Calendar

FELTG Executive Director Deborah Hopkins instructing a class
Apr
14
Tue
Webinar Series – Supervising Federal Employees: Managing Accountability and Defending Your Actions
Apr 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 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

Instructors

Deborah Hopkins, Barbara Haga, Meghan Droste, Ann Boehm, Joe Schimansky, Katherine Atkinson, Anthony Marchese

Course Description

Those of you who supervise federal employees know it can be a frustrating calling, especially when you face so many new and challenging issues amid complex and changing laws.

Help is on the way. Register now for one, several, or all of the courses in FELTG’s comprehensive webinar training series Supervising Federal Employees: Managing Accountability and Defending Your Actions. No other training provides the depth and breadth of guidance federal supervisors need to manage the agency workplace effectively and efficiently.

Over the course of 14 webinars, FELTG’s experienced and knowledgeable instructors provide support on everything from managing poor performance and disciplining for employee misconduct to providing reasonable accommodation and rooting out leave abuse, and much much more.

This unique series has been updated to address the most timely and important topics supervisors are facing right now. The 60-minute webinars, held every other Tuesday from 1 – 2 p.m. eastern time, will expand upon legal principles to provide attendees with the necessary tools and best practices. Plus, you’ll have a chance to ask questions and get answers from FELTG instructors – in real time.

As an added bonus, this series fulfills OPM’s mandatory training requirements for new supervisors found at 5 CFR 412.202(b).

2020 dates:

March 3: The Foundations of Accountability: Performance vs. Misconduct: The distinction between performance and conduct; an overview on holding employees accountable; setting the stage for discipline and performance actions.

March 17: Writing Effective Performance Plans: Performance management; understanding the performance appraisal system; defining elements and standards; drafting standards according to legal requirements; creating the performance plan.

March 31: Preparing an Unacceptable Performance Case: Performance accountability in a nutshell; preparing and executing a performance demonstration period; proof and evidence standards.

April 14: Addressing Special Challenges with Performance: Permutations on performance accountability and the performance warning period; performance standards with multiple sub-components; managing teleworker performance; what do when a poor-performing employee requests reasonable accommodation.

April 28: Providing Performance Feedback That Makes a Difference: Communicating performance expectations; providing ongoing feedback; positive vs. negative framing; why you shouldn’t wait until the mid-year to discuss performance issues; what OPM says about mentorship; leader as mentor.

May 12: Disciplining Employees for Misconduct, Part I: The five elements of discipline in the federal government; documentation supervisors need to succeed in a disciplinary action. 

May 26: Disciplining Employees for Misconduct, Part II: Disciplinary procedures: reprimand, suspension, termination; appeals process; agency liability. 

June 9: Tackling Leave Issues I: Handling the leave issues most common in the federal government: annual leave, sick leave, leave transfer. 

June 23: Tackling Leave Issues II: Handling more complicated leave scenarios: FMLA, LWOP, administrative leave, AWOL. 

July 7: Combating Against Hostile Work Environment Harassment Claims: The elements of a hostile work environment; liability in hostile work environment claims; tangible employment actions; harassment v. bullying; supervisor responsibilities in harassment claims; agency defenses.

July 21: Intentional EEO Discrimination: What supervisors should know about EEO discrimination; discrete acts of discrimination; selection and promotion cases; defending against claims of intentional discrimination. 

August 4:  Disability Accommodation in 60 Minutes: Defining a disability; requests for accommodation; the interactive process; accommodations of choice; undue hardship. 

August 18: EEO Reprisal: Handle It, Don’t Fear It: How reprisal is different than other EEO claims; what the complainant must show to establish reprisal; how a supervisor can defend against reprisal claims; what to do and what not to do when an employee engages in protected EEO activity. 

September 1: Supervising in a Unionized Environment: The right to be bargained with; forming a union; employee and union rights; ULPs. 

Pricing

Early Bird Tuition:

  • $240 per site, per session (payment required by Feb 24).
  • Special series discounts available through February 24: $2,925 for the first 13 webinars or $3,150 for all 14. See registration form for details.

Standard Tuition: 

  • $270 per site, per session (payments made Feb. 25 or later).

 

Teleworkers may be added to a primary site registration for $40 each, per session, on a space-available basis.

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
21
Tue
Virtual Training Event: Emerging Issues in Federal Employment Law
Apr 21 – Apr 23 all-day

Download Individual Registration Form

Event Description

These are challenging times for the federal workforce. Over three days, the FELTG Virtual Training Institute will broadcast nine live instructor-led sessions, aimed at providing you with the latest legal and practical guidance to meet these current challenges.

Renew your efforts to hold employees accountable for performance and conduct. Review your responsibilities regarding leave, reasonable accommodation, investigating harassment, and preventing discrimination in the workplace. Stay current on case law. Learn strategies for managing teleworkers – and for managing your own stress and handling employee stress during these trying times. And much more.

There’s no need to feel isolated – even if you’re working alone at home. The open enrollment FELTG Virtual Training Institute’s Emerging Issues in Federal Employment Law program offers opportunities to ask questions of FELTG’s experienced instructors, and get answers in real time. Plus, we’ll provide a forum for participants to get in touch and discuss the issues after the sessions are over.

You can register for any of the sessions individually. You can register for a whole day. Or you can register for the whole program. Earn CLE credits and EEO refresher training credits. Three days. Nine sessions. Eight instructors. We’d love to have you join us.

Download Individual Registration Form



Tuesday, April 21, 2020

Performance, Conduct and Legal Updates

Session 1
10:30 am – 12:00 pm EDT
Accountability for Conduct: Taking Defensible Disciplinary Actions
Presented by Deborah J. Hopkins, Attorney at Law, FELTG President

Course Description: 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 actions against employees. Attendees will learn the five elements that must be present in a disciplinary case, with a special focus on penalty justification and due process requirements. Attendees will leave with the guidance necessary to take defensible actions quickly and fairly – and to ensure that those actions will withstand scrutiny on appeal by the MSPB, EEOC, or in grievance arbitration. Earn 1.5 CLE credits.

Learning Objectives

Attendees will learn how to:

  • Understand the legal definition of discipline, and which corrective actions are not discipline under the law.
  • Identify the legal elements required in every disciplinary case, and the standard of proof to take a defensible action.
  • Use the Douglas Factors in penalty determination.

Session 2
1:00 – 2:30 pm EDT
Unacceptable Performance: Streamlining the Procedures
Presented by William Wiley, Attorney at Law, FELTG Past President

Course Description: When it comes to poor performance, the one action you can’t afford to take is not taking action. Yet, when you do take a performance-based action, there are limitless mistakes that can trip you up and result in lost appeals. During this session, Bill Wiley shares the tools you need to confidently and effectively address poor performance, including initiating a performance demonstration period/PIP, the evidence and documentation needed to justify a performance-based action, and a secret trick on removing an employee for poor performance without using a demonstration period/PIP. After this session, attendees will have the tools necessary to remove an unacceptable performer in 31 days. Earn 1.5 CLE credits.

Learning Objectives

Attendees will learn how to:

  • Recognize the standards of proof needed for a performance-based action.
  • Implement recent Executive Orders and OPM guidance into your performance procedures.
  • Successfully take a defensible performance-based action.

Session 3
3:00 – 4:30 pm EDT 
Federal Employment Law Update: Recent Developments at the EEOC, FLRA and MSPB
Presented by Ann Boehm, Attorney at Law, FELTG Instructor

Course Description: In the world of federal employment law, things can change quickly; there has been more action in the past three years than in the last 35 years before. 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. She will also cover the very latest on Executive Orders 13836, 13836, 13837 and 13839. 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. Earn 1.5 CLE credits.

Learning Objectives

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.


Wednesday, April 22, 2020

Managing and Advising During the COVID-19 Pandemic and Beyond

Session 4
10:30 am – 12:00 pm EDT
Handling Current Leave Challenges in the Federal Workplace
Presented by Barbara Haga, President/Federal HR Services, FELTG Senior Instructor

Course description: Barbara Haga will review some of the most pressing issues involving leave, including tough questions related to FMLA and sick leave, the paid family leave provisions expected to go into effect in October, and the flexibilities related to leave tied to the COVID-19 pandemic including weather and safety leave. Attendees will come away with an array of knowledge for handling the leave issues they’re likely to face in the coming weeks and months, and will be equipped for a successful return to more normal operations in the future.

Learning Objectives

Attendees will learn how to:

  • Apply weather and safety leave standards during the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • Identify the provisions of the new paid family leave, and which employees are affected.
  • Manage requests for sick leave and FMLA, from near and far.

Session 5
1:00 – 2:30 pm EDT
Managing a Mobile Workforce: Tools for Accountability
Presented by Deborah J. Hopkins, Attorney at Law, FELTG President

Course description: One of the biggest challenges facing agencies during this COVID-19 Pandemic is that so much of the workforce is no longer in the workplace. How do you handle performance issues? What about conduct? Are work expectations lowered or amended when people telework in emergency situations? What are the pitfalls or best practices for managing employees from afar? Using anecdotes from her decade of experience managing a remote workforce, FELTG President Deborah J. Hopkins will provide the answers and share exclusive tips you shouldn’t miss. Earn 1.5 CLE credits

Learning Objectives

Attendees will learn how to:

  • Communicate expectations to employees who are new to telework.
  • Conduct a performance demonstration period while an employee is working remotely.
  • Identify the telework performance pitfalls for employees and supervisors.

Session 6
3:00 – 4:30 pm EDT
Strategies for Stress: Effectively Coping in a COVID-19 World
Presented by Shana Palmieri, LCSW, FELTG Instructor

Course description: The COVID-19 pandemic has required all of us to make major lifestyle changes, whether you’re in the office or working from home. Our lives have quickly been altered, creating varying levels of anxiety and uncertainty. Change, stress and social isolation can significantly impact your health and job performance. Licensed Clinical Social Worker Shana Palmieri will guide you through how to manage change and stress for yourself and your employees so you can continue to focus on your agency’s mission – from wherever you happen to be working.

