Calendar

FELTG Executive Director Deborah Hopkins instructing a class
Nov
16
Mon
Virtual Training Event: Workplace Investigations Week
Nov 16 – Nov 20 all-day

Download Individual Registration Form

Event Description

This week focuses on conducting administrative investigations in the federal workplace with an emphasis on employee misconduct including workplace harassment. After an overview of the substantive law, participants will learn procedures and best practices for conducting investigations in the federal workplace, including planning the investigation, factfinding, collecting evidence, dealing with witnesses, understanding types of questioning, and testifying at hearing. The week concludes with a day focused on writing an investigative report.

This program fulfills the requirements for 32-hour EEO Investigator training and 8-hour annual EEO investigator refresher training.

This program runs from 9:30 – 4:00 eastern each day, with a 60-minute break from 12:00 – 1:00. See blow for a detailed agenda.

Download Individual Registration Form



Instructors

Ann BoehmKatherine AtkinsonMeghan Droste

Daily Agenda

Monday

Administrative Investigations: The Substantive Basis: Why investigate; discipline law and elements; understanding charges of misconduct; collecting penalty evidence; the law behind other types of administrative investigations; reprisal investigations.

Tuesday

Harassment Investigations: Investigating allegations of harassment; differentiating between EEO and non-EEO harassment; the EEO process for EEO investigators; special topics.

Wednesday

Conducting the Investigation, Part I: Evidentiary principles; witness rights; union representation; purpose of investigation; preparing for the investigation; role of the investigator; planning the investigation; beginning the interview; exercise.

Thursday

Conducting the Investigation, Part II: Conducting the interview; handling difficult witnesses; assessing credibility/lies/hearing what isn’t said; body language; gathering other evidence; technology and investigations; high-profile case considerations; medical information and investigations.

Friday

Writing the Investigative Report: Organizing for the report; establishing the chronology; writing for your audience; report writing style; report writing conventions; report organization; sample report.

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 November 2):

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

Standard Tuition (register November 3-20):

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

Group discounts are available through November 2. Contact FELTG.

Class Materials

Seminar registration includes a printed copy of the materials. In order to have the best chance to receive materials by the training date, please register by November 2 and provide a shipping address, and your materials will be sent via USPS Priority Mail. Registrations received after November 2 will also receive printed materials, which will be shipped Priority Mail when registration is received; they may not arrive in time for the training.



 

Event FAQs

  • Can I attend Virtual Training from my government computer?
    • FELTG uses Webex to broadcast 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 attendees for the full event. Group discounts are only available through November 2.

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.

Nov
19
Thu
Webinar – Properly Executing Annual Planning and Outreach: A Guide for OIGs
Nov 19 @ 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm

Download Individual Webinar Registration Form

Instructor

Scott Boehm

Course Description

Aside from completing a comprehensive OIG strategic plan, annual planning with robust outreach to your stakeholders is the single most important thing an OIG does. When properly executed, OIG annual planning focuses your personnel, time, budget, and oversight resources on the issues that really matter to your Agency and the accomplishment of its fundamental missions. We all have limited resources. Therefore, it is imperative that OIGs also conduct continual stakeholder outreach to understand what challenges impede their mission.

FELTG Instructor Scott Boehm, whose federal career included a stint benchmarking for Best Practices within the Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency (CIGIE), will walk you through the five-step annual planning and outreach process while discussing elusive OIG and Agency data sources that too many OIGs overlook. Attendees will leave this session with a template for OIG annual planning and outreach, complete with stakeholder questions that will reduce agency risk and maximize OIG return on investment (ROI).

Attendees will learn how to:

  • Write succinct project proposals.
  • Conduct risk analysis and prioritize potential projects.
  • Outline strategies to align potential projects with agency stakeholders.

And you’ll have multiple opportunities to ask questions – and get answers in real time – as you develop a complete methodology to executive your own OIG annual planning and outreach.

Price

  • Early Bird Tuition (payment required by November 9, 2020):
    • 1 line: $170
    • 2-5 lines: $255
    • 6-9 lines: $330
    • 10-15 lines: $415
    • 16-20 lines: $495
  • Standard Tuition (payment made November 10, 2020 or later):
    • 1 line: $195
    • 2-5 lines: $290
    • 6-9 lines: $370
    • 10-15 lines: $460
    • 16-20 lines: $545

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

 

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.

Dec
1
Tue
Virtual Training Event – Advanced Employee Relations
Dec 1 – Dec 3 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, December 1

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, December 2

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, December 3

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 November 15):
      • 3 days = $1370
      • 2 days = $970
      • 1 day = $530

      Standard Tuition (register November 16 – December 3):

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

       

Seminar registration includes a printed copy of the materials. In order to have the best chance to receive materials by the training date, please register by November 15 and provide a shipping address, and your materials will be sent via USPS Priority Mail. Registrations received after November 15 will also receive printed materials, which will be shipped Priority Mail when registration is received; they may not arrive in time for the training.

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 November 15.
Webinar – What’s Going on With Federal Sector EEO? Case Law Update and More
Dec 1 @ 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm

Download Registration Form

Instructor

Meghan Droste

Course Description

If you’re a federal EEO practitioner, attorney, or HR professional, you can’t afford to sleep on recent EEOC decisions. And you also certainly can’t afford to sit through a boring case law update that will put you to sleep. That’s why you need to join Attorney and FELTG Instructor Meghan Droste for this fast-paced review of the most surprising, significant, and groundbreaking recent decisions from the EEOC – and the Supreme Court. And you’ll get your questions answered in real time.

Attendees will learn how to:

  • Analyze the Supreme Court decisions in Bostock and Babb v. Wilkie.
  • Understand the impact of recent decisions involving retaliation.
  • Understand the impact of recent decisions involving harassment.

1

This webinar is part of the Fall 2020 Webinar Series.

