Instructors
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.
Instructor
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.
Instructors
Course Description
As agencies prepare to return their employees to the physical workspace, many questions remain. And, unsurprisingly, considering the EEOC’s recent announcement that employers can require vaccinations, most of the questions are related to those possible life-saving shots in the arm. While the White House’s current guidance seems to indicate that vaccines won’t generally be a requirement before a return to the Federal workplace, that word “generally” contains a whole realm of potential exceptions. What about health care workers? Employees who work in close proximity to one another, or to the public? Are agencies permitted to mandate vaccines for certain categories of employees?
Do agencies have to provide a reasonable accommodation of permanent telework for an employee who refuses to get the vaccine for religious reasons? If it’s for health reasons, can you require medical documentation as proof? What if the employee’s position description requires travel, where proof of vaccination may be required?
If you’re looking for answers to these or other vaccine-related questions, join FELTG Instructor and Attorney at Law Katherine Atkinson as she provides the answers and talks the class through how to respond to employee requests for exemptions to a vaccine requirement.
Those who attend this 75-minute webinar, will learn how to:
- Respond to an employee’s request for a vaccine exemption.
- Determine whether an employee’s religion or medical condition warrants an exemption and whether a reasonable accommodation is appropriate.
- Understand when it’s appropriate to ask for medical documentation.
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.
Instructor
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.
Instructor
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.
Instructor
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.
Instructor
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.
Instructor
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.
Instructor
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.
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
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 Individual Registration Form
Course Description
The one-size-fits-all approach to managing others is ineffective, and that becomes particularly apparent when the majority of your staff is teleworking. Drawing upon the latest research and best practices in behavioral science, communication, team effectiveness, and generational studies, while making special consideration of the increased use of telework during the COVID-19 pandemic, FELTG Instructor Dr. Anthony Marchese will share his insight and practical strategies to ensure you are managing for success.
For many of you, employees are starting to return to the workplace, which will create some new management challenges. Rarely has the quality of your communication been more important.
Sessions will be held from 12:30 pm – 4:00 pm eastern, with a break from 2:00-2:30 pm.
Instructor
Who Should Attend
Federal supervisors and managers; attorneys; Labor and Employee Relations Specialists; EEO specialists; union representatives.
Agenda
Wednesday, August 18 – Managing Effectively
12:30-4:00 pm eastern (break from 2:00-2:30)
Course description: Dr. Marchese will explain the difference between managing and leading, and help you to identify your strength and hone your supervisory skills. Using realistic agency scenarios, participants will learn how to understand and leverage individual differences to develop a meaningful management methodology that is targeted to the needs of their employees and those of the agency.
Learning Objectives
Attendees will learn how to:
- Identify strategies for managing difficult employees.
- Successfully manage a mobile workforce.
- Employ a specific set of skills to resolve workplace conflicts – including virtual conflicts.
Thursday, August 19 – Communicating Effectively
12:30-4:00 pm eastern (break from 2:00-2:30)
Course description: What is stopping you and your team from developing innovative solutions to your most challenging problems? Oftentimes, the problem lies in a unit’s lack of communication. In Day 2 of this interactive virtual training, Dr. Marchese will share several strategies for improving communication with your staff – and it starts with you providing ongoing feedback on employee performance.
Learning Objectives
Attendees will learn how to:
- (And how often to) communicate performance expectations.
- Recognize the differences between positive and negative framing.
- Hold difficult conversations with employees.
Price
- Early Bird Tuition: $345 per session, $630 for both sessions (register by August 2).
- Standard Tuition: $395 per session, $685 for both sessions (register August 3-19).
- Rates per registrant. No split registrations.
Event FAQs
- Can I attend Virtual Training from my government computer?
- FELTG uses Webex to broadcast its Virtual Training Institute events. Many government computers and systems allow Webex access. If for some reason your firewall will not allow access, you’re welcome to use your personal email address to register, and to attend the sessions from your personal device.
- Can I share my access link with co-workers?
- No. Registration for this event is per individual, and access links may not be shared. Each link may only be used by one person.
- Can I register a teleworker?
- This event is individual registration, so the cost is the same whether the person is teleworking or in an agency facility.
- How do I receive a group rate discount?
- Group rates are available for agencies registering 10 or more individuals for the full event. Group discounts are available through August 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 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
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.
Download Individual Registration Form
Course Description
FELTG’s flagship course UnCivil Servant empowers federal supervisors and advisers to confidently handle the challenges that come with supervising in the federal workplace. We hope that you never have to fire an employee. But it’s important that you have the tools to effectively address poor performance and misconduct, should the need arise.
Over the course of two half-days, UnCivil Servant identifies misconceptions about performance and misconduct-based actions and provides you with simple step-by-step guidance for taking swift, appropriate and legally defensible actions. The program also covers the very latest with Executive Order 13839, plus OPM regulations on performance and conduct.