Learning Objectives

Attendees will learn how to:

  • Manage workforce disruptions to successfully stay focused on work during the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • Cope with social distancing and social isolation.
  • Recognize and manage stress levels that, when unaddressed, impact your work performance and overall wellness.


Thursday, April 23, 2020

EEO Challenges in the Federal Workplace

Session 7
10:30 am – 12:00 pm EDT
Preventing and Correcting Discrimination: A Focus on Race, Color, and National Origin
Presented by Ricky Rowe, Former National EEO Manager/Veterans Affairs, FELTG Instructor

Course description: During stressful times, there is often a desire to find something, or someone, to blame. In some cases, employees perceive a conflict with agency management to be motivated by an illegal reason. And every now and then, an agency official engages in unlawful discrimination, and then the agency has a responsibility to make amends with the employee. FELTG Instructor Ricky Rowe will use his 38 years of federal sector EEO and HR experience to address these scenarios with a review of relevant EEOC decisions involving employee race, color and national origin, and will share timely and critical information to ensure that your workplace is safe and inclusive for all. Earn 1.5 EEO refresher training hours by attending this session.

Learning Objectives

Attendees will learn how to:

  • Identify the discrimination theories where race, color and national origin could form the basis of a complaint.
  • Recognize and immediately address instances of race, color, and national origin discrimination in the workplace.
  • Determine when language-restrictive policies are discriminatory – and when they are permitted.

Session 8
1:00 – 2:30 pm EDT
Conducting Effective Harassment Investigations
Presented by Katherine Atkinson, Attorney at Law, FELTG Instructor

Course description: If there’s one topic on every agency’s front burner, it’s harassment. FELTG Instructor Katherine Atkinson will explain the differences between EEO and non-EEO harassment, and the critical steps that agencies should take when investigating misconduct. An incomplete investigation could cost you the case, so it’s imperative to understand the requirements for a legally sufficient harassment investigation. Attendees will leave with useful guidance and practical tools to help them complete an effective and thorough investigation. Earn 1.5 EEO refresher training hours by attending this session. Earn 1.5 CLE credits.

Learning Objectives

Attendees will learn how to:

  • Address the issue of harassment as misconduct, not just an EEO issue.
  • Identify the numerous forms that harassment takes.
  • Interview all relevant parties in a harassment investigation: the complainant, the accused, and material witnesses.

Session 9
3:00 – 4:30 pm EDT
Reasonable Accommodation in the Federal Workplace: Challenges and Solutions for 2020
Presented by Meghan Droste, Attorney at Law, FELTG Instructor

Course description: Reasonable accommodation for disabilities intersects with every aspect of the federal workforce: conduct, performance, leave, telework, and more. FELTG Instructor Meghan Droste will explain answers to the most common questions including: What does qualified individual really mean? What is the agency required to do during the interactive process? Must I provide a provisional accommodation? Do I have to grant telework as an accommodation? Is providing a new supervisor a reasonable accommodation? You’ll receive guidance on other perplexing reasonable accommodation challenges, and discuss the mistakes agencies have made in recent cases – so you can avoid similar mistakes. You can’t afford to miss this session. Earn 1.5 EEO refresher hours and 1.5 CLE credits.

Learning Objectives

Attendees will learn how to:

  • Make legal disability determinations.
  • Understand “qualified individual” standard.
  • Provide the most effective reasonable accommodation to allow the employee to successfully perform the essential functions of the job.

 


Price

  • Early Bird Tuition (register by April 14): One Session = $100  |  Three Sessions = $250  |  All Access = $700
  • Standard Tuition (register April 15-23): One Session = $115  |  Three Sessions = $275  |  All Access = $750
  • Rates per registrant.
  • REGISTER NOW.

 

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.
  • How do I claim CLE or EEO refresher credits?
    • This program has been submitted (and we anticipate this program will be approved) for Virginia CLE credits. Members of other state bars must submit for CLE credit on their own, and may use the materials provided by FELTG in submissions. Attendees may also request a certificate of completion which will contain the number of training hours attended, and will designate how many EEO refresher hours were earned.
  • Can I get 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.
  • 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.
  • 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?
    • The group discount deadline has passed.

 

Apr
28
Tue
Webinar Series – Supervising Federal Employees: Managing Accountability and Defending Your Actions
Apr 28 @ 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

Instructors

Deborah Hopkins, Barbara Haga, Meghan Droste, Ann Boehm, Joe Schimansky, Katherine Atkinson, Anthony Marchese

Course Description

Those of you who supervise federal employees know it can be a frustrating calling, especially when you face so many new and challenging issues amid complex and changing laws.

Help is on the way. Register now for one, several, or all of the courses in FELTG’s comprehensive webinar training series Supervising Federal Employees: Managing Accountability and Defending Your Actions. No other training provides the depth and breadth of guidance federal supervisors need to manage the agency workplace effectively and efficiently.

Over the course of 14 webinars, FELTG’s experienced and knowledgeable instructors provide support on everything from managing poor performance and disciplining for employee misconduct to providing reasonable accommodation and rooting out leave abuse, and much much more.

This unique series has been updated to address the most timely and important topics supervisors are facing right now. The 60-minute webinars, held every other Tuesday from 1 – 2 p.m. eastern time, will expand upon legal principles to provide attendees with the necessary tools and best practices. Plus, you’ll have a chance to ask questions and get answers from FELTG instructors – in real time.

As an added bonus, this series fulfills OPM’s mandatory training requirements for new supervisors found at 5 CFR 412.202(b).

2020 dates:

March 3: The Foundations of Accountability: Performance vs. Misconduct: The distinction between performance and conduct; an overview on holding employees accountable; setting the stage for discipline and performance actions.

March 17: Writing Effective Performance Plans: Performance management; understanding the performance appraisal system; defining elements and standards; drafting standards according to legal requirements; creating the performance plan.

March 31: Preparing an Unacceptable Performance Case: Performance accountability in a nutshell; preparing and executing a performance demonstration period; proof and evidence standards.

April 14: Addressing Special Challenges with Performance: Permutations on performance accountability and the performance warning period; performance standards with multiple sub-components; managing teleworker performance; what do when a poor-performing employee requests reasonable accommodation.

April 28: Providing Performance Feedback That Makes a Difference: Communicating performance expectations; providing ongoing feedback; positive vs. negative framing; why you shouldn’t wait until the mid-year to discuss performance issues; what OPM says about mentorship; leader as mentor.

May 12: Disciplining Employees for Misconduct, Part I: The five elements of discipline in the federal government; documentation supervisors need to succeed in a disciplinary action. 

May 26: Disciplining Employees for Misconduct, Part II: Disciplinary procedures: reprimand, suspension, termination; appeals process; agency liability. 

June 9: Tackling Leave Issues I: Handling the leave issues most common in the federal government: annual leave, sick leave, leave transfer. 

June 23: Tackling Leave Issues II: Handling more complicated leave scenarios: FMLA, LWOP, administrative leave, AWOL. 

July 7: Combating Against Hostile Work Environment Harassment Claims: The elements of a hostile work environment; liability in hostile work environment claims; tangible employment actions; harassment v. bullying; supervisor responsibilities in harassment claims; agency defenses.

July 21: Intentional EEO Discrimination: What supervisors should know about EEO discrimination; discrete acts of discrimination; selection and promotion cases; defending against claims of intentional discrimination. 

August 4:  Disability Accommodation in 60 Minutes: Defining a disability; requests for accommodation; the interactive process; accommodations of choice; undue hardship. 

August 18: EEO Reprisal: Handle It, Don’t Fear It: How reprisal is different than other EEO claims; what the complainant must show to establish reprisal; how a supervisor can defend against reprisal claims; what to do and what not to do when an employee engages in protected EEO activity. 

September 1: Supervising in a Unionized Environment: The right to be bargained with; forming a union; employee and union rights; ULPs. 

Pricing

Early Bird Tuition:

  • $240 per site, per session (payment required by Feb 24).
  • Special series discounts available through February 24: $2,925 for the first 13 webinars or $3,150 for all 14. See registration form for details.

Standard Tuition: 

  • $270 per site, per session (payments made Feb. 25 or later).

 

Teleworkers may be added to a primary site registration for $40 each, per session, on a space-available basis.

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
6
Wed
Webinar – Significant Cases and Developments at the FLRA
May 6 @ 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

Joe Schimansky

Course Description

What will be the impact on President Trump’s letter permitting the Department of Defense to bypass unions? What about the FLRA’s decision to change the rules on dues withholding?

Joe Schimansky, former Executive Director of the Federal Service Impasses Panel, will take a look at what’s been happening at the FLRA in the last several months, and what’s likely to happen in the near future. He’ll review the latest decisions by the FLRA and FSIP to demonstrate how the world of federal labor relations is changing daily.

If you are involved in federal sector labor relations, this is a webinar you can’t afford to miss.

Price

  • Early Bird Tuition (payment required by April 27, 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 28, 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.

May
7
Thu
Webinar – What Do You Do When Contractors File EEO Complaints?
May 7 @ 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

Katherine Atkinson

Course Description

If a contractor files an EEO complaint, your agency may be liable. The federal-sector EEO process is not exclusively limited to civil service employees. Contractors can file EEO complaints if the agency is determined to be a “joint employer.” How do you determine if you are a joint employer? Join FELTG as we cover the Ma factors; applying the Ma test; roles and responsibilities of agency personnel when contractors start the EEO process; defenses to the “joint employer” allegation; and the common questions and answers that arise from agencies dealing with contractors.

This is the third webinar in a four-part series on Navigating Challenges in the EEO Process.

 1

Price

  • Early Bird Tuition (payment required by April 28, 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 29, 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.

May
12
Tue
Webinar Series – Supervising Federal Employees: Managing Accountability and Defending Your Actions
May 12 @ 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

Instructors

Deborah Hopkins, Barbara Haga, Meghan Droste, Ann Boehm, Joe Schimansky, Katherine Atkinson, Anthony Marchese

Course Description

Those of you who supervise federal employees know it can be a frustrating calling, especially when you face so many new and challenging issues amid complex and changing laws.

