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.

Download Individual Registration Form

Last year, the Supreme Court ruled that an individual’s sexual orientation or transgender status is covered under Title VII’s prohibition against sex discrimination. Meanwhile, President  Biden’s first-day Executive Orders made it clear that agencies are expected to not only enforce workplace discrimination protections based on sexual orientation and gender identity, but to embrace diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility (DEIA) – an not just with employees, but with your agency’s customers and grantees as well.

This goal is obvious. But how do you get there? Immediately addressing policies and procedures that run afoul of this goal should be a priority. But that alone won’t ensure equity. Employees will not feel respected and empowered unless your agency addresses  unconscious biases and microaggressions in the workplace, actions which, if left unchecked, can lead to discrimination or a hostile work environment for individuals in the LGTBQ community.

During this two-hour virtual training, Attorney at Law Meghan Droste will provide all of the information you need to know to comply with the law, Executive Orders, and best practices on topics including gender stereotyping as sex discrimination, transgender protections, and sexual orientation – an important part of this administration’s focus on providing equity to traditionally underserved communities.

Ms. Droste will also cover details related to unconscious bias and microaggressions.

Attendees will learn how to:

• Comply with the relevant Biden Executive Orders.
• Ensure legal protections for transgender employees.
• Identify acts of microaggression against LGBTQ employees, as well as those influenced by implicit bias.
• Recognize and define harassment.
• Respond appropriately and effectively when you see a microaggression in the workplace.

OPM has taken a leadership role in the administration’s efforts to advance DEIA in the federal workplace, and they encourage “all agencies to continue DEIA activities which include training and educating your workforce.” This class is DEIA compliant, and provides critical guidance to ensure your workplace is free from bias, which, in turn, will improve morale and productivity.

This session will be held from 1:00 – 3:00pm ET.

Instructor

Meghan Droste

Price

• Early Bird Tuition: $295 (register by June 7)
• Standard Tuition: $345 (register June 8-23)
• Rates per registrant.
• Want to register a group? Group discounts for 10 or more attendees are available until June 7. 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.
• 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?
  • Group rates are available for agencies registering 10 or more individuals. Group discounts are available until June 7.

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.

Download Registration Form

Instructor

Scott Boehm

Course Description

The federal workplace is making a big U-turn. So many changes are taking place at such a quick pace, that the only way for agencies to survive and thrive is through leadership and coordination.

Join FELTG Instructor Scott Boehm for this important webinar. He will explain how your agency’s Office of Inspector General can play a critical role in helping you navigate these changes. But this is not a one-way discussion. Those who work in your agency’s OIG will learn what they can do to foster this coordination. So whether you work in an OIG or you’re an attorney, HR professional, EEO specialist or supervisor, this webinar will help you face the challenging situations brought about by the new Administration’s change in direction.

Your agency’s OIG employs investigators, auditors, evaluators, and, sometimes, armed special agents. Its mission is to prevent and detect waste, fraud, and abuse, and promote economy, effectiveness, and efficiency of agency operations. It does so by investigating potential violations of law or misconduct and auditing or evaluating the agency’s operations and systems.

Attendees will leave with a clear picture of how the HR, EEO, and General Counsel offices can work effectively with the OIG to bring about effective change to skillfully meet agency mission.

Price

• Early Bird Tuition: $240 per site, per session (payment made by June 14).
• Standard Tuition: $270 per site, per session (payment made June 15 or later).

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.

Download Individual Registration Form

Course Description

The country and its workplaces are eyeing a return to pre-pandemic normalcy. But normal didn’t equate to perfect before COVID-19, and it won’t be that way after. As virus-related restrictions began to ease in recent weeks, news networks shifted their focus to a string of deadly violence across the country. The network attention was new, but the violence wasn’t. It had been on the upswing before the pandemic even arrived.

It’s not hyperbole to suggest that a violent threat (whether by gun, knife, vehicle, bomb, or mob) in or near your workplace would be the most demanding and traumatic situation you’ve ever faced.  Unfortunately, the federal government is not immune from this violence, as recent events at the Capitol illustrate. This training aims to provide you with the knowledge and foresight to be as prepared as you can be.