Price

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

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

Webinar Series – FELTG’s Fall 2020 Webinars
Dec 1 @ 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm

Download Registration Form

Instructors

Deborah Hopkins, Ann Boehm, Katherine Atkinson, Meghan Droste, Bob Woods, Barbara Haga, Joe Schimansky

Series Description

These are demanding times. Even if your agency isn’t laser-focused on pandemic-related efforts, it is most certainly challenged to meet its mission while managing the burdens and stresses of a workplace changed by the coronavirus crisis.

Meanwhile, new issues arise that make navigating the complex and always-changing landscape of federal employment law even more difficult.

FELTG’s fall webinar series provides an opportunity to re-center your efforts, while you re-educate yourself on key legal concepts impacting today’s federal workplace.

Over eight 60-minute webinars, FELTG’s experienced and knowledgeable instructors provide support on everything from harassment to age discrimination, from medical removals to the new Federal Employee Paid Leave Act, from performance and disciplinary documents to whistleblower reprisal, as well as legal updates and recent case law involving EEO and labor relations. Register now for one, a few, or all of the courses in the series.

Sessions will be held on Tuesdays from 1:00 – 2:00 p.m. ET. Click on any webinar title for a full description.

Price

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

Teleworkers may be added to a main site registration for $40 per teleworker, on a space-available basis. Have a bunch of teleworkers? Contact FELTG for group discounts.

Dec
3
Thu
Webinar – Implementing New OPM Regs for More Effective Disciplinary and Performance Actions
Dec 3 @ 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm

Download Individual Registration Form

Instructor

Deborah Hopkins

Program Description

Back for an encore! OPM recently released updated regulations for 5 CFR Parts 315, 432 and 752 that went into effect on November 15. Has your agency implemented them? These regulations provide details on processes and build on Executive Order 13839, to make it easier for agencies to terminate poor performers and those involved in misconduct, plus provide new information on probationary periods, clean record settlements, and more.

If you’ve attended FELTG training in the last couple of years, then you have a good head start on implementing these regulations, and this webinar will ensure you have everything in place. If not, we welcome you to join us and buckle up as FELTG President Deborah Hopkins presents a 60-minute webinar to answer the following questions:

  • What types of assistance must agencies give employees during the performance opportunity period?
  • How long should you give employees to respond to allegations of poor performance or misconduct?
  • Who is responsible for completing the Douglas Factors analysis?
  • How should agencies discipline supervisors who retaliate against whistleblowers?
  • Do supervisors need to affirmatively decide to keep probationary employees beyond the initial appointment probationary period?
  • And more!

Attendees will leave the webinar with the tools to more effectively hold employees accountable for performance and conduct. You cannot afford to miss this training.

Price

  • Early Bird Tuition (payment required by Nov. 24):
    • 1 line: $170
    • 2-5 lines: $255
    • 6-9 lines: $330
    • 10-15 lines: $415
    • 16-20 lines: $495
  • Standard Tuition (payment made Nov. 25 or later):
    • 1 line: $195
    • 2-5 lines: $290
    • 6-9 lines: $370
    • 10-15 lines: $460
    • 16-20 lines: $545

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

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.

Dec
7
Mon
Access Webinar Recording – Implementing New OPM Regs for More Effective Disciplinary and Performance Actions
Dec 7 – Dec 18 all-day

Download Registration Form

Instructor

Deborah Hopkins

Program Description

Did you miss this important event? Register now and we’ll send you a special link and password to view a recorded video of the training on Vimeo. But hurry: This recording will only be available until December 18.

OPM’s updated regulations for 5 CFR Parts 315, 432 and 752 went into effect on November 15. Has your agency implemented them? These regulations provide details on processes and build on Executive Order 13839, to make it easier for agencies to terminate poor performers and those involved in misconduct, plus provide new information on probationary periods, clean record settlements, and more.

If you’ve attended FELTG training in the last couple of years, then you have a good head start on implementing these regulations, and this webinar will ensure you have everything in place. If not, then buckle up as FELTG President Deborah Hopkins presents a fast-paced 60-minute webinar that will answer the following questions:

  • What types of assistance must agencies give employees during the performance opportunity period?
  • How long should you give employees to respond to allegations of poor performance or misconduct?
  • Who is responsible for completing the Douglas Factors analysis?
  • How should agencies discipline supervisors who retaliate against whistleblowers?
  • Do supervisors need to affirmatively decide to keep probationary employees beyond the initial appointment probationary period?
  • And more!

Attendees will leave the webinar with the tools to more effectively hold employees accountable for performance and conduct. You cannot afford to miss this training.

This event is available to view through 5:00 pm eastern on Friday, December 18. Approx. 60 minutes.

Price

$55 per person

Interested in providing access to a large group? Contact us at 844-283-3584, or email [email protected].

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.

Dec
8
Tue
Webinar – What’s Going on at the FLRA? Case Law Update and More
Dec 8 @ 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm

Download Registration Form

Instructor

Joseph Schimansky

Program Description

The lights are off on the Executive Floor at the Merit Systems Protection Board and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission is still waiting on new Commissioners. However, despite the lack of a General Counsel the Federal Labor Relations Authority keeps chugging along, releasing numerous significant decisions, most recently three precedent-breaking decisions that will alter the future of collective bargaining in the federal sector. Don’t let yourself fall behind. Join FELTG Instructor Joseph Schimansky, the former Executive Director of the Federal Service Impasses Panel, as he reviews the most recent FLRA decisions and union actions, including decisions undercutting deference to arbitrators regarding procedural arbitrability, past practices, temporary promotions and remedies.

Attendees will learn how to:

  • Evaluate the significance of the FLRA’s most recent major policy decisions.
  • Determine which standard to use — “excessive interference” or “abrogation” — when assessing whether an arbitration award violates a management right.
  • Determine whether agencies have an obligation to midterm bargaining.
  • Understand the Authority’s new interpretation of sections 7116(d) and 7131(d) of the Statute.
  • Recognize the significance of the DC Circuit’s reversal of the FLRA’s decision on “conditions of employment” and “working conditions.

