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.
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.
Instructor
Course Description
Unfortunately, the Federal workplace is not immune to reprehensible harassing behavior. As the pandemic raged and employees remained home, many thought that hostile work environment incidents would wane, yet the targets of hostile work environment merely expanded and changed. More harassment was aimed at Asian American and Pacific Islanders and LGBTQ employees, and harassment took more virtual forms including email and social media. Katherine Atkinson will discuss in clear terms the law on hostile work environment claims, amid the changing nature of the harassing behavior.
Attendees will learn how to:
- Determine when an agency could be held liable for hostile work environment.
- Raise awareness to prevent harassment from taking place.
- Take prompt and effective corrective action when harassment is alleged.
Price
- Early Bird Tuition: $270 per site, per webinar (payment required by May 4)
- Standard Tuition: $295 per site, per webinar (payments made May 5 or later)
Teleworkers may be added to a main site registration for $50 per teleworker, on a space-available basis.
Cancellation and No-show Policy for Registered Participants: Cancellations made after the cancel date on the registration form will not be refunded or given credit toward future courses. Pre-paid training using the “Pay Now” option will not be refunded or given credit toward future courses. No-shows will not be refunded or given credit toward future courses.
Download Individual Registration Form
First it was the Supreme Court ruling two years ago. And then President Biden’s first-day-in-office Executive Order made it even more clear: You are expected to enforce workplace discrimination protections based on sexual orientation and gender identity, as well as promote diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility (DEIA) with agency employees, customers and grantees.
This two-hour virtual training, led by Attorney at Law and FELTG President Deborah Hopkins, will provide a detailed overview of workplace discrimination laws, and dig into guidance and best practices on topics including gender stereotyping as sex discrimination, transgender protections, and sexual orientation – an important part of this administration’s focus on providing equity to traditionally underserved communities.
Deborah Hopkins will also explain how to addresses unconscious biases and microaggressions in the workplace, actions which, if left unchecked, can lead to discrimination or a hostile work environment for individuals in the LGTBQ community.
Attendees will learn how to:
- Comply with the relevant Biden Executive Orders.
- Ensure legal protections for transgender employees.
- Identify acts of microaggression against LGBTQ employees, as well as those influenced by implicit bias.
- Recognize and define harassment.
- Respond appropriately and effectively when you see a microaggression in the workplace.
This session will be held from 1:00 – 3:00pm ET.
This program meets the President’s mandate to provide training on diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility in the Federal workplace.
Instructor
Price
- Early Bird Tuition: $295 (register by May 27)
- Standard Tuition: $345 (register May 28-June 9)
- Rates per registrant.
- Want to register a group? Group discounts for 10 or more attendees are available until May 27. Contact FELTG.
Event FAQs
- Can I attend Virtual Training from my government computer?
- FELTG uses Zoom for this Virtual Training Institute event. Many government computers and systems allow Zoom access. If for some reason your firewall will not allow access, you’re welcome to use your personal email address to register, and to attend the sessions from your personal device. You may also attend the training event as an audio training, by dialing in over the phone and following along with the materials independently.
- Can I earn CLE credits for this class?
- CLE applications are the responsibility of each attendee; FELTG does not apply for the credits on behalf of attendees. If you are seeking CLE credit, attendees may use the materials provided by FELTG in submission to your state bar. Attendees may also request a certificate of completion which will contain the number of training hours attended.
- What if I want to attend a session but have a schedule conflict?
- FELTG also plans to offer this live event periodically, so check our calendar for upcoming dates.
- Can I share my access link with co-workers?
- No. Registration for this event is per individual, and access links may not be shared. Each link may only be used by one person.
- Can I register a teleworker?
- This event is individual registration, so the cost is the same whether the person is teleworking or in an agency facility.
- How do I receive a group rate discount?
- Group rates are available for agencies registering 10 or more individuals. Group discounts are available until May 27.
Cancellation and No-show Policy for Registered Participants: Cancellations made after the cancel date on the registration form will not be refunded or given credit toward future courses. Pre-paid training using the “Pay Now” option will not be refunded or given credit toward future courses. No-shows will not be refunded or given credit toward future courses.