During this special 2-hour event, you will learn how to:

• Efficiently and effectively address threats of violence made by an employee, customer, known entity, or stranger with anti-government motivations.
• Understand the role of Federal law enforcement in managing a crisis.
• Implement best practices for workplace safety.

This special FELTG Town Hall is a rare opportunity to discuss this difficult topic as it applies specifically to the federal workplace. It’s a must-attend for Law Enforcement Officers, HR directors, L/ER specialists, EEO professionals, agency counsel, supervisors, union officials, and employees, or anyone else in your agency who wants to learn about bystander intervention, de-escalation techniques, and other tools for handling threats of violence.

Our panel provides unique experience and expertise. As co-founder and a senior vice president at Xferall, Shana Palmieri has more than 15 issues of direct clinical experience in areas including emergency psychiatric assessment and treatment, domestic violence, chronic homelessness, mental health, and substance use disorders. Attorney at Law Deborah Hopkins is president of FELTG and co-author of UnCivil Servant: Holding Employees Accountable for Performance and Conduct. And the majority of Ann Boehm’s 26-year career as a government attorney was spent in law enforcement organizations.

This LIVE event also provides several opportunities to ask questions.

Download Individual Registration Form

Instructor

Shana Palmieri

Ann Boehm

Deborah Hopkins

Price

• Early Bird Tuition: $295 (register by June 11).
• Standard Tuition: $345 (register by June 12-28).
• 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 June 11.

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.

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.

Download Registration Form

Instructors

Deborah Hopkins, Ann Boehm

Course Description

You don’t have to necessarily be ready to return all employees to the office. But you better have a plan. And it better be in writing. The Biden administration is giving you until July 19 to submit that finalized plan with reentry and post-reentry policies and procedures.

A successful return to the physical workplace plan is going to require more than the safety measures, as there are numerous HR-, EEO-, and legal-related challenges that will need to be addressed in your plan.

Time is winding down. Let FELTG help.

On June 30, FELTG President Deborah Hopkins and instructor Ann Boehm share all of the details you need to consider to successfully return your employees to the physical workspace. While safety is key, your initiatives must  “satisfy applicable collective-bargaining obligations and provide ample notice to any employees who will be returning to the physical workplace, who will have altered work schedules, or who will otherwise have altered work circumstances, consistent with the agency’s intended post-reentry work environment.”

Ms. Hopkins and Ms. Boehm will address the challenges you’re likely to face so that they can be adequately addressed in your return-to-work plan. How will you handle leave for those employees who are unable to physically return? What EEO implications must be considered? Can you require that employees be vaccinated? What flexibilities can you offer for those whose child or elder care responsibilities make it difficult to return? How do you charge someone who refuses to report?

This 75-minute webinar will not only provide the answers to these questions, but will give ample time for you to ask our presenters about your own specific challenges.

Price

• Early Bird Tuition: $295 per site, per session (payment made by June 18).
• Standard Tuition: $335 per site, per session (payment made June 19-30).

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.

Download Registration Form

Instructor

Ann Boehm

Course Description

In this 60-minute webinar, FELTG instructor Ann Boehm will identify and discuss when the law requires you to provide the union an opportunity to be involved in discussions, focusing on the requirements for a meeting to be considered a formal discussion, the union’s rights and responsibilities when it comes to meetings, what to do when an employee requests union representation for a meeting, and more.

Attendees will learn how to:

• Determine whether a right to representation is the union’s right or the employee’s
• Ensure managers know what are legitimate representational rights for bargaining unit members.

Price

• Early Bird Tuition (payment required by June 21): $240
• Standard Tuition (payment made by June 22 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.

Download Registration Form

Instructors

Katherine Atkinson

Course Description

Price

• Early Bird Tuition: $295 per site, per session (payment made by June 30).
• Standard Tuition: $335 per site, per session (payment made July 1-12).

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.

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.