This program is part of the Fall 2020 webinar series

Price

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

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

Webinar Series – FELTG’s Fall 2020 Webinars
Dec 8 @ 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm

Download Registration Form

Instructors

Deborah Hopkins, Ann Boehm, Katherine Atkinson, Meghan Droste, Bob Woods, Barbara Haga, Joe Schimansky

Series Description

These are demanding times. Even if your agency isn’t laser-focused on pandemic-related efforts, it is most certainly challenged to meet its mission while managing the burdens and stresses of a workplace changed by the coronavirus crisis.

Meanwhile, new issues arise that make navigating the complex and always-changing landscape of federal employment law even more difficult.

FELTG’s fall webinar series provides an opportunity to re-center your efforts, while you re-educate yourself on key legal concepts impacting today’s federal workplace.

Over eight 60-minute webinars, FELTG’s experienced and knowledgeable instructors provide support on everything from harassment to age discrimination, from medical removals to the new Federal Employee Paid Leave Act, from performance and disciplinary documents to whistleblower reprisal, as well as legal updates and recent case law involving EEO and labor relations. Register now for one, a few, or all of the courses in the series.

Sessions will be held on Tuesdays from 1:00 – 2:00 p.m. ET. Click on any webinar title for a full description.

Price

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

Teleworkers may be added to a main site registration for $40 per teleworker, on a space-available basis. Have a bunch of teleworkers? Contact FELTG for group discounts.

Dec
9
Wed
Virtual Training Event – Managing Employees With Mental Health Challenges During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Dec 9 @ 1:00 pm – 4:30 pm

Download Individual Registration Form

Course Description

Back by request, and updated with the very latest.

If one of your agency’s employees had a mental health crisis in the workplace, would you know what to do? And considering most employees are working remotely, how would you even know?

Almost 18 percent of all adults have a mental illness diagnosis at some point in their lives. The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated the ongoing mental health crisis in this country. Meanwhile, much of the federal workplace is struggling with new work processes and heightened responsibilities, especially those working directly on the pandemic while navigating political minefields.

This virtual training program will provide highly practical guidance and straight-forward advice on dealing with the very unique challenges you face at this time. Licensed Clinical Social Work Shana Palmieri will de-stigmatize the truth about “mental illness” and will explain the impact various mental health conditions have on individuals, and those they work with. She’ll also provide strategies for effectively supervising and managing employees with these conditions, even as they work remotely.

Ms. Palmieri will answer challenging questions like:

  • What do you do if you suspect a mental health crisis and the employee won’t answer his phone?
  • How do you provide constructive criticism to someone who exhibits narcissistic behavior?
  • If you suspect that one of your employees has a mental impairment, what can you do beyond directing them to EAP?
  • What are the symptoms of a personality disorder?

Attendees will learn how to walk the tenuous line between providing accommodations and support for a mental health condition and holding employees accountable for their work performance. Attend this timely virtual training event and learn strategies to:

  • Improve performance and success for employees with mental health conditions.
  • Communicate effectively with all employees.
  • Successfully accommodate employees with behavioral health conditions.
  • Set appropriate boundaries and expectations in the workplace.
  • Handle a crisis or outburst in the workplace.

This class focuses on the practical and clinical side of managing employees with behavioral health conditions, rather than the legal side. It will be held from 1:00 – 4:30pm eastern. You won’t want to miss it.

Instructor

Shana Palmieri

Price

  • Early Bird Tuition: $325 (register by November 27).
  • Standard Tuition: $365 (register November 28-December 9).
  • Rates per registrant.

Event FAQs

  • Can I attend Virtual Training from my government computer?
    • FELTG uses Webex to broadcast 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 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.
  • How do I receive a group rate discount?
    • Group rates are available for agencies registering 10 or more individuals. Group discounts are available through November 27.

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.

 

Dec
10
Thu
Webinar – Effectively Handling Security Clearance Suspensions and Revocations
Dec 10 @ 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm

Download Individual Registration Form

Instructor

Ann Boehm

Program Description

Executive Order 12968.  The Adjudicative Guidelines.  Department of Navy v. Egan.

If these things sound familiar to you, you probably work for an agency that has employees with security clearances – and as a result, handles security clearance revocations. If a federal employee is required to have access to classified information, then he must be eligible for a security clearance in order to keep that position.

What happens when that employee no longer has that clearance? What role does the MSPB play? What proof does the agency need to provide if the employee appeals her removal? What are the pitfalls that agencies need to avoid?

Join Ann Boehm for a 60-minute webinar that will cover how to handle a security clearance revocation and any resulting indefinite suspension or removal from employment. Ms. Boehm spent 26 years as a government attorney, focusing primarily on employment and labor law in federal enforcement agencies, so she’s just the person to answer any questions you might have – and she’ll do so in this live event.

This is an important topic that can’t be ignored. Employee security clearances are a matter of national security, and they must be handled appropriately. We hope you’ll join us.

Price

  • Early Bird Tuition (payment required by November 30, 2020):
    • 1 line: $170
    • 2-5 lines: $255
    • 6-9 lines: $330
    • 10-15 lines: $415
    • 16-20 lines: $495
  • Standard Tuition (payment made December 1, 2020 or later):
    • 1 line: $195
    • 2-5 lines: $290
    • 6-9 lines: $370
    • 10-15 lines: $460
    • 16-20 lines: $545

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

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.

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

Download Registration Form

Instructor

Deborah Hopkins

Course Description

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

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

Pricing

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

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

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

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

Jan
27
Wed
Virtual Training Event – An OIG Guide to Annual Planning and Benchmarking for Best Practices
Jan 27 all-day

Download Individual Registration Form

Aside from completing a comprehensive OIG strategic plan, annual planning with robust outreach to your stakeholders is the single most important thing an OIG does. When properly executed, OIG annual planning focuses your personnel, time, budget, and oversight resources on the issues that really matter to your Agency and the accomplishment of its fundamental missions. We all have limited resources. Therefore, it is imperative that OIGs also conduct continual stakeholder outreach to understand what challenges impede their mission. FELTG Instructor Scott Boehm, whose federal career included a stint benchmarking for Best Practices within the Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency (CIGIE), will walk you through the five-step annual planning and outreach process while discussing elusive OIG and Agency data sources that too many OIGs overlook.