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.
Download Individual Registration Form
Course Description
Are you looking for a convenient and engaging way to pick up your mandatory annual refresher training? Are you looking for useful, timely, and up-to-date guidance delivered in an engaging format?
Each day of FELTG’s two-day virtual training event provides an opportunity for you to pick up your mandatory annual refresher training. Attend both days and earn all eight hours, while receiving instruction on important EEO topics, such as: EEO timelines, best practices for interviewing complainants and witnesses, trends in reasonable accommodation, the very latest on sexual orientation and gender discrimination, what happens when disabilities and FMLA overlap, the latest on Post-COVID EEO challenges, and more.
Attendees will also receive a certificate of attendance verifying they’ve met the annual training requirement. We hope to see you there.
This program meets the President’s mandate to provide training on diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility in the Federal workplace.
Download Individual Registration Form
Tuesday, June 21, 12:00-4:00 pm eastern
FELTG Instructor Ricky Rowe, former National EEO Manager for the Department of Veterans Affairs, kicks things off with an in-depth presentation on the foundational issues that EEO professionals need to know – everything from theories of discrimination to the complaints procedure process. Mr. Rowe will share guidance to help you sharpen your practical skills, especially when it comes to interviewing witnesses. Attendees will learn various methods of communication, the difference between interviews and interrogation, types of questions, and techniques
EEO Refreshers Hours: 4
Learning takeaways
Attendees will learn how to:
- Avoid the common mistakes made in the counseling process.
- Identify the appropriate bases for dismissing a complaint.
- Prepare and conduct effective witness interviews.
Wednesday, June 22,12:00-4:00 pm eastern
In recent years, the Supreme Court and the EEOC have issued dozens of significant decisions that impact how you approach your job. Meanwhile, agencies are seeing new examples of hostile work environment and national origin and religious discrimination. This session will cover those topics, as well as the changing nature of reprisal discrimination, protections for LGBTQ employees, and the increase in reasonable accommodation requests (both disability-related and religious). Many of these trends are directly related to the pandemic. Attorney at Law Ann Boehm will look at the latest trends in EEO and you’ll leave the session with the confidence to successfully handle them all.
EEO Refreshers Hours: 4
Learning takeaways
Attendees will learn how to:
- Address challenging reasonable accommodations, such as requests for permanent telework and new supervisor.
- Explain the 2021 Executive Orders on Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accommodation.
- Recognize incidents of hostile work environment and reprisal.
Price
- Early Bird Tuition: $370 per session, $700 for both sessions (register by June 6).
- Standard Tuition: $400 per session, $730 for both sessions (register June 7-22).
- 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 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 June 6.
- 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.
Download Individual Registration Form
President Biden’s Executive Order requiring all Federal employees to be vaccinated with no option for regular coronavirus testing to opt out of the mandate, will likely be back in effect within days. What does this mean for employees who refuse to get vaccinated? Are there any religious exemptions that would allow employees to continue to work without vaccination? What about employees who cannot get vaccinated due to a disability – can agencies accommodate them?
Attorney Katherine Atkinson will not only share with you the latest guidance from the president’s EO, the EEOC and the CDC, but she will also explain how applying the basic EEO framework can answer the aforementioned and other puzzling EEO questions you may suddenly face. Because Ms. Atkinson will use a legal analysis to address these challenges, the answers and guidance you receive during this virtual training will be useful long after the coronavirus is gone.
Beyond the vaccination mandate, Ms. Atkinson will also help you answer the following questions and more:
- How should agencies prioritize all the exemption requests that were on hold during the several months the EO was enjoined?
- Is COVID-related harassment and reprisal illegal under the EEO statutes?
- What documentation should agencies maintain to defend agains the complaints that will inevitably be filed?
Plus, you’ll have plenty of opportunities to ask questions about the unique problems you’re facing during these unprecedented times.