Join FELTG for this special event, from wherever you are working – agency office or home. The program will be presented live, and you’ll have time to ask questions and get answers in real time. Note: This course fulfills OPM’s mandatory training requirements for new supervisors found at 5 CFR 412.202(b).
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
Who Should Attend
Federal supervisors and managers; attorneys; Labor and Employee Relations Specialists; EEO specialists; union representatives.
Agenda
Wednesday, September 8
Accountability for Conduct and Performance, Part I: Accountability and supervisory authority; discipline and misconduct theory and practice; the five elements of discipline; off-duty misconduct; penalty defense and due process.
Thursday, September 9
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 August 24).
- Standard Tuition: $400 per session, $730 for both sessions (register August 25-September 9).
- 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 August 24.
- 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 August 24 and provide a shipping address. Registrations received after August 24 will also receive a textbook, but materials are not guaranteed to arrive by the training date.
Download Individual Registration Form
Course Description
We’re back! Once again, FELTG’s experienced and widely respected instructors come together for the Federal Workplace 2021: Accountability, Challenges, and Trends virtual training event. In this event we focus on making sure you’re prepared to effectively manage the Federal employment challenges that are new, complicated, and critical to your and your agency’s success. Let FELTG lead you into the new fiscal year the right way.
The last year was, to continue the overuse of the word, unprecedented. A pandemic. Remote work. Political chaos. Targeted harassment. A new administration. During the course of this weeklong training, FELTG instructors will share the best practices and lessons learned over the previous fiscal year, and provide the guidance and expertise you’ll need to thrive in the upcoming year.
We know you have plenty of training options – both onsite and virtual – to choose from this time of year. This program has several advantages. Although not a conference, it provides an opportunity for conference-like training for those who can’t get travel approval, or for those not quite ready to squish into packed rooms. And unlike other virtual events where you have to register for the full agenda, this training event allows attendees to register for only the sessions they prefer to attend. In addition, FELTG is an SBA-certified Woman Owned Small Business, allowing your agency to help achieve its small business set aside fiscal targets. And if all that wasn’t enough, Federal Workplace 2021: Accountability, Challenges, and Trends is completely live, and attendees have the opportunities to ask questions and engage in polls and other activities. Beware of “virtual” conferences that aren’t live.
No matter your job title, this event has something for you. Attendees will receive clear strategies and straight-forward guidance on holding employees accountable on emerging performance and conduct issues, deftly handling the most complex challenges, and identifying and handling those pesky issues that are new — or will be soon enough.
Who Should Attend
Attorneys; Labor and Employee Relations Specialists; EEO managers and directors; EEO specialists; Reasonable Accommodation Coordinators; Federal supervisors and managers; emerging leaders; security officers; union representatives.
Download Individual Registration Form
Monday, September 27, 2021
Pre-session
1 – 4:30 pm EDT
EEO Challenges, COVID-19, and a Return to Workplace Normalcy
Presented by Katherine Atkinson, Attorney at Law, FELTG Instructor
(Earn 3 EEO counselor & investigator refresher hours and/or 3 CLE credits)
President Biden’s Executive Order requires all Federal employees to be vaccinated with no option for regular coronavirus testing to opt out of the mandate. What does this mean for employees who refuse to get vaccinated? Are there any religious exemptions that would allow employees to continue to work without vaccination? What about employees who cannot get vaccinated due to a disability – can agencies accommodate them?
Beyond the vaccination mandate, Ms. Atkinson will also help you answer the following questions and more
- 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?
- 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 takeaways
Attendees will learn how to determine:
- Whether an employee with COVID-19 or pre-existing respiratory sensitivities should receive a reasonable accommodation.
- How pregnant women fit into the framework of EEO and COVID-19.
Tuesday, September 28, 2021
Spotlight on Accountability
Session 1
9:30 – 10:45 am EDT
You Want Accountability? Avoid These Too-Common Mistakes
Presented by Deborah J. Hopkins, Attorney at Law, FELTG President
(Earn 1.25 CLE credits)
Almost 60 percent of Federal employees think their supervisors do not do enough to hold unacceptable performers accountable. Meanwhile, myths about the inability to discipline employees for misconduct continue to fester. There is one action you can take to boost your agency’s FEVS scores, increase morale, and improve productivity, and it’s this: Do a better job holding employees accountable for performance and conduct. The best way to start is by eliminating the most common mistakes that derail your efforts. FELTG President Deborah Hopkins will identify these habitual errors, such as using too many suspensions, delaying discipline in favor of unhelpful letters of caution, committing due process violations, and more.
Learning takeaways
Attendees will learn how to:
- Avoid due process mistakes in appealable actions.
- Properly document an employee’s poor performance before a PIP.
- Draft effective charges that hold up to third-party scrutiny.