Help is on the way. Register now for one, several, or all of the courses in FELTG’s comprehensive webinar training series Supervising Federal Employees: Managing Accountability and Defending Your Actions. No other training provides the depth and breadth of guidance federal supervisors need to manage the agency workplace effectively and efficiently.

Over the course of 14 webinars, FELTG’s experienced and knowledgeable instructors provide support on everything from managing poor performance and disciplining for employee misconduct to providing reasonable accommodation and rooting out leave abuse, and much much more.

This unique series has been updated to address the most timely and important topics supervisors are facing right now. The 60-minute webinars, held every other Tuesday from 1 – 2 p.m. eastern time, will expand upon legal principles to provide attendees with the necessary tools and best practices. Plus, you’ll have a chance to ask questions and get answers from FELTG instructors – in real time.

As an added bonus, this series fulfills OPM’s mandatory training requirements for new supervisors found at 5 CFR 412.202(b).

2020 dates:

March 3: The Foundations of Accountability: Performance vs. Misconduct: The distinction between performance and conduct; an overview on holding employees accountable; setting the stage for discipline and performance actions.

March 17: Writing Effective Performance Plans: Performance management; understanding the performance appraisal system; defining elements and standards; drafting standards according to legal requirements; creating the performance plan.

March 31: Preparing an Unacceptable Performance Case: Performance accountability in a nutshell; preparing and executing a performance demonstration period; proof and evidence standards.

April 14: Addressing Special Challenges with Performance: Permutations on performance accountability and the performance warning period; performance standards with multiple sub-components; managing teleworker performance; what do when a poor-performing employee requests reasonable accommodation.

April 28: Providing Performance Feedback That Makes a Difference: Communicating performance expectations; providing ongoing feedback; positive vs. negative framing; why you shouldn’t wait until the mid-year to discuss performance issues; what OPM says about mentorship; leader as mentor.

May 12: Disciplining Employees for Misconduct, Part I: The five elements of discipline in the federal government; documentation supervisors need to succeed in a disciplinary action. 

May 26: Disciplining Employees for Misconduct, Part II: Disciplinary procedures: reprimand, suspension, termination; appeals process; agency liability. 

June 9: Tackling Leave Issues I: Handling the leave issues most common in the federal government: annual leave, sick leave, leave transfer. 

June 23: Tackling Leave Issues II: Handling more complicated leave scenarios: FMLA, LWOP, administrative leave, AWOL. 

July 7: Combating Against Hostile Work Environment Harassment Claims: The elements of a hostile work environment; liability in hostile work environment claims; tangible employment actions; harassment v. bullying; supervisor responsibilities in harassment claims; agency defenses.

July 21: Intentional EEO Discrimination: What supervisors should know about EEO discrimination; discrete acts of discrimination; selection and promotion cases; defending against claims of intentional discrimination. 

August 4:  Disability Accommodation in 60 Minutes: Defining a disability; requests for accommodation; the interactive process; accommodations of choice; undue hardship. 

August 18: EEO Reprisal: Handle It, Don’t Fear It: How reprisal is different than other EEO claims; what the complainant must show to establish reprisal; how a supervisor can defend against reprisal claims; what to do and what not to do when an employee engages in protected EEO activity. 

September 1: Supervising in a Unionized Environment: The right to be bargained with; forming a union; employee and union rights; ULPs. 

Pricing

Early Bird Tuition:

  • $240 per site, per session (payment required by Feb 24).
  • Special series discounts available through February 24: $2,925 for the first 13 webinars or $3,150 for all 14. See registration form for details.

Standard Tuition: 

  • $270 per site, per session (payments made Feb. 25 or later).

 

Teleworkers may be added to a primary site registration for $40 each, per session, on a space-available basis.

May
13
Wed
Virtual Training Event – EEO Challenges in a COVID-19 World
May 13 all-day

Download Registration Form

EEO Challenges in a COVID-19 World

The workplace has been turned upside down over the last few weeks as more than a million federal employees have left their desks and agency facilities to work from home. But just because there’s nobody in the office doesn’t mean that EEO problems have vanished, too. Plus, EEO problems for workers whose presence is deemed essential – such as health care providers, security officers, law enforcement officials – are on the rise.

HR specialists, EEO professionals, agency attorneys and supervisors are finding that instead of decreasing as social distancing sets in, EEO problems are getting more challenging – and some of the questions that are arising have no legal precedent, due to the unprecedented nature of this pandemic. It’s expected that these challenges will continue, and possibly increase, once the majority of workers report back to their offices.

It may seem as though you’re suddenly navigating uncharted waters. Have no fear. During this half-day virtual training event, Attorney Katherine Atkinson will explain how applying the basic EEO framework can answer the aforementioned and other puzzling EEO questions you may suddenly face. Because Ms. Atkinson will use a legal analysis to address these challenges, the answers and guidance you receive during this virtual training will be useful long after the coronavirus is gone.

Topics covered will include answers to these questions:

  • If a supervisor treats an employee like she has COVID-19, could that employee have a “regarded as” claim under the ADA/Rehabilitation Act?
  • How would you handle an employee’s claim that he’s being harassed because he is at high risk for COVID-19, or has recovered from the virus?
  • Can you direct someone with asthma to telework when she prefers to work in the office?
  • Must you provide telework or other accommodations to all employees with pre-existing conditions that make them high risk for COVID-19?

Plus, you’ll have plenty of opportunities to ask questions about the unique problems you’re facing during these unprecedented times.

Learning Objectives

Attendees will learn how to determine:

  • Whether an employee with COVID-19 or pre-existing respiratory sensitivities should receive a reasonable accommodation.
  • How OPM’s telework flexibilities impact the federal workplace.
  • When and how to take action against pandemic-related harassment and discrimination.

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

3

Download Individual Registration Form

Price

  • Early Bird Tuition (register by May 6): $250
  • Standard Tuition (register May 7-13): $280
  • Rates per registrant.
  • Want to register a group? Group discounts are available through May 6. Contact FELTG.
  • REGISTER NOW.

 

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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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 through May 6.

 

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.

May
18
Mon
Virtual Training Event: Conducting Effective Harassment Investigations
May 18 – May 20 all-day

Download Registration Form

Event Description

Investigating harassment in your agency can be an intimidating assignment, one that is rife with innuendo, conflicting accounts, and raw emotions. Ensuring that your investigation is legally compliant and protects employees, while helping the agency minimize liability, is a taxing task. It’s even more challenging during the COVID-19 pandemic when most investigations must be done virtually.

Together, these three instructor-led live training sessions will provide a solid basis for a successful and effective approach to conducting legally-sufficient harassment investigations that stand up upon third-party review. Peruse MSPB and EEOC cases and you’ll find that poorly conducted investigations are far more common than they should be, and the cost of these investigations to agencies are bigger than you’d expect.

Understand the differences between EEO and non-EEO harassment. Learn the best techniques to conduct an investigation – whether onsite or virtually. Write a report that covers all the crucial information. And much more.

This open enrollment FELTG Virtual Training Institute program Conducting Effective Harassment Investigations offers opportunities to ask questions of FELTG’s experienced instructors, and get answers in real time. Plus, this program fulfills the requirements for 8-hour annual EEO investigator refresher training.

You can register for any of the sessions individually, or you can register for all three. 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



Monday, May 18, 2020

Session 1: Investigating Harassment: Misconduct Principles

12:30 pm – 4:00 pm EDT (break from 2:00 – 2:30)
Presented by Deborah J. Hopkins, Attorney at Law, FELTG President

Course Description: An effective harassment investigation begins with a solid foundation of misconduct law in the federal workplace. Attorney and FELTG President Deborah J. Hopkins will explain the principles that underpin a successful investigation of federal employee misconduct, whether it’s on-duty or off-duty. Attendees will learn the five elements of discipline and understand how they relate to the misconduct investigation process. Plus, they’ll learn about evidence standards and burdens of proof in misconduct cases, how Douglas factors play in to an investigation, the importance of nexus, what to do when a witness won’t cooperate, and much more.

Learning Objectives

Attendees will learn how to:

  • Identify the relationship between the foundations of federal accountability and misconduct investigations.
  • Identify and collect relevant penalty evidence during the investigation.
  • Recognize the mistakes that derail effective misconduct and harassment investigations.

Tuesday, May 19, 2020

Session 2: Understanding Harassment and Planning the Investigation

12:30 pm – 4:00 pm EDT (break from 2:00 – 2:30)
Presented by Katherine Atkinson, Attorney at Law, FELTG Instructor

Course description: What is the scope of the investigation? Who should you interview? What documents are you going to need? Preparing your investigative plan is a critical step in developing a legally sufficient investigation. Attorney Katherine Atkinson will explain the proper role of the investigator and how you can avoid the pitfalls of an insufficient investigation with the proper preparation and knowledge. Plus, she’ll answer important questions about representation: Does the witness have the right to a representative? Does the union have a right to attend the interview – even if the witness doesn’t want the union there? What rights does agency management have in the process?

Learning Objectives

Attendees will learn how to:

  • Discern the difference between EEO and non-EEO harassment, and the impact that has on the investigations’ legal sufficiency.
  • Identify witness rights and management rights.
  • Recognize the three basic characteristics of evidence in a harassment investigation.

Wednesday, May 20, 2020

Session 3: Conducting the Investigation and Writing the Report

12:30 pm – 4:00 pm EDT (break from 2:00 – 2:30)
Presented by Meghan Droste, Attorney at Law, FELTG Instructor

Course description: Attorney Meghan Droste will share legal principles and proven guidance to navigate this most critical and challenging part of harassment investigations: conducting the interviews and gathering relevant evidence. Attendees will leave the session with techniques for questioning, tools for reading body language, suggestions on how to handle difficult personality types, and tips for writing the fact-finding report (FFR) and report of investigation (ROI). Ms. Droste will also share how technology is changing the investigation process, including a very timely discussion of conducting virtual interviews.

