTG.

Event FAQs

  • Can I attend Virtual Training from my government computer?
    • FELTG uses Webex for its Virtual Training Institute events. Many government computers and systems allow Webex access. If for some reason your firewall will not allow access, you’re welcome to use your personal email address to register, and to attend the sessions from your personal device.
  • What if I want to attend a session but have a schedule conflict?
    • FELTG also plans to offer this live event periodically, so check our calendar for upcoming dates.
  • Can I share my access link with co-workers?
    • No. Registration for this event is per individual, and access links may not be shared. Each link may only be used by one person.
  • Can I register a teleworker?
    • This event is individual registration, so the cost is the same whether the person is teleworking or in an agency facility.
  • How do I receive a group rate discount?
    • If an agency wishes to register 10 or more attendees for the full event, a group discount will be applied if all registrations are received and paid for together. Group discount deadline is January 29.
  • Can I earn CLE credits for this class?
    • CLE applications are the responsibility of each attendee; FELTG does not apply for the credits on behalf of attendees.  If you are seeking CLE credit, attendees may use the materials provided by FELTG in submission to your state bar. Attendees may also request a certificate of completion which will contain the number of training hours attended.

Seminar registration includes a PDF copy of the program materials, plus a hard copy of the textbook UnCivil Servant: Holding Employees Accountable for Performance and Conduct, 5th ed., by Wiley and Hopkins. In order to receive the textbook by the training date, please register by January 29 and provide a shipping address. Registrations received after January 29 will also receive a textbook, but materials are not guaranteed to arrive by the training date.

Feb
25
Thu
Webinar – Changing Course: Understanding the Biden Executive Order on Labor Relations, Performance, Discipline, and Schedule F
Feb 25 @ 2:30 pm – 4:00 pm

Download Registration Form

Course Description

When President Biden signed Executive Order 14003, Protecting the Federal Workforce, he revoked President Trump’s Executive Orders 13836, 13837, and 13839 and eradicated the Schedule F classification mandated by Executive Order 13957. It’s been decades since the civil service has seen so much change in just one stroke of a pen.

This far-reaching Executive Order has significant impact on labor relations official time, contract negotiation timelines, topics of bargaining, performance and disciplinary actions for non-union employees, clean record settlements, and more.

You might have questions, such as:

  • What does this mean if your CBAs were already renegotiated?
  • Is progressive discipline going to be mandatory now?
  • Do Performance Demonstration Periods have to be longer than 30 days? Can we call them PIPs again?
  • What happens if your agency already sent Schedule F lists to OPM?
  • What will become of the OPM regulations implementing EO 13839
  • What changes if permissive bargaining is now mandatory?

In this 90-minute webinar presented by FELTG President Deborah Hopkins and FELTG Instructor Ann Boehm, you will get answers to those questions and much more. EO 14003 prescribes several specific actions that agencies must take. So where do you start? Join us on February 9 to get those answers.

Like all FELTG training events, this webinar will be updated to the minute. You can’t afford to miss it.

Instructors

Deborah Hopkins

Ann Boehm

Pricing

Early Bird Tuition (price per webinar, payment required by February 15): $295

Standard Tuition (price per webinar, payment made February 16 or later): $325

Remote working? Teleworker lines may be added to a main site registration for $50 per person, on a space-available basis.

Interested in registering more than 50 attendees? Contact FELTG for information about large group pricing.

Cancellation and No-show Policy for Registered Participants: Event held on Zoom. Cancellations made after the cancel date on the registration form will not be refunded or given credit toward future courses. Pre-paid training using the “Pay Now” option will not be refunded or given credit toward future courses. No-shows will not be refunded or given credit toward future courses.

Mar
11
Thu
Virtual Training Event – UnCivil Servant: Next Level
Mar 11 all-day

Download Registration Form

Course Description

For more than 20 years, FELTG’s flagship course UnCivil Servant: Holding Employees Accountable for Performance and Conduct has empowered thousands of federal supervisors to confidently and effectively address poor performance and misconduct. Now it’s time to take those learned skills to a new level. UnCivil Servant: Next Level provides the opportunity for you to test your knowledge and apply it to several challenging scenarios, based on real-life events federal supervisors are likely to encounter.

