Instructors
Course Description
After two-plus years of pandemic upheaval, agencies are finally bringing most employees back to the physical workplace, at least some of the time. After previous attempts were upended by COVID variants, agencies now have tangible plans on who is coming back, and when. And with those plans come brand-new challenges for your agency.
- Uncertainty about the future of the vaccination requirement.
- Medical considerations as new variants continue to circulate.
- Strongly held feelings and belief about COVID-related matters.
- Employees, now used to the flexibilities of remote work, who don’t want to return to the physical workplace.
- And the uncertainty about the new hybrid workplace that many agencies are creating.
FELTG’s “The Return to the Workplace” webinar series offers to provide clear-cut answers, along with the appropriate framework for you to address these unique and unprecedented challenges.
May 4: New EEO Challenges: Preventing Post-COVID Reprisal and Harassment
Rather than bringing people together to fight a common cause, the pandemic widened the deep politicization in this country, which, unfortunately, has filtered into workplaces. Federal agencies should be prepared to identify and handle expected increases in COVID-related reprisal and harassment. In this 60-minute webinar, FELTG President Deborah Hopkins will provide answers to numerous questions, including:
- What’s the difference between COVID-related harassment and reprisal?
- How can you prevent adverse treatment of individuals who requested an exemption to the vaccine requirement?
- Is harassing someone who doesn’t believe in COVID an EEO issue?
- What parameters can employers set about COVID- and vaccine-related conversations in the workplace?
May 11: Managing Post-pandemic Reasonable Accommodation Requests and Medical Documentation
Before a Federal district judge in Texas issued an injunction on the vaccine requirement for many (but not all) Federal employees, many of you were dealing with multiple requests for exemptions. And with the injunction set to be lifted May 31, those requests – plus any new ones that are filed – will once again require processing. And even more new accommodation challenges await you, along with potential minefields that if not avoided could lead to ADA/Rehabilitation Action violations. In this 60-minute webinar, FELTG Instructor Ann Boehm will provide answers to numerous questions, including:
- How do you accommodate someone with ‘long COVID’?
- What do you do with the results of an employee’s COVID-19 test or vaccine documentation?
- If an employee successfully performed remotely, must you grant his accommodation request for permanent telework?
- Should you review all of the reasonable accommodations offered before employees return to the workplace?
- What should agencies be doing with all those requests for vaccine exemptions?
May 18: Managing Return-to-the-Workplace Conduct Challenges
Many Federal employees are eager to return to the physical workplace. However, it’s important to remember that there are just as many employees, if not more, who are comfortable in their current remote work situation, and do not look forward to a return. There are likely numerous other employees who continue to carry a chip on their shoulder about how the pandemic was handled. In this 60-minute webinar, FELTG President Deborah Hopkins will address how to handle some of the conduct challenges you’re likely to face. She’ll provide answers to numerous questions, including:
- Is failure to comply with a COVID-19 screening test or mask requirement a performance or conduct issue?
- Where do things stand with the vaccine requirement?
- What actions can you take against employees who refuse to return to the workplace?
- If an employee is AWOL, what options does your agency have?
- Can you discipline someone for publicly sharing their personal opinions about COVID restrictions?
This series meets the President’s mandate to provide training on diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility in the Federal workplace.
Price
- Early Bird Tuition: $290 per site, per session (payment made by April 25).
- Standard Tuition: $320 per site, per session (payment made April 26 or later).
- Register for all three webinars by April 25 and pay only $830.
Teleworkers may be added to a main site registration for $50 per webinar 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
The last year has presented a dramatic shift in the world of federal labor relations. President Biden’s Executive Order rescinding numerous Trump Executive Orders, including those regarding official time, bargaining topics, negotiation timeframes, and union responsibilities to pay for things they never had to pay for before. Meanwhile, a Democratic nominee awaits confirmation that would change the political make-up of the Authority, and another Democrat awaits confirmation for the permanent General Counsel position that sat vacant for far too long.
Now, more than ever, you need FELTG’s FLRA Law Week. Led by two instructors with a combined total of nearly 40 years experience working at the FLRA, this training will bring you up to speed on where the current law stands, and share best practices on how to effectively navigate it in your day-to-day work, whether you’re a labor attorney, labor relations specialist or union representative.
FLRA Law Week provides attendees with a firm foundation of the historical perspective and precedence of FLRA decisions, as well as a strategy for taking advantage of any new approaches that are coming out of the FLRA. And this includes the latest guidance based on the FLRA’s recent precedent-breaking decisions have on collective bargaining.
There’s no other place where you can get in-depth guidance on hot-button issues, such as permissive bargaining, official time, and negotiations, to guide you through this dynamic time. So join us for this class May 9-13, where the entire world of Federal labor relations will be discussed.
The program runs 12:00 – 4:00 pm eastern each day, with a break from 1:45 – 2:15.
Instructors
Daily Agenda
Monday, May 9
Basic Management and Employee Rights: An overview of the Federal Service Labor-Management Relations Statute; the current status of Executive Orders 13836 and 13837; fundamental employee, union, and management rights; bargaining unit definition; the union organizer’s role; information requests; official time.
Tuesday, May 10
Labor Relations Meetings and Bargaining: More on official time; formal discussions; union representative rights; the collective bargaining process; the three categories of bargaining: mandatory, permissive, and prohibited; introduction to negotiability.
Wednesday, May 11
Unfair Labor Practices and Negotiability: Employee rights vs. Management rights; the anatomy of an Unfair Labor Practice; an overview of the Federal Services Impasse Panel; negotiability appeals.
Thursday, May 12
The Psychology of Bargaining, Plus Grievances and Pandemic-Related Issues: Selecting a bargaining strategy; interest based bargaining as compared to hard ball bargaining; grievances; exceptions to arbitration awards; a new Administration.
Friday, May 13
Understanding the FSIP and Arbitration: Panel members, FSIP procedures, recent FSIP developments, the arbitration process overview; binding the arbitrator; how federal government arbitration is different from private sector arbitration and appeals; educating the arbitrator.
Pricing
Most people attend the full training week, but you may opt out of any days you don’t plan to attend.
Early Bird Tuition (register by April 22):
- 5 days = $1475
- 4 days = $1195
- 3 days = $910
- 2 days = $630
- 1 day = $345
Standard Tuition (register April 23 or later):
- 5 days = $1550
- 4 days = $1285
- 3 days = $975
- 2 days = $685
- 1 day = $395
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.
- 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. No split registrations.
- 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 April 22.
Instructors
Course Description
After two-plus years of pandemic upheaval, agencies are finally bringing most employees back to the physical workplace, at least some of the time. After previous attempts were upended by COVID variants, agencies now have tangible plans on who is coming back, and when. And with those plans come brand-new challenges for your agency.
- Uncertainty about the future of the vaccination requirement.
- Medical considerations as new variants continue to circulate.
- Strongly held feelings and belief about COVID-related matters.
- Employees, now used to the flexibilities of remote work, who don’t want to return to the physical workplace.
- And the uncertainty about the new hybrid workplace that many agencies are creating.
FELTG’s “The Return to the Workplace” webinar series offers to provide clear-cut answers, along with the appropriate framework for you to address these unique and unprecedented challenges.
May 4: New EEO Challenges: Preventing Post-COVID Reprisal and Harassment
Rather than bringing people together to fight a common cause, the pandemic widened the deep politicization in this country, which, unfortunately, has filtered into workplaces. Federal agencies should be prepared to identify and handle expected increases in COVID-related reprisal and harassment. In this 60-minute webinar, FELTG President Deborah Hopkins will provide answers to numerous questions, including:
- What’s the difference between COVID-related harassment and reprisal?
- How can you prevent adverse treatment of individuals who requested an exemption to the vaccine requirement?
- Is harassing someone who doesn’t believe in COVID an EEO issue?
- What parameters can employers set about COVID- and vaccine-related conversations in the workplace?
May 11: Managing Post-pandemic Reasonable Accommodation Requests and Medical Documentation
Before a Federal district judge in Texas issued an injunction on the vaccine requirement for many (but not all) Federal employees, many of you were dealing with multiple requests for exemptions. And with the injunction set to be lifted May 31, those requests – plus any new ones that are filed – will once again require processing. And even more new accommodation challenges await you, along with potential minefields that if not avoided could lead to ADA/Rehabilitation Action violations. In this 60-minute webinar, FELTG Instructor Ann Boehm will provide answers to numerous questions, including:
- How do you accommodate someone with ‘long COVID’?
- What do you do with the results of an employee’s COVID-19 test or vaccine documentation?
- If an employee successfully performed remotely, must you grant his accommodation request for permanent telework?
- Should you review all of the reasonable accommodations offered before employees return to the workplace?
- What should agencies be doing with all those requests for vaccine exemptions?
May 18: Managing Return-to-the-Workplace Conduct Challenges
Many Federal employees are eager to return to the physical workplace. However, it’s important to remember that there are just as many employees, if not more, who are comfortable in their current remote work situation, and do not look forward to a return. There are likely numerous other employees who continue to carry a chip on their shoulder about how the pandemic was handled. In this 60-minute webinar, FELTG President Deborah Hopkins will address how to handle some of the conduct challenges you’re likely to face. She’ll provide answers to numerous questions, including:
- Is failure to comply with a COVID-19 screening test or mask requirement a performance or conduct issue?
- Where do things stand with the vaccine requirement?
- What actions can you take against employees who refuse to return to the workplace?
- If an employee is AWOL, what options does your agency have?
- Can you discipline someone for publicly sharing their personal opinions about COVID restrictions?
This series meets the President’s mandate to provide training on diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility in the Federal workplace.
Price
- Early Bird Tuition: $290 per site, per session (payment made by April 25).
- Standard Tuition: $320 per site, per session (payment made April 26 or later).
- Register for all three webinars by April 25 and pay only $830.
Teleworkers may be added to a main site registration for $50 per webinar 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
After two-plus years of pandemic upheaval, agencies are finally bringing most employees back to the physical workplace, at least some of the time. After previous attempts were upended by COVID variants, agencies now have tangible plans on who is coming back, and when. And with those plans come brand-new challenges for your agency.
- Uncertainty about the future of the vaccination requirement.