Every Office of Inspector General should also periodically conduct benchmarking for Best Practices with other OIGs. No OIG has all the answers or “perfect internal controls” and should, therefore, regularly seek better business practices from peer organizations. In fact, both the “Silver Book” for federal, and the “Green Book” for state and local OIGs, state: “OIGs should strive to conduct their operation in the most efficient and effective manner. Each OIG should manage available resources, at the least cost, to produce the greatest results in terms of public benefit, return on investment, and risk reduction.”

Benchmarking ensures your limited OIG resources – budgets, personnel, supplies, infrastructure, training, and time – are focused on the issues that really matter to your Agency.

Attendees will leave this session with a template for OIG annual planning and outreach, complete with stakeholder questions that will reduce agency risk and maximize OIG return on investment (ROI), as well as an OIG benchmarking template that can improve your OIG’s annual planning process; audit, investigation and evaluation handbooks; product lines and report production; return on investment (ROI); and follow-up processes.

Attendees will learn how to:

  • Write succinct project proposals
  • Conduct risk analysis and prioritize the OIG internal controls requiring the most improvement
  • Outline strategies to incorporate Best Practices into their OIG internal controls and peer review quality standards

And you’ll have multiple opportunities to ask questions – and get answers in real time – as you develop a complete methodology to execute your own OIG benchmarking process. This program runs from 12:30 – 4:00 eastern, with a 30-minute break from 2:00 – 2:30 eastern.

Download Individual Registration Form

Instructor

Scott Boehm

Price

  • Early Bird Tuition (register by January 15): $325
  • Standard Tuition (register January 16-27): $365
  • Rates per registrant.
  • Want to register a group? Group discounts for 10 or more attendees are available through January 15. Contact FELTG.

Event FAQs

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

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

Feb
3
Wed
Virtual Training Event – The Performance Equation: Providing Feedback That Makes a Difference
Feb 3 all-day

Download Registration Form

There is one action you can take that, when done effectively, could have a major impact on your team’s morale and productivity. This action is something that you should be doing on a regular basis, yet it’s often overlooked amid your busy schedule. What’s this transformative action? It’s giving your employees honest, and ongoing, feedback.

During this half-day interactive virtual training experience, FELTG Instructor Anthony Marchese, Ph.D., will equip participants with the necessary tools to nurture a culture of candor that will lead to healthy and actionable feedback. You’ll learn best practices for motivating and recognizing employees, and neuroscience-based strategies for maximizing performance even when leading employees in a virtual environment. Dr. Marchese will also expose feedback myths and share the ineffective practices that you need to avoid.

Don’t let anxiety, frustration, or confusion prevent you from having honest performance-related discussions with your employees. Providing feedback effectively is a skill that can — and should — be developed. Fix performance problems before they begin. Make your agency a more efficient place to work.

This interactive session will include breakout groups, giving participants a chance to interact with each other.

Learning Objectives

Attendees will learn how to:

  • Communicate performance expectations.
  • Supervise effectively in a virtual environment.
  • Differentiate between positive and negative framing.
  • Identify behavioral styles, including your own, to provide feedback that is better understood and more useful.

Also, you will have numerous  opportunities to ask questions about the unique problems you’re facing during these unprecedented times. This program runs from 12:30 – 4:00 eastern, with a 30-minute break from 2:00 – 2:30 eastern.

Download Registration Form

Instructor

Anthony Marchese

Price

  • Early Bird Tuition (register by January 22): $325
  • Standard Tuition (register January 23 – February 3): $365
  • Rates per registrant.
  • Want to register a group? Group discounts for 10 or more attendees are available through January 22. Contact FELTG.

 

Event FAQs

  • Can I attend Virtual Training from my government computer?
    • FELTG uses Zoom for this 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. You may also attend the training event as an audio training, by dialing in over the phone and following along with the materials independently.
  • Can I earn CLE credits for this class?
    • CLE applications are the responsibility of each attendee; FELTG does not apply for the credits on behalf of attendees.  If you are seeking CLE credit, attendees may use the materials provided by FELTG in submission to your state bar. Attendees may also request a certificate of completion which will contain the number of training hours attended.
  • Can I share my access link with co-workers?
    • No. Registration for this event is per individual, and access links may not be shared. Each link may only be used by one person.
  • Can I register a teleworker?
    • This event is individual registration, so the cost is the same whether the person is teleworking or in an agency facility.
  • How do I receive a group rate discount?
    • Group rates are available for agencies registering 10 or more individuals. Group discounts are available through October 15.

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

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

Download Registration Form

Course Description

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

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

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

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

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

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

Instructor

Deborah Hopkins

Pricing

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

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

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

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

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

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

Download Registration Form

Course Description

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

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

You might have questions, such as:

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

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

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

Instructors

Deborah Hopkins

Ann Boehm

Pricing

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

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

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

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

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

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

Download Individual Registration Form

Course Description

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Download Individual Registration Form

Instructor

Deborah Hopkins

Who Should Attend

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

Agenda

Wednesday, February 10

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

Thursday, February 11

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

Price

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

Event FAQs

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

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

Feb
17
Wed
Virtual Training Event — When Employees are Absent: Sick Leave, FMLA, and Paid Parental Leave
Feb 17 all-day

Download Individual Registration Form

Managing the uncertainty and increased workload when employees are absent has always been a challenge for federal HR professionals, Employee Relations specialists, and supervisors. Absence doesn’t just occur when an employee is sick. Federal employees enjoy a host of leave-related entitlements, including a large swath of leave tied to family member medical conditions, including sick leave and FMLA. With FMLA, the employee may substitute paid leave, and now with the Federal Employee Paid Leave Act, employees have another type of leave to cover birth and placement. It can all seem quite confusing, but FELTG is here to help.