Download Registration Form

Instructor

Meghan Droste

Course Description

 1

FELTG kicks off its five-part webinar series Reasonable Accommodation in the Federal Workplace with an overview of the the current state of disability law and how the ADA, ADAAA, and Rehabilitation Act apply to federal employees with disabilities. Before you can appropriately manage the complex reasonable accommodation requests you’re likely to receive in the next few months, you need a thorough understanding of the basics. Attendees will learn about:

• Making disability determinations
• What “qualified individual” actually means
• Reasonable accommodation requests
• The interactive process
• Denials of reasonable accommodation
• Reassignment and Medical Inability to Perform removals

Whether you’re an attorney, disability program manager, EEO or HR Specialist or a supervisor, you’ll want to be sure to attend this session.

This program meets the President’s mandate to provide training on diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility in the Federal workplace.

Price

• Early Bird Tuition: $240 per site, per session (payment made by July 2).
• Standard Tuition: $270 per site, per session (payment made July 3 or later).

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.

Download Registration Form

Instructors

Deborah Hopkins, Katherine Atkinson, Meghan Droste

Course Description

One of the most important and complex areas in federal employment law is the obligation to provide reasonable accommodation, whether it’s to qualified individuals with disabilities or for individuals with sincerely held religious beliefs. And the pandemic has made these laws even trickier and more important than usual.

The Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act is more than ten years old; the ADA is more than 30, and the Rehabilitation Act is nearing 50. However, too many agencies continue to follow outdated procedures that are not compliant with the law. Because there are so many complexities in the reasonable accommodation process, the best way to avoid pitfalls and to be sure you provide accommodations for people who are entitled is to follow the appropriate steps, in the proper order.

Yet, times change, and we learn new information about medical conditions, while new medications and treatments raise different issues. Technological advances create opportunities that previously didn’t exist. And once-in-a-lifetime pandemics create new, multifaceted challenges.

Updated for 2021, FELTG’s annual five-part series on reasonable accommodation provides an opportunity to re-familiarize yourself with the critical foundation of disability law, and apply it to the ever-evolving federal workplace. The series will tackle everything from the basics of the law to challenges, such as providing accommodations to teleworkers and accommodating invisible disabilities. You’ll learn from the mistakes others have made, as well as how the law differs for religious accommodation. Attend one session, or attend them all.

This series meets the President’s mandate to provide training on diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility in the Federal workplace.

Click on any event for a full description.

 5 (1 per webinar)

Session 1: Reasonable Accommodation Overview and Analysis (July 15)

Session 2: Accommodating Invisible Disabilities (July 22)

Session 3: Telework as Reasonable Accommodation (July 29)

Session 4: Reasonable Accommodation: The Mistakes Agencies Make (August 5)

Session 5: Religious Accommodations: How They’re Different from Disability Accommodations (August 12)

Price

• Early Bird Tuition: $240.00 per site, per session (payment made by July 2).
• Standard Tuition: $270.00 per site, per session (payment made July 3 or later).
• Register for all five webinars by July 2 and pay only $1,150.00!

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.

Download Registration Form

Instructor

Deborah Hopkins

Course Description

A few weeks ago the MSPB released a report called Agency Leader Responsibilities Related to Prohibited Personnel Practices. As part of the report, MSPB has mandated training for agency supervisors and employees on whistleblowing, prohibited personnel practices, and the new disciplinary procedures required under the Dr. Chris Kirkpatrick Whistleblower Protection Act (Kirkpatrick Act) at 5 U.S.C. § 7515.

In some ways, Kirkpatrick discipline looks like traditional Chapter 75 discipline, but in other ways it varies significantly. Don’t be caught unaware. Join FELTG President Deborah Hopkins as she explains all the specifics.

Attendees will learn how to:

• Understand the reasoning behind Kirkpatrick discipline, and the role of the agency head in such actions.
• Identify the three specific PPPs at issue in Kirkpatrick discipline cases.
• Employ the specific requirements for discipline against management officials who reprise against whistleblowers.

Price

• Early Bird Tuition (payment required by July 9): $285
• Standard Tuition (payment made by July or later): $315

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

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

Download Registration Form

Instructor

Katherine Atkinson

Course Description

 1

Numerous disabilities, such as chronic pain and diabetes, are not always visible or obvious in the workplace. As the federal workforce ages, the number of employees with hidden disabilities continues to grow. And as a result of the pandemic, you’re likely to see more requests for respiratory illnesses and COVID-related conditions, such as chronic fatigue.