Learning takeaways
Attendees will learn how to determine:
- Whether an unvaccinated employee creates an undue hardship to an agency’s operations in the religious accommodation context
- How the undue hardship determination is different for an employee who requested accommodation due to a disability
- How to spot pandemic-related retaliation that constitutes a legal violation
This program runs from 1:00 – 4:30 eastern, with a 30-minute break midway.
This program meets the President’s mandate to provide training on diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility in the Federal workplace.
Price
- Early Bird Tuition (register by June 13): $355
- Standard Tuition (register June 14-28 or later): $395
- Rates per registrant.
- Want to register a group? Group discounts for 10 or more attendees are available through June 13. 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 June 13.
Cancellation and No-show Policy for Registered Participants: Cancellations made after the cancel date on the registration form will not be refunded or given credit toward future courses. Pre-paid training using the “Pay Now” option will not be refunded or given credit toward future courses. No-shows will not be refunded or given credit toward future courses.
Download Individual Registration Form
If you thought President Biden’s Executive Orders to advance racial equity throughout the Federal government and strengthen discrimination protections were just feel-good statements, think again.
You should have already completed your DEIA strategic plan. You’ll now need to file annual DEIA reports to the White House. Those reports should reveal the depth and breadth of your efforts to advance diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility throughout your agency.
This issue is NOT going away. Employees, regardless of race, color, religion, gender identity or sexual orientation, will not feel respected and empowered unless the agency addresses unconscious bias and microaggressions in the workplace.
What is a microaggression? During this two-hour virtual training, FELTG Instructor Katherine Atkinson, attorney at law, will explain what microaggressions look like it in their various forms — microinsults, microassaults, and microinvalidations.
Whether intentional or not, microaggressions can be very hurtful to the employees who experience them, and such behaviors indicating implicit bias can lead to discrimination. They are warning signs of a potential hostile workplace. And they put a serious dent in employee morale and productivity.
Ms. Atkinson will also share an implicit bias test, explain its impact, and provide examples. She’ll provide a quick review of EEO law so you can determine when bias or microaggression leads to the level of discrimination.
Attendees will learn how to:
- Identify acts of microaggression and acts influenced by implicit bias.
- Recognize and define harassment.
- Respond appropriately and effectively when you see a microaggression in the workplace.
This program meets the President’s mandate to provide training on diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility in the Federal workplace.
Class will be held from 1:00-3:00 PM eastern.
Instructor
Price
- Early Bird Tuition: $295 (register by July 5)
- Standard Tuition: $325 (register July 6-13)
- Rates per registrant.
Event FAQs
- Can I attend Virtual Training from my government computer?
- FELTG uses Zoom for this Virtual Training Institute event. Many government computers and systems allow Zoom access. If for some reason your firewall will not allow access, you’re welcome to use your personal email address to register, and to attend the sessions from your personal device. You may also attend the training event as an audio training, by dialing in over the phone and following along with the materials independently.
- Can I earn CLE credits for this class?
- CLE applications are the responsibility of each attendee; FELTG does not apply for the credits on behalf of attendees. If you are seeking CLE credit, attendees may use the materials provided by FELTG in submission to your state bar. Attendees may also request a certificate of completion which will contain the number of training hours attended.
- Can I share my access link with co-workers?
- No. Registration for this event is per individual, and access links may not be shared. Each link may only be used by one person.
- Can I register a teleworker?
- This event is individual registration, so the cost is the same whether the person is teleworking or in an agency facility.
- How do I receive a group rate discount?
- Group rates are available for agencies registering 10 or more individuals. Group discounts are available until July 5.
Cancellation and No-show Policy for Registered Participants: Cancellations made after the cancel date on the registration form will not be refunded or given credit toward future courses. Pre-paid training using the “Pay Now” option will not be refunded or given credit toward future courses. No-shows will not be refunded or given credit toward future courses.
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.
Instructor
Download Individual Registration Form
Whether you’re ready for it or not, many employees are returning to the physical workplace in large numbers. Several agencies have already started the process, and others have hybrid work plans in place. Based on the early results, it’s not been an easy transition for most. And it sure as heck isn’t going to get easier anytime soon.