In this two-part virtual training program, FELTG Senior Instructor Barbara Haga will provide you with the tools and knowledge to answer the toughest questions on all of these entitlements, and she’ll explain how they overlap. Attendees will learn the necessary steps to ensure that a grievance or adverse action case that arises out of these leave determinations will withstand the scrutiny of the MSPB.

Part 1: Sick Leave                                                                                                                            Wednesday, February 17, 12:30-4:00 PM eastern (30-minute break from 2:00-2:30)                              

Administering sick leave can be complicated, especially the multiple uses for the leave and numerous family members covered.  Proper coverage decisions are critical and acceptable documentation is essential. In this half-day training, Ms. Haga will explain every critical aspect of sick leave from how it is earned and accumulated, to notice requirements and taking action on sick leave issues,  This session will also review regulations regarding offering and ordering medical examinations.

Attendees will learn how to:

  • Determine when medical certification is required and what needs to be in it
  • Take action on sick leave abuse
  • Determine deadlines for submitting sick leave documentation and what happens when deadlines are not met
  • Identify the necessary documentation for and limits of family care sick leave
  • And much more!

Part 2: FMLA and Employee Paid Leave Act.                                                                                Wednesday, February 24, 12:30-4:00 PM eastern (30-minute break from 2:00-2:30)                            

The Family & Medical Leave Act adds an additional layer of complexity to illness-related absences. Though it’s more than 25 years old, the FMLA still causes significant confusion for agency professionals. To complicate matters, the Federal Employee Paid Leave Act adds a new layer of regulations and a new type of leave to be substituted. Barbara Haga knows the FMLA inside out, and she will share her knowledge with you from basic requirements to FMLA-related discipline, such as excessive absence, falsified information, and failure to comply with notice requirements. And she’ll discuss the impact of the Federal Employee Paid Leave Act.

Attendees will learn how to:

  • Understand the fine points of FMLA coverage, eligibility, and use for family care
  • Identify what FMLA medical certifications should contain
  • Recognize when an employee is eligible to substitute leave under the Federal Employee Paid Leave Act

Instructor

Barbara Haga

Price

  • Early Bird Tuition (register by February 2): One Day: $340 – Two Days: $600
  • Standard Tuition (register February 3-24):  One Day: $380 – Two Days: $650
  • Rates per registrant.
  • Want to register a group? Group discounts for 10 or more attendees are available February 2. Contact FELTG.

Event FAQs

  • Can I attend Virtual Training from my government computer?
    • FELTG uses Webex for this Virtual Training Institute event. Many government computers and systems allow Webex access. If for some reason your firewall will not allow access, you’re welcome to use your personal email address to register, and to attend the sessions from your personal device. You may also attend the training event as an audio training, by dialing in over the phone and following along with the materials independently.
  • Can I earn CLE credits for this class?
    • CLE applications are the responsibility of each attendee; FELTG does not apply for the credits on behalf of attendees.  If you are seeking CLE credit, attendees may use the materials provided by FELTG in submission to your state bar. Attendees may also request a certificate of completion which will contain the number of training hours attended.
  • Can I share my access link with co-workers?
    • No. Registration for this event is per individual, and access links may not be shared. Each link may only be used by one person.
  • Can I register a teleworker?
    • This event is individual registration, so the cost is the same whether the person is teleworking or in an agency facility.
  • How do I receive a group rate discount?
    • Group rates are available for agencies registering 10 or more individuals. Group discounts are available February 2.

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

Webinar – Sex Discrimination, Gender Identity, and LGBTQ+ Protections: A Priority in the Federal Workplace Under Executive Order 13988
Feb 17 @ 1:00 pm – 2:30 pm

Download Registration Form

Instructor

Katherine Atkinson

 

Course Description

 

In his first few hours in the Oval Office, President Joseph R. Biden signed the Executive Order on Preventing and Combating Discrimination on the Basis of Gender Identity or Sexual Orientation.

In 2020, the Supreme Court ruled that an individual’s sexual orientation or transgender status is covered under Title VII’s prohibition against sex discrimination. And Biden’s Executive Order makes it clear that enforcing workplace discrimination protections based on sexual orientation and gender identity is a priority.

During this 90-minute webinar, Attorney at Law Katherine Atkinson will provide all of the information you need to know to comply with the law and manage this priority. She will review and discuss the latest Supreme Court decisions, define the term and explain the concept of “gender stereotyping” as sex discrimination.

Attendees will learn the details of the Biden Executive Order, as well as:

  • Transgender status and legal protections
  • Actions that have gotten agencies into legal trouble
  • Cases involving LGBTQ status and religion
  • The best practices for agencies to follow

This can be a confusing area of law, so Ms. Atkinson will take breaks during the training to answer your questions. This is an event that you can’t afford to miss.

 

Price

 

Early Bird Tuition (payment required by February 7 ): $270

Standard Tuition (payment made by February 8 or later): $300

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

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

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

Feb
18
Thu
Webinar – Dealing with Medical Issues Under the ADA: Medical Exams and Inquiries
Feb 18 @ 1:00 pm – 2:30 pm

Download Registration Form

Instructor

Meghan Droste

Course Description

Dealing with medical issues under the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) can be a tricky area of federal sector employment law. Join FELTG instructor and attorney at law Meghan Droste for this 90-minute webinar as she discusses the things to do – and not to do – when dealing with employee medical information.

Ms. Droste will begin by covering the basics about requests for employee medical information, and the appropriate way for agencies to collect it, and store it. Se’ll also discuss medical exams, medical documentation requests for reasonable accommodation, direct threat, and the “regarded as” provision of the ADA.

But that’s not all. She’ll also include details about:

  • Conditional offers of employment
  • Segregation of medical records
  • Confidentiality and disclosure

One mistake in requesting or disclosing medical information can lead to major liability. Be sure to join us for this important event to learn how to protect your agency. You really can’t afford to miss it!