Session 2
11:15 am – 12:30 pm EDT
Got Nexus? Accountability for Off-duty Conduct
Presented by Bob Woods, Attorney at Law, FELTG Instructor
(Earn 1.25 CLE credits)
The borderline between on-duty and off-duty has become blurred as of late, with a majority of employees working from home and the omnipresence of social media. Yet, one thing has remained clear and constant: If you’re going to discipline someone for what they do on their own time, you need to show a nexus between the employee’s actions and their Federal job. FELTG Instructor Robert Woods will help you untangle your most challenging off-duty misconduct scenarios and illustrate the situations where the conduct is so egregious as to create a rebuttable presumption of nexus.
Learning takeaways
Attendees will learn how to:
- Demonstrate nexus between the off-duty conduct and the efficiency of the service.
- Understand how Douglas Factor Eight: Notoriety and Agency Reputation can create nexus.
- Select an effective and defensible penalty for off-duty conduct.
Session 3
1:30 – 2:45 pm EDT
Medical Certification Requirements for Sick Leave and FMLA
Presented by Barbara Haga, President/Federal HR Services, FELTG Senior Instructor
(Earn 1.25 CLE credits)
Challenging situations involving sick leave and FMLA are, unfortunately, neither rare nor easy to solve. For example: An employee brings in a medical statement in support of her FMLA request. The statement only says that the employee is “unable to work.” Here’s another one: An employee refuses to bring medical documentation to support three weeks of absence to care for a family member who has a serious health condition. Or what about the employee who claims, for the first time during an MSPB appeal, that she was not AWOL and should have been entitled to sick leave. FELTG Senior Instructor Barbara Haga will provide the solutions to these scenarios, explain how MSPB decisions inform discussions about requirements for medical certification, share OPM’s requirements for revoking retroactive FMLA, and more.
Learning takeaways
Attendees will learn how to:
- Recognize the different medical certification requirements for sick leave and for FMLA.
- Implement clear policies on deadlines for submitting medical certification.
- Explain the requirement for granting provisional leave under the FMLA.
Session 4
3:15 – 4:30 pm EDT
Tools for Accountability: Position Descriptions, Performance Standards, and Medical Requirements
Presented by Barbara Haga, President/Federal HR Services, FELTG Senior Instructor
(Earn 1.25 CLE credits)
There is a lot of confusion about where the authority comes from to hold employees accountable for many things related to their positions, whether it’s medical requirements to hold licenses and certifications, work rules for proper use of credit cards and completing mandatory training, or successful performance of the key functions of their jobs. FELTG Senior Instructor Barbara Haga will explain how to maximize the effectiveness of the various tools management can employ to establish requirements and then deal with situations when employees fail to meet those requirements.
Learning takeaways
Attendees will learn how to:
- Ensure effective use of well-crafted position descriptions.
- Implement conduct standards that cover the full gamut of expectations that employees must meet.
- Develop effective and workable performance plans to accurately capture how well employees perform.
Wednesday, September 29, 2021
Spotlight on Challenges
Session 5
9:30 – 10:45 am EDT
Re-boarding: Strategies to Support a Successful Return to the Office
Presented by Anthony Marchese, PhD, Author/Coach/Consultant, FELTG Instructor
Most Federal employees are still working remotely, though many of them may soon make a return to the physical workplace. The remote work experience of the last 18 months has provided us with many lessons learned, research findings, and best practices to help supervisors seize the opportunity to nurture a workforce that is stronger and more resilient than ever before. During this session, FELTG Instructor Anthony Marchese, PhD, will share practical strategies for supervisors and advisers to help your employees return to the office smarter, stronger, and more satisfied with work.
Learning takeaways
Attendees will learn how to:
- Reset expectations and accountability in the post-pandemic workplace.
- Improve communication and collaboration among hybrid teams.
- Create a culture of candor and connection.
Session 6
11:15 am – 12:30 pm EDT
Resolving Conflicts Before They Lead to Litigation
Presented by Marcus Hill, Principal/Hill Management Consultancy (HMC) LLC, FELTG Instructor
As a Federal supervisor, it’s not a matter of if you will ever experience conflict within the workplace, but when. While workforce diversity is without a doubt an organizational strength, it can also make resolving conflict more difficult due to varying perspectives, orientations, and backgrounds. Conflict that is properly managed can be very beneficial to organizational performance and mission effectiveness. Marcus L. Hill, a recently retired Federal senior executive, will discuss common causes that create workplace conflicts, as well as strategies and practices supervisors can employ to resolve conflict before it leads to workplace chaos, organizational ineffectiveness, and costly litigation.
Learning takeaways
Attendees will learn how to:
- Identify the common types of conflicts that exists within organizations.
- Identify conflict management styles, strategies and tools, and when to apply them.
- Create an organizational culture that builds staff trust through inclusivity, promotes workplace harmony, and inspires innovative problem-solving to resolve conflict.
Session 7
1:30 – 2:45 pm EDT
Identifying and Eliminating Microaggressions in the Workplace
Presented by Deborah J. Hopkins, Attorney at Law, FELTG President
(Earn 1.25 EEO counselor & investigator refresher hours and 1.25 CLE credits)
FELTG Instructor Deborah J. Hopkins, attorney at law, will explain what microaggressions look like in their various forms — including microinsults, microassaults, and microinvalidations. If those words are all new to you, you’re not alone – but it’s time to get up to speed. Ms. Droste will share an implicit bias test, explain its impact, and provide examples where bias can lead to EEO and non-EEO discrimination and harassment.