- Medical considerations as new variants continue to circulate.
- Strongly held feelings and belief about COVID-related matters.
- Employees, now used to the flexibilities of remote work, who don’t want to return to the physical workplace.
- And the uncertainty about the new hybrid workplace that many agencies are creating.
FELTG’s “The Return to the Workplace” webinar series offers to provide clear-cut answers, along with the appropriate framework for you to address these unique and unprecedented challenges.
May 4: New EEO Challenges: Preventing Post-COVID Reprisal and Harassment
Rather than bringing people together to fight a common cause, the pandemic widened the deep politicization in this country, which, unfortunately, has filtered into workplaces. Federal agencies should be prepared to identify and handle expected increases in COVID-related reprisal and harassment. In this 60-minute webinar, FELTG President Deborah Hopkins will provide answers to numerous questions, including:
- What’s the difference between COVID-related harassment and reprisal?
- How can you prevent adverse treatment of individuals who requested an exemption to the vaccine requirement?
- Is harassing someone who doesn’t believe in COVID an EEO issue?
- What parameters can employers set about COVID- and vaccine-related conversations in the workplace?
May 11: Managing Post-pandemic Reasonable Accommodation Requests and Medical Documentation
Before a Federal district judge in Texas issued an injunction on the vaccine requirement for many (but not all) Federal employees, many of you were dealing with multiple requests for exemptions. And with the injunction set to be lifted May 31, those requests – plus any new ones that are filed – will once again require processing. And even more new accommodation challenges await you, along with potential minefields that if not avoided could lead to ADA/Rehabilitation Action violations. In this 60-minute webinar, FELTG Instructor Ann Boehm will provide answers to numerous questions, including:
- How do you accommodate someone with ‘long COVID’?
- What do you do with the results of an employee’s COVID-19 test or vaccine documentation?
- If an employee successfully performed remotely, must you grant his accommodation request for permanent telework?
- Should you review all of the reasonable accommodations offered before employees return to the workplace?
- What should agencies be doing with all those requests for vaccine exemptions?
May 18: Managing Return-to-the-Workplace Conduct Challenges
Many Federal employees are eager to return to the physical workplace. However, it’s important to remember that there are just as many employees, if not more, who are comfortable in their current remote work situation, and do not look forward to a return. There are likely numerous other employees who continue to carry a chip on their shoulder about how the pandemic was handled. In this 60-minute webinar, FELTG President Deborah Hopkins will address how to handle some of the conduct challenges you’re likely to face. She’ll provide answers to numerous questions, including:
- Is failure to comply with a COVID-19 screening test or mask requirement a performance or conduct issue?
- Where do things stand with the vaccine requirement?
- What actions can you take against employees who refuse to return to the workplace?
- If an employee is AWOL, what options does your agency have?
- Can you discipline someone for publicly sharing their personal opinions about COVID restrictions?
This series meets the President’s mandate to provide training on diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility in the Federal workplace.
Price
- Early Bird Tuition: $290 per site, per session (payment made by April 25).
- Standard Tuition: $320 per site, per session (payment made April 26 or later).
- Register for all three webinars by April 25 and pay only $830.
Teleworkers may be added to a main site registration for $50 per webinar 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 OPM’s updated regulations on performance and conduct, and the very latest on the vaccine mandate.
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
Tuesday, May 24
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.
Wednesday, May 25
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 May 9).
- Standard Tuition: $420 per session, $750 for both sessions (register May 10-25).
- 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 May 9.
- 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 May 9 and provide a shipping address. Registrations received after May 9 will also receive a textbook, but materials are not guaranteed to arrive by the training date.
Download Individual Registration Form
Course Description
Federal employees have historically enjoyed a wide variety of leave-related benefits. Those benefits have only increased in recent years, most recently in the form of paid parental leave. It’s no wonder that leave, which is not always an entitlement, has become such a complex and seemingly burdensome issue, especially when they intersect with other laws. And then there are also the challenges related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Whether you’re an HR professional, employee relations practitioner, EEO specialist, supervisor, or agency counsel, you have undoubtedly faced a leave-related challenge. FELTG’s Absence, Leave Abuse & Medical Issues Week will give you the critical foundation you need to address the most complex areas of federal employment law, including the recent challenges related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Our speakers will discuss sick leave, annual leave, leave without pay, absence without leave, and FMLA. Then they will tackle the most current, relevant topics, such as disciplining employees for leave abuse, dealing with medical issues and unacceptable performance, leave and reasonable accommodation, medical documentation, medical exams, and more.
The program runs 12:00 – 4:00 each day, with a break from 1:45-2:15 (all times eastern). Participants will receive program materials via email the week before the training.
Download Individual Registration Form
Who Should Attend
Attorneys; Labor and Employee Relations Specialists; EEO managers and directors; EEO specialists; Reasonable Accommodation Coordinators; federal supervisors and managers; union representatives.
Instructors
Barbara Haga, Deborah Hopkins, Katherine Atkinson, Robert Woods
Daily Agenda:
Monday, June 13
Leave Use Overview: Course topics: Emergency Paid Sick Leave, Sick Leave: eligibility, notification requirements, medical certification, dealing with abuse, Additional Leave Entitlements, Administrative Leave.
Tuesday, June 14
FMLA Law and Policy: Course topics: FMLA: eligibility, notification requirements, definition of serious health condition, medical certification, intermittent use, and Paid Family Leave.
Wednesday, June 15
Leave-Related Discipline & Medical Removals: Course topics: The five elements of discipline; leave-related misconduct; documentation necessary to discipline an employee for leave-related misconduct and leave abuse; AWOL charges; excessive absence removals; medical inability to perform removals.
Thursday, June 16
Reasonable Accommodation: Entitlements and Processes: Course topics: The ADA Amendments Act; the Rehabilitation Act; the reasonable accommodation process; the “regarded as” provision of the ADA; telework and leave as reasonable accommodation; flexible work schedules and alternative work locations; religious accommodation.
Friday, June 17
Medical Documentation, Medical Requests and Record Confidentiality: Course topics: How the ADAAA and GINA impact the collection of medical information; pre- and post-employment medical exams and inquiries; conditional employment offers; medical documentation requests; direct threat; conflicting regulations and contra court decisions.
Pricing
Most people attend the full training week, but you may opt out of any days you don’t plan to attend.
Early Bird Tuition (register by May 27):
- 5 days = $1475
- 4 days = $1195
- 3 days = $910
- 2 days = $630
- 1 day = $345
Standard Tuition (register May 28-June 17):
- 5 days = $1550
- 4 days = $1285
- 3 days = $975
- 2 days = $685
- 1 day = $395
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.
- Can I earn CLE credits for this class?
- CLE applications are the responsibility of each attendee; FELTG does not apply for the credits on behalf of attendees. If you are seeking CLE credit, attendees may use the materials provided by FELTG in submission to your state bar. Attendees may also request a certificate of completion which will contain the number of training hours attended.
- Can I share my access link with co-workers?
- No. Registration for this event is per individual, and access links may not be shared. Each link may only be used by one person.
- Can I register a teleworker?
- This event is individual registration, so the cost is the same whether the person is teleworking or in an agency facility.
- How do I receive a group rate discount?
- Group rates are available for agencies registering 10 or more individuals for the full event. Group discounts are available through May 30.
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: $250 per site, per session (payment made by July 11).
- Standard Tuition: $280 per site, per session (payment made July 12 or later).
- Register for all five webinars in the series by July 11 and pay only $1195!
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 course.
Download Individual Registration Form
Instructor
Course Description
Performance appraisals. End of cycle ratings on tough-to-track elements. Discussing performance problems with employees. Taking defensible performance actions. Dealing with generic performance plans. Understanding when an issue is best dealt with through performance and when conduct would be a better answer.
If you really want to make performance a priority for your team, especially as you juggle the work of remote and onsite employees, as well as those working a hybrid schedule, then join us for this new half-day virtual training from FELTG Senior Instructor Barbara Haga.
Ms. Haga will take the mystery out of how the system is supposed to work in the Federal government by helping you review your own performance plans to see what’s good and what needs tweaking. She’ll also explain understand appraisal system requirements, including documenting performance and the the importance of timely and effective feedback. Ms. Haga will review important concepts about developing workable performance plans and how to differentiate between conduct and performance matters. The session will include discussion of the necessary steps to take action on deficient. performance improvement plans, and will also guide you through challenging issues like managing a poor performer who requests reasonable accommodation.
Price
- Early Bird Tuition (register by July 12): $355
- Standard Tuition (register July 13 or later): $395
- Rates per registrant.
- Want to register a group? Group discounts for 10 or more attendees are available through July 12. Contact FELTG.
Event FAQs
- Can I attend Virtual Training from my government computer?
- FELTG uses Zoom to broadcast 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.
- Can I earn CLE credits for this class?
- CLE applications are the responsibility of each attendee; FELTG does not apply for the credits on behalf of attendees. If you are seeking CLE credit, attendees may use the materials provided by FELTG in submission to your state bar. Attendees may also request a certificate of completion which will contain the number of training hours attended.
- Can I share my access link with co-workers?
- No. Registration for this event is per individual, and access links may not be shared. Each link may only be used by one person.
- Can I register a teleworker?
- This event is individual registration, so the cost is the same whether the person is teleworking or in an agency facility.
- How do I receive a group rate discount?
- Group rates are available for agencies registering 10 or more individuals. Group discounts are available through July 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.
Instructor
Course Description
1
The Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) requires employers to reasonably accommodate qualified employees who have disabilities, as long as doing so doesn’t cause an undue hardship. Reasonable accommodations should be determined by the employee and the agency, through what those of us in the business call “the interactive process.”
This 60-minute webinar, the second in FELTG’s Reasonable Accommodation in the Federal Workplace series, will tackle what agencies need to know when they work with employees on reasonable accommodation, including practical applications and best practices on topics including:
- Determining the essential functions of the job
- Accommodations of choice: who gets to select the accommodation
- Holding successful discussions with the employee
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: $250 per site, per session (payment made by July 11).
- Standard Tuition: $280 per site, per session (payment made July 12 or later).
- Register for all five webinars in the series by July 11 and pay only $1195!
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.