1.5

Price

Early Bird Tuition (payment required by February 8): $270

Standard Tuition (payment made by February 9 or later): $300

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

Feb
23
Tue
Virtual Training Event – A Higher Standard: Disciplining Law Enforcement Officers for Misconduct
Feb 23 all-day

Download Individual Registration Form

As rioters stormed the Capitol on January 6, it was the heroic actions of an under-staffed Capitol Police team that likely saved numerous lives, including those of many Members of Congress and their staff. Unfortunately, the lives of two Capitol officers have been lost.

The Federal workforce is full of talented and brave law enforcement personnel across many agencies. Yet, just as there is a small minority of misbehaving and toxic Federal workers, the same applies to Federal LEOs. In fact, a number of Federal LEOs have been suspended and others are being investigated as a result of their actions during the riot. And after reports of police officers being identified among the rioters, the promises to be deeper investigations into the infiltration of Federal and non-Federal officers affiliated with hate and white supremacy groups.

This creates a lot of questions regarding LEO conduct:

  • How do conduct standards for LEOs differ from other employees?
  • Are conduct standards for IG employees the same as other LEOs?
  • What kinds of conduct could cause an LEO to have a security clearance revoked?
  • When should an agency consider an indefinite suspensions and invoking the crime provision?
  • What proof does the agency need to provide if the employee appeals her removal?

Attorney and FELTG Instructor Ann Boehm will highlight the Douglas factors that are of specific importance when disciplining officers, explain the MSPB’s role when a security clearance is revoked, discuss Giglio  issues, and identify the pitfalls that agencies need to avoid when disciplining Federal LEOs. The framework provided will apply to all your agency’s discipline cases whether the conduct involves storming the Capitol, lack of candor, insubordination, and everything in between.

Ms. Boehm spent 26 years as a government attorney, more than half of that time focusing primarily on employment and labor law in federal law enforcement agencies, so she’s just the person to answer any questions you might have – and she’ll do so in this live event.

This is an important topic that can’t be ignored. It is a matter of national security and must be handled appropriately. We hope you’ll join us.

Download Individual Registration Form

Instructor

Ann Boehm

Price

  • Early Bird Tuition (register by February 8): $340
  • Standard Tuition (register February 9 or later): $380
  • Rates per registrant.
  • Want to register a group? Group discounts for 10 or more attendees are available through February 8. Contact FELTG.

 

Event FAQs

  • Can I attend Virtual Training from my government computer?
    • FELTG uses Webex to broadcast 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.
  • What if I want to attend a session but have a schedule conflict?
    • FELTG plans to record this session, and will make the recording 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 February 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.

Feb
24
Wed
Virtual Training Event — When Employees are Absent: Sick Leave, FMLA, and Paid Parental Leave
Feb 24 all-day

Download Individual Registration Form

Managing the uncertainty and increased workload when employees are absent has always been a challenge for federal HR professionals, Employee Relations specialists, and supervisors. Absence doesn’t just occur when an employee is sick. Federal employees enjoy a host of leave-related entitlements, including a large swath of leave tied to family member medical conditions, including sick leave and FMLA. With FMLA, the employee may substitute paid leave, and now with the Federal Employee Paid Leave Act, employees have another type of leave to cover birth and placement. It can all seem quite confusing, but FELTG is here to help.

In this two-part virtual training program, FELTG Senior Instructor Barbara Haga will provide you with the tools and knowledge to answer the toughest questions on all of these entitlements, and she’ll explain how they overlap. Attendees will learn the necessary steps to ensure that a grievance or adverse action case that arises out of these leave determinations will withstand the scrutiny of the MSPB.

Part 1: Sick Leave                                                                                                                            Wednesday, February 17, 12:30-4:00 PM eastern (30-minute break from 2:00-2:30)                              

Administering sick leave can be complicated, especially the multiple uses for the leave and numerous family members covered.  Proper coverage decisions are critical and acceptable documentation is essential. In this half-day training, Ms. Haga will explain every critical aspect of sick leave from how it is earned and accumulated, to notice requirements and taking action on sick leave issues,  This session will also review regulations regarding offering and ordering medical examinations.

Attendees will learn how to:

  • Determine when medical certification is required and what needs to be in it
  • Take action on sick leave abuse
  • Determine deadlines for submitting sick leave documentation and what happens when deadlines are not met
  • Identify the necessary documentation for and limits of family care sick leave
  • And much more!

Part 2: FMLA and Employee Paid Leave Act.                                                                                Wednesday, February 24, 12:30-4:00 PM eastern (30-minute break from 2:00-2:30)                            

The Family & Medical Leave Act adds an additional layer of complexity to illness-related absences. Though it’s more than 25 years old, the FMLA still causes significant confusion for agency professionals. To complicate matters, the Federal Employee Paid Leave Act adds a new layer of regulations and a new type of leave to be substituted. Barbara Haga knows the FMLA inside out, and she will share her knowledge with you from basic requirements to FMLA-related discipline, such as excessive absence, falsified information, and failure to comply with notice requirements. And she’ll discuss the impact of the Federal Employee Paid Leave Act.

Attendees will learn how to:

  • Understand the fine points of FMLA coverage, eligibility, and use for family care
  • Identify what FMLA medical certifications should contain
  • Recognize when an employee is eligible to substitute leave under the Federal Employee Paid Leave Act

Instructor

Barbara Haga

Price

  • Early Bird Tuition (register by February 2): One Day: $340 – Two Days: $600
  • Standard Tuition (register February 3-24):  One Day: $380 – Two Days: $650
  • Rates per registrant.
  • Want to register a group? Group discounts for 10 or more attendees are available February 2. Contact FELTG.