Providing reasonable accommodation for so-called invisible disabilities is going to be a major challenge for HR professionals, supervisors, and the people who advise them.

In the second webinar of our Reasonable Accommodation in the Federal Workplace series attorney Katherine Atkinson will explain to how properly navigate Rehabilitation Act regulations and EEOC guidance while taking a common sense approach to reasonably accommodating hidden disabilities. Ms. Atkinson will provide examples of accommodations that have proven successful for hidden disabilities.

Whether you’re an attorney, disability program manager, EEO or HR Specialist or a supervisor, you’ll want to be sure to attend this session.

This program meets the President’s mandate to provide training on diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility in the Federal workplace.

Price

• Early Bird Tuition: $240 per site, per session (payment made by July 2).
• Standard Tuition: $270 per site, per session (payment made July 3 or later).

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.

Download Registration Form

Instructors

Deborah Hopkins, Katherine Atkinson, Meghan Droste

Course Description

One of the most important and complex areas in federal employment law is the obligation to provide reasonable accommodation, whether it’s to qualified individuals with disabilities or for individuals with sincerely held religious beliefs. And the pandemic has made these laws even trickier and more important than usual.

The Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act is more than ten years old; the ADA is more than 30, and the Rehabilitation Act is nearing 50. However, too many agencies continue to follow outdated procedures that are not compliant with the law. Because there are so many complexities in the reasonable accommodation process, the best way to avoid pitfalls and to be sure you provide accommodations for people who are entitled is to follow the appropriate steps, in the proper order.

Yet, times change, and we learn new information about medical conditions, while new medications and treatments raise different issues. Technological advances create opportunities that previously didn’t exist. And once-in-a-lifetime pandemics create new, multifaceted challenges.

Updated for 2021, FELTG’s annual five-part series on reasonable accommodation provides an opportunity to re-familiarize yourself with the critical foundation of disability law, and apply it to the ever-evolving federal workplace. The series will tackle everything from the basics of the law to challenges, such as providing accommodations to teleworkers and accommodating invisible disabilities. You’ll learn from the mistakes others have made, as well as how the law differs for religious accommodation. Attend one session, or attend them all.

This series meets the President’s mandate to provide training on diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility in the Federal workplace.

Click on any event for a full description.

 5 (1 per webinar)

Session 1: Reasonable Accommodation Overview and Analysis (July 15)

Session 2: Accommodating Invisible Disabilities (July 22)

Session 3: Telework as Reasonable Accommodation (July 29)

Session 4: Reasonable Accommodation: The Mistakes Agencies Make (August 5)

Session 5: Religious Accommodations: How They’re Different from Disability Accommodations (August 12)

Price

• Early Bird Tuition: $240.00 per site, per session (payment made by July 2).
• Standard Tuition: $270.00 per site, per session (payment made July 3 or later).
• Register for all five webinars by July 2 and pay only $1,150.00!

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.

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.

Download Registration Form

Instructor

Deborah Hopkins

Course Description

 1

Telework is one of the the most commonly requested accommodations for individuals who have physical and mental disabilities. And after a year of pandemic-induced work challenges, it’s more clear than ever: Telework can be a very effective accommodation, too. In light of that, you can expect even more reasonable accommodation requests for telework than ever before. Are you ready to do the appropriate interactive discussion and analysis?

Join FELTG President and Attorney at Law Deborah Hopkins for a discussion on this timely topic during the third event in our Reasonable Accommodation in the Federal Workplace webinar series. Ms Hopkins will detail the required three-step process for agencies to be compliant when dealing with reasonable accommodation requests.

From there, she’ll discuss:

• What to do if telework would be an effective accommodation – but something else would work too
• Who gets to choose the accommodation
• What the EEOC says about accommodating an employee’s commute
• When an agency can legally deny telework as an accommodation

Often times the best way to learn is by looking at real-life case studies, so the session will include a discussion on recent federal cases – won and lost – involving telework requests as reasonable accommodation. Because of the cost incurred when handling a reasonable accommodation complaint, your agency EEO staff, reasonable accommodation coordinators, disability coordinators, HR staff and supervisors truly cannot afford to miss this event.