Learning Objectives

Attendees will learn how to:

  • Identify the similarities and differences in conducting onsite and virtual interviews.
  • Apply logic and judgment to evaluate conflicting statements.
  • Write a fulsome report on the findings from the harassment investigation.


Price

  • Early Bird Tuition (register by May 8): One Session = $240  |  Two Sessions = $480  |  Full Event = $645
  • Standard Tuition (register May 9-May 20): One Session = $255  |  Two Sessions = $510  |  Full Event = $695
  • Rates per registrant. No split registrations permitted.
  • Want to register a group? Group discounts are available through May 8. Contact FELTG.
  • REGISTER NOW.

 

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.
  • 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 based on the number of sessions attended by employees in an organization. If an agency wishes to register participants for a total of 30 sessions, a group discount will apply if all registrations received and paid for together. For example, that could be 10 Full Event registrations; or 15 people attending two sessions each. Group discounts are only available through May 8.

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
21
Thu
Webinar – Understanding and Managing Federal Employees with Behavioral Health Issues
May 21 @ 1:00 pm – 2:30 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

Instructors

Shana Palmieri 

Course Description

If one of your employees had a behavioral health crisis in the workplace, would you know what to do? This isn’t a far-fetched scenario. One in six workers are experiencing mental health problems at any time, according to recent studies. Crisis management in the federal workplace is a critical area to understand – it is truly life and death. And with the current COVID-19 global pandemic, uncertainty about the world – combined with social isolation – has more people struggling than ever before.

This 90-minute webinar, led by Licensed Clinical Social Worker Shana Palmieri, will provide you with an understanding of mental and behavioral health conditions and the impact they have on the individual, as well as strategies to effectively provide supervision and management to ensure a productive workplace. Learn to walk that tenuous line between providing accommodations and support for a mental health condition and holding employees accountable for their work performance.

Attendees will leave this webinar with strategies to:

  • Improve performance and success for employees with mental health conditions.
  • Effectively accommodate employees with behavioral health conditions.
  • Set appropriate boundaries and expectations in the workplace.

This class focuses on the practical and clinical side of managing employees with behavioral health conditions, rather than the legal side. You won’t want to miss it.

Price

  • Early Bird Tuition (payment required by May 19, 2020):
    • 1 line: $120
    • 2-5 lines: $205
    • 6-9 lines: $280
    • 10-15 lines: $360
    • 16-20 lines: $445
  • Standard Tuition (payments made May 20, 2020 or later):
    • 1 line: $135
    • 2-5 lines: $235
    • 6-9 lines: $3100
    • 10-15 lines: $390
    • 16-20 lines: $485

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

May
26
Tue
Webinar Series – Supervising Federal Employees: Managing Accountability and Defending Your Actions
May 26 @ 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

Instructors

Deborah Hopkins, Barbara Haga, Meghan Droste, Ann Boehm, Joe Schimansky, Katherine Atkinson, Anthony Marchese

Course Description

Those of you who supervise federal employees know it can be a frustrating calling, especially when you face so many new and challenging issues amid complex and changing laws.

Help is on the way. Register now for one, several, or all of the courses in FELTG’s comprehensive webinar training series Supervising Federal Employees: Managing Accountability and Defending Your Actions. No other training provides the depth and breadth of guidance federal supervisors need to manage the agency workplace effectively and efficiently.

Over the course of 14 webinars, FELTG’s experienced and knowledgeable instructors provide support on everything from managing poor performance and disciplining for employee misconduct to providing reasonable accommodation and rooting out leave abuse, and much much more.

This unique series has been updated to address the most timely and important topics supervisors are facing right now. The 60-minute webinars, held every other Tuesday from 1 – 2 p.m. eastern time, will expand upon legal principles to provide attendees with the necessary tools and best practices. Plus, you’ll have a chance to ask questions and get answers from FELTG instructors – in real time.

As an added bonus, this series fulfills OPM’s mandatory training requirements for new supervisors found at 5 CFR 412.202(b).

2020 dates:

March 3: The Foundations of Accountability: Performance vs. Misconduct: The distinction between performance and conduct; an overview on holding employees accountable; setting the stage for discipline and performance actions.

March 17: Writing Effective Performance Plans: Performance management; understanding the performance appraisal system; defining elements and standards; drafting standards according to legal requirements; creating the performance plan.

March 31: Preparing an Unacceptable Performance Case: Performance accountability in a nutshell; preparing and executing a performance demonstration period; proof and evidence standards.

April 14: Addressing Special Challenges with Performance: Permutations on performance accountability and the performance warning period; performance standards with multiple sub-components; managing teleworker performance; what do when a poor-performing employee requests reasonable accommodation.

April 28: Providing Performance Feedback That Makes a Difference: Communicating performance expectations; providing ongoing feedback; positive vs. negative framing; why you shouldn’t wait until the mid-year to discuss performance issues; what OPM says about mentorship; leader as mentor.

May 12: Disciplining Employees for Misconduct, Part I: The five elements of discipline in the federal government; documentation supervisors need to succeed in a disciplinary action. 

May 26: Disciplining Employees for Misconduct, Part II: Disciplinary procedures: reprimand, suspension, termination; appeals process; agency liability. 

June 9: Tackling Leave Issues I: Handling the leave issues most common in the federal government: annual leave, sick leave, leave transfer. 

June 23: Tackling Leave Issues II: Handling more complicated leave scenarios: FMLA, LWOP, administrative leave, AWOL. 

July 7: Combating Against Hostile Work Environment Harassment Claims: The elements of a hostile work environment; liability in hostile work environment claims; tangible employment actions; harassment v. bullying; supervisor responsibilities in harassment claims; agency defenses.

July 21: Intentional EEO Discrimination: What supervisors should know about EEO discrimination; discrete acts of discrimination; selection and promotion cases; defending against claims of intentional discrimination. 

August 4:  Disability Accommodation in 60 Minutes: Defining a disability; requests for accommodation; the interactive process; accommodations of choice; undue hardship. 

August 18: EEO Reprisal: Handle It, Don’t Fear It: How reprisal is different than other EEO claims; what the complainant must show to establish reprisal; how a supervisor can defend against reprisal claims; what to do and what not to do when an employee engages in protected EEO activity. 

September 1: Supervising in a Unionized Environment: The right to be bargained with; forming a union; employee and union rights; ULPs. 

Pricing

Early Bird Tuition:

  • $240 per site, per session (payment required by Feb 24).
  • Special series discounts available through February 24: $2,925 for the first 13 webinars or $3,150 for all 14. See registration form for details.

Standard Tuition: 

  • $270 per site, per session (payments made Feb. 25 or later).

 

Teleworkers may be added to a primary site registration for $40 each, per session, on a space-available basis.

May
28
Thu
Webinar Series – EEO Counselor and Investigator Refresher Training 2020
May 28 @ 1:00 pm – 2:35 pm

Download Registration Form

Instructors

Deborah Hopkins, Katherine Atkinson, Meghan Droste

Course Description

Meet your mandatory EEO Counselor and Investigator refresher training with FELTG this summer. Each 95-minute session counts toward the annual refresher requirement mandated by EEOC. Register for the entire series and receive a certificate of completion, to show you have met EEOC’s mandatory 8-hour annual refresher requirement.

Sessions

May 28 – EEO Complaints in 2020: What Counselors and Investigators Need to Know: EEOC jurisdiction; pre-complaint counseling; tolling; estoppel; formal complaint — acceptance/dismissal.

June 11 – Understanding Current Issues: Reasonable Accommodation Trends in 2020: The Americans With Disabilities Act Amendments Acts; defining individuals with disabilities; the interactive process; who chooses accommodation; fact-specificity of reasonable accommodation; interactive process requirements; telework as accommodation; the agency’s obligation to accommodate the commute; requests for a new supervisor as accommodation.

June 25 – Practical Skills for Counselors and Investigators: Interviewing Complainants and Witnesses: Preparing for interviews; methods of communication; interview v. interrogation; types of questions; top 10 interviewing tips; the funnel technique.

July 9 – The Latest on Sexual Orientation and Gender Discrimination in the Federal Workplace: Review and discuss latest Supreme Court decisions on gay/transgender rights; the law; gender stereotyping as sex discrimination; sexual orientation discrimination; transgender status; same-sex discrimination.

July 23 – Updates on Discrimination: Recent Cases About Race, Color, Religion, and National Origin: The law and key terms; forms of discrimination; race and color discrimination; national original discrimination; English-only rules; religious discrimination; failure to accommodation for religious reasons.

Price

  • Early Bird Tuition: $275 per site, per session (payment made by May 18).
  • Standard Tuition: $305 per site, per session (payment made May 19 or later).
  • Register for all five webinars by May 18 and pay only $1295!

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

Download Registration Form

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.

Jun
1
Mon
Virtual Training Event – Taking Defensible Disciplinary Actions
Jun 1 – Jun 3 all-day

Download Registration Form

Event Description

Though the world looks different than it did a few months ago, one thing hasn’t changed: the need for agencies to take disciplinary actions against employees who violate workplace rules. It’s more important than ever for agency advisers to be aware of new regulations, and the current status of the executive orders, that apply to executive branch employees. FELTG’s Virtual Training Institute presents Taking Defensible Disciplinary Actions, a three-day virtual program covering the legal requirements and best practices for taking defensible disciplinary actions in the federal government – actions that will withstand appeal by a third party.

Join top MSPB practitioners and topic authors, and learn the law, strategies, and techniques from their many years of combined experience. You can register for any of the sessions individually, or you can register for all three.

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



Monday, June 1, 2020

Session 1: The Foundations of Accountability: Discipline and Adverse Actions

12:30 pm – 4:00 pm EDT (break from 2:00 – 2:30)
Presented by Deborah J. Hopkins, Attorney at Law, FELTG President

Session Description: This session begins with a discussion of the foundations of accountability based on the Civil Service Reform Act and the Department of Veterans Affairs Accountability and Whistleblower Protection Act, and the importance of understanding the differences between employee poor performance and misconduct. The program will cover the five elements that must be present in every disciplinary case, plus discipline and adverse action procedures, and how an agency can defend itself in an appeal to an MSPB administrative judge or in front of an arbitrator. Plus, we’ll spotlight discipline alternatives such as last chance agreements and last rites discussions.