Event FAQs

  • Can I attend Virtual Training from my government computer?
    • FELTG uses Webex for this Virtual Training Institute event. Many government computers and systems allow Webex access. If for some reason your firewall will not allow access, you’re welcome to use your personal email address to register, and to attend the sessions from your personal device. You may also attend the training event as an audio training, by dialing in over the phone and following along with the materials independently.
  • Can I earn CLE credits for this class?
    • CLE applications are the responsibility of each attendee; FELTG does not apply for the credits on behalf of attendees.  If you are seeking CLE credit, attendees may use the materials provided by FELTG in submission to your state bar. Attendees may also request a certificate of completion which will contain the number of training hours attended.
  • Can I share my access link with co-workers?
    • No. Registration for this event is per individual, and access links may not be shared. Each link may only be used by one person.
  • Can I register a teleworker?
    • This event is individual registration, so the cost is the same whether the person is teleworking or in an agency facility.
  • How do I receive a group rate discount?
    • Group rates are available for agencies registering 10 or more individuals. Group discounts are available February 2.

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.

Virtual Training Event — Successful Hiring: Effective Techniques for Interviewing and Reference Checking
Feb 24 @ 12:30 pm – 4:00 pm

Download Individual Registration Form

The federal hiring process requires patience. If you’ve finally been granted approval to fill a position, you may be tempted to get someone hired as quickly as possible. But, wait just a moment. Take the time to do it correctly.

This interactive half-day virtual training will prepare managers for conducting legal and successful job interviews. Barbara Haga will share guidance on how to make the most out of interviewing and checking references, from crafting an accurate position description, to asking the right questions, to assessing a candidate’s ability to perform the job.

Topics include:

  • Preparing defensible questions for applicants
  • Using behavior-based questions to get answers about depth of experience and knowledge
  • The requirement to interview all and ask the exact same questions of all candidates – myth or reality?
  • Interview practices that work and things to avoid
  • Reference checking – getting job-related information from current and past supervisors

Whether you’re in HR or are a supervisor who is looking to hire someone, you’ll want to be sure to make plans to join us. Register today!

Instructor

Barbara Haga

Price

  • Early Bird Tuition (register by November 22): $340
  • Standard Tuition (register November 23-December 7): $380
  • Rates per registrant.
  • Want to register a group? Contact FELTG.

Event FAQs

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

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

Feb
25
Thu
Webinar – Why, How and When to Avoid Whistleblower Reprisal
Feb 25 @ 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm

Download Registration Form

Instructor

Bob Woods

Program Description

We’ve been hearing an awful lot about whistleblowers and “leakers” over the last couple of years. If you’re basing your knowledge and actions on the way those high-profile whistleblower cases have worked out, you may find yourself in major trouble. Reprisal against a whistleblower is absolutely illegal, despite what you might think. Over the course of 60 minutes, Attorney and FELTG instructor Bob Woods will share everything you need to know about whistleblower reprisal – the standards, burdens of proof, and actions that constitute reprisal. Plus, he’ll discuss how to defend your agency against the inevitable whistleblower reprisal allegation.

Attendees will learn how to:

  • Handle whistleblower disclosures that turn out to be false.
  • Recognize what constitutes whistleblower reprisal, and how to avoid it.
  • Discipline a whistleblower for misconduct unrelated to whistleblowing.

 

Price

Early Bird Tuition (payment required by February 15): $240

Standard Tuition (payment made by February 16 or later): $270

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

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

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

Download Registration Form

Course Description

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

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

You might have questions, such as:

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

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

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

Instructors

Deborah Hopkins

Ann Boehm

Pricing

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

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

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

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

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

Mar
2
Tue
Virtual Training Event – Conducting Effective Harassment Investigations
Mar 2 – Mar 4 all-day

Download Individual Registration Form

Event Description

Investigating harassment in your Federal 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. Participants will receive program materials via email on Monday, October 5.

Download Individual Registration Form



Tuesday, March 2, 2021

Session 1: Investigating Harassment: Misconduct Principles

12:30 pm – 4:00 pm eastern (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.

Wednesday, March 3, 2021

Session 2: Understanding Harassment and Planning the Investigation

12:30 pm – 4:00 pm eastern (break from 2:00 – 2:30)
Presented by Meghan Droste, 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 Meghan Droste 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.

Thursday, March 4, 2021

Session 3: Conducting the Investigation and Writing the Report

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

Course description: Attorney Katherine Atkinson 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. Atkinson 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 February 19): One Session = $340  |  Two Sessions = $650  |  Full Event = $900
  • Standard Tuition (register February 20 – March 4: One Session = $390  |  Two Sessions = $695  |  Full Event = $950
  • Rates per registrant. No split registrations permitted.
  • Want to register a group? Group discounts are available through February 19. Contact FELTG.
  • REGISTER NOW.

 

Event FAQs

  • Can I attend Virtual Training from my government computer?
    • FELTG uses Webex to broadcast 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 attendees for the full event. Group discounts are only available through February 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.

Mar
4
Thu
Webinar – Addressing Age Discrimination in the Federal Workplace
Mar 4 @ 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm

Download Registration Form

Instructor

Meghan Droste

Course Description

A reference to dinosaurs, a joke about retirement, or a snide “OK Boomer” – nothing wrong with that if it’s just in fun, right?  Wrong! And if you think those are the only actions that’ll lead to an age discrimination claim, you’re wrong again.

Join Attorney and FELTG Instructor Meghan Droste for a 60-minute discussion on age discrimination in the federal workplace to learn you can and can’t say or do when it relates to an employee’s age. Ms. Droste will cover everything from hiring to promotion, and hostile work environment to performance appraisals, as well as the Supreme Court’s recent decision in the DVA case Babb v. Wilkie and what it means for cases going forward. As the federal workforce ages and older employees continue to be the most susceptible to the coronavirus, this is a conversation you cannot afford to miss.

This is the first of four webinars in the Navigating Challenges in the EEO Process series.

Attendees will learn how to:

  • Understand the various theories of age discrimination in the federal workplace.
  • Identify the types of conduct that give rise to age discrimination claims.
  • Know the dos and don’ts when discussing age-related topics in the workplace including retirement, OWBPA, and more.