Learning takeaways
Attendees will learn how to:
- Determine when bias or microaggression leads to the level of discrimination.
- Identify acts of microaggression and acts influenced by implicit bias.
- Respond appropriately and effectively when you see a microaggression in the workplace.
Session 8
3:15 – 4:30 pm EDT
The Reasonable Accommodation Mistakes Agencies Make
Presented by Bob Woods, Attorney at Law, FELTG Instructor
(Earn 1.25 EEO counselor & investigator refresher hours and 1.25 CLE credits)
Oftentimes, the best way to learn is by making mistakes. But not when it comes to reasonable accommodation law. Instead, learn from the blunders that other agencies have already made to prepare your agency to do things the right way. Bob Woods will share those mistakes, covering everything from the interactive process to telework to undue hardship, to raise awareness of how to avoid them.
Learning takeaways
Attendees will learn how to:
- Determine when to offer an accommodation different from the one requested.
- Recognize when leave would be considered an appropriate accommodation.
- Identify the agency defenses that have been successful when denying a reasonable accommodation request.
Thursday, September 30, 2021
Spotlight on Trends
Session 9
9:30 – 10:45 am EDT
The Changing Nature of Hostile Work Environment Claims
Presented by Katherine Atkinson, Attorney at Law, FELTG Instructor
(Earn 1.25 EEO counselor & investigator refresher hours and 1.25 CLE credits)
Unfortunately, the Federal workplace is not immune to reprehensible harassing behavior. As the pandemic raged and employees remained home, many thought that hostile work environment incidents would wane, yet the targets of hostile work environment merely expanded and changed. More harassment was aimed at Asian American and Pacific Islanders and LGBTQ employees, and harassment took more virtual forms including email and social media. Katherine Atkinson will discuss in clear terms the law on hostile work environment claims, amid the changing nature of the harassing behavior.
Learning takeaways
Attendees will learn how to:
- Determine when an agency could be held liable for hostile work environment.
- Raise awareness to prevent harassment from taking place.
- Take prompt and effective corrective action when harassment is alleged.
Session 10
11:15 am – 12:30 pm EDT
High Times and Misdemeanors: Weed and the Workplace
Presented by Deborah J. Hopkins, Attorney at Law, FELTG President
(Earn 1.25 CLE credits)
Recreational marijuana is legal in almost a dozen states and the District of Columbia, and its use for medical purposes is now legal in 30-plus states. What does that mean for Federal workers in those locations? Could their careers still go up in smoke for a “legal” activity? Are you required to accommodate an employee’s medically certified marijuana usage? What should you do if the Federal employee is married to someone who legally grows marijuana? Should you overlook an employee’s suspected marijuana usage because it makes him more pleasant to work with? FELTG President Deborah Hopkins will review the laws that apply to Federal employees and share the most effective approach to managing and/or disciplining employees when their drug usage seeps into the workplace.
Learning takeaways
Attendees will learn how to:
- Craft the right charge when disciplining an employee for marijuana usage.
- Determine when it’s appropriate to require an employee to take a drug test.
- Handle an employee who has lied about previous marijuana usage.
Session 11
1:30 – 2:45 pm EDT
Preparing for the Surge in Accommodation Requests for Telework
Presented by Ann Boehm, Attorney at Law, FELTG Instructor
(Earn 1.25 EEO counselor & investigator refresher hours and 1.25 CLE credits)
By most accounts, the great telework experiment worked. And as employees are directed to return to the physical workplace, it’s widely expected that requests for telework as a reasonable accommodation for disability (and, perhaps, for religious reasons) will increase significantly. Are you prepared for these requests? Do you have a proper procedure in place? What do you need to know about the interactive process? Ann Boehm discusses it all.
Learning takeaways
Attendees will learn:
- How to determine whether telework would be an effective accommodation.
- When an agency can legally deny telework as an accommodation.
- What the EEOC says about accommodating an employee’s commute.
Session 12
3:15 – 4:30 pm EDT
Case Law Update, Part I: MSPB, EEOC, and Fed Circuit
Presented by Ann Boehm, Attorney at Law, FELTG Instructor
(Earn 1.25 CLE credits)
In Federal employment law, things can change quickly. FELTG Instructor Ann Boehm will review the most recent and relevant cases, regulations, studies and reports from OPM, the EEOC, the courts, OSC, and (hopefully) the MSPB. Attendees will leave with knowledge of recent developments and with an in-depth analysis of the current employment law climate and its impact on the Federal workplace.
Learning takeaways
Attendees will learn:
- How a few recent Federal Circuit decisions have caused a major change at the MSPB in the absence of a quorum.
- The most updated guidance on Whistleblower protections.
- Recent trends in EEOC case law.