Poor performance and misconduct lowers morale and holds your agency back from meeting its mission, so you should never fail to hold an employee accountable. Fail to handle it correctly, and you’ll end up in legal hot water. But if you choose to ignore it, your current situation is going to get worse. A lot worse.

This interactive, workshop-based training tackles the intersection of performance and conduct issues with other areas of the law including pending discrimination complaints, allegations of reprisal or hostile work environment, and disability accommodation requests. Plus, it addresses what to do if you’re a supervisor with new or different expectations than your predecessor.

Attendees will leave this training with step-by-step guidance for taking swift, appropriate, and legally defensible actions in even the most challenging of circumstances.

Course Topics: Supervisory authority; employee rights; understanding when a performance or conduct action is appropriate; holding whistleblowers accountable; properly handling reasonable accommodation claims; effectively dealing with probationer issues; a supervisor’s responsibility in hostile work environment claims.

Requirements:

Prerequisite: It is strongly recommended participants have attended either UnCivil Servant, Developing & Defending Discipline, or MSPB Law Week in advance of this class.

Technology: This class will be held in Zoom and is group-workshop focused, so participation is a must. Participants must have access to internet or telephone audio, to participate in breakout group discussions. Webcams use is welcome but not required.

Time: Class will be held from 9:30 AM to 4:00 PM eastern, with a break from 12:30-1:30.

Class size: This class size is strictly limited to 18 participants, so register early to guarantee your spot.

Instructor

Deborah Hopkins

Who Should Attend

Federal supervisors and managers; attorneys; Labor and Employee Relations Specialists; EEO specialists; union representatives.

Price

  • Early Bird Tuition: $625 per attendee (register by February 24).
  • Standard Tuition: $675 per attendee (February 25-March 11).
  • Rates per registrant. No split registrations permitted.
  • Want to register a group? Contact FELTG.

Event FAQs

  • Can I attend Virtual Training from my government computer?
    • FELTG uses Zoom for this Virtual Training Institute event. Many government computers and systems allow Zoom access. If for some reason your firewall will not allow access, you’re welcome to use your personal email address to register, and to attend the sessions from your personal device.
  • What if I want to attend a session but have a schedule conflict?
    • FELTG also plans to offer this live event periodically, so check our calendar for upcoming dates.
  • Can I share my access link with co-workers?
    • No. Registration for this event is per individual, and access links may not be shared. Each link may only be used by one person.
  • Can I register a teleworker?
    • This event is individual registration, so the cost is the same whether the person is teleworking or in an agency facility.
  • How do I receive a group rate discount?
    • If an agency wishes to register 10 or more attendees for the full event, a group discount will be applied if all registrations are received and paid for together. Group discount deadline is February 25.
  • Can I earn CLE credits for this class?
    • CLE applications are the responsibility of each attendee; FELTG does not apply for the credits on behalf of attendees.  If you are seeking CLE credit, attendees may use the materials provided by FELTG in submission to your state bar. Attendees may also request a certificate of completion which will contain the number of training hours attended.

Seminar registration includes a PDF copy of the program materials, plus a hard copy of the textbook UnCivil Servant: Holding Employees Accountable for Performance and Conduct, 5th ed., by Wiley and Hopkins. In order to receive the textbook by the training date, please register by February 25 and provide a shipping address. Registrations received after April 19 will also receive a textbook, but materials are not guaranteed to arrive by the training date.

Cancellation and No-show Policy for Registered Participants: Cancellations made after the cancel date on the registration form will not be refunded or given credit toward future courses. Pre-paid training using the “Pay Now” option will not be refunded or given credit toward future courses. No-shows will not be refunded or given credit toward future courses.

Mar
25
Thu
Webinar – When Negotiations Reach Impasse: FSIP Under the Biden Administration
Mar 25 @ 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm

Download Registration Form

Instructor

Joseph Schimansky

Course Description

Oftentimes when bargaining, parties simply can’t agree and they reach an impasse. During the previous administration, those impasses resulted in an unprecedented number of decisions in which the Federal Service Impasses Panel imposed terms on the parties.