Learning Objectives

Attendees will learn how to:

  • Understand the differences between misconduct and poor performance.
  • Develop a disciplinary record containing the five elements of a legally-defensible disciplinary case.
  • Identify alternatives to traditional discipline.

Tuesday, June 2, 2020

Session 2: Charges and Penalties

12:30 pm – 4:00 pm EDT (break from 2:00 – 2:30)
Presented by Ann Boehm, Attorney at Law, FELTG Instructor

Session Description: If you’ve been in the business for more that a few days, you know the importance of drafting legally-sufficient disciplinary charges, and the importance of 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 turn to MSPB and Federal Circuit lead cases in penalty determination, and defending the penalty using the Douglas factors, including getting “intent” penalties off of “non-intent” charges, and proving harsh penalties off of vanilla charges. Plus, we’ll cover the important aspects of drafting proposal and decision letters.

Learning Objectives

Attendees will learn how to:

  • Identify sound, legally-defensible charges that correspond to an employee’s misconduct.
  • Understand how the Douglas factors impact the reasonableness of an agency’s penalty.
  • Draft proposal and decision letters according to legal standards.

Wednesday, June 3, 2020

Session 3: Affirmative Defenses and Mixed Cases

12:30 pm – 4:00 pm EDT (break from 2:00 – 2:30)
Presented by Deborah Hopkins, Attorney at Law, FELTG President and Robert Woods, Attorney at Law, FELTG Instructor

Session Description: When it comes to discipline, employees often want to challenge management in an attempt to get the discipline overturned. On some occasion, those challenges can be a bit complicated. This session will cover two areas you’ll need to be prepared for: affirmative defenses and mixed cases. We’ll take a look at the multiple types of reprisal an employee might allege as an affirmative defense, plus cover what to do if an employee alleges an agency action was motivated by EEO discrimination, or accused the agency of committing a harmful error. From there the discussion will focus the anatomy of a mixed case appeal or a mixed case complaint, and what you should do when one of these lands on your desk.

Learning Objectives

Attendees will learn how to:

  • Understand affirmative defenses and learn how to defend against them.
  • Successfully defend your agency against whistleblower reprisal complaints.
  • Identify and successfully navigate scenarios involving mixed cases.


Price

  • Early Bird Tuition (register by May 22): One Day = $275  |  Two Days = $525  |  Full Event = $750
  • Standard Tuition (register May 23-June 3): One Day = $325  |  Two Days = $575  |  Full Event = $795
  • Rates per registrant. No split registrations permitted.
  • Want to register a group? Group discounts are available through May 22. Contact FELTG.
  • REGISTER NOW.

 

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 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 May 22.

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.

Jun
4
Thu
Webinar – When Investigations Go Bad: Keeping Integrity in the EEO Process
Jun 4 @ 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

Katherine Atkinson

Course Description

Failure to interview any of the witnesses identified by the complainant? Yes, it’s happened. Failure to investigate the complainant’s overriding claim? Yes, that too has happened. The EEOC has seen its fair share of  bad investigations in recent years. Join FELTG for this final installment of our Navigating Challenges in the EEO Process series. This 60-minute webinar will explain how to keep integrity in the EEO process and review the following topics: Characteristics of a legally sufficient investigation; investigatory standards – impartiality, appropriateness, evidence-based investigation; relevant documents and witnesses; reviewing the investigation.

 1

Price

  • Early Bird Tuition (payment required by May 26, 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 27, 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
9
Tue
Webinar Series – Supervising Federal Employees: Managing Accountability and Defending Your Actions
Jun 9 @ 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

Instructors

Deborah Hopkins, Barbara Haga, Meghan Droste, Ann Boehm, Joe Schimansky, Katherine Atkinson, Anthony Marchese

Course Description

Those of you who supervise federal employees know it can be a frustrating calling, especially when you face so many new and challenging issues amid complex and changing laws.

Help is on the way. Register now for one, several, or all of the courses in FELTG’s comprehensive webinar training series Supervising Federal Employees: Managing Accountability and Defending Your Actions. No other training provides the depth and breadth of guidance federal supervisors need to manage the agency workplace effectively and efficiently.

Over the course of 14 webinars, FELTG’s experienced and knowledgeable instructors provide support on everything from managing poor performance and disciplining for employee misconduct to providing reasonable accommodation and rooting out leave abuse, and much much more.

This unique series has been updated to address the most timely and important topics supervisors are facing right now. The 60-minute webinars, held every other Tuesday from 1 – 2 p.m. eastern time, will expand upon legal principles to provide attendees with the necessary tools and best practices. Plus, you’ll have a chance to ask questions and get answers from FELTG instructors – in real time.

As an added bonus, this series fulfills OPM’s mandatory training requirements for new supervisors found at 5 CFR 412.202(b).

2020 dates:

March 3: The Foundations of Accountability: Performance vs. Misconduct: The distinction between performance and conduct; an overview on holding employees accountable; setting the stage for discipline and performance actions.

March 17: Writing Effective Performance Plans: Performance management; understanding the performance appraisal system; defining elements and standards; drafting standards according to legal requirements; creating the performance plan.

March 31: Preparing an Unacceptable Performance Case: Performance accountability in a nutshell; preparing and executing a performance demonstration period; proof and evidence standards.

April 14: Addressing Special Challenges with Performance: Permutations on performance accountability and the performance warning period; performance standards with multiple sub-components; managing teleworker performance; what do when a poor-performing employee requests reasonable accommodation.

April 28: Providing Performance Feedback That Makes a Difference: Communicating performance expectations; providing ongoing feedback; positive vs. negative framing; why you shouldn’t wait until the mid-year to discuss performance issues; what OPM says about mentorship; leader as mentor.

May 12: Disciplining Employees for Misconduct, Part I: The five elements of discipline in the federal government; documentation supervisors need to succeed in a disciplinary action. 

May 26: Disciplining Employees for Misconduct, Part II: Disciplinary procedures: reprimand, suspension, termination; appeals process; agency liability. 

June 9: Tackling Leave Issues I: Handling the leave issues most common in the federal government: annual leave, sick leave, leave transfer. 

June 23: Tackling Leave Issues II: Handling more complicated leave scenarios: FMLA, LWOP, administrative leave, AWOL. 

July 7: Combating Against Hostile Work Environment Harassment Claims: The elements of a hostile work environment; liability in hostile work environment claims; tangible employment actions; harassment v. bullying; supervisor responsibilities in harassment claims; agency defenses.

July 21: Intentional EEO Discrimination: What supervisors should know about EEO discrimination; discrete acts of discrimination; selection and promotion cases; defending against claims of intentional discrimination. 

August 4:  Disability Accommodation in 60 Minutes: Defining a disability; requests for accommodation; the interactive process; accommodations of choice; undue hardship. 

August 18: EEO Reprisal: Handle It, Don’t Fear It: How reprisal is different than other EEO claims; what the complainant must show to establish reprisal; how a supervisor can defend against reprisal claims; what to do and what not to do when an employee engages in protected EEO activity. 

September 1: Supervising in a Unionized Environment: The right to be bargained with; forming a union; employee and union rights; ULPs. 

Pricing

Early Bird Tuition:

  • $240 per site, per session (payment required by Feb 24).
  • Special series discounts available through February 24: $2,925 for the first 13 webinars or $3,150 for all 14. See registration form for details.

Standard Tuition: 

  • $270 per site, per session (payments made Feb. 25 or later).

 

Teleworkers may be added to a primary site registration for $40 each, per session, on a space-available basis.

Jun
10
Wed
Virtual Training Event – Federal Workplace Challenges in a COVID-19 World
Jun 10 all-day

Download Individual Registration Form

Federal Workplace Challenges in a COVID-19 World: Returning to Work During a Pandemic

While the nation’s slow re-opening is being welcomed by struggling small businesses and Americans eager for a return to normalcy, it is being met with hesitation and fear by many employees who will soon be making their way back to the workplaces they last occupied several weeks ago.

They are not the only ones who are hesitant. You probably are too. And you should be. Bringing teleworkers back to the physical workplace amid a pandemic will not be easy. Agency HR/EEO professionals, attorneys, supervisors, and managers play important roles in ensuring that their agencies follow the appropriate guidelines, comply with laws involving leave and reasonable accommodation, and meet their burden for providing a safe workspace.

Are you prepared? Join FELTG for a one-of-a-kind, multi-faceted virtual training event that readies you for this unique and demanding challenge. In one afternoon, attendees will receive a detailed discussion of numerous considerations as they prepare for the physical return of employees to the workplace – leave and flexible work schedules, medical testing, employees who blow the whistle about COVID-19 related issues, reasonable accommodation, mental health crises, and much more.

Learning Objectives

After completing this training, attendees will know how to:

  • Apply available flexibilities on scheduling, leave, and telework.
  • Provide appropriate support to employees with mental health struggles exacerbated by the pandemic.
  • Ensure a safe work environment without violating EEO laws.

This is an event that you cannot afford to miss. This program runs from 12:30 pm – 4:00 pm eastern

Download Individual Registration Form

Session Description

Part 1: Federal Employee Leave: Rights, Requirements and Strategies

Presented by Ann Boehm, FELTG Instructor, Attorney at Law

Administering leave can be complicated enough in normal times, let alone during a pandemic. Ms. Boehm will explain the basic leave entitlements of federal employees, and address the additional leave options and strategies that are specific to COVID-19, such as emergency paid sick leave and administrative leave.

 

Part 2: Complying with the Law While Ensuring a Safe Return to Work

Presented by Deborah J. Hopkins, FELTG President, Attorney at Law

What is the latest guidance from OPM, OMB, CDC, and other authorities as agencies prepare to call employees back to work? Can you – and should you – require medical certification for employees returning to duty? What are your options if an employee refuses to return to work? Are you prepared for reasonable accommodation requests or hostile work environment claims from vulnerable populations? What should an agency do if an employee has blown the whistle about COVID-19 related matters? Ms. Hopkins will address these issues, and more.