Instructors
Deborah Hopkins, Ann Boehm, Bob Woods
Course Description
One of the most consistently challenging 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 that was the case before the pandemic.
Now understanding the intricacies of these important laws is trickier and more challenging than ever.
For the past several years, FELTG’s annual Reasonable Accommodation series has re-familiarized Federal supervisors, HR professionals, disability program managers, and EEO leaders with the critical foundations of disability law, as well as how to apply that foundation to the ever-changing Federal Workplace.
The series is back again for 2022 — updated and refreshed. Attendees will leave with the proper framework for providing accommodations for people who are entitled, while avoiding the pitfalls that lead to unwanted conclusions. Attendees will also learn how properly conduct an interactive process and legally deny telework as reasonable accommodation. The series wraps with a look at 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 Framework: Disability Accommodation Overview and Analysis (July 21)
Session 2: The Importance of the Interactive Process (July 28)
Session 3: Telework as Reasonable Accommodation (August 4)
Session 4: Reasonable Accommodation: The Mistakes Agencies Make (August 11)
Session 5: Religious Accommodations: How They’re Different from Disability Accommodation (August 18)
Price
- Early Bird Tuition: $250 per site, per session (payment made by July 11).
- Standard Tuition: $280 per site, per session (payment made July 12 or later).
- Register for all five webinars by July 11 and pay only $1195!
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
1
Before the pandemic, telework was one of the the most commonly requested accommodations for individuals with physical and mental disabilities.
After the success of two years of pandemic-induced remote work, you better believe that you’ll be getting even more reasonable accommodation requests for telework as employees are directed to return to the physical workplace. 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: $250 per site, per session (payment made by July 11).
- Standard Tuition: $280 per site, per session (payment made July 12 or later).
- Register for all five webinars in the series by July 11 and pay only $1195!
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.
Instructors
Deborah Hopkins, Ann Boehm, Bob Woods
Course Description
One of the most consistently challenging 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 that was the case before the pandemic.
Now understanding the intricacies of these important laws is trickier and more challenging than ever.
For the past several years, FELTG’s annual Reasonable Accommodation series has re-familiarized Federal supervisors, HR professionals, disability program managers, and EEO leaders with the critical foundations of disability law, as well as how to apply that foundation to the ever-changing Federal Workplace.
The series is back again for 2022 — updated and refreshed. Attendees will leave with the proper framework for providing accommodations for people who are entitled, while avoiding the pitfalls that lead to unwanted conclusions. Attendees will also learn how properly conduct an interactive process and legally deny telework as reasonable accommodation. The series wraps with a look at 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 Framework: Disability Accommodation Overview and Analysis (July 21)
Session 2: The Importance of the Interactive Process (July 28)
Session 3: Telework as Reasonable Accommodation (August 4)
Session 4: Reasonable Accommodation: The Mistakes Agencies Make (August 11)
Session 5: Religious Accommodations: How They’re Different from Disability Accommodation (August 18)
Price
- Early Bird Tuition: $250 per site, per session (payment made by July 11).
- Standard Tuition: $280 per site, per session (payment made July 12 or later).
- Register for all five webinars by July 11 and pay only $1195!
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.
Download Individual Registration Form
Course Description
You may think pregnancy discrimination is rare. And you’d be wrong. The number of pregnancy discrimination claims filed with the EEOC has increased steadily over the last two decades, and is currently “hovering near an all-time high.”
Meanwhile, the increase in pregnancy discrimination has disproportionately impacted women of color.
The actions that lead to claims are varied. They including employees getting passed over for promotions, raises, physically demanding jobs, or risky assignments, being terminated; not being hired — all because the employee is pregnant.
Join Ann Boehm for this two-hour virtual training, where she will explain the purpose and coverage of the Pregnancy Discrimination Act, discuss the cross-roads between FMLA and PPL, caregiver discrimination, and accommodation issues.
Download Individual Registration Form
Instructor
Who Should Attend
Federal supervisors and managers; attorneys; Labor and Employee Relations Specialists; EEO specialists; union representatives.
Price
- Early Bird Tuition: $295 per session (register by July 27).
- Standard Tuition: $345 per session (register July 28-August 10).
- Rates per registrant. No split registrations permitted.
- Want to register a group? Contact FELTG. Group discounts for 10 or more attendees are available until July 27.
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 July 27.
- 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.
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 Ann Boehm will review recent EEO cases to share these mistakes so you know how to avoid them.
During this webinar, the fourth in FELTG’s 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
- 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: $250 per site, per session (payment made by July 11).
- Standard Tuition: $280 per site, per session (payment made July 12 or later).
- Register for all five webinars in the series by July 11 and pay only $1195!
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.
Instructors
Deborah Hopkins, Ann Boehm, Bob Woods
Course Description
One of the most consistently challenging 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 that was the case before the pandemic.
Now understanding the intricacies of these important laws is trickier and more challenging than ever.
For the past several years, FELTG’s annual Reasonable Accommodation series has re-familiarized Federal supervisors, HR professionals, disability program managers, and EEO leaders with the critical foundations of disability law, as well as how to apply that foundation to the ever-changing Federal Workplace.
The series is back again for 2022 — updated and refreshed. Attendees will leave with the proper framework for providing accommodations for people who are entitled, while avoiding the pitfalls that lead to unwanted conclusions. Attendees will also learn how properly conduct an interactive process and legally deny telework as reasonable accommodation. The series wraps with a look at 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 Framework: Disability Accommodation Overview and Analysis (July 21)
Session 2: The Importance of the Interactive Process (July 28)
Session 3: Telework as Reasonable Accommodation (August 4)
Session 4: Reasonable Accommodation: The Mistakes Agencies Make (August 11)
Session 5: Religious Accommodations: How They’re Different from Disability Accommodation (August 18)
Price
- Early Bird Tuition: $250 per site, per session (payment made by July 11).
- Standard Tuition: $280 per site, per session (payment made July 12 or later).
- Register for all five webinars by July 11 and pay only $1195!
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.
Download Individual Registration Form
This week of FELTG training focuses on conducting administrative investigations in the federal workplace with an emphasis on employee misconduct including workplace harassment. After an overview of the substantive law, participants will learn procedures and best practices for conducting administrative investigations, including understanding what constitutes misconduct, the differences between EEO and non-EEO harassment, planning the investigation, fact finding, collecting evidence, dealing with witnesses, understanding types of questioning, and testifying at hearing. The week concludes with a day focused on writing an investigative report.
Special content will also discuss conducting investigations post-pandemic, including tips for interviewing witnesses virtually, addressing safety concerns during in-person interviewing and evidence gathering, and more.
Note: this class includes breakout discussions and workshops, and attendees are encouraged to participate via audio. Because of the interactive nature of this program attendance is limited, so register early to guarantee your spot.
The program runs 12:30 – 4:30 eastern each day, with a 30-minute break midway.
This program meets the requirements for training under the Department of Interior’s Anti-Harassment Policy.
Instructors
Daily Agenda
Monday, August 15
Administrative Investigations: The Substantive Basis: Why investigate; discipline law and elements; understanding charges of misconduct; collecting penalty evidence; law behind other types of administrative investigations; witness rights; union representation.
Tuesday, August 16
Harassment Investigations: Investigating allegations of harassment; differentiating between EEO and non-EEO harassment; the latest on LGBTQ+ discrimination; overlapping forms of discrimination.
Wednesday, August 17
Conducting the Investigation, Part I: Evidentiary principles; purpose of investigation; preparing for the investigation; role of the investigator; planning the investigation. beginning the interview.
Thursday, August 18
Conducting the Investigation, Part II: Conducting the interview; handling difficult witnesses; assessing credibility/lies/hearing what isn’t said; body language; gathering other evidence; technology and investigations; high profile case considerations; testifying at an administrative hearing; rules for being an effective witness.
Friday, August 19
Writing the Investigative Report: Organizing for the report; establishing the chronology; writing for your audience; report writing style; report writing conventions; report organization; sample report.
Pricing
Most people attend the full training week, but you may opt out of any days you don’t plan to attend.
Early Bird Tuition (register by August 1):
- 5 days = $1495
- 4 days = $1225
- 3 days = $935
- 2 days = $700
- 1 day = $370
Standard Tuition (register August 2-19):
- 5 days = $1575
- 4 days = $1305
- 3 days = $995
- 2 days = $730
- 1 day = $400
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.
- Can I earn CLE credits for this class?
- CLE applications are the responsibility of each attendee; FELTG does not apply for the credits on behalf of attendees. If you are seeking CLE credit, attendees may use the materials provided by FELTG in submission to your state bar. Attendees may also request a certificate of completion which will contain the number of training hours attended.
- Can I share my access link with co-workers?
- No. Registration for this event is per individual, and access links may not be shared. Each link may only be used by one person.
- Can I register a teleworker?
- This event is individual registration, so the cost is the same whether the person is teleworking or in an agency facility.
- How do I receive a group rate discount?
- Group rates are available for agencies registering 10 or more individuals for the full event. Group discounts are available through August 1.
Instructor
Course Description
1
When the vaccine mandate, which is now on hold for many agencies, was first being enforced, vaccine-hesitant employees filed reasonable accommodation requests to be exempt from the vaccine for religious reasons. It’s probably the most religious accommodation requests agencies have received in years.
Yet, unfortunately, there is still much confusion about the law. It’s different than the law for disability accommodation, and it’s important you know the distinctions. Join FELTG for the final session in the five-part Reasonable Accommodation in the Federal Workplace webinar series.
After a review of the relevant law and regulations law that pertain to religious accommodation, FELTG Instructor Bob Woods 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.
Price
- Early Bird Tuition: $250 per site, per session (payment made by July 11).
- Standard Tuition: $280 per site, per session (payment made July 12 or later).
- Register for all five webinars in the series by July 11 and pay only $1195!
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.
Instructors
Deborah Hopkins, Ann Boehm, Bob Woods
Course Description
One of the most consistently challenging 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 that was the case before the pandemic.
Now understanding the intricacies of these important laws is trickier and more challenging than ever.
For the past several years, FELTG’s annual Reasonable Accommodation series has re-familiarized Federal supervisors, HR professionals, disability program managers, and EEO leaders with the critical foundations of disability law, as well as how to apply that foundation to the ever-changing Federal Workplace.