This program meets the President’s mandate to provide training on diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility in the Federal workplace.

Price

• Early Bird Tuition: $240.00 per site, per session (payment made by July 2).
• Standard Tuition: $270.00 per site, per session (payment made July 3 or later).

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.

Download Registration Form

Instructors

Deborah Hopkins, Katherine Atkinson, Meghan Droste

Course Description

One of the most important and complex areas in federal employment law is the obligation to provide reasonable accommodation, whether it’s to qualified individuals with disabilities or for individuals with sincerely held religious beliefs. And the pandemic has made these laws even trickier and more important than usual.

The Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act is more than ten years old; the ADA is more than 30, and the Rehabilitation Act is nearing 50. However, too many agencies continue to follow outdated procedures that are not compliant with the law. Because there are so many complexities in the reasonable accommodation process, the best way to avoid pitfalls and to be sure you provide accommodations for people who are entitled is to follow the appropriate steps, in the proper order.

Yet, times change, and we learn new information about medical conditions, while new medications and treatments raise different issues. Technological advances create opportunities that previously didn’t exist. And once-in-a-lifetime pandemics create new, multifaceted challenges.

Updated for 2021, FELTG’s annual five-part series on reasonable accommodation provides an opportunity to re-familiarize yourself with the critical foundation of disability law, and apply it to the ever-evolving federal workplace. The series will tackle everything from the basics of the law to challenges, such as providing accommodations to teleworkers and accommodating invisible disabilities. You’ll learn from the mistakes others have made, as well as how the law differs for religious accommodation. Attend one session, or attend them all.

This series meets the President’s mandate to provide training on diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility in the Federal workplace.

Click on any event for a full description.

 5 (1 per webinar)

Session 1: Reasonable Accommodation Overview and Analysis (July 15)

Session 2: Accommodating Invisible Disabilities (July 22)

Session 3: Telework as Reasonable Accommodation (July 29)

Session 4: Reasonable Accommodation: The Mistakes Agencies Make (August 5)

Session 5: Religious Accommodations: How They’re Different from Disability Accommodations (August 12)

Price

• Early Bird Tuition: $240.00 per site, per session (payment made by July 2).
• Standard Tuition: $270.00 per site, per session (payment made July 3 or later).
• Register for all five webinars by July 2 and pay only $1,150.00!

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.

Download Registration Form

Instructor

Robert Woods

Course Description

 1

Are you likely to outright deny a reasonable accommodation request for leave or a flexible work schedule? Do you think undue hardship is a viable reason to deny most reasonable accommodations? Do you think it’s the supervisor’s responsibility to determine if the individual is really disabled? Have you reached out to an employee’s doctor to find out more about his disability? If so, we have one word for you: Uh-oh.

Oftentimes the best way to learn is by making mistakes. But not when it comes to reasonable accommodation law. Instead, learn from the costly and embarrassing blunders that other agencies have already made. Attorney Robert Woods will review recent EEO cases to share these mistakes so you know how to avoid them.

During this session, the fourth in our Reasonable Accommodation in the Federal Workplace webinar series, attendees will learn:

• What steps to take when an employee informs you of his or her disability
• How to determine if telework would be an effective accommodation
• When leave would be considered an accommodation
• Why undue hardship is rarely a successful defense for denying an accommodation request

Learn how to handle reasonable accommodation requests with confidence.

This program meets the President’s mandate to provide training on diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility in the Federal workplace.

Price

• Early Bird Tuition: $240 per site, per session (payment made by July 20).
• Standard Tuition: $270 per site, per session (payment made July 21 or later).

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.

Download Registration Form

Instructors

Deborah Hopkins, Katherine Atkinson, Meghan Droste

Course Description

One of the most important and complex areas in federal employment law is the obligation to provide reasonable accommodation, whether it’s to qualified individuals with disabilities or for individuals with sincerely held religious beliefs. And the pandemic has made these laws even trickier and more important than usual.

The Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act is more than ten years old; the ADA is more than 30, and the Rehabilitation Act is nearing 50. However, too many agencies continue to follow outdated procedures that are not compliant with the law. Because there are so many complexities in the reasonable accommodation process, the best way to avoid pitfalls and to be sure you provide accommodations for people who are entitled is to follow the appropriate steps, in the proper order.

Yet, times change, and we learn new information about medical conditions, while new medications and treatments raise different issues. Technological advances create opportunities that previously didn’t exist. And once-in-a-lifetime pandemics create new, multifaceted challenges.

Updated for 2021, FELTG’s annual five-part series on reasonable accommodation provides an opportunity to re-familiarize yourself with the critical foundation of disability law, and apply it to the ever-evolving federal workplace. The series will tackle everything from the basics of the law to challenges, such as providing accommodations to teleworkers and accommodating invisible disabilities. You’ll learn from the mistakes others have made, as well as how the law differs for religious accommodation. Attend one session, or attend them all.

This series meets the President’s mandate to provide training on diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility in the Federal workplace.

Click on any event for a full description.

 5 (1 per webinar)

Session 1: Reasonable Accommodation Overview and Analysis (July 15)

Session 2: Accommodating Invisible Disabilities (July 22)

Session 3: Telework as Reasonable Accommodation (July 29)

Session 4: Reasonable Accommodation: The Mistakes Agencies Make (August 5)

Session 5: Religious Accommodations: How They’re Different from Disability Accommodations (August 12)

Price

• Early Bird Tuition: $240.00 per site, per session (payment made by July 2).
• Standard Tuition: $270.00 per site, per session (payment made July 3 or later).
• Register for all five webinars by July 2 and pay only $1,150.00!

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.

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.

Download Registration Form

Instructor

Katherine Atkinson

Course Description

 1

A request for religious accommodation requires a much different response than a request for reasonable accommodation of a disability. Failure to understand the important distinctions between religious accommodations and those made for individuals with disabilities could lead to costly mistakes and embarrassing gaffes.

Join attorney Katherine Atkinson for the final session in our five-part Reasonable Accommodation in the Federal Workplace webinar series, and leave with specific guidance to help you with accommodation requests involving religious clothing and headwear, grooming, proselytizing, religious displays, and work schedules.

After a review of the relevant law and regulations law that pertain to religious accommodation, the instructor will discuss:

• What religions qualify for accommodation
• The definition of “undue hardship” and case examples
• The most common accommodations for religion
• Issues related to dress code and grooming
• What to do when employees request to be excused from performing certain job tasks because of religious reasons

Whether you’re an attorney, EEO program specialist, HR specialist or manager, you’ll want to be sure to join us for this important session.

This program meets the President’s mandate to provide training on diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility in the Federal workplace.

Price

• Early Bird Tuition: $240 per site, per session (payment made by July 20).
• Standard Tuition: $270 per site, per session (payment made July 21 or later).

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.

Download Registration Form

Instructors

Deborah Hopkins, Katherine Atkinson, Meghan Droste

Course Description

One of the most important and complex areas in federal employment law is the obligation to provide reasonable accommodation, whether it’s to qualified individuals with disabilities or for individuals with sincerely held religious beliefs. And the pandemic has made these laws even trickier and more important than usual.

The Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act is more than ten years old; the ADA is more than 30, and the Rehabilitation Act is nearing 50. However, too many agencies continue to follow outdated procedures that are not compliant with the law. Because there are so many complexities in the reasonable accommodation process, the best way to avoid pitfalls and to be sure you provide accommodations for people who are entitled is to follow the appropriate steps, in the proper order.

Yet, times change, and we learn new information about medical conditions, while new medications and treatments raise different issues. Technological advances create opportunities that previously didn’t exist. And once-in-a-lifetime pandemics create new, multifaceted challenges.

Updated for 2021, FELTG’s annual five-part series on reasonable accommodation provides an opportunity to re-familiarize yourself with the critical foundation of disability law, and apply it to the ever-evolving federal workplace. The series will tackle everything from the basics of the law to challenges, such as providing accommodations to teleworkers and accommodating invisible disabilities. You’ll learn from the mistakes others have made, as well as how the law differs for religious accommodation. Attend one session, or attend them all.