Part 3: Managing the Mental Health Crisis During the Pandemic

Presented by Shana Palmieri, LCSW, FELTG Instructor

A new national report detailing the psychological impacts of COVID-19 projects an additional 75,000 Americans could die due to “diseases of despair.” This vulnerable population will soon be returning to the workplace. Ms. Palmieri will provide up-to-date information on risk factors for mental health crises and how to provide appropriate support, intervention and access to treatment for federal government employees to prevent deaths from diseases of despair including suicide, depression, and acute trauma.

Price

  • Early Bird Tuition (register by June 1): $295
  • Standard Tuition (register June 2-10): $345
  • Rates per registrant.
  • Want to register a group? Group discounts are available through June 1. Contact FELTG.

Event FAQs

  • Can I attend Virtual Training from my government computer?
    • FELTG uses Zoom Webinars (not Zoom Meetings) for this 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.
  • 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 through June 1.

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.

Jun
11
Thu
Webinar Series – EEO Counselor and Investigator Refresher Training 2020
Jun 11 @ 1:00 pm – 2:35 pm

Download Registration Form

Instructors

Deborah Hopkins, Katherine Atkinson, Meghan Droste

Course Description

Meet your mandatory EEO Counselor and Investigator refresher training with FELTG this summer. Each 95-minute session counts toward the annual refresher requirement mandated by EEOC. Register for the entire series and receive a certificate of completion, to show you have met EEOC’s mandatory 8-hour annual refresher requirement.

Sessions

May 28 – EEO Complaints in 2020: What Counselors and Investigators Need to Know: EEOC jurisdiction; pre-complaint counseling; tolling; estoppel; formal complaint — acceptance/dismissal.

June 11 – Understanding Current Issues: Reasonable Accommodation Trends in 2020: The Americans With Disabilities Act Amendments Acts; defining individuals with disabilities; the interactive process; who chooses accommodation; fact-specificity of reasonable accommodation; interactive process requirements; telework as accommodation; the agency’s obligation to accommodate the commute; requests for a new supervisor as accommodation.

June 25 – Practical Skills for Counselors and Investigators: Interviewing Complainants and Witnesses: Preparing for interviews; methods of communication; interview v. interrogation; types of questions; top 10 interviewing tips; the funnel technique.

July 9 – The Latest on Sexual Orientation and Gender Discrimination in the Federal Workplace: Review and discuss latest Supreme Court decisions on gay/transgender rights; the law; gender stereotyping as sex discrimination; sexual orientation discrimination; transgender status; same-sex discrimination.

July 23 – Updates on Discrimination: Recent Cases About Race, Color, Religion, and National Origin: The law and key terms; forms of discrimination; race and color discrimination; national original discrimination; English-only rules; religious discrimination; failure to accommodation for religious reasons.

Price

  • Early Bird Tuition: $275 per site, per session (payment made by May 18).
  • Standard Tuition: $305 per site, per session (payment made May 19 or later).
  • Register for all five webinars by May 18 and pay only $1295!

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

Download Registration Form

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.

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.

Jun
23
Tue
Virtual Training Event – Developing and Defending Discipline: Holding Federal Employees Accountable
Jun 23 – Jun 25 all-day

Download Individual Registration Form

Event Description

Holding federal employees accountable for performance and conduct is easier than you might think. Too many supervisors believe that an employee’s protected activity (EEO complaints, whistleblower disclosures, or union activity) precludes the supervisor from initiating a suspension or removal, but that’s just not true. During the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s even more imperative your employees are doing the work they are assigned to do, and following all workplace rules along the way.

FELTG is here to make federal supervisors’ and advisers’ lives easier by clarifying those misconceptions while helping supervisors understand how to take defensible misconduct actions quickly and fairly – actions that withstand scrutiny on appeal by the MSPB, EEOC, or in grievance arbitration. Plus, if you have an under-performing employee working for you now, we will show you the steps to take to give the employee an opportunity to demonstrate acceptable performance, and how to determine whether the employee is successful or should be removed. In addition, we’ll discuss how you can defend against allegations of discrimination and hostile work environment claims, and the role of the supervisor and advisor throughout the EEO process.

Join us for this three-day seminar and come away with the tools you need to hold your employees accountable, and defend every action you take.

The program runs from 9:00 – 4:00 eastern each day, with a break from 12:00 – 1:00, and when taken together days 1 & 2 meet OPM’s mandatory training requirements for federal supervisors found at 5 CFR 412.202(b).

Download Individual Registration Form



Tuesday, June 23, 2020

Session 1: Accountability for Conduct and Performance, Part I

9:00 am – 4:00 pm EDT (break from 12:00 – 1:00)
Presented by Deborah J. Hopkins, Attorney at Law, FELTG President

Course Description: This program begins with a discussion on the foundations of accountability and supervisory authority in the federal government. After learning to identify the differences between performance and conduct issues, the seminar will shift the focus to discipline and misconduct theory and practice. From emphasizing the five elements of misconduct, to explaining how an agency can defend its penalty and provide the employee with due process, to a discussion on discipline procedures and appeals, the attendee will receive a thorough education on properly – and legally – handling employee misconduct issues in the federal workplace.

Learning Objectives

  • Understand the differences between employee performance and misconduct issues
  • Identify the five elements that must be presents in every discipline case
  • Recognize the supervisor’s and advisor’s roles in disciplinary procedures and appeals


Wednesday, June 24, 2020

Session 2: Accountability for Conduct and Performance, Part II

9:00 am – 4:00 pm EDT (break from 12:00 – 1:00)
Presented by Ann Boehm, Attorney at Law, FELTG Instructor

Course Description: This session begins with a focus on one of the most misunderstood areas of accountability: poor performance. The conversation includes the requirements to implement a performance demonstration period, initiating and completing a performance-based action, and determining the appropriate outcome after the employee has been given an opportunity to demonstrate acceptable performance. From there, the discussion turns to some tricky supervisory scenarios that become less intimidating after explanation: dealing with attendance issues, properly handling the absent employee, medical removals and dealing with union issues.

Learning Objectives

  • Understand the legally-required procedures to hold an employee accountable for poor performance
  • Identify and implement the procedures to deal with leave abuse
  • Acknowledge how dealing with employees in a bargaining unit is different than non-bargaining unit employees

 


Thursday, June 25, 2020

Session 3: Defending Against Discrimination Complaints: The Supervisor’s Role in EEO

9:00 am – 4:00 pm EDT (break from 12:00 – 1:00)
Presented by Katherine Atkinson, Attorney at Law, FELTG Instructor

Course Description: One of the most intimidating experiences for a federal supervisor is being named in an EEO complaint. Yet, if you are a supervisor for any length of time, there’s a good chance it will happen. This session helps to clarify the federal EEO process so supervisors understand how defend against allegations of discrimination. After an explanation of the protected EEO categories, we’ll cover what to do – and what not to do – if you’re a Responding Management Official in a complaint, and what happens if you’re called as an EEO witness. From there, the program will cover the theories of discrimination, and will provide you with the tools you need to prove your workplace actions were legitimate and non-discriminatory. You’ll sleep better at night after attending this session!

Learning Objectives

  • Identify the theories of discrimination in the federal workplace
  • Recognize the situations where a employees need reasonable accommodation – and your role in the process
  • Understand how to successfully defend against allegations of harassment and discrimination


Pricing

Early Bird Tuition (register by June 9):

  • 3 days = $1400
  • 2 days = $1000
  • 1 day = $560

Standard Tuition (register June 10-25):

  • 3 days = $1500
  • 2 days = $1100
  • 1 day = $660

Seminar registration includes a printed copy of the materials, and a copy of the textbook UnCivil Servant: Holding Employees Accountable for Performance and Conduct, 5th ed., by Wiley and Hopkins. In order to receive materials by the training date, please register by June 9 and provide a shipping address. Registrations received after June 9 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 June 9.
Webinar Series – Supervising Federal Employees: Managing Accountability and Defending Your Actions
Jun 23 @ 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

Instructors

Deborah Hopkins, Barbara Haga, Meghan Droste, Ann Boehm, Joe Schimansky, Katherine Atkinson, Anthony Marchese

Course Description

Those of you who supervise federal employees know it can be a frustrating calling, especially when you face so many new and challenging issues amid complex and changing laws.

Help is on the way. Register now for one, several, or all of the courses in FELTG’s comprehensive webinar training series Supervising Federal Employees: Managing Accountability and Defending Your Actions. No other training provides the depth and breadth of guidance federal supervisors need to manage the agency workplace effectively and efficiently.

Over the course of 14 webinars, FELTG’s experienced and knowledgeable instructors provide support on everything from managing poor performance and disciplining for employee misconduct to providing reasonable accommodation and rooting out leave abuse, and much much more.

This unique series has been updated to address the most timely and important topics supervisors are facing right now. The 60-minute webinars, held every other Tuesday from 1 – 2 p.m. eastern time, will expand upon legal principles to provide attendees with the necessary tools and best practices. Plus, you’ll have a chance to ask questions and get answers from FELTG instructors – in real time.

As an added bonus, this series fulfills OPM’s mandatory training requirements for new supervisors found at 5 CFR 412.202(b).

2020 dates:

March 3: The Foundations of Accountability: Performance vs. Misconduct: The distinction between performance and conduct; an overview on holding employees accountable; setting the stage for discipline and performance actions.

March 17: Writing Effective Performance Plans: Performance management; understanding the performance appraisal system; defining elements and standards; drafting standards according to legal requirements; creating the performance plan.

March 31: Preparing an Unacceptable Performance Case: Performance accountability in a nutshell; preparing and executing a performance demonstration period; proof and evidence standards.

April 14: Addressing Special Challenges with Performance: Permutations on performance accountability and the performance warning period; performance standards with multiple sub-components; managing teleworker performance; what do when a poor-performing employee requests reasonable accommodation.