The series is back again for 2022 — updated and refreshed. Attendees will leave with the proper framework for providing accommodations for people who are entitled, while avoiding the pitfalls that lead to unwanted conclusions. Attendees will also learn how properly conduct an interactive process and legally deny telework as reasonable accommodation. The series wraps with a look at 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 Framework: Disability Accommodation Overview and Analysis (July 21)
Session 2: The Importance of the Interactive Process (July 28)
Session 3: Telework as Reasonable Accommodation (August 4)
Session 4: Reasonable Accommodation: The Mistakes Agencies Make (August 11)
Session 5: Religious Accommodations: How They’re Different from Disability Accommodation (August 18)
Price
- Early Bird Tuition: $250 per site, per session (payment made by July 11).
- Standard Tuition: $280 per site, per session (payment made July 12 or later).
- Register for all five webinars by July 11 and pay only $1195!
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.
Download Individual Registration Form
Course Description
FELTG’s Federal Workplace 2022: Accountability, Challenges, and Trends offers short, engaging, and guidance-filled training sessions to help you effectively manage the Federal employment challenges that are new, complicated, and critical to your and your agency’s success.
Each day focuses on a specific topic – a day each on Accountability, Challenges, and Trends. And we’ve added a bonus fourth day with a focus on Labor Relations. During the course of this program, FELTG instructors will share the best practices and lessons learned over the previous year, and provide the guidance and expertise you’ll need to thrive when faced with issues such as charging for misconduct, preparing performance narratives, reassessing reasonable accommodation post-COVID, harassment other than EEO, creating an inclusive mentality, preparing to bargain and much more. And we’ll get you up to date on the latest decisions from EEOC, MSPB, and FLRA.
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 themselves back into packed training rooms. Other virtual training providers make you register and pay for the full agenda. Not FELTG. 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 2022: Accountability, Challenges, and Trends is completely live, and attendees have the opportunities to ask questions and engage in polls and other activities.
Who Should Attend
Attorneys; Labor and Employee Relations Specialists; EEO managers and directors; EEO specialists; Reasonable Accommodation Coordinators; DEIA specialists, Federal supervisors and managers; emerging leaders; union representatives.
Download Individual Registration Form
Monday, August 29, 2022
Spotlight on Accountability
Session 1
10:30 – 11:45 am EDT
Is That Misconduct? What Do I Charge?
Presented by Bob Woods, Attorney at Law, FELTG Instructor
(Earn 1.25 CLE credits)
Too often, a misconduct action is derailed not by lack of evidence, but due to a poorly drafted disciplinary charge. Attend this session to ensure that doesn’t happen to you. FELTG Instructor Bob Woods 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. He’ll provide guidance on the best charge for any disciplinary scenario. This class will also include discussion of new MSPB cases involving charges.
Learning takeaways
Attendees will learn how to:
- Discern between misconduct and poor performance.
- Identify the pros and cons of the three different styles of charging.
- Recognize why certain charges may fail, and select alternatives that will withstand review.
Session 2
1 – 2:15 pm EDT
Make Your Best Case: Effectively Preparing Performance Narratives
Presented by Barbara Haga, President/Federal HR Services, FELTG Senior Instructor
Preparing performance narratives can be tough. It’s a lot of writing, sometimes it’s hard to make the documentation you have fit what was written in the performance plan, and sometimes you know there’s going to be a fight about what you put down on that form. It may be the employee who thinks the rating should be higher. Sometimes, it’s a reviewer who doesn’t necessarily see your employee’s performance at the same level as you do. And, in some agencies, there are review panels that may be scouring your documentation. FELTG Senior Instructor Barbara Haga provides guidance to make preparing performance narratives less tough – and more effective.
Learning takeaways
Attendees will learn how to:
- Ensure they have the right criteria to measure an individual’s performance.
- Identify poorly written narratives and explain how to correct them.
- Write narratives of deficient performance that will stand up if challenged.
Session 3
3 – 4:15 pm EDT
What You Think You Know About AWOL is Probably Wrong
Presented by Deborah J. Hopkins, Attorney at Law, FELTG President
(Earn 1.25 CLE credits)
You can’t discipline an employee for AWOL unless it has reached a certain number of days. Employees can’t be removed for AWOL. You can’t be charged AWOL for time that you were physically present in the office. None of these statements is true; they are AWOL myths. During this presentation, FELTG President Deborah Hopkins will shatter those myths and provide you with clear guidance on how to handle situations when an employee doesn’t show up for work. She’ll also explain the difference in AWOL as a charge and AWOL as a non-pay status, and provide strategies on how to handle employees who don’t report for duty.
Learning takeaways
Attendees will learn how to:
- Understand the elements of the charge of Absent Without Leave or Unauthorized Absence.
- Determine reasonable penalties when AWOL is charged.
- Identify situations where a perceived AWOL might be another type of absence.
Tuesday, August 30, 2022
Spotlight on Challenges
Session 4
10:30 – 11:45 am EDT
Other Types of Harassment: Beyond Discriminatory and Sexual Harassment
Presented by Deborah J. Hopkins, Attorney at Law, FELTG President
(Earn 1.25 CLE credits)
Not everyone has the same definition of “harassment.” While most professionals recognize harassment that violates Title VII, some employees consider it harassment when supervisors provide unflattering performance feedback. And, in between, there are threatening, intimidating, and disturbing acts that are unrelated to protected classes, but nonetheless must be addressed as misconduct. FELTG President Deborah Hopkins will not only identify the lines that separate these different levels of harassment both perceived and real, but also explain how and when to address harassment as misconduct.
Learning takeaways
Attendees will learn how to:
- Differentiate between non-EEO harassment, EEO harassment, and actions that don’t qualify as harassment.
- Use the appropriate disciplinary framework for handling harassment as misconduct.
- Recognize agency obligations for addressing harassing employee behavior.
Session 5
1 – 2:15 pm EDT
Preparing for COVID-19 EEO Challenges in FY23
Presented by Ricky Rowe, former National EEO Manager/Veterans Administration, FELTG Instructor
As much as we are all ready to move on from COVID-19, the latest variant has made it clear: The virus is not done with us. As summer moves to fall, agencies will face new roadblocks returning employees to the physical workplace while keeping safe those employees who are already there. In this presentation, FELTG Instructor Ricky Rowe will focus on the relative laws and guidance surrounding temperature screening, which agencies will need to be familiar with this upcoming fiscal year. This presentation will include the most up-to-date guidance available at that time.
Learning takeaways
Attendees will learn how to:
- Implement the most updated guidance from the EEOC, CDC, the Task Force, etc.
- Recognize the potential legal pitfalls of seeking certain medical information.
- Create an effective, lawful, and operational framework for temperature screening employees.
Session 6
3 – 4:15 pm EDT
Managing a Potentially Suicidal Employee
Presented by Shana Palmieri, LCSW, CCO & Co-founder, XFERALL, FELTG Instructor
As suicide rates rise across the country, the impact is being felt in the workplace. Learning how to correctly manage an employee’s suicidal crisis and ideations is increasingly important. Knowing what to do, and when, might save an employee’s life. Shana Palmieri, LCSW will provide an overview of suicide ideation in the country and, more specifically, the workplace. She’ll share the signs, symptoms, and appropriate responses when managing an individual suffering with suicidal thoughts.
Learning takeaways
Attendees will learn how to:
- Communicate effectively with employees with suicidal ideation.
- Identify the signs and symptoms of suicide that indicate the need for professional intervention.
- Handle behavioral health emergencies.
Wednesday, August 31, 2022
Spotlight on Trends
Session 7
10:30 – 11:45 am EDT
The Power of an Inclusive Mentality
Presented by J. Bruce Stewart, PhD, Chief Executive Officer, Small World Solutions
What do rats addicted to heroin, Rosa Parks, a third-grade school teacher, a prize winning stage director, Miles Davis, and a little girl who has a form of autism called Williams Syndrome have in common? They have figured out the code to great performance. And that code? It is Inclusive Mentality. Dr. Stewart, former Deputy Director for Diversity and Inclusion for the Office of Personnel Management and creator of OPM’s New IQ, will explain what the inclusive mentality code is and how it can be unlocked to unleash the full potential of diverse teams, in line with the President’s DEIA mandates.
Learning takeaways
Attendees will learn how to:
- Develop an inclusive mentality for team and organizational success.
- Explain why diversity alone or inclusion alone is not the answer but instead a big part of the problem.
- Make others around you better (and explain why it’s the key 21st Century skill).
Session 8
1 – 2:15 pm EDT
Revisiting Existing Reasonable Accommodations
Presented by Katherine Atkinson, Attorney at Law, FELTG Instructor
(Earn 1.25 CLE credits)
One of the most important, yet often forgotten, parts of the reasonable accommodation process is the follow up. Sometimes, accommodations are no longer effective, no longer needed – or, perhaps, a more effective accommodation has become available. It’s a win-win process. And as employees start returning to the physical workplace after, for some, more than two years of remote work, now is the time to re-evaluate the effectiveness of employees’ reasonable accommodations. FELTG Instructor Katherine Atkinson, Attorney at Law, will explain why this is important and how to go about ensuring you find the right accommodation.
Learning takeaways
Attendees will learn how to:
- Restart the interactive process.
- Make an appropriate reasonable accommodation determination.
- Determine if telework is an effective accommodation.
Session 9
3 – 4:15 pm EDT
MSPB and EEOC Case Law Update
Presented by Deborah J. Hopkins, Attorney at Law, FELTG President
Whether you’re an HR professional, attorney, EEO specialist, or supervisor, keeping up with the ever-evolving Federal employment law is a necessity. Change happens quickly. This fast-paced review of the most relevant cases from the EEOC, the newly minted MSPB, and the Federal Circuit will ensure you’re not behind the times. Attendees will leave with knowledge of recent developments and with an in-depth analysis of the current employment law climate and its impact on the Federal workplace.
Learning takeaways
Attendees will learn how to:
- Determine the impact recent MSPB decisions on whistleblowing.
- Identify the recent critical decisions from the EEOC.
- Understand the effect of new Federal Circuit decisions on the executive branch.