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. That conflict remains as employees return — a good number of them reluctantly. And the conflicts won’t automatically disappear, even if some employees work remains remote or evolves into hybrid.
Are you prepared to identify and handle expected increases in COVID-related reprisal and harassment? What about the expected in increase in reasonable accommodation requests? Or the potential for harassment and other misconduct?
This is the only Federal workplace-specific virtual training event that will address all of these employment law-related challenges, provide clear-cut guidance along with the appropriate framework for you to address these unique challenges. And FELTG President Deborah Hopkins will help you answer these perplexing questions:
- 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?
- How do you accommodate an individual with long-haul COVID?
- 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 actions can you take against employees who refuse to return to the workplace after being ordered to report?
- Can you discipline someone for publicly sharing their personal opinions about COVID restrictions?
Plus, you’ll have plenty of opportunities to ask questions about the unique problems you’re facing. The training will take place from 1 – 4 pm ET.
Learning objectives
Attendees will learn how to:
- Address any lingering vaccination exemption requests and handle testing appropriately.
- Recognize pandemic-related retaliation that constitutes a legal violation.
- Determine whether telework is an appropriate reasonable accommodation.
- Appropriately address conduct issues related to COVID and/or the return to the physical workplace.
Price
- Early Bird Tuition (register by July 13): $355
- Standard Tuition (July 14 or later): $395
- Rates per registrant.
- Want to register a group? Group discounts for 10 or more attendees are available through July 13. 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 13.
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.
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.
Download Individual Registration Form
The federal hiring process is a challenging one that requires patience. Those who hurry the hiring process are not only likely to make a mistake in hiring, but they may also end up without sufficient documentation to combat a discrimination complaint, making the allegation difficult to defend against.
And there is NO excuse these days for having any steps in your hiring process that could be discriminatory. Per Executive Order, your agency should have already taken steps to “advance diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility,” and “eliminate, where applicable, barriers to equity, in Federal workforce functions.”
Regardless of where you are in the development of an agency Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA) plan or whether your agency is even currently hiring, this half-day virtual training provides important guidance that you cannot afford to miss if you want to ensure your hiring practices are nondiscriminatory and align with the federal merit system principles.
FELTG instructor and attorney at law Katherine Atkinson will explain the types of interview questions that cause problems, and discuss selection panel roles and responsibilities, including ensuring the selecting officials implement best practices to develop and maintain evidence, demonstrating the non-selection was neither discriminatory nor retaliatory.
Attend from wherever you are working — agency office or home. The program will be presented live, and you’ll have time to ask questions and get answers in real time. This program runs from 1:00 – 4:30 pm eastern, with a 30-minute break from 2:30 – 3:00.
This program meets the President’s mandate to provide training on diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility in the Federal workplace.
Instructor
Price
- Early Bird Tuition: $355 (register by August 2)
- Standard Tuition: $395 (register August 3 or later)
- Rates per registrant.
- Want to register a group? Group discounts for 10 or more attendees are available through August 2. Contact FELTG.
Event FAQs
- Can I attend Virtual Training from my government computer?
- FELTG uses Zoom for this Virtual Training Institute event. Many government computers and systems allow Zoom access. If for some reason your firewall will not allow access, you’re welcome to use your personal email address to register, and to attend the sessions from your personal device. You may also attend the training event as an audio training, by dialing in over the phone and following along with the materials independently.
- Can I earn CLE credits for this class?
- CLE applications are the responsibility of each attendee; FELTG does not apply for the credits on behalf of attendees. If you are seeking CLE credit, attendees may use the materials provided by FELTG in submission to your state bar. Attendees may also request a certificate of completion which will contain the number of training hours attended.
- What if I want to attend a session but have a schedule conflict?
- FELTG plans to offer this live event periodically, so check our calendar for upcoming dates.
- Can I share my access link with co-workers?
- No. Registration for this event is per individual, and access links may not be shared. Each link may only be used by one person.