April 28: Providing Performance Feedback That Makes a Difference: Communicating performance expectations; providing ongoing feedback; positive vs. negative framing; why you shouldn’t wait until the mid-year to discuss performance issues; what OPM says about mentorship; leader as mentor.

May 12: Disciplining Employees for Misconduct, Part I: The five elements of discipline in the federal government; documentation supervisors need to succeed in a disciplinary action. 

May 26: Disciplining Employees for Misconduct, Part II: Disciplinary procedures: reprimand, suspension, termination; appeals process; agency liability. 

June 9: Tackling Leave Issues I: Handling the leave issues most common in the federal government: annual leave, sick leave, leave transfer. 

June 23: Tackling Leave Issues II: Handling more complicated leave scenarios: FMLA, LWOP, administrative leave, AWOL. 

July 7: Combating Against Hostile Work Environment Harassment Claims: The elements of a hostile work environment; liability in hostile work environment claims; tangible employment actions; harassment v. bullying; supervisor responsibilities in harassment claims; agency defenses.

July 21: Intentional EEO Discrimination: What supervisors should know about EEO discrimination; discrete acts of discrimination; selection and promotion cases; defending against claims of intentional discrimination. 

August 4:  Disability Accommodation in 60 Minutes: Defining a disability; requests for accommodation; the interactive process; accommodations of choice; undue hardship. 

August 18: EEO Reprisal: Handle It, Don’t Fear It: How reprisal is different than other EEO claims; what the complainant must show to establish reprisal; how a supervisor can defend against reprisal claims; what to do and what not to do when an employee engages in protected EEO activity. 

September 1: Supervising in a Unionized Environment: The right to be bargained with; forming a union; employee and union rights; ULPs. 

Pricing

Early Bird Tuition:

  • $240 per site, per session (payment required by Feb 24).
  • Special series discounts available through February 24: $2,925 for the first 13 webinars or $3,150 for all 14. See registration form for details.

Standard Tuition: 

  • $270 per site, per session (payments made Feb. 25 or later).

 

Teleworkers may be added to a primary site registration for $40 each, per session, on a space-available basis.

Jun
25
Thu
Webinar Series – EEO Counselor and Investigator Refresher Training 2020
Jun 25 @ 1:00 pm – 2:35 pm

Download Registration Form

Instructors

Deborah Hopkins, Katherine Atkinson, Meghan Droste

Course Description

Meet your mandatory EEO Counselor and Investigator refresher training with FELTG this summer. Each 95-minute session counts toward the annual refresher requirement mandated by EEOC. Register for the entire series and receive a certificate of completion, to show you have met EEOC’s mandatory 8-hour annual refresher requirement.

Sessions

May 28 – EEO Complaints in 2020: What Counselors and Investigators Need to Know: EEOC jurisdiction; pre-complaint counseling; tolling; estoppel; formal complaint — acceptance/dismissal.

June 11 – Understanding Current Issues: Reasonable Accommodation Trends in 2020: The Americans With Disabilities Act Amendments Acts; defining individuals with disabilities; the interactive process; who chooses accommodation; fact-specificity of reasonable accommodation; interactive process requirements; telework as accommodation; the agency’s obligation to accommodate the commute; requests for a new supervisor as accommodation.

June 25 – Practical Skills for Counselors and Investigators: Interviewing Complainants and Witnesses: Preparing for interviews; methods of communication; interview v. interrogation; types of questions; top 10 interviewing tips; the funnel technique.

July 9 – The Latest on Sexual Orientation and Gender Discrimination in the Federal Workplace: Review and discuss latest Supreme Court decisions on gay/transgender rights; the law; gender stereotyping as sex discrimination; sexual orientation discrimination; transgender status; same-sex discrimination.

July 23 – Updates on Discrimination: Recent Cases About Race, Color, Religion, and National Origin: The law and key terms; forms of discrimination; race and color discrimination; national original discrimination; English-only rules; religious discrimination; failure to accommodation for religious reasons.

Price

  • Early Bird Tuition: $275 per site, per session (payment made by May 18).
  • Standard Tuition: $305 per site, per session (payment made May 19 or later).
  • Register for all five webinars by May 18 and pay only $1295!

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

Download Registration Form

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.

Jun
29
Mon
Virtual Training Event – Federal Workplace Challenges in a COVID-19 World: Returning to Work During a Pandemic
Jun 29 all-day

Download Individual Registration Form

Federal Workplace Challenges in a COVID-19 World: Returning to Work During a Pandemic

While the nation’s slow re-opening is being welcomed by struggling small businesses and Americans eager for a return to normalcy, it is being met with hesitation and fear by many employees who will soon be making their way back to the workplaces they last occupied several weeks ago.

They are not the only ones who are hesitant. You probably are too. And you should be. Bringing teleworkers back to the physical workplace amid a pandemic will not be easy. Agency HR/EEO professionals, attorneys, supervisors, and managers play important roles in ensuring that their agencies follow the appropriate guidelines, comply with laws involving leave and reasonable accommodation, and meet their burden for providing a safe workspace.

Are you prepared? Join FELTG for a one-of-a-kind, multi-faceted virtual training event that readies you for this unique and demanding challenge. In one afternoon, attendees will receive a detailed discussion of numerous considerations as they prepare for the physical return of employees to the workplace – leave and flexible work schedules, medical testing, employees who blow the whistle about COVID-19 related issues, reasonable accommodation, mental health crises, and much more.

Learning Objectives

After completing this training, attendees will know how to:

  • Apply available flexibilities on scheduling, leave, and telework.
  • Provide appropriate support to employees with mental health struggles exacerbated by the pandemic.
  • Ensure a safe work environment without violating EEO laws.

This is an event that you cannot afford to miss. This program runs from 12:30 pm – 4:00 pm eastern

Download Individual Registration Form

Session Description

Part 1: Federal Employee Leave: Rights, Requirements and Strategies

Presented by Ann Boehm, FELTG Instructor, Attorney at Law

Administering leave can be complicated enough in normal times, let alone during a pandemic. Ms. Boehm will explain the basic leave entitlements of federal employees, and address the additional leave options and strategies that are specific to COVID-19, such as emergency paid sick leave and administrative leave.

 

Part 2: Complying with the Law While Ensuring a Safe Return to Work

Presented by Ann Boehm, FELTG President, Attorney at Law

What is the latest guidance from OPM, OMB, CDC, and other authorities as agencies prepare to call employees back to work? Can you – and should you – require medical certification for employees returning to duty? What are your options if an employee refuses to return to work? Are you prepared for reasonable accommodation requests or hostile work environment claims from vulnerable populations? What should an agency do if an employee has blown the whistle about COVID-19 related matters? Ms. Boehm will address these issues, and more.

Part 3: Managing the Mental Health Crisis During the Pandemic

Presented by Shana Palmieri, LCSW, FELTG Instructor

A new national report detailing the psychological impacts of COVID-19 projects an additional 75,000 Americans could die due to “diseases of despair.” This vulnerable population will soon be returning to the workplace. Ms. Palmieri will provide up-to-date information on risk factors for mental health crises and how to provide appropriate support, intervention and access to treatment for federal government employees to prevent deaths from diseases of despair including suicide, depression, and acute trauma.

Price

  • Early Bird Tuition (register by June 19): $295
  • Standard Tuition (register June 20-29): $345
  • Rates per registrant.
  • Want to register a group? Group discounts are available through June 19. Contact FELTG.

Event FAQs

  • Can I attend Virtual Training from my government computer?
    • FELTG will use Webex for this event. Many government computers and systems allow Webex access, and you do not need a Webex account in order to participate. 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. Group discounts are available through June 19.

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
7
Tue
Virtual Training Event – Advanced Employee Relations
Jul 7 – Jul 9 all-day

Download Individual Registration Form

Course Description

Let’s face it: being a federal sector Employee Relations Specialist is a tough job. It’s great to know the basics, but the basics don’t always help you when you’re facing complicated or challenging situations. That’s when you realize that there is much more to learn. No worries. The FELTG Virtual Training Institute presents Advanced Employee Relations, a three-day seminar focused on immersing you in the employee relations training you need most.

You’ll receive in-depth training on topics including leave, performance, misconduct, disability accommodation, and more. Plus, interactive workshops will allow you to leave with the tools you’ll need to succeed. And it will all be taught by FELTG Senior Instructor Barbara Haga, one of the most experienced federal employee relations professionals you’ll ever meet.

The program runs 9:00 – 4:00 each day and is approved for 18 HRCI general recertification credits.

Instructor

Barbara Haga

Daily Agenda:

Tuesday, July 7

Leave and Attendance: Administering leave, with particular emphasis on sick leave, LWOP, and FMLA. Detailed review of sick leave provisions including authorized purposes for use of sick leave, limitations on use of sick leave for family care and bereavement, eligibility to use leave for care, notice requirements, acceptable documentation. Management actions to control use of leave and abuse of sick leave. Detailed review of FMLA provisions including eligibility to invoke FMLA, entitlement, coverage of family members, administration and notice requirements. Acceptable medical documentation under FMLA, definition of serious health condition. Substitution of paid leave. Discipline tied to FMLA. LWOP – when LWOP is mandatory, limits on granting LWOP, employee status while on extended LWOP. Other topics –issues related to annual leave and leave transfer, other leave entitlements.

Wednesday, July 8

Performance Management: Managing performance from system establishment to conducting annual appraisals to taking actions linked to performance. GEAR initiative and other efforts focused on modifying Federal performance management system. Requirements for performance plans, including design of agency systems, rating schemes, and procedures for conducting appraisals. Revised DOD performance system to be implemented in 2016. Linkage between appraisal and other personnel management decisions, including reduction-in-force and within-grade increases. Writing effective and measurable performance criteria that will withstand third-party review, including a workshop where participants will do an in-depth review of performance plans. Requirements for successful performance-based actions – from drafting a PIP notice that will withstand scrutiny to conducting a bona fide PIP to ensuring that due process is met in effecting an action on unacceptable performance.