Friday, October 1, 2021
Spotlight on Labor Relations
Session 13
9:30 – 10:45 am EDT
Case Law Update, Part II: FLRA and FSIP
Presented by Joseph Schimansky, Former Executive Director/FSIP, FELTG Instructor
(Earn 1.25 CLE credits)
Over the past year-and-a-half, the Federal Labor Relations Authority has released several precedent-altering decisions. The Federal Service Impasses Panel has also issued several noteworthy decisions, but a new panel is on its way. Join FELTG Instructor Joseph Schimansky, the former Executive Director of the Federal Service Impasses Panel, as he reviews the cases and explains what it all means for Federal counsel, HR professionals, Labor Relations practitioners, and union representatives.
Learning takeaways
Attendees will learn:
- Which Trump FLRA decisions are most likely to be reversed by the Biden FLRA.
- How the Biden FSIP will operate differently from the practices adopted by the Trump FSIP.
- The latest updates on the appointment of new FLRA and FSIP Members by the Biden Administration.
Session 14
11:15 am – 12:30 pm EDT
Permissive Bargaining
Presented by Ann Boehm, Attorney at Law, FELTG Instructor
(Earn 1.25 CLE credits)
Permissive bargaining isn’t really permissive now, thanks to Executive Order 14003. Agencies must bargain over the 5 U.S.C. 7106(b)(1) topics. But what are the topics that fall under 5 U.S.C. 7106(b)(1)? This course will help you understand the complicated world of negotiability, and it will also help agencies realize that bargaining over these topics isn’t the end of the world.
Learning takeaways
Attendees will learn:
- Determine best practices in dealing with negotiability determinations in light of EO 14003.
- Develop effective negotiation strategies.
- Implement communication strategies to ensure mission is not adversely impacted by labor negotiations.
Session 15
1:30 – 2:45 pm EDT
Requests for Information
Presented by Ann Boehm, Attorney at Law, FELTG Instructor
(Earn 1.25 CLE credits)
Just about any federal labor relations professional has dealt with a union request for information, but they may not have handled it correctly. This class will help anyone dealing with a union’s request for information ensure that the agency provides information that it owes the union, but also ensure that the unions are establishing a particularized need. Engaging in the proper interactive process will help agencies avoid unfair labor practice complaints while providing only information that is legally required.
Learning takeaways
Attendees will learn how to:
- Identify the rights and obligations of both agencies and unions regarding information requests.
- Apply the “particularized need” standard.
- Reply when the union fails to meet the “particularized need” standard.
Pricing
- Early bird pricing for individual sessions start at $150. Daily and full event All Access discounts available.
- Early Bird discounts available until September 3.
- See registration form for full pricing details.
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?
- This program is submitted for CLE credits to, and we anticipate approval by, the State Bar of Virginia. Individual 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 All Access registration options only. Group discounts are available through September 3.
Download Individual Registration Form
The federal hiring process requires patience. Take the time to do it correctly. Those who hurry the hiring process are not only likely to make a mistake in hiring, but they may also end up without sufficient documentation to combat a discrimination complaint, making the allegation difficult to defend against.
With a flurry of Executive Orders early in his term, President Biden made it clear that diversity and inclusion are priorities in the federal workplace. His most recent Executive Order 14035 on Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility in the Federal Workforce charges agencies with identifying “strategies to advance diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility, and eliminate, where applicable, barriers to equity, in Federal workforce functions, including: recruitment; hiring … and onboarding programs.”
FELTG instructor and attorney at law Katherine Atkinson will explain how to ensure your hiring practices are nondiscriminatory and align with merit system principles and the Administrations’ priorities. Ms. Atkinson will cover the types of interview questions that cause problems, and will discuss selection panel roles and responsibilities, including ensuring the selecting officials implement best practices to develop and maintain evidence demonstrating the non-selection was neither discriminatory nor retaliatory.
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. This program runs from 12:30 pm – 4:00 pm eastern, with a 30-minute break from 2:00 – 2:30 eastern.
This program meets the President’s mandate to provide training on diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility in the Federal workplace.
Instructor
Price
- Early Bird Tuition: $340 (register by October 12)
- Standard Tuition: $380 (register October 13 or later)
- Rates per registrant.
- Want to register a group? Group discounts for 10 or more attendees are available through October 12. 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 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 through October 12.
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.
Instructors
Course Description
Pet ownership increased and animal shelters emptied during COVID-enforced lockdowns in 2020. Undoubtedly, remote workers have enjoyed the therapeutic benefits that come with owning a pet. But does that make their new furry friends therapy or emotional support animals? And can no-longer-remote employees bring their new four-legged friends to the workplace? In most cases, the answer is an easy no. But if it’s a reasonable accommodation request, the answer isn’t quite as definitive.
The EEOC’s stance that an emotional support animal may be a required reasonable accommodation for a qualified individual with a disability, even if it is not a trained service dog, fails to provide an easy answer.