- Can I register a teleworker?
- This event is individual registration, so the cost is the same whether the person is teleworking or in an agency facility.
- How do I receive a group rate discount?
- Group rates are available for agencies registering 10 or more individuals. Group discounts are available through August 2.
Cancellation and No-show Policy for Registered Participants: Cancellations made after the cancel date on the registration form will not be refunded or given credit toward future courses. Pre-paid training using the “Pay Now” option will not be refunded or given credit toward future courses. No-shows will not be refunded or given credit toward future courses.
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
An increase in reasonable accommodations requests based on religion and disability. Pandemic-related civil rights crises. Increased discussion of diversity and inclusion. Way too many harassment complaints. Talk of changes to the EEO process. If you’ve thought about registering for FELTG’s EEOC Law Week in the past, now is the time to act on it. This weeklong virtual training is updated for 2022, including the latest on COVID-related challenges and workplace harassment.
This in-depth training overs the gamut of EEO issues, and provides usable guidance for all practitioners, regardless of experience level. FELTG’s expert speakers, drawing on years of experience from all sides of the litigation table, deliver a fast-paced week of strategies, principles, and authorities relative to the major aspects of the field of discrimination law in the federal government.
And it provides the required material for EEO counselors and investigators to receive refresher training hours
The program runs 12:30 – 4:30 pm eastern each day, with a 30-minute break midway.
3.5 per day.
Download Individual Registration Form
Who Should Attend
Attorneys; EEO managers and directors; EEO specialists; EEO counselors and investigators; reasonable accommodation coordinators; federal supervisors and managers who have complicated EEO issues in the workplace; Labor and Employee Relations specialists; union representatives.
Instructors
TBD
Daily Agenda
Monday, September 19
Basic EEOC: Nuts & Bolts: Course topics: Statutory authority and jurisdiction of EEOC; an overview of the theories of discrimination; overview of the EEO process; amended and consolidated complaints; timeliness issues in the wake of the Supreme Court decisions in Morgan and Ledbetter.
Tuesday, September 20
Contractor Complaints; Intentional Discrimination and Reprisal Cases: Course topics: The agency’s role and obligations when a contractor files an EEO complaint; intentional discrimination analysis and cases; selection and promotion cases; reprisal analysis and case updates.
Wednesday, September 21
Accommodating Individuals with Disabilities: Course topics: The Rehabilitation Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act, defining individual with a disability, understanding major life activities and substantial limitations; identifying essential job functions; the legal requirements for the interactive process; types of reasonable accommodation; the latest on the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (GINA) and relevant regulations.
Thursday, September 22
Current Trends in EEO Law: A Focus on Harassment: Course topics: The very latest on what’s happening in EEO; hostile environment harassment; gender stereotyping; same-sex harassment; recent court decisions on sexual orientation and transgender discrimination including the SCOTUS decision Bostock v. Clayton County; non-EEO harassment; settling EEO cases.
Friday, September 23
Mixed Cases; Damages & Remedies: Course topics: Understanding the world of mixed cases; overview of equitable remedies: back pay, front pay, reinstatement; non-pecuniary and pecuniary damages; past and future damages; damages offsets; the duty to mitigate damages; collateral sources and pre-existing conditions; multiple causations of harm; the eggshell complainant.
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.
- 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.
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
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
Are you looking for a convenient and engaging way to pick up your mandatory annual refresher training? Are you looking for useful, timely, and up-to-date guidance where you can ask your questions, and get answers in real time?
FELTG’s two-day virtual training event provides an opportunity for EEO Counselors and Investigators to pick up their 8 hours of mandatory annual refresher training. Attend both days and earn all 8 hours, while receiving instruction on important EEO topics, such as: EEO timelines, best practices for interviewing complainants and witnesses, trends in reasonable accommodation, the very latest on sexual orientation and gender discrimination, what happens when disabilities and FMLA overlap, the latest on Post-COVID EEO challenges, and more.
Attendees will also receive a certificate of attendance verifying they’ve met the annual training requirement. We hope to see you there.