Thursday, July 9

Misconduct and Other Related Issues: Implementation of a successful disciplinary program – delegation of authority, role of advisors, warnings and cautions, use of administrative leave. Nexus. Dealing with comparators in determining a penalty. Involuntary actions – resignations and retirements. Ordering and Offering medical examinations. Specific disciplinary situations: handling situations when an employee is unable to perform including excessive leave, disability retirement, separation disability; conduct unbecoming; misuse and technology-related misconduct; failure to meet conditions of employment.

Pricing

    • Early Bird Tuition (register by June 22):
      • 3 days = $1370
      • 2 days = $970
      • 1 day = $530

      Standard Tuition (register June 23 – July 9):

      • 3 days = $1470
      • 2 days = $1070
      • 1 day = $630

       

Seminar registration includes a printed copy of the materials. In order to receive materials by the training date, please register by June 22 and provide a shipping address. Registrations received after June 23 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 June 22.
Webinar Series – Supervising Federal Employees: Managing Accountability and Defending Your Actions
Jul 7 @ 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

Instructors

Deborah Hopkins, Barbara Haga, Meghan Droste, Ann Boehm, Joe Schimansky, Katherine Atkinson, Anthony Marchese

Course Description

Those of you who supervise federal employees know it can be a frustrating calling, especially when you face so many new and challenging issues amid complex and changing laws.

Help is on the way. Register now for one, several, or all of the courses in FELTG’s comprehensive webinar training series Supervising Federal Employees: Managing Accountability and Defending Your Actions. No other training provides the depth and breadth of guidance federal supervisors need to manage the agency workplace effectively and efficiently.

Over the course of 14 webinars, FELTG’s experienced and knowledgeable instructors provide support on everything from managing poor performance and disciplining for employee misconduct to providing reasonable accommodation and rooting out leave abuse, and much much more.

This unique series has been updated to address the most timely and important topics supervisors are facing right now. The 60-minute webinars, held every other Tuesday from 1 – 2 p.m. eastern time, will expand upon legal principles to provide attendees with the necessary tools and best practices. Plus, you’ll have a chance to ask questions and get answers from FELTG instructors – in real time.

As an added bonus, this series fulfills OPM’s mandatory training requirements for new supervisors found at 5 CFR 412.202(b).

2020 dates:

March 3: The Foundations of Accountability: Performance vs. Misconduct: The distinction between performance and conduct; an overview on holding employees accountable; setting the stage for discipline and performance actions.

March 17: Writing Effective Performance Plans: Performance management; understanding the performance appraisal system; defining elements and standards; drafting standards according to legal requirements; creating the performance plan.

March 31: Preparing an Unacceptable Performance Case: Performance accountability in a nutshell; preparing and executing a performance demonstration period; proof and evidence standards.

April 14: Addressing Special Challenges with Performance: Permutations on performance accountability and the performance warning period; performance standards with multiple sub-components; managing teleworker performance; what do when a poor-performing employee requests reasonable accommodation.

April 28: Providing Performance Feedback That Makes a Difference: Communicating performance expectations; providing ongoing feedback; positive vs. negative framing; why you shouldn’t wait until the mid-year to discuss performance issues; what OPM says about mentorship; leader as mentor.

May 12: Disciplining Employees for Misconduct, Part I: The five elements of discipline in the federal government; documentation supervisors need to succeed in a disciplinary action. 

May 26: Disciplining Employees for Misconduct, Part II: Disciplinary procedures: reprimand, suspension, termination; appeals process; agency liability. 

June 9: Tackling Leave Issues I: Handling the leave issues most common in the federal government: annual leave, sick leave, leave transfer. 

June 23: Tackling Leave Issues II: Handling more complicated leave scenarios: FMLA, LWOP, administrative leave, AWOL. 

July 7: Combating Against Hostile Work Environment Harassment Claims: The elements of a hostile work environment; liability in hostile work environment claims; tangible employment actions; harassment v. bullying; supervisor responsibilities in harassment claims; agency defenses.

July 21: Intentional EEO Discrimination: What supervisors should know about EEO discrimination; discrete acts of discrimination; selection and promotion cases; defending against claims of intentional discrimination. 

August 4:  Disability Accommodation in 60 Minutes: Defining a disability; requests for accommodation; the interactive process; accommodations of choice; undue hardship. 

August 18: EEO Reprisal: Handle It, Don’t Fear It: How reprisal is different than other EEO claims; what the complainant must show to establish reprisal; how a supervisor can defend against reprisal claims; what to do and what not to do when an employee engages in protected EEO activity. 

September 1: Supervising in a Unionized Environment: The right to be bargained with; forming a union; employee and union rights; ULPs. 

Pricing

Early Bird Tuition:

  • $240 per site, per session (payment required by Feb 24).
  • Special series discounts available through February 24: $2,925 for the first 13 webinars or $3,150 for all 14. See registration form for details.

Standard Tuition: 

  • $270 per site, per session (payments made Feb. 25 or later).

 

Teleworkers may be added to a primary site registration for $40 each, per session, on a space-available basis.

Jul
9
Thu
Webinar Series – EEO Counselor and Investigator Refresher Training 2020
Jul 9 @ 1:00 pm – 2:35 pm

Download Registration Form

Instructors

Deborah Hopkins, Katherine Atkinson, Meghan Droste

Course Description

Meet your mandatory EEO Counselor and Investigator refresher training with FELTG this summer. Each 95-minute session counts toward the annual refresher requirement mandated by EEOC. Register for the entire series and receive a certificate of completion, to show you have met EEOC’s mandatory 8-hour annual refresher requirement.

Sessions

May 28 – EEO Complaints in 2020: What Counselors and Investigators Need to Know: EEOC jurisdiction; pre-complaint counseling; tolling; estoppel; formal complaint — acceptance/dismissal.

June 11 – Understanding Current Issues: Reasonable Accommodation Trends in 2020: The Americans With Disabilities Act Amendments Acts; defining individuals with disabilities; the interactive process; who chooses accommodation; fact-specificity of reasonable accommodation; interactive process requirements; telework as accommodation; the agency’s obligation to accommodate the commute; requests for a new supervisor as accommodation.

June 25 – Practical Skills for Counselors and Investigators: Interviewing Complainants and Witnesses: Preparing for interviews; methods of communication; interview v. interrogation; types of questions; top 10 interviewing tips; the funnel technique.

July 9 – The Latest on Sexual Orientation and Gender Discrimination in the Federal Workplace: Review and discuss latest Supreme Court decisions on gay/transgender rights; the law; gender stereotyping as sex discrimination; sexual orientation discrimination; transgender status; same-sex discrimination.

July 23 – Updates on Discrimination: Recent Cases About Race, Color, Religion, and National Origin: The law and key terms; forms of discrimination; race and color discrimination; national original discrimination; English-only rules; religious discrimination; failure to accommodation for religious reasons.

Price

  • Early Bird Tuition: $275 per site, per session (payment made by May 18).
  • Standard Tuition: $305 per site, per session (payment made May 19 or later).
  • Register for all five webinars by May 18 and pay only $1295!

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

Download Registration Form

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
13
Mon
Virtual Training Event – Absence, Leave Abuse & Medical Issues Week: COVID-19 and Beyond
Jul 13 – Jul 17 all-day

Download Individual Registration Form

Course Description

Federal employees enjoy a wide variety of leave-related benefits. However, many of us would never use the words “enjoy” and “leave” so closely together. Whether you’re an HR professional, employee relations practitioner, EEO specialist, supervisor, or agency counsel, you have undoubtedly faced a leave-related challenge. FELTG’s Absence, Leave Abuse & Medical Issues Week: COVID-19 and Beyond will give you the critical foundation you need to address the most complex areas of federal employment law, including the recent challenges related to the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Our speakers will discuss sick leave, annual leave, leave without pay, absence without leave, and FMLA. Then they will tackle the most current, relevant topics, such as disciplining employees for leave abuse, dealing with medical issues and unacceptable performance, leave and reasonable accommodation, medical documentation, medical exams, and more.

If you attend, you’re going to learn an awful lot about “leave” and you’re going to “enjoy” the training.

The program runs 9:00 am – 4:00 pm eastern each day, with a break from 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm, and is pre-approved for 29 CLE credits in Virginia and California. It is also approved for 29 HRCI general recertification credits.

Who Should Attend

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

Instructors

Barbara Haga, Deborah Hopkins, Katherine Atkinson, Meghan Droste 

Daily Agenda:

Monday, July 13

Leave Use Overview: Course topics: Types of leave and leave entitlements; proper leave administration; discretionary leave scenarios; leave stacking; understanding when you can say no to a leave request; Administrative Leave Act of 2016 changes.

Tuesday, July 14

FMLA Law and Policy: Course topics: Federal sector FMLA basics, including new provisions on paid family leave, employee notice issues, serious health condition developments, medical certification issues, managing intermittent FMLA leave; discipline and performance issues when FMLA is involved; last chance agreements with FMLA.

Wednesday, July 15

Leave-Related Discipline & Medical Removals: Course topics: The five elements of discipline; leave-related misconduct; documentation necessary to discipline an employee for leave-related misconduct and leave abuse; AWOL charges; excessive absence removals; medical inability to perform removals.

Thursday, July 16 

Reasonable Accommodation: Entitlements and Processes: Course topics: The ADA Amendments Act; the Rehabilitation Act; the reasonable accommodation process; the “regarded as” provision of the ADA; telework and leave as reasonable accommodation; flexible work schedules and alternative work locations; religious accommodation.

Friday, July 17

Medical Documentation, Medical Requests and Record Confidentiality: Course topics: How the ADAAA and GINA impact the collection of medical information; pre- and post-employment medical exams and inquiries; conditional employment offers; medical documentation requests; direct threat; conflicting regulations and contra court decisions.

Pricing

Most people attend the full training week, but you may opt out of any days you don’t plan to attend.

Early Bird Tuition (register by June 29):

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

Standard Tuition (register June 30 – July 17):

  • 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 June 29 and provide a shipping address. Registrations received after June 29 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 June 29.
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.

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