Attendees will learn how to:
- Determine the difference between a service animal and a therapy animal.
- Recognize when an emotional support animal would be a reasonable accommodation
- Effectively navigate the interactive process.
Price
- Early Bird Tuition: $270 per site, per webinar (payment required by September 27)
- Standard Tuition: $295 per site, per webinar (payments made September 28 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.
Instructor
Program Description
There are several reasons why an EEO claim might be dismissed, but it’s not a decision that should be made too quickly or without much thought. A surprising number of agency dismissals are overturned by the EEOC each year. Don’t become another EEOC statistic.
FELTG Instructor Katherine Atkinson will review the lawful reasons for dismissing a claim — failure to state a claim, timeliness, collateral attack — and walk you through making that determination.
Learning objectives:
- Identify claims that do not fall under the EEO process
- Understand the components of timeliness in EEO claims
- Draft legally-sufficient acceptance and dismissal documents
Price
- Early Bird Tuition: $270 per site, per webinar (payment required by November 8)
- Standard Tuition: $295 per site, per webinar (payments made November 9 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.
Instructor
Course Description
Navigating the FMLA is one of the most complex challenges a federal agency can face and the addition of Paid Parental Leave (PPL) has further complicated matters. Let Federal leave expert Barbara Haga break it all down for you. During this 90-minute webinar, Ms. Haga will explain entitlements, notice requirements, medical certifications and how to hold employees accountable for conduct and performance matters when FMLA leave is involved.
Attendees will work through scenarios to learn how and when to grant FMLA. And there will be several opportunities to ask questions.
Attendees will learn how to:
- Manage substitution of paid leave (including PPL) in place of unpaid FMLA leave.
- Decide what to do when medical documentation is insufficient.
- Identify covered serious health conditions.
Price
- Early Bird Tuition: $295 per site (payment required by January 21)
- Standard Tuition: $325 per site (payments made January 22 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 Individual Registration Form
Course Description
FELTG’s flagship course UnCivil Servant empowers federal supervisors and advisers to confidently handle the challenges that come with supervising in the federal workplace. We hope that you never have to fire an employee. But it’s important that you have the tools to effectively address poor performance and misconduct, should the need arise.
Over the course of two half-days, UnCivil Servant identifies misconceptions about performance and misconduct-based actions and provides you with simple step-by-step guidance for taking swift, appropriate and legally defensible actions. The program also covers the very latest with Executive Order 14003, plus updated OPM regulations on performance and conduct and the very latest on the vaccine mandates.
Join FELTG for this special event, from wherever you are working – agency office or home. The program will be presented live, and you’ll have time to ask questions and get answers in real time. Note: This course fulfills OPM’s mandatory training requirements for new supervisors found at 5 CFR 412.202(b).
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
Who Should Attend
Federal supervisors and managers; attorneys; Labor and Employee Relations Specialists; EEO specialists; union representatives.
Agenda
Wednesday, February 9
Accountability for Conduct and Performance, Part I: Accountability and supervisory authority; discipline and misconduct theory and practice; the five elements of discipline; off-duty misconduct; penalty defense and due process.
Thursday, February 10
Accountability for Conduct and Performance, Part II: Discipline procedures and appeals; disciplinary documents; defining unacceptable performance; dealing with poor performers; performance-based removal procedures.
Price
- Early Bird Tuition: $390 per session, $720 for both sessions (register by January 25).
- Standard Tuition: $420 per session, $750 for both sessions (register January 26-February 10).
- Rates per registrant. No split registrations permitted.
- Want to register a group? Contact FELTG.
Event FAQs
- Can I attend Virtual Training from my government computer?
- FELTG uses Zoom for its Virtual Training Institute events. Many government computers and systems allow Zoom access. If for some reason your firewall will not allow access, you’re welcome to use your personal email address to register, and to attend the sessions from your personal device.
- What if I want to attend a session but have a schedule conflict?
- FELTG 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 25.
- Can I earn CLE credits for this class?
- CLE applications are the responsibility of each attendee; FELTG does not apply for the credits on behalf of attendees. If you are seeking CLE credit, attendees may use the materials provided by FELTG in submission to your state bar. Attendees may also request a certificate of completion which will contain the number of training hours attended.
Seminar registration includes a PDF copy of the program materials, plus a hard copy of the textbook UnCivil Servant: Holding Employees Accountable for Performance and Conduct, 5th ed., by Wiley and Hopkins. In order to receive the textbook by the training date, please register by January 25 and provide a shipping address. Registrations received after January 25 will also receive a textbook, but materials are not guaranteed to arrive by the training date.
Instructor
Program Description
As 2021 came to a close, agency leaders and supervisors worked diligently processing requests for exemptions to the vaccine mandate, and disciplining those who refused or failed to be vaccinated. Then on January 21, a Federal judge in Texas issue a nationwide injunction that brought everything to a screeching halt. But questions remain:
- Must you overturn discipline you’ve already taken against unvaccinated employees?