This program meets the President’s mandate to provide training on diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility in the Federal workplace.
Download Individual Registration Form
Wednesday, October 12, 12:30-4:30 pm eastern
We kick things off with an in-depth presentation on the foundational issues that EEO professionals need to know – everything from theories of discrimination to the complaints procedure process. We will share guidance to help you sharpen your practical skills, especially when it comes to interviewing witnesses. Attendees will learn various methods of communication, the difference between interviews and interrogation, types of questions, and techniques for interviewing difficult witnesses.
EEO Refreshers Hours: 4
Learning takeaways
Attendees will learn how to:
- Avoid the common mistakes made in the counseling process.
- Identify the appropriate bases for dismissing a complaint.
- Prepare and conduct effective witness interviews.
Thursday, October 13,12:30-4:30 pm eastern
In recent years, the Supreme Court and the EEOC have issued dozens of significant decisions that impact how you approach your job. Meanwhile, agencies are seeing new examples of hostile work environment and national origin and religious discrimination. This session will cover those topics, as well as the changing nature of reprisal discrimination, protections for LGBTQ employees, and the increase in reasonable accommodation requests (both disability-related and religious). Many of these trends are directly related to the pandemic. Attorney at Law Katherine Atkinson will look at the latest trends in EEO and you’ll leave the session with the confidence to successfully handle them all.
EEO Refreshers Hours: 4
Learning takeaways
Attendees will learn how to:
- Address challenging reasonable accommodations, such as requests for permanent telework and new supervisor.
- Explain the 2021 Executive Orders on Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accommodation.
- Recognize incidents of hostile work environment and reprisal.
Price
- Early Bird Tuition: $370 per session, $700 for both sessions (register by September 27).
- Standard Tuition: $400 per session, $730 for both sessions (register September 28-October 13).
- 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 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 September 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.
Download Individual Registration Form
Course Description
Final Agency Decision sounds so, well, “final.” But it most definitely is not. A FAD is appealable, by the complainant, to the EEOC. And many employees have and will continue to take advantage of that opportunity to appeal the agency’s decision. And here’s the thing: The EEOC’s decisions are filled with reversals of the agency’s FAD, finding no discrimination.
How do you avoid such a disappointing decision?
Learn how to write an effective final agency decision. To do that requires a knowing and understanding of discrimination law, as it is uniquely applied to the Federal workplace.
That’s what FELTG Instructor and Attorney at Law Katherine Atkinson will teach you over two half-days of virtual training. Attendees will leave with all they need to know to write an effective FAD, including identifying and avoiding the pitfalls that often lead to the EEOC reversals that plague so many EEO professionals.
This program runs from 1:00 – 4:30 eastern each day, with a 30-minute break midway.
This program meets the President’s mandate to provide training on diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility in the Federal workplace.
Instructor
Agenda
Tuesday, October 18
Applying Theories of Discrimination: EEO Law Overview; Intentional Discrimination; Disparate Impact; Hostile Work Environment; Reasonable Accommodation; Retaliation; overlapping forms of discrimination.
Wednesday, October 19
Writing the Report: Timeliness Issues; Effective Legal Writing: structure and language; FAD Legal Sufficiency; deconstruction exercise.
Price
- Early Bird Tuition: $355 per session, $690 for both sessions (register by October 3).
- Standard Tuition: $395 per session, $750 for both sessions (register October 4-19).
- 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 will use 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.
- What if I want to attend a session but have a schedule conflict?
- FELTG plans to offer this live event periodically, so check our calendar for upcoming dates.
- Can I share my access link with co-workers?
- No. Registration for this event is per individual, and access links may not be shared. Each link may only be used by one person.
- Can I register a teleworker?
- This event is individual registration, so the cost is the same whether the person is teleworking or in an agency facility.
- How do I receive a group rate discount?
- 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 October 3.
- 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.
Download Individual Registration Form
Event Description
The world of Federal EEO is constantly changing. And the pandemic has made that world more challenging than ever. Agencies will be onboarding new EEO counselors, and need to make sure they’re prepared for these unique challenges 2023 is sure to bring. FELTG has the solution — the most engaging, up-to-date, and comprehensive 32-hour EEO Counselor initial training available.