In this 60-minute webinar, former FSIP Executive Director Joe Schimansky will present the historical timelines for replacing FSIP Members when a new administration takes power, explain the impasse process in light of President Biden’s directive to agencies to renegotiate their CBAs, provide tips on how to avoid impasse, share his views regarding how a Biden FSIP is likely to differ from the previous administration, and discuss the legal issues surrounding the unions’ current challenges to a president’s right to appoint FSIP Members without Senate confirmation.

Attendees will learn:

  • How the Biden Administration’s approach to impasse resolution is likely to differ from the approach of the previous administration
  • The major issues in litigation that may delay the appointment of new FSIP Members
  • How the FSIP determines whether the parties have met the basic requirements for securing its assistance

Price

  • Early Bird Tuition (payment required by March 15) : $240
  • Standard Tuition (payment made by March 16 or later): $270

Teleworkers may be added to a main site registration for $50 per teleworker, on a space-available basis.

Cancellation and No-show Policy for Registered Participants: Cancellations made after the cancel date on the registration form will not be refunded or given credit toward future courses. Pre-paid training using the “Pay Now” option will not be refunded or given credit toward future courses. No-shows will not be refunded or given credit toward future courses.

Apr
7
Wed
Virtual Training Event – Honoring Diversity: Eliminating Microaggressions and Bias in the Federal Workplace
Apr 7 @ 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm

Download Individual Registration Form

On his first day in office, President Biden took action to advance racial equity through the federal government and strengthen workplace discrimination protections based on sexual orientation and gender identity. It’s up to each agency now to ensure that it lives up to the President’s direction. Policies and procedures alone will not work. Employees, regardless of race, color, religion, gender identity or sexual orientation, will not feel respected and empowered unless the agency addresses unconscious bias and microaggressions in the workplace.

A microaggression is a comment or action that either intentionally or accidentally targets a marginalized individual or group of people.  If a supervisor or coworker commits a microaggression accidentally, it’s not that big of deal, right? It can’t be bad if the comment was meant as a compliment? No harm, no foul? Wrong. Wrong. Wrong. Microaggressions, whether intentional or not, can be very hurtful to the employees who experience them, and such behaviors indicating implicit bias can lead to discrimination. They are warning signs of a potential hostile workplace. And they put a serious dent in employee morale and productivity.

During this two-hour virtual training, FELTG Instructor Meghan Droste, attorney at law, will explain what microaggressions look like it in their various forms — microinsults, microassaults, and microinvalidations. Ms. Droste will share an implicit bias test, explain its impact, and provide examples. She’ll provide a quick review of EEO law so you can determine when bias or microaggression leads to the level of discrimination.

This is important training for supervisors, EEO specialists, HR practitioners, and employees in general.

Attendees will learn how to:

  • Identify acts of microaggression and acts influenced by implicit bias.
  • Recognize and define harassment.
  • Respond appropriately and effectively when you see a microaggression in the workplace.

Instructor

Meghan Droste

Price

  • Early Bird Tuition: $295 (register by March 23)
  • Standard Tuition: $325 (register March 24-April 7)
  • Rates per registrant.
  • Want to register a group? Group discounts for 10 or more attendees are available Contact FELTG.

Event FAQs

  • Can I attend Virtual Training from my government computer?
    • FELTG uses Webex for this Virtual Training Institute event. Many government computers and systems allow Webex access. If for some reason your firewall will not allow access, you’re welcome to use your personal email address to register, and to attend the sessions from your personal device. You may also attend the training event as an audio training, by dialing in over the phone and following along with the materials independently.
  • Can I earn CLE credits for this class?
    • CLE applications are the responsibility of each attendee; FELTG does not apply for the credits on behalf of attendees.  If you are seeking CLE credit, attendees may use the materials provided by FELTG in submission to your state bar. Attendees may also request a certificate of completion which will contain the number of training hours attended.
  • Can I share my access link with co-workers?
    • No. Registration for this event is per individual, and access links may not be shared. Each link may only be used by one person.
  • Can I register a teleworker?
    • This event is individual registration, so the cost is the same whether the person is teleworking or in an agency facility.
  • How do I receive a group rate discount?
    • Group rates are available for agencies registering 10 or more individuals. Group discounts are available until March 23.