Thursday, September 1, 2022
Spotlight on Labor Relations
Session 10
10:30 – 11:45 am pm EDT
What’s Happening in Federal Labor Relations?
Presented by Ann Boehm, Attorney at Law, FELTG Instructor
(Earn 1.25 CLE credits)
Ann Boehm, who spent 26 years as a government attorney (including a stint at the Federal Labor Relations Authority), will look at what’s been happening at the FLRA and what’s likely to happen now that third member Susan Tsui Grundmann has been confirmed. She’ll review recent decisions by the Federal Service Impasses Panel and discuss the five memos recently released by OPM that address enhanced workers’ rights.
Learning takeaways
Attendees will learn how to:
- Identify areas of labor law that may change with a fully staffed Authority.
- Understand the recent decisions from the FLRA and FSIP.
- Explain what your agency needs to do to meet OPM’s expectations for labor management relations.
Session 11
1 – 2:15 pm EDT
Preparing to Bargain
Presented by Joseph Schimansky, Former Executive Director/FSIP, FELTG Instructor
(Earn 1.25 CLE credits)
Whether you’re currently preparing to negotiate with the union or if it’s a year down the road, this is a do-not-miss session. Joseph Schimansky will provide you with key strategies and guidance to ensure you are well-equipped to begin negotiations, and have a plan to successfully navigate the bargaining process.
Learning takeaways
Attendees will learn how to:
- Identify the work that must be done before bargaining begins.
- Build an effective bargaining team.
- Evaluate your bargaining techniques for the most effective approach.
Pricing
- Early bird pricing for individual sessions starts at $150 per session. Daily and full event All Access discounts available.
- Early Bird discounts available until August 12.
- See registration form for full pricing details.
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.
- Can I earn CLE credits for this class?
- This program is submitted for CLE credits to the State Bar of Virginia, and we anticipate approval within. few weeks. 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 August 12.
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 7
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 8
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 August 23).
- Standard Tuition: $420 per session, $750 for both sessions (register August 24-September 8).
- 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 August 23.
- 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 23 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.
Download Individual Registration Form
The Board is back and now is the right time to sharpen your MSPB skills and refresh your knowledge.
And in the five years since MSPB last had a quorum, the civil service world, particularly as it applies to employee relations, has not stood still. Change happened, sometimes quickly. It’s important to be aware of the laws, regulations, and executive orders that apply to you .
There is one place you can consistently get the best guidance and most up-to-date information you need. MSPB Law Week covers the legal requirements and best practices for disciplinary charges and penalties, plus understanding the law and strategy in handling performance cases and defending against whistleblower reprisal complaints. Join top MSPB practitioners and topic authors, and learn the law, strategies, and techniques from their many years of combined experience.
The program runs 12:30 – 4:30 pm eastern each day, with a 30-minute break midway.
Instructors
Deborah Hopkins, Ann Boehm, Bob Woods
Daily Agenda
Monday
The Foundations of Accountability; Adverse Actions: Statutory basis including the Civil Service Reform Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs Accountability and Whistleblower Protection Act, the five elements of every disciplinary case and the burdens of proof, the fundamentals of penalty selection and defense, discipline procedures and appeals.
Tuesday
Disciplinary Charges: Types of charges, parts of a charge, how charges are interpreted, the role of the proposing and deciding officials, capitalizing on the general charge, allowing the inclusion of lesser-included offenses, charging in the alternative, attractive options to difficult charges and common charging mistakes, proving the difficult “intent” charge element, a step by step approach to charge drafting.
Wednesday
Penalties: MSPB and Federal Circuit lead cases in penalty determination, getting “intent” penalties off of “non-intent” charges, proving harsh penalties off of vanilla charges, charging down and proving up, how the maximum penalty is established, penalty mitigation; law enforcement officer discipline.
Thursday
Unacceptable Performance: Performance actions in perspective, drafting a defensible performance standard, documenting and justifying your decision to put an employee on a Performance Demonstrating Period (DPs, formerly known as PIPs), implementing DPs, defeating the DP rollercoaster; the proof needed to take a performance-based action; removing a poor performer in 31 days.
Friday
Defending Against Whistleblower Reprisal Claims and other Affirmative Defenses: Whistleblower claims: protected disclosures and whistleblower reprisal, claims of harmful error, reprisal for union activity, excessive penalty findings.
Pricing
Most people attend the full training week, but you may opt out of any days you don’t plan to attend.
Early Bird Tuition (register by August 29):
- 5 days = $1525
- 4 days = $1245
- 3 days = $960
- 2 days = $680
- 1 day = $395
Standard Tuition (register August 30-Sept. 16):
- 5 days = $1600
- 4 days = $1325
- 3 days = $1015
- 2 days = $725
- 1 day = $445
Seminar registration includes a copy of the textbook UnCivil Servant: Holding Employees Accountable for Performance and Conduct, 5th ed., by Wiley and Hopkins. In order to receive your copy of the textbook by the training date, please register by August 29 and provide a shipping address in the designated space on the registration form.
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.
- Can I earn CLE credits for this class?
- CLE applications are the responsibility of each attendee; FELTG does not apply for the credits on behalf of attendees. If you are seeking CLE credit, attendees may use the materials provided by FELTG in submission to your state bar. Attendees may also request a certificate of completion which will contain the number of training hours attended.
- Can I share my access link with co-workers?
- No. Registration for this event is per individual, and access links may not be shared. Each link may only be used by one person.
- Can I register a teleworker?
- This event is individual registration, so the cost is the same whether the person is teleworking or in an agency facility.
- How do I receive a group rate discount?
- Group rates are available for agencies registering 10 or more individuals for the full event. Group discounts are available through August 29.
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 last year has presented a dramatic shift in the world of federal labor relations. President Biden’s Executive Order rescinding numerous Trump Executive Orders, including those regarding official time, bargaining topics, negotiation timeframes, and union responsibilities to pay for things they never had to pay for before. Meanwhile, a Democratic nominee awaits confirmation that would change the political make-up of the Authority, and another Democrat awaits confirmation for the permanent General Counsel position that sat vacant for far too long.
Now, more than ever, you need FELTG’s FLRA Law Week. Led by two instructors with a combined total of nearly 40 years experience working at the FLRA, this training will bring you up to speed on where the current law stands, and share best practices on how to effectively navigate it in your day-to-day work, whether you’re a labor attorney, labor relations specialist or union representative.
FLRA Law Week provides attendees with a firm foundation of the historical perspective and precedence of FLRA decisions, as well as a strategy for taking advantage of any new approaches that are coming out of the FLRA. And this includes the latest guidance based on the FLRA’s recent precedent-breaking decisions have on collective bargaining.
There’s no other place where you can get in-depth guidance on hot-button issues, such as permissive bargaining, official time, and negotiations, to guide you through this dynamic time. So join us for this class September 19-23, where the entire world of Federal labor relations will be discussed.
The program runs 12:00 – 4:00 pm eastern each day, with a 30-minute break midway through.
Instructors
Daily Agenda
Monday, September 19
Basic Management and Employee Rights: An overview of the Federal Service Labor-Management Relations Statute; the current status of Executive Orders 13836 and 13837; fundamental employee, union, and management rights; bargaining unit definition; the union organizer’s role; information requests; official time.
Tuesday, September 20
Labor Relations Meetings and Bargaining: More on official time; formal discussions; union representative rights; the collective bargaining process; the three categories of bargaining: mandatory, permissive, and prohibited; introduction to negotiability.
Wednesday, September 21
Unfair Labor Practices and Negotiability: Employee rights vs. Management rights; the anatomy of an Unfair Labor Practice; an overview of the Federal Services Impasse Panel; negotiability appeals.
Thursday, September 22
The Psychology of Bargaining, Plus Grievances and Pandemic-Related Issues: Selecting a bargaining strategy; interest based bargaining as compared to hard ball bargaining; grievances; exceptions to arbitration awards; a new Administration.
Friday, September 23
Understanding the FSIP and Arbitration: Panel members, FSIP procedures, recent FSIP developments, the arbitration process overview; binding the arbitrator; how federal government arbitration is different from private sector arbitration and appeals; educating the arbitrator.
Pricing
Most people attend the full training week, but you may opt out of any days you don’t plan to attend.
Early Bird Tuition (register by September 5):
- 5 days = $1495
- 4 days = $1225
- 3 days = $935
- 2 days = $700
- 1 day = $370
Standard Tuition (register September 6-23):
- 5 days = $1575
- 4 days = $1305
- 3 days = $995
- 2 days = $730
- 1 day = $400
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.
- 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. No split registrations.
- 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 September 5.
Download Individual Registration Form
Course Description
Federal employees have historically enjoyed a wide variety of leave-related benefits. Those benefits have only increased in recent years, most recently in the form of paid parental leave. It’s no wonder that leave, which is not always an entitlement, has become such a complex and seemingly burdensome issue, especially when they intersect with other laws. And then there are also the challenges related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Whether you’re an HR professional, employee relations practitioner, EEO specialist, supervisor, or agency counsel, you have undoubtedly faced a leave-related challenge. FELTG’s Absence, Leave Abuse & Medical Issues Week will give you the critical foundation you need to address the most complex areas of federal employment law, including the recent challenges related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Our speakers will discuss sick leave, annual leave, leave without pay, absence without leave, and FMLA. Then they will tackle the most current, relevant topics, such as disciplining employees for leave abuse, dealing with medical issues and unacceptable performance, leave and reasonable accommodation, medical documentation, medical exams, and more.
The program runs 12:30 – 4:30 each day (all times eastern), with a break midway through. Participants will receive program materials via email the week before the training.
Download Individual Registration Form
Who Should Attend
Attorneys; Labor and Employee Relations Specialists; EEO managers and directors; EEO specialists; Reasonable Accommodation Coordinators; federal supervisors and managers; union representatives.
Instructors
Barbara Haga, Deborah Hopkins, Katherine Atkinson, Bob Woods
Daily Agenda:
Monday, September 26
Leave Use Overview: Course topics: Emergency Paid Sick Leave, Sick Leave: eligibility, notification requirements, medical certification, dealing with abuse, Additional Leave Entitlements, Administrative Leave.
Tuesday, September 27
FMLA Law and Policy: Course topics: FMLA: eligibility, notification requirements, definition of serious health condition, medical certification, intermittent use, and Paid Family Leave.