1

Price

  • Early Bird Tuition: $240 per site, per webinar (payment required by February 23)
  • Standard Tuition: $270 per site, per webinar (payments by February 24)

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

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

Webinar Series – Navigating Challenges in the EEO Process
Mar 4 @ 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm

Download Registration Form

Instructors

Katherine Atkinson, Barbara Haga, Meghan Droste

Series Description

Equal Employment Opportunity claims can be a long and often complicated process, and some challenges are a bit more troublesome than others. It’s those topics we are tackling during this four-part webinar series. Why should know the Supreme Court’s recent decision in Babb v. Wilkie? What are steps you can take to avoid an age discrimination claim? What’s the difference between serious health condition and an ADA disability? And what happens if you confuse the two? How do you determine whether a job task is an essential function? How do you define a “prompt and effective” response to a complaint?

We’ll answer these questions and more over the course of four 60-minute webinars, held the first Thursday of the month. Sessions will be held on Thursdays from 1:00 – 2:00 p.m. ET.

Price

  • Early Bird Tuition: $240 per site, per session (payment made by February 23).
  • Standard Tuition: $270 per site, per session (payment made February 24 or later).
  • Register for all four webinars by February 23 and pay only $910!

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

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

Mar
9
Tue
Webinar Series – Supervising Federal Employees: Managing Accountability and Defending Your Actions
Mar 9 @ 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm

Download Registration Form

Instructors

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

Course Description

President Biden’s Executive Orders on the Federal Workplace. OPM’s recent guidance. A new focus on diversity and inclusion. A recent decision that broke 40 years of precedent to require agencies to have substantial evidence before putting an employee on a performance demonstration period. FELTG’s annual webinar training series Supervising Federal Employees: Managing Accountability and Defending Your Actions can help you and your supervisors get up to speed on the changing nature of the federal workplace.

FELTG’s talented team of engaging and experienced instructors will teach 14 60-minute webinars every two weeks from March through the end of August. The webinars are updated to provide a comprehensive curriculum for those who supervisor federal employees.  Supervising Federal Employees: Managing Accountability and Defending Your Actions addresses the most timely and important topics supervisors are facing at the moment. Courses are taught on everything from managing poor performance and disciplining for employee misconduct to providing reasonable accommodation and rooting out leave abuse. Those who attend can rest assured that they are well-prepared to face the new and challenging issues amid complex and changing laws.

There is no other training available that provides the depth and breadth of guidance that federal supervisors need to manage the agency workplace effectively and efficiently.

You can register for one, several, or all of the courses in the series. The webinars will be held every other Tuesday from 1 – 2 p.m. eastern time, and 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).

2021 dates:

March 9: 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 23: Disciplining Employees for Misconduct, Part I: The five elements of discipline in the federal government; documentation supervisors need to succeed in a disciplinary action.

April 6: Disciplining Employees for Misconduct, Part II: Disciplinary procedures: reprimand, suspension, termination; appeals process; agency liability.

April 20: 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.

May 4: Handling an Unacceptable Performance Case: Performance accountability in a nutshell; recent decision requiring agencies to have substantial evidence before putting an employee on a performance demonstration period; executing a performance demonstration period; proof and evidence standards.

May 18: 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.

June 1: 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.

June 15: Tackling Leave Issues I: Handling the leave issues most common in the federal government: annual leave, sick leave, leave transfer.

June 29: Tackling Leave Issues II: Handling more complicated leave scenarios: FMLA, LWOP, administrative leave, AWOL. 

July 13: Disability Accommodation in 60 Minutes: Defining a disability; requests for accommodation; the interactive process; accommodations of choice; undue hardship.

July 27: 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 10:  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.

August 24: 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.

August 31: 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 March 1).
  • Special series discounts available through March 1: $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 March 2 or later).

Working from home? Teleworkers may be added to a primary site registration for $50 each, per session, on a space-available basis.

Have a large group teleworking? Contact FELTG for information on group discounts.

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

Mar
10
Wed
Virtual Training Event – EEO Challenges, COVID-19, and a Return to Workplace Normalcy
Mar 10 all-day

Download Individual Registration Form

More Americans are receiving COVID-19 vaccinations each day. But while the vaccine is helping eradicate the virus, it hasn’t put an end to pandemic-related EEO challenges. If anything, the increased availability of the COVID vaccines has created some new and even more difficult EEO quandaries.

Attorney Katherine Atkinson helped FELTG customers navigate these uncharted waters in 2020, and now she returns with more answers and the latest available guidance, including how to respond to employees who won’t take the vaccine due to disability, or religious reasons.

No doubt about it. The federal workplace was turned upside down in 2020 as more than a million employees suddenly became full-time teleworkers. While employees vanished from the physical workplace, EEO problems did not.  Meanwhile, EEO issues rose for health care providers, security officers, law enforcement officials, and other essential workers. These EEO problems have gotten more challenging — and many of the situations arising have no legal precedent.

Ms. 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:

  • Can you require that an employee take the vaccine before returning to the workplace?
  • What if an employee refuses to take the vaccine, but is also not in a position that can be done remotely?
  • 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?
  • Does asking the pre-vaccination screening questions create a violation of Title II of the Genetic Information and Nondiscrimination Act?

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 1:00 – 4:30 eastern, with a 30-minute break from 2:30 – 3:00 eastern.

3

Download Individual Registration Form

Price

  • Early Bird Tuition (register by February 24): $340
  • Standard Tuition (register February 25 or later): $380
  • Rates per registrant.
  • Want to register a group? Group discounts for 10 or more attendees are available through February 24. Contact FELTG.

 

Event FAQs

  • Can I attend Virtual Training from my government computer?
    • FELTG uses Webex to broadcast 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.
  • What if I want to attend a session but have a schedule conflict?
    • FELTG plans to record this session, and will make the recording 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 February 24.

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

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