Cancellation and No-show Policy for Registered Participants: Cancellations made after the cancel date on the registration form will not be refunded or given credit toward future courses. Pre-paid training using the “Pay Now” option will not be refunded or given credit toward future courses. No-shows will not be refunded or given credit toward future courses.

Apr
8
Thu
Webinar – Biden Executive Orders, OPM Guidance, and an Update on the Status of Civil Service
Apr 8 @ 1:00 pm – 2:30 pm

Download Registration Form

Course Description

The Executive Orders President Biden signed early on in his presidency have significantly changed the face of the federal workplace, leading to changes in workplace diversity initiatives, LGBTQ issues, labor relations official time, union contract negotiation timelines, topics of bargaining, performance and disciplinary actions for non-union employees, clean record settlements, and much more.

If you attended one of FELTG’s recent webinars on the Biden Executive Orders, then you know some of this already. But that’s not enough. OPM guidance has been provided, and that guidance could dramatically change many processes and procedures for Executive Orders 13985, 13988, and 14003. Join FELTG for this new and updated-to-the-minute comprehensive training event where President Deborah Hopkins and Instructor Ann Boehm will dive into the language of the EOs, related OPM guidance, and significant legal decisions, and interpret what it means to your day-to-day operations.

The federal workplace remains in a state of flux. The administration has nominated Kiran Ahuja to lead the Office for Personnel Management and made changes in the leadership of the EEOC and FLRA. Can nominees to the MSPB be far behind? Meanwhile, the majority of federal employees continue to work remotely, yet agencies plan for the return of vaccinated employees. Ms. Hopkins and Ms. Boehm will provide you with all of the latest information on federal employment law-related news and thoroughly explain their impact.

If you missed any of the recent FELTG webinars on the Biden Executive Orders, then hurry up and register. You have a lot to catch up on. If you already attended, this session will build on the last one with newer, updated guidance. In this 90-minute webinar, you will get the answers to all of your questions, such as:

  • Does OPM guidance address what to do if your CBAs were already renegotiated?
  • How have workplace protections changed for transgender employees?
  • How long are Performance Demonstration Periods supposed to be?
  • What has become of the OPM regulations implementing EO 13839?
  • Is progressive discipline mandatory now?
  • What changes if permissive bargaining is now mandatory?
  • Are there any restrictions on diversity training?

And you’ll have the opportunity to ask your own questions, and get answers, in real time.

The federal workplace is undergoing a dramatic shift right now, and you can’t afford to miss this training event.

Instructors

Deborah Hopkins

Ann Boehm

Pricing

Early Bird Tuition (price per webinar, payment required by March 29): $295

Standard Tuition (price per webinar, payment made March 30 or later) : $325

Remote working? Teleworker lines may be added to a main site registration for $50 per person, on a space-available basis.

Interested in registering more than 50 attendees? Contact FELTG for information about large group pricing.

Cancellation and No-show Policy for Registered Participants: Event held on Webex. Cancellations made after the cancel date on the registration form will not be refunded or given credit toward future courses. Pre-paid training using the “Pay Now” option will not be refunded or given credit toward future courses. No-shows will not be refunded or given credit toward future courses.

Apr
13
Tue
Webinar – Justifying Your PIP? What the Recent Precedent-Breaking Fed Circuit Decision Means
Apr 13 @ 11:00 am – 12:00 pm

Download Registration Form

Instructors

Deborah Hopkins

Bob Woods

Course Description

The Federal Circuit recently overturned 40 years of precedent in its Santos v. NASA decision, ruling that agencies under MSPB jurisdiction must have substantial evidence that the employee was performing poorly BEFORE the agency is allowed to put the employee on a PIP.

So, what kinds of evidence do you need pre-PIP? Can an employee grieve your decision to put him on a PIP? Who has the burden to prove whether a performance plan was discriminatory? And, exactly how much poor performance is needed to show a “continued” pattern of poor performance, as is now required?

In this 60-minute webinar, FELTG President Deborah Hopkins and FELTG Instructor Bob Woods will explain how this case drastically changes the way agencies handle instances of employee poor performance, and what’s required to satisfy the new requirements in Santos. While this is a significant change, good news: it doesn’t have to be as difficult as you think and, in fact, may even help you protect the agency against claims of reprisal or discrimination. Ms. Hopkins will walk you through other details in Santos and share some of the pitfalls that could lead to a questioning of whether putting the employee on the performance improvement plan was appropriate.