Wednesday, September 28
Leave-Related Discipline & Medical Removals: Course topics: The five elements of discipline; leave-related misconduct; documentation necessary to discipline an employee for leave-related misconduct and leave abuse; AWOL charges; excessive absence removals; medical inability to perform removals.
Thursday, September 29
Reasonable Accommodation: Entitlements and Processes: Course topics: The ADA Amendments Act; the Rehabilitation Act; the reasonable accommodation process; the “regarded as” provision of the ADA; telework and leave as reasonable accommodation; flexible work schedules and alternative work locations; religious accommodation.
Friday, September 30
Medical Documentation, Medical Requests and Record Confidentiality: Course topics: How the ADAAA and GINA impact the collection of medical information; pre- and post-employment medical exams and inquiries; conditional employment offers; medical documentation requests; direct threat; conflicting regulations and contra court decisions.
Pricing
Most people attend the full training week, but you may opt out of any days you don’t plan to attend.
Early Bird Tuition (register by September 9):
- 5 days = $1495
- 4 days = $1225
- 3 days = $935
- 2 days = $700
- 1 day = $370
Standard Tuition (register September 10-30):
- 5 days = $1575
- 4 days = $1305
- 3 days = $995
- 2 days = $730
- 1 day = $400
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.
- Can I earn CLE credits for this class?
- CLE applications are the responsibility of each attendee; FELTG does not apply for the credits on behalf of attendees. If you are seeking CLE credit, attendees may use the materials provided by FELTG in submission to your state bar. Attendees may also request a certificate of completion which will contain the number of training hours attended.
- Can I share my access link with co-workers?
- No. Registration for this event is per individual, and access links may not be shared. Each link may only be used by one person.
- Can I register a teleworker?
- This event is individual registration, so the cost is the same whether the person is teleworking or in an agency facility.
- How do I receive a group rate discount?
- Group rates are available for agencies registering 10 or more individuals for the full event. Group discounts are available through September 9.
Download Individual Registration Form
Event Description
Investigating harassment in your Federal agency can be an intimidating assignment, one that is rife with innuendo, conflicting accounts, and raw emotions. Ensuring that your investigation is legally compliant and protects employees, while helping the agency minimize liability, is a taxing task. It’s even more challenging during the COVID-19 pandemic when most investigations must be done virtually.
Together, these three instructor-led live training sessions will provide a solid basis for a successful and effective approach to conducting legally-sufficient harassment investigations that stand up upon third-party review. Peruse MSPB and EEOC cases and you’ll find that poorly conducted investigations are far more common than they should be, and the cost of these investigations to agencies are bigger than you’d expect.
Understand the differences between EEO and non-EEO harassment. Learn the best techniques to conduct an investigation – whether onsite or virtually. Write a report that covers all the crucial information. And much more.
This open enrollment FELTG Virtual Training Institute program Conducting Effective Harassment Investigations offers opportunities to ask questions of FELTG’s experienced instructors, and get answers in real time. Plus, this program fulfills the requirements for 8-hour annual EEO investigator refresher training.
You can register for any of the sessions individually, or you can register for all three. This program runs from 1:00 – 4:30 eastern each day, with a 30-minute break from 2:30 – 3:00 eastern.
Download Individual Registration Form
Tuesday, October 4
Session 1: Investigating Harassment: Misconduct Principles
1:00 pm – 4:30 pm eastern (break from 2:30 – 3:00)
Presented by Deborah J. Hopkins, Attorney at Law, FELTG President
Course Description: An effective harassment investigation begins with a solid foundation of misconduct law in the federal workplace. Attorney and FELTG President Deborah J. Hopkins will explain the principles that underpin a successful investigation of federal employee misconduct, whether it’s on-duty or off-duty. Attendees will learn the five elements of discipline and understand how they relate to the misconduct investigation process. Plus, they’ll learn about evidence standards and burdens of proof in misconduct cases, how Douglas factors play in to an investigation, the importance of nexus, what to do when a witness won’t cooperate, and much more.
Learning Objectives
Attendees will learn how to:
- Identify the relationship between the foundations of federal accountability and misconduct investigations.
- Identify and collect relevant penalty evidence during the investigation.
- Recognize the mistakes that derail effective misconduct and harassment investigations.
Wednesday, October 5
Session 2: Understanding Harassment and Planning the Investigation
1:00 pm – 4:30 pm eastern (break from 2:30 – 3:00)
Presented by Katherine Atkinson, Attorney at Law, FELTG Instructor
Course description: What is the scope of the investigation? Who should you interview? What documents are you going to need? Preparing your investigative plan is a critical step in developing a legally sufficient investigation. Attorney Katherine Atkinson will explain the proper role of the investigator and how you can avoid the pitfalls of an insufficient investigation with the proper preparation and knowledge. Plus, she’ll answer important questions about representation: Does the witness have the right to a representative? Does the union have a right to attend the interview – even if the witness doesn’t want the union there? What rights does agency management have in the process?
Learning Objectives
Attendees will learn how to:
- Discern the difference between EEO and non-EEO harassment, and the impact that has on the investigations’ legal sufficiency.
- Identify witness rights and management rights.
- Recognize the three basic characteristics of evidence in a harassment investigation.
Thursday, October 6
Session 3: Conducting the Investigation and Writing the Report
1:00 pm – 4:30 pm eastern (break from 2:30 – 3:00)
Presented by Katherine Atkinson, Attorney at Law, FELTG Instructor
Course description: Attorney Katherine Atkinson will share legal principles and proven guidance to navigate this most critical and challenging part of harassment investigations: conducting the interviews and gathering relevant evidence. Attendees will leave the session with techniques for questioning, tools for reading body language, suggestions on how to handle difficult personality types, and tips for writing the fact-finding report (FFR) and report of investigation (ROI). Ms. Atkinson will also share how technology is changing the investigation process, including a very timely discussion of conducting virtual interviews.
Learning Objectives
Attendees will learn how to:
- Identify the similarities and differences in conducting onsite and virtual interviews.
- Apply logic and judgment to evaluate conflicting statements.
- Write a fulsome report on the findings from the harassment investigation.
Price
- Early Bird Tuition (register by September 19): One Session = $370 | Two Sessions = $700 | Full Event = $935
- Standard Tuition (register September 20-October 6): One Session = $400 | Two Sessions = $730 | Full Event = $995
- Rates per registrant. No split registrations permitted.
- Want to register a group? Group discounts are available through September 19. Contact FELTG.
- REGISTER NOW.
Event FAQs
- Can I attend Virtual Training from my government computer?
- FELTG uses Zoom to broadcast 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.
- Can I earn CLE credits for this class?
- CLE applications are the responsibility of each attendee; FELTG does not apply for the credits on behalf of attendees. If you are seeking CLE credit, attendees may use the materials provided by FELTG in submission to your state bar. Attendees may also request a certificate of completion which will contain the number of training hours attended.
- Can I share my access link with co-workers?
- No. Registration for this event is per individual, and access links may not be shared. Each link may only be used by one person.
- Can I register a teleworker?
- This event is individual registration, so the cost is the same whether the person is teleworking or in an agency facility.
- How do I receive a group rate discount?
- Group rates are available for agencies registering 10 or more attendees for the full event. Group discounts are available through September 19.
Cancellation and No-show Policy for Registered Participants: Cancellations made after the cancel date on the registration form will not be refunded or given credit toward future courses. Pre-paid training using the “Pay Now” option will not be refunded or given credit toward future courses. No-shows will not be refunded or given credit toward future courses.
Download Individual Registration Form
Course Description
Employee relations professionals: FELTG’s three-day Advanced ER virtual training event gives you the kind of interactive foundational-based, training necessary to handle the most challenging and complicated situations.
Attendees will receive in-depth training on topics including leave, performance, misconduct, and more. Have an employee who is absent so often she is unable to perform her job? Wondering how Paid Parental Leave works with FMLA? When is the last time you looked at critical elements? FELTG Senior Instructor Barbara Haga will give you the tools you need to handle any employee relations issue that comes your way, as well as guidance on ensuring that some of those challenges never arise.
The program runs 9:30 – 4:30 ET each day and is approved for 18 HRCI general recertification credits.
Instructor
Daily Agenda:
Tuesday, November 1
Leave and Attendance: Administering leave, with particular emphasis on sick leave, LWOP, and FMLA. Detailed review of sick leave provisions including authorized purposes for use of sick leave, limitations on use of sick leave for family care and bereavement, eligibility to use leave for care, notice requirements, acceptable documentation. Management actions to control use of leave and abuse of sick leave. Detailed review of FMLA provisions including eligibility to invoke FMLA, entitlement, coverage of family members, administration and notice requirements. Acceptable medical documentation under FMLA, definition of serious health condition. Substitution of paid leave, including Paid Parental Leave. Discipline tied to FMLA. LWOP – when LWOP is mandatory, limits on granting LWOP, employee status while on extended LWOP. Other topics –issues related to annual leave and leave transfer, other leave entitlements.
Wednesday, November 2
Performance Management: Managing performance from system establishment to conducting annual appraisals to taking actions linked to performance. GEAR initiative and other efforts focused on modifying Federal performance management system. Requirements for performance plans, including design of agency systems, rating schemes, and procedures for conducting appraisals. Linkage between appraisal and other personnel management decisions, including reduction-in-force and within-grade increases. Writing effective and measurable performance criteria that will withstand third-party review, including a workshop where participants will do an in-depth review of performance plans. Requirements for successful performance-based actions – from drafting a PIP notice that will withstand scrutiny to conducting a bona fide PIP to ensuring that due process is met in effecting an action on unacceptable performance.
Thursday, November 3
Misconduct and Other Related Issues: Implementation of a successful disciplinary program – delegation of authority, role of advisors, warnings and cautions, use of administrative leave. Nexus. Dealing with comparators in determining a penalty. Involuntary actions – resignations and retirements. Ordering and Offering medical examinations. Specific disciplinary situations: handling situations when an employee is unable to perform including excessive leave, disability retirement, separation disability; conduct unbecoming; misuse and technology-related misconduct; failure to meet conditions of employment.