- Do employees who complied with the vaccine mandate in order to maintain their jobs have a route of grievance or appeal?
- Do you still process reasonable accommodation requests for exemptions?
- Can you still ask applicants for proof of vaccination status?
- Can you still enforce other safety protocols, such as masking?
- What happens if a higher court reinstates the mandate?
- How do you handle hostile workplace discrimination based on vaccination status?
- What does this mean for agencies that have established, or want to establish, their own vaccine requirements?
During this 60-minute webinar, FELTG President Deborah Hopkins will provide answers to these and other questions — and she will take your questions as you try to navigate these uncertain issues, while at the same time your agency is making preparations to return employees to the physical workspace.
Price
- Early Bird Tuition: $285 per site (payment required by February 7)
- Standard Tuition: $315 per site (payments made February 8 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.
Instructor
Program Description
Unlike the MSPB, the EEOC allows parties to file motions for summary judgment, potentially eliminating the need for a time-consuming, expensive, and risky hearing. Yet, many agencies fail to take advantage of this opportunity. During this 60-minute webinar, FELTG Instructor Katherine Atkinson will explain the the importance of the Report of Investigation and thorough discovery, the benefits of motions for for summary judgment (MSJs), and what to include in the MSJ to best represent your client and case.
Attendees will learn how to:
- Identify when to file a motion for summary judgment
- Organize for the motion
- Draft an effective motion that withstands third-party scrutiny
Price
- Early Bird Tuition: $270 per site, per webinar (payment required by February 11)
- Standard Tuition: $295 per site, per webinar (payments made February 12 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.
Instructor
Program Description
Recreational marijuana is legal in over a dozen states and the District of Columbia, and its use for medical purposes is now legal in 30-plus states. What does that mean for Federal workers in those locations? Could their careers still go up in smoke for a “legal” activity? Are you required to accommodate an employee’s medically certified marijuana usage? What should you do if the Federal employee is married to someone who legally grows marijuana? Should you overlook an employee’s suspected marijuana usage because it makes him more pleasant to work with?
FELTG President Deborah Hopkins will review the laws that apply to Federal employees and share the most effective approach to managing and/or disciplining employees when their drug usage seeps into the workplace.
Attendees will learn how to:
- Craft the right charge when disciplining an employee for marijuana usage.
- Determine when it’s appropriate to require an employee to take a drug test.
- Handle an employee who has lied about previous marijuana usage.
Price
- Early Bird Tuition: $270 per site (payment required by February 16)
- Standard Tuition: $295 per site (payments made February 17 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 Individual Registration Form
If you thought President Biden’s Executive Orders to advance racial equity throughout the Federal government and strengthen discrimination protections were just feel-good statements, think again. Agencies have until March 23, 2022 to put together their DEIA strategic plan. And then agencies will have to file annual DEIA reports to the White House.
This issue is NOT going away and it can’t be successfully addressed by sending the White House a list of policies and procedures. 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.
What is a microaggression? 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.
Whether intentional or not, microaggressions 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.
Ms. Atkinson will also 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.
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.
Class will be held from 1:00-3:00 PM eastern.
Instructor
Price
- Early Bird Tuition: $295 (register by February 22)
- Standard Tuition: $325 (register February 23 to March 9)
- Rates per registrant.
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 until February 22.
Cancellation and No-show Policy for Registered Participants: Cancellations made after the cancel date on the registration form will not be refunded or given credit toward future courses. Pre-paid training using the “Pay Now” option will not be refunded or given credit toward future courses. No-shows will not be refunded or given credit toward future courses.
Download Individual Registration Form
Your agency has until March 23 to put together a Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Accessibility (DEIA) strategic plan that not only identifies “strategies to advance diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility,” but also to “eliminate, where applicable, barriers to equity, in Federal workforce functions” such as hiring. This half-day virtual session will give you the guidance you need to ensure ensure your hiring practices are nondiscriminatory and align with the federal merit system principles.
Even if you weren’t facing down a deadline, you know: The federal hiring process is a challenging one that requires patience. Those who hurry the hiring process are not only likely to make a mistake in hiring, but they may also end up without sufficient documentation to combat a discrimination complaint, making the allegation difficult to defend against.
FELTG instructor and attorney at law Katherine Atkinson will explain the types of interview questions that cause problems, and will discuss selection panel roles and responsibilities, including ensuring the selecting officials implement best practices to develop and maintain evidence demonstrating the non-selection was neither discriminatory nor retaliatory.
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. This program runs from 1:00 – 4:30 pm eastern, with a 30-minute break from 2:30 – 3:00.
This program meets the President’s mandate to provide training on diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility in the Federal workplace.
Instructor
Price
- Early Bird Tuition: $355 (register by March 2)
- Standard Tuition: $395 (register March 3 or later)
- Rates per registrant.
- Want to register a group? Group discounts for 10 or more attendees are available through March 2. 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.
- What if I want to attend a session but have a schedule conflict?
- FELTG 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 through March 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.