This series meets the President’s mandate to provide training on diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility in the Federal workplace.

Click on any event for a full description.

 5 (1 per webinar)

Session 1: Reasonable Accommodation Overview and Analysis (July 15)

Session 2: Accommodating Invisible Disabilities (July 22)

Session 3: Telework as Reasonable Accommodation (July 29)

Session 4: Reasonable Accommodation: The Mistakes Agencies Make (August 5)

Session 5: Religious Accommodations: How They’re Different from Disability Accommodations (August 12)

Price

• Early Bird Tuition: $240.00 per site, per session (payment made by July 2).
• Standard Tuition: $270.00 per site, per session (payment made July 3 or later).
• Register for all five webinars by July 2 and pay only $1,150.00!

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.

Download Registration Form

Course Description

President Biden’s recent Executive Order 14035 initiated a wide-ranging plan to improve diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility (DEIA) in the Federal government, with a goal to create a workforce that “looks more like America” and represents people from all segments of society. This new effort tasks the Office of Personnel Management, Office of Management and Budget, and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission with key roles in the development of a more diverse representation in not only the Federal workforce in general, but also in senior leadership positions.

Agencies were given 100 days to assess the impact of their own practices, policies, and procedures on DEIA.

Join Attorney at Law Meghan Droste and Marcus Hill, former Senior Executive Advisor at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center and current board member of the Senior Executives Association, as they discuss the details of the Executive Order and share guidance on what you can do to set and meet your agency’s DEIA goals. They will also share the key provisions of President Biden’s two previous DEIA-related Executive Orders, highlight the interaction among all three EOs, and detail the steps your agency can take to ensure equity for all employees.

Attend this 90-minute town hall discussion for answers to questions, such as:

• How do you more efficiently recruit and hire a workplace that “looks more like America”?
• What current hiring practices are actually roadblocks to efforts for a more diverse workplace?
• What workplace protections do LGBTQ employees have?
• Why are people of color and individuals with disabilities not fairly represented in agency leadership roles?
• What groups are considered underserved populations?
• What steps can you actually take to improve representation of underserved populations?
• What exact roles do OPM, OMB and EEOC play?
• What is your agency expected to produce in 100 days?
• What is the likely future of this initiative after those 100 days are up?

This LIVE event also provides several opportunities for you to ask your questions and get answers in real time.

Download Individual Registration Form

Instructor

Meghan Droste

Marcus Hill

Price

• Early Bird Tuition: $225 (register by August 2).
• Standard Tuition: $240 (register August 3-17).
• 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 August 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.

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.

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.

Download Individual Registration Form

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

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

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

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

Attendees will learn how to:

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

This program meets the President’s mandate to provide training on diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility in the Federal workplace.

Instructor

Katherine Atkinson

Price

• Early Bird Tuition: $295 (register by August 16)
• Standard Tuition: $325 (register August 17-September 1)
• Rates per registrant.

Event FAQs

• Can I attend Virtual Training from my government computer?
  • FELTG uses Webex for this Virtual Training Institute event. Many government computers and systems allow Webex access. If for some reason your firewall will not allow access, you’re welcome to use your personal email address to register, and to attend the sessions from your personal device. You may also attend the training event as an audio training, by dialing in over the phone and following along with the materials independently.
• Can I earn CLE credits for this class?
  • CLE applications are the responsibility of each attendee; FELTG does not apply for the credits on behalf of attendees.  If you are seeking CLE credit, attendees may use the materials provided by FELTG in submission to your state bar. Attendees may also request a certificate of completion which will contain the number of training hours attended.
• Can I share my access link with co-workers?
  • No. Registration for this event is per individual, and access links may not be shared. Each link may only be used by one person.
• Can I register a teleworker?
  • This event is individual registration, so the cost is the same whether the person is teleworking or in an agency facility.
• How do I receive a group rate discount?
  • Group rates are available for agencies registering 10 or more individuals. Group discounts are available until August 16.

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.