Pricing
Early Bird Tuition (register by October 17):
- 3 days = $1370
- 2 days = $970
- 1 day = $530
Standard Tuition (register October 18 or later):
- 3 days = $1470
- 2 days = $1070
- 1 day = $630
Seminar registration includes a printed copy of the materials. In order to have the best chance to receive materials by the training date, please register by October 17 and provide a shipping address, and your materials will be sent via USPS Priority Mail. Registrations received after October will also receive printed materials, which will be shipped Priority Mail when registration is received; they may not arrive in time for the training.
Event FAQs
- Can I attend Virtual Training from my government computer?
- FELTG uses 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.
- Can I earn CLE credits for this class?
- CLE applications are the responsibility of each attendee; FELTG does not apply for the credits on behalf of attendees. If you are seeking CLE credit, attendees may use the materials provided by FELTG in submission to your state bar. Attendees may also request a certificate of completion which will contain the number of training hours attended.
- Can I share my access link with co-workers?
- No. Registration for this event is per individual, and access links may not be shared. Each link may only be used by one person.
- Can I register a teleworker?
- This event is individual registration, so the cost is the same whether the person is teleworking or in an agency facility.
- How do I receive a group rate discount?
- Group rates are available for agencies registering 10 or more individuals for the full event. Group discounts are available through October 17, 2022.
Download Individual Registration Form
Program Description
Two years ago, the Office of Personnel Management’s updated regulations to build on President Trump’s Executive Order 13839 took effect. Three months later, President Biden issued Executive Order 14003, which revoked EO 13839. With no new OPM regulations, confusion had settled in.
But on November 10, 2022, OPM released its final regulations implementing Executive Order 14003, and they go into effect December 12. The regs provide guidance on whether you:
- Can use clean-record agreements in settlements.
- Must notify employees that their probationary period is ending.
- Should provide assistance to employees on performance demonstration periods.
- Are required to use progressive discipline in cases of employee misconduct.
In this 60-minute webinar, FELTG President Deborah Hopkins will provide a point-by-point summary of the new OPM regulations and answer all of your questions. Attendees will leave this session knowing which tools they can use to effectively hold employees accountable for performance and conduct. You cannot afford to miss this training.
Date and Time
Tuesday, December 13, 2022, 2:30 – 3:30pm ET.
Instructor
Registration
Download Individual Registration Form
Price
- Early Bird Tuition: $270 per site (payment required by December 2)
- Standard Tuition: $295 per site (payments made December 3 or later)
Additional teleworkers may be added for $60 each, if space is available.
Cancellation and No-show Policy for Registered Participants: Cancellations made after the cancel date on the registration form will not be refunded or given credit toward future courses. Pre-paid training using the “Pay Now” option will not be refunded or given credit toward future courses. No-shows will not be refunded or given credit toward future courses.
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 midway.
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 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, February 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: $425 per session, $755 for both sessions (register by January 24).
- Standard Tuition: $525 per session, $855 for both sessions (register January 25-February 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 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 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 January 24 and provide a shipping address. Registrations received after January 24 will also receive a textbook, but materials are not guaranteed to arrive by the training date.
Course Description
The Board is back and moving quickly to address the large backlog of IRAs it inherited. It’s time to either sharpen your MSPB skills and refresh your knowledge or fall behind.
In the five years since MSPB last had a quorum, the civil service world, particularly as it applies to employee relations, has not stood still. Change happened, sometimes quickly. It’s important to be aware of the laws, regulations, and executive orders that apply to you.
There is one place you can consistently get the best guidance and most up-to-date information you need. MSPB Law Week covers the legal requirements and best practices for disciplinary charges and penalties, plus understanding the law and strategy in handling performance cases and defending against whistleblower reprisal complaints. Join top MSPB practitioners and topic authors, and learn the law, strategies, and techniques from their many years of combined experience.
Monday
The Foundations of Accountability; Adverse Actions: Statutory basis including the Civil Service Reform Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs Accountability and Whistleblower Protection Act, the five elements of every disciplinary case and the burdens of proof, the fundamentals of penalty selection and defense, discipline procedures and appeals.
Tuesday
Disciplinary Charges: Types of charges, parts of a charge, how charges are interpreted, the role of the proposing and deciding officials, capitalizing on the general charge, allowing the inclusion of lesser-included offenses, charging in the alternative, attractive options to difficult charges and common charging mistakes, proving the difficult “intent” charge element, a step by step approach to charge drafting.
Wednesday
Penalties: MSPB and Federal Circuit lead cases in penalty determination, getting “intent” penalties off of “non-intent” charges, proving harsh penalties off of vanilla charges, charging down and proving up, how the maximum penalty is established, penalty mitigation; law enforcement officer discipline.
Thursday
Unacceptable Performance: Performance actions in perspective, drafting a defensible performance standard, documenting and justifying your decision to put an employee on a Performance Demonstrating Period (DPs, formerly known as PIPs), implementing DPs, defeating the DP rollercoaster; the proof needed to take a performance-based action; removing a poor performer in 31 days.
Friday
Defending Against Whistleblower Reprisal Claims and other Affirmative Defenses: Whistleblower claims: protected disclosures and whistleblower reprisal, claims of harmful error, reprisal for union activity, excessive penalty findings.
Date and Time
March 27-31, 2023
12:30 – 4:30 pm ET each day (with a 30-minute break)
Instructors
Deborah Hopkins, Ann Boehm, Bob Woods
Registration
Download Individual Registration Form
Pricing
Most people attend the full training week, but you may opt out of any days you don’t plan to attend.
Early Bird Tuition (register by March 10):
- 5 days = $1640
- 4 days = $1405
- 3 days = $1030
- 2 days = $755
- 1 day = $425
Standard Tuition (register March 11-31):
- 5 days = $1740
- 4 days = $1505
- 3 days = $1130
- 2 days = $855
- 1 day = $525
Seminar registration includes a copy of the textbook UnCivil Servant: Holding Employees Accountable for Performance and Conduct, 5th ed., by Wiley and Hopkins. In order to receive your copy of the textbook by the training date, please register by March 10 and provide a shipping address in the designated space on the registration form.
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.
- Can I earn CLE credits for this class?
- CLE applications are the responsibility of each attendee; FELTG does not apply for the credits on behalf of attendees. If you are seeking CLE credit, attendees may use the materials provided by FELTG in submission to your state bar. Attendees may also request a certificate of completion which will contain the number of training hours attended.
- Can I share my access link with co-workers?
- No. Registration for this event is per individual, and access links may not be shared. Each link may only be used by one person.
- Can I register a teleworker?
- This event is individual registration, so the cost is the same whether the person is teleworking or in an agency facility.
- How do I receive a group rate discount?
- Group rates are available for agencies registering 10 or more individuals for the full event. Group discounts are available through March 10.
Cancellation and No-show Policy for Registered Participants: Cancellations made after the cancel date on the registration form will not be refunded or given credit toward future courses. Pre-paid training using the “Pay Now” option will not be refunded or given credit toward future courses. No-shows will not be refunded or given credit toward future courses.
Event Description
They just don’t get it. Some people think of the Federal workplace as a slow, monolithic bureaucracy. They don’t see the the abrupt changes in priorities that accompany every change in presidential administrations. They don’t understand how decisions by the Merit Systems Protection Board, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, Federal Labor Relations Authority, Federal Circuit, or even the Supreme Court can upend years (even decades sometimes) of policies and procedures. And we haven’t even touched on Office of Personnel Management regulations. They don’t see the challenges of ensuring the workplace is accountable, striving to make the workplace look more like America, and resolving disputes that could the end up costing those same taxpayers.
There are people in all sectors of work that have an easy job. But if you’re an HR professional, attorney, supervisor, or an EEO or ER/LR specialist, you’re not one of those people.
We’ve got you. We understand the impact of changing times, rules, and laws.
This year’s Emerging Issues in Federal Employment Law provides the guidance to succeed in the dynamic (yes, dynamic) Federal Workplace. Learn from those you may see in the trenches, like former FELTG Instructor and current EEOC Administrative Judge Meghan Droste and arbitrator Joseph Schimansky. We’ll guide you through the ever-changing law, whether it’s justifying a PIP or recognizing the new face of reprisal. We’ll give you the path for moving forward, whether it’s overcoming bias or getting more use out of the probationary period.
With 11 unique sessions over four days, FELTG’s Emerging Issues in Federal Employment Law offers an opportunity to receive guidance with a fresh perspective. And many sessions offer opportunities to pick up CLE or EEO refresher credits.
Emerging Issues in Federal Employment Law provides benefits you just can’t get from online virtual training providers. You can register for any of the sessions individually, or you can register for the whole program. Also, the training is presented LIVE by FELTG’s experienced and respected instructors, who will answer your questions, so you get answers in real time. Don’t put off getting the important training you need.
Download Individual Registration Form
This program meets the President’s mandate to provide training on diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility in the Federal workplace.
Tuesday, April 18, 2023
Lessons Learned
Session 1
10:30 – 11:45 am ET
Avoiding Pitfalls: Advice from an EEOC AJ
Presented by Meghan Droste, Administrative Judge, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
Course description: Be prepared. Be on time. Be civil. These are pretty basic expectations. Yet, they’re often forgotten once parties enter the EEO process. And once in the process, the potential pitfalls only increase. EEOC Administrative Judge Meghan Droste will discuss the common mistakes agencies make, from missing important deadlines to missing the mark in pleadings, whether it’s failing to provide citations to the record or exceeding page limits, or another reason. Don’t miss this opportunity to hear an EEOC AJ point out the specific perils you need to avoid to achieve success in the EEO process. Earn 1.25 CLE credits. 1.25
Session 2
1:00 – 2:15 pm ET
13 Months In: Tristan Leavitt Shares Important Lessons from the MSPB
Presented by Tristan Leavitt, former MSPB Member/President Empower Oversight; and Deborah J. Hopkins, Attorney at Law, FELTG President
Course Description: The Merit Systems Protection Board went through a tumultuous period recently. No one has had a bigger role during that time period than Tristan Leavitt. Leavitt served as a Board Member from 2022-2023 as part of the first quorum in over 5 years. Before that he served as General Counsel, and was the acting agency head after remaining Member Mark Robbins’ term expired in 2019. FELTG President Deborah J. Hopkins will talk with Leavitt about how he steered the Board through the long period with no members, and will discuss important takeaways on topics including the Board’s view on post-Santos performance cases, the pendulum swing on comparator employees over the past decade-plus, important lessons on whistleblower protections, and more. Don’t miss this opportunity to hear Leavitt’s unique perspective. Ensure you’re prepared for the next time you have business with the agency. Earn 1.25 CLE credits.