Attendees will learn how to:

  • Assess what constitutes “continued” poor performance.
  • Determine when there is enough evidence to put an employee on a PIP.
  • Document your justification for putting the employee on a PIP.

Price

  • Early Bird Tuition (payment required by April 2): $285
  • Standard Tuition (payment made by April 3 later): $315

Teleworkers may be added to a main site registration for $50 per teleworker, on a space-available basis.

Cancellation and No-show Policy for Registered Participants: Cancellations made after the cancel date on the registration form will not be refunded or given credit toward future courses. Pre-paid training using the “Pay Now” option will not be refunded or given credit toward future courses. No-shows will not be refunded or given credit toward future courses.

Apr
22
Thu
Webinar – Mandatory Permissive Bargaining: What Does That Really Mean?
Apr 22 @ 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm

Download Registration Form

Instructor

Ann Boehm

Course Description

Executive Order 14003 rescinded limitations on collective bargaining and instructed agency leaders that they “shall elect to negotiate over the subjects set forth in 5 USC 7106(b)(1) and shall instruct subordinates to do the same.” Shall seems to be the critical word here. How should that be interpreted? How is this EO different from the similar Clinton-era EO? How do you determine whether a union proposal is a USC 7206(b)(1) subject? Is insisting to impasse a permissive item an unfair labor practice?

In this 60-minute webinar, Ann Boehm will answer all of these questions, and provide the most up-to-date guidance on permissive bargaining.

Attendees will learn how to:

  • Determine best practices in dealing with negotiability determinations in light of EO 14003
  • Develop effective negotiation strategies
  • Implement communication strategies to ensure mission is not adversely impacted by labor negotiations.

Price

  • Early Bird Tuition (payment required by April 12): $240
  • Standard Tuition (payment made by April 13 or later): $270

Teleworkers may be added to a main site registration for $50 per teleworker, on a space-available basis.

Cancellation and No-show Policy for Registered Participants: Cancellations made after the cancel date on the registration form will not be refunded or given credit toward future courses. Pre-paid training using the “Pay Now” option will not be refunded or given credit toward future courses. No-shows will not be refunded or given credit toward future courses.

May
11
Tue
Webinar – Justifying Your PIP? What the Recent Precedent-Breaking Fed Circuit Decision Means
May 11 @ 11:00 am – 12:00 pm

Download Registration Form

Course Description

Back by popular demand!

The Federal Circuit recently overturned 40 years of precedent in its Santos v. NASA decision, ruling that agencies under MSPB jurisdiction must have substantial evidence that the employee was performing poorly BEFORE the agency is allowed to put the employee on a PIP.

So, what kinds of evidence do you need pre-PIP? Can an employee grieve your decision to put him on a PIP? Who has the burden to prove whether a performance plan was discriminatory? And, exactly how much poor performance is needed to show a “continued” pattern of poor performance, as is now required?

In this 60-minute webinar, FELTG President Deborah Hopkins and FELTG Instructor Bob Woods will explain how this case drastically changes the way agencies handle instances of employee poor performance, and what’s required to satisfy the new requirements in Santos. While this is a significant change, good news: it doesn’t have to be as difficult as you think and, in fact, may even help you protect the agency against claims of reprisal or discrimination. The instrcutors will walk you through other details in Santos and share some of the pitfalls that could lead to a questioning of whether putting the employee on the performance improvement plan was appropriate.

Attendees will learn how to:

  • Assess what constitutes “continued” poor performance.
  • Determine when there is enough evidence to put an employee on a PIP.
  • Document your justification for putting the employee on a PIP.

Instructors

Deborah Hopkins

Bob Woods

Price

  • Early Bird Tuition (payment required by April 30): $290
  • Standard Tuition (payment made May 1 or later): $325

Teleworkers may be added to a main site registration for $50 per teleworker, on a space-available basis.

Cancellation and No-show Policy for Registered Participants: Cancellations made after the cancel date on the registration form will not be refunded or given credit toward future courses. Pre-paid training using the “Pay Now” option will not be refunded or given credit toward future courses. No-shows will not be refunded or given credit toward future courses.

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