Instructor
Course Description
It’s no secret that the FLRA Chair and the two other members of the Authority rarely see eye-to-eye. That was especially evident in a late 2021 decision that revealed widely differing opinions about the future of the covered-by doctrine. In this 60-minute webinar, Joseph Schimansky will explain the covered-by doctrine: what it is, and how it’s determined, plus the details of the Authority’s disagreement, and what it means to you as a labor relations practitioner or union representative. Plus, you’ll have a chance to ask your questions and get answers in real time.
With the ever-changing nature of Federal LR and the prospect of the Authority soon shifting from a Republican majority to a Democratic majority, you won’t want to miss this event.
Price
- Early Bird Tuition: $270 per site, per webinar (payment required by March 7)
- Standard Tuition: $295 per site, per webinar (payments made March 8 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.
Instructor
Course Description
A principle rule in findings of discrimination is to, as nearly as possible, place the victim in the position that person would have occupied but for the discrimination. This is easier said than done, because there’s no way to undo the harm caused by illegal employment discrimination.
Even still, damages and remedies is a topic that every EEO practitioner needs to understand, whether they’re preparing for hearing or negotiating a settlement. Bob Woods, attorney and FELTG instructor, will cover:
- Past and future pecuniary damages
- Non pecuniary damages
- Compensatory damages awards, and how the level of harm is directly related to the cap on damages!
Price
- Early Bird Tuition: $270 per site, per webinar (payment required by March 9)
- Standard Tuition: $295 per site, per webinar (payments made March 10 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.
Instructor
Course Description
There is a lot of confusion about where the authority comes from to hold employees accountable for many things related to their positions. Position descriptions, performance plans, conduct standards, as well as requirements for training and licenses/certifications all fit into this scheme.
This two-part series will help you navigate which tool works best for building in the accountability that your agency should demand. In Part I, the focus will be on establishing effective performance elements and standards. This workshop will include detailed on guidance on writing measures that are understandable and workable as well as defensible.
FELTG Senior Instructor Barbara Haga will explain requirements for establishing various kinds of elements as well as writing standards that measure what is truly important about an employee’s performance. This workshop will include discussion of important MSPB cases about the content of standards.
Attendees will learn how to:
- Identify what critical elements and performance standards are intended to cover
- Craft workable standards that managers can explain and can effectively measure the key things regarding an employee’s performance
- Understand concepts from MSPB case law that explain how to write standards which will withstand scrutiny in grievances and appeals
Price
- Early Bird Tuition: $295 per site, per webinar (payment required by March 28)
- Standard Tuition: $335 per site, per webinar (payments made March 29 or later)
Register for both webinars by March 28 and pay only $570!
Teleworkers may be added to a main site registration for $50 per teleworker, per webinar, 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.
Instructor
Course Description
In this second part of the Tools for Accountability series. FELTG Senior Instructor Barbara Haga will cover the range of tools that are available to set job duties and functions, conduct standards, medical standards and physical requirements, and conditions of employment. The session will include discussion of utilizing position descriptions and other agency tools to establish what conduct standards employees are expected to meet. Ms. Haga will explain how to maximize the effectiveness of the tools management can employ to deal with situations when employees fail to meet those requirements.
Attendees will learn how to:
- Ensure effective use of well-crafted position descriptions.
- Establish conditions of employment and taking action when they are not met.
- Understand how medical examinations and physical requirements are established to ensure that employees can safely and effectively perform.
Price
- Early Bird Tuition: $295 per site, per webinar (payment required by March 28)
- Standard Tuition: $335 per site, per webinar (payments made March 29 or later)
Register for both webinars by March 28 and pay only $570!
Teleworkers may be added to a main site registration for $50 per teleworker, per webinar, 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.
Instructor
Course Description
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 Katherine Atkinson will review recent EEO cases to share these mistakes so you know how to avoid them.
During this webinar, 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
- Whether long-term telework during the pandemic affects an agency’s processing of telework accommodation requests
- 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: $270 per site, per session (payment made by April 5).
- Standard Tuition: $295 per site, per session (payment made April 6 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.
Instructor
Program Description
If you’ve been in the business for more than a few days, you know the importance of drafting legally-sufficient disciplinary charges, and making a reasonable penalty determination. Yet many agencies still lose cases because of poorly drafted charges. This session will cover the art and science behind drafting disciplinary charges, including the types of charges, parts of a charge, how charges are interpreted, and alternative charges. From there the discussion will cover the factors required to determine an appropriate penalty for employee misconduct. Plus, with a quorum now restored, we’ll look at how the brand-new MSPB views charges and penalties by deconstructing the first Board cases we’ve gotten in over five years.
Attendees will learn how to:
- Discuss the MSPB and Federal Circuit lead cases involving penalty determination.
- Defend the penalty using the Douglas Factors – or related penalty defense factors.
- Draft effective proposal and decision letters.
Price
- Early Bird Tuition: $270 per site (payment required by April 20)
- Standard Tuition: $295 per site (payments made April 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.