Session 3
3:00 – 4:15 pm ET
What I’ve Learned: Advice from an Arbitrator
Presented by Joseph Schimansky, Former Executive Director/Federal Service Impasses Panel, FELTG Instructor
Course Description: The Federal Service Impasses Panel’s former Executive Director now spends his time, when not teaching for FELTG, arbitrating federal Labor Relations disputes. Joe Schimansky will share his guidance and advice on topics such as educating the arbitrator about your case, how the arbitrators view the Douglas factors in discipline cases, the rules in handling requests for attorney’s fees, navigating loser pays provisions, and the role of past practices when interpreting contract provisions.
Wednesday, April 19, 2023
The Ever-Changing Law
Session 4
10:30 – 11:45 am ET
The How, Why, and When of Justifying a PIP
Presented by Robert Woods, Attorney at Law, FELTG Instructor
Course Description: Federal supervisors have a useful tool to deal with underperforming employees – the Performance Improvement Plan (PIP). Yet, supervisors have consistently struggled with getting PIPs right, even before the recent decision in Santos v. NASA, which requires agencies to have substantial evidence of poor performance BEFORE the implementing the PIP. FELTG Instructor Bob Woods will detail the ins and outs of this new requirement and share clear guidance and the effective, time-tested FELTG approach to handling unacceptable performance. Earn 1.25 CLE credits.
Session 5
1:00 – 2:15 pm ET
The Many Faces of Reprisal
Presented by Katherine Atkinson, Attorney at Law, FELTG Instructor
Course description: Did you know that the most common discrimination finding in Federal sector cases is reprisal, also known as retaliation? Why does it continue to be the most common finding and why does it show up in nearly half of all EEO complaints? Because it’s ubiquitous. Reprisal rears its ugly head in numerous situations – and those scenarios continue to change over time. FELTG Instructor Katie Atkinson will provide a thorough review of the various forms of EEO reprisal and share important guidance on how to keep it from happening at your agency, with a special focus on “per se reprisal.” Earn 1.25 CLE credits. 1.25
Session 6
3:00 – 4:15 pm ET
MSPB and EEOC Case Law Update
Presented by Deborah Hopkins, Attorney at Law, FELTG President
Course description: The MSPB is back and delivering decisions, the FLRA and EEOC continue to issue important decisions, the Federal Circuit has been hopping, and OPM regularly updates its guidance. A District Court in Texas recently put a hold on major Federal workplace mandates, and a Federal Appeals court has recently struck down FLRA policy decisions. It’s a lot to keep up with. That’s why you need to join FELTG for this fast-paced review of the most surprising, significant, and groundbreaking developments in Federal employment law. Earn 1.25 CLE credits.
Thursday, April 20, 2023
Moving Forward
Session 7
10:30 – 11:45 am ET
Overcoming Bias: The Power to Make Visible the Invisible
Presented by Dr. J. Bruce Stewart, Chief Executive Officer, Small World Solutions
Course description: Unconscious bias is natural, prevalent, and human, according to Bruce Stewart. But that doesn’t mean it should be ignored. In some cases, unconscious bias can lead people, teams, and organizations to be less creative, inclusive, and effective as they could be. This 75-minute training will provide strategies and structures for individuals, teams, and organizations to overcome the negative impact of the human condition known as unconscious bias. 1.25
Session 8
1:00 – 2:15 pm ET
Up in Smoke? Changing Laws, Marijuana, and the Federal Workplace
Presented by Deborah Hopkins, Attorney at Law, FELTG President
Course description:This presentation coincides with 4/20 celebrations across the country, as marijuana dispensaries offer big sales and individuals partake in the drug, many of them doing so legally. Following President Biden’s pardon for people convicted of simple possession of marijuana, and the growing legalization movement, we received a lot of questions regarding Federal employees and their use, whether recreationally, medicinally, or “accidentally” – of marijuana. FELTG President Deborah Hopkins will review the laws that apply to Federal employees, discuss relevant MSPB cases, and share the most effective approach to managing and/or disciplining employees when their drug usage seeps into the workplace. Earn 1.25 CLE credits.
Session 9
3:00 – 4:15 pm ET
Everything You Want to Know About Probationary Periods
Presented by Ann Boehm, Attorney at Law, FELTG Instructor
Course description: On the surface, probationary periods seem rather simple. An employee is given a year to prove they are a good fit for the job. But, as many agencies are now realizing, there can be challenges. What if, due to the employee’s shifting job responsibilities or leave, you are unable to make an appropriate determination at the end of the period? Must you notify employees when their probationary periods are coming to an end? Can you discipline or PIP someone during a probationary period? When re-instating or competitively hiring an employee, is a new probationary period required? FELTG Instructor Ann Boehm will lead a discussion on all you need to know. Earn 1.25 CLE credits.
Friday April 21, 2023
Labor Relations Spotlight
Session 10
10:30 – 11:45 am ET
The Union Doesn’t Get to Attend Every Meeting
Presented by Ann Boehm, Attorney at Law, FELTG Instructor
Course description: Why do unions have the right to attend formal discussions? Why did Congress use the word “formal?” What does “formal” mean? What if the employee doesn’t want the union to attend the meeting? Is it better to just invite the union to every meeting? You have questions, questions, and more questions – and FELTG Instructor Ann Boehm has all the answers. Earn 1.25 CLE credits.
Session 11
1:00 – 2:15 pm ET
FLRA Case Law Update
Presented by Joseph Schimansky, Former Executive Director/FSIP, FELTG Instructor
Course description: During this 75-minute session, Joe Schimansky will bring you up to speed on everything FLRA, from significant decisions in the areas of negotiability, arbitration, unfair labor practices, and representation to the impact that the lack of a third member has had on the Authority.
Registration
Download Individual Registration Form
Price
- Early Bird Tuition (register by April 3):
- One Session = $165
- One Day (Three Sessions) = $425
- Labor Relations Day = $295
- April 18-20 All Access = $1245
- April 18-21 All Access with Labor Relations = $1495
- Standard Tuition (register April 4-21)
- One Session = $195
- One Day (Three Sessions) = $525
- Labor Relations Day = $355
- April 18-20 All Access = $1565
- April 18-21 All Access with Labor Relations = $1895
- Rates per registrant and may not be used for groups under any circumstances. No split registrations.
Event FAQs
- Can I attend Virtual Training from my government computer?
- FELTG uses Zoom to broadcast its Virtual Training Institute events. Many government computers and systems allow Zoom access. If for some reason your firewall will not allow access, you’re welcome to use your personal email address to register, and to attend the sessions from your personal device.
- How do I claim CLE or EEO refresher credits?
- This program has been submitted (and we anticipate this program will be approved) for Virginia CLE credits. Members of other state bars must submit for CLE credit on their own, and may use the materials provided by FELTG in submissions. Attendees may also request a certificate of completion which will contain the number of training hours attended, and will designate how many EEO refresher hours were earned.
- Can I get HRCI credits for attending this class?
- Each session is approved for 1.25 hours of HRCI general recertification credit. The HRCI course numbers will be available upon the conclusion of the training.
- 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 April 3.
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
Official time. Bargaining topics. Negotiation timeframes. Meetings. Permissive bargaining. Union responsibilities.
Anyone who has worked in federal labor relations for any amount of time, knows that it’s an always-changing and ever-challenging field. It’s absolutely necessary to continually update and refresh your knowledge and skills. So why not get that important training from two instructors with a combined 40 years of experience working at the Federal Labor Relations Authority and even more years of experience in the federal employment law world.
This training will bring you up to speed on where the current law stands, and share best practices on how to effectively navigate it in your day-to-day work, whether you’re a labor attorney, labor relations specialist or union representative.
FLRA Law Week provides attendees with a firm foundation of the historical perspective and precedence of FLRA decisions, as well as a strategy for taking advantage of any new approaches that are coming out of the FLRA.
There’s no other place where you can get in-depth guidance on hot-button LR issues to guide you through this dynamic time. So join us for this class May 1-5, where the entire world of Federal labor relations will be discussed.
Daily Agenda
Monday, May 1
Basic Management and Employee Rights: An overview of the Federal Service Labor-Management Relations Statute; the current status of Executive Orders 13836 and 13837; fundamental employee, union, and management rights; bargaining unit definition; the union organizer’s role; information requests; official time.
Tuesday, May 2
Labor Relations Meetings and Bargaining: More on official time; formal discussions; union representative rights; the collective bargaining process; the three categories of bargaining: mandatory, permissive, and prohibited; introduction to negotiability.
Wednesday, May 3
Unfair Labor Practices and Negotiability: Employee rights vs. Management rights; the anatomy of an Unfair Labor Practice; an overview of the Federal Services Impasse Panel; negotiability appeals.
Thursday, May 4
The Psychology of Bargaining, Plus Grievances and Pandemic-Related Issues: Selecting a bargaining strategy; interest based bargaining as compared to hard ball bargaining; grievances; exceptions to arbitration awards.
Friday, May 5
Understanding the FSIP and Arbitration: Panel members, FSIP procedures, recent FSIP developments, the arbitration process overview; binding the arbitrator; how federal government arbitration is different from private sector arbitration and appeals; educating the arbitrator.
Date and Time
May 1-5, 2023
12:30 – 4:30 pm ET each day (with a 30-minute break)
Instructors
Registration
Download Individual Registration Form
Pricing
Most people attend the full training week, but you may opt out of any days you don’t plan to attend.
Early Bird Tuition (register by April 17):
- 5 days = $1595
- 4 days = $1365
- 3 days = $995
- 2 days = $725
- 1 day = $395
Standard Tuition (register April 18-May 5):
- 5 days = $1695
- 4 days = $1465
- 3 days = $1095
- 2 days = $825
- 1 day = $495
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.
- 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. No split registrations.
- 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 April 17.