Over the course of four 8-hour days, FELTG’s experienced instructors will steer you through a carefully and meticulously crafted agenda that explains EEO law in easy-to-understand terms and helps you develop the skills necessary to be an effective EEO professional, and provides the mandatory 32-hour initial training for new counselors as required by EEOC.
Topics include an overview of the EEO process, the counselor’s responsibilities, the applicable statutes, theories of discrimination, remedies and more. Plus, we’ll focus on emerging issues related to COVID-19 and vaccine exemption requests, provide updated on LGBTQ+ discrimination, and take attendees through a thorough discussion of reasonable accommodation.
And there’s more.
Are you a veteran counselor looking for your 8-hour refresher? Attend one of the final three days of training to earn your refresher hours. Plus, if you work in another realm of EEO, you’re welcome to join us for the very latest guidance on all these timely topics.
This is an interactive class. You will not be asked to share your screen, but there will be many opportunities to participate, and you should be prepared to share and discuss.
You can’t afford to trust this required initial training to whatever is available at the last minute. Register by January 10 for the Early Bird rate.
Daily Agenda
Monday, January 23
EEO Counselor Training, Part I — Introduction and Role of the Counselor: Introduction to Counseling; the EEO process; timelines; requirements; why counseling first; EEO counselor approach; purpose of the EEO counselor; what makes a good EEO counselor; an intro to alternative dispute resolution; ADR in EEO counseling; the counselor’s role when ADR is elected.
Tuesday, January 24
EEO Counselor Training, Part II — Theories of Discrimination: EEOC jurisdiction; discrimination based on race, color, national origin, reprisal, and disability; intentional discrimination; hostile work environment; sexual harassment; LGBTQ status; MD-110; COVID-19 related EEO topics; vaccine mandates.
8 per day
Wednesday, January 25
EEO Counselor Training, Part III — Interview Skills: Introduction to interview skills; interviewing the counselee; interviewing the RMO; meeting with counselee after RMO; interviewing difficult personality types; what happens if a contractor wants to file an EEO complaint.
8 per day
Thursday, January 26
EEO Counselor Training, Part IV — Avoiding Mistakes; Writing the Report: Mistakes to avoid in the counseling process; organizing the report; issue spotting; knowing your audience; writing the narrative; writing styles; plain language writing.
8 per day
Join FELTG for this training, from wherever you are working — agency office or home. The program will be presented live, and you’ll have time to ask questions and get answers in real time. This program runs from 9 am – 5 pm eastern each day.
Instructors
Robert Woods, Ricky Rowe, Katherine Atkinson, Shana Palmieri
Price
- Early Bird Tuition (register by January 10): One Day = $575 | Two Days = $1100 | Three Days = $1575 | Four Days = $1995
- Standard Tuition (register January 11-23): One Day = $675 | Two Days = $1200 | Three Days = $1675 | Four Days = $2095
- Rates per registrant. No split registrations permitted.
- Want to register a group? Group discounts are available through January 10. 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 January 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.
Course Description
It could be a timeliness issue, failure to state a claim, or something else. Sometimes your agency has a responsibility to dismiss an EEO complaint. However, you do so at your own risk. A surprisingly large number of agency dismissals are overturned by the EEOC each year – and a remand years after the events in question can equal big problems when it comes to the investigation.
How do you balance the obligation to dismiss faulty complaints without unlawfully stripping someone of their rights to the EEO process and ending up on the wrong side of an EEOC decision in the process?
Join FELTG Instructor Katherine Atkinson for this two-day look into the core of the complaint process — determining whether to accept or dismiss an EEO claim. Ms. Atkinson will review the lawful reasons for dismissing a claim and how to make that determination. She’ll also take you through the process of spotting and framing claims based on each of the theories of discrimination.
This class will have interactive polling and plenty of opportunities to ask specific questions. And before the training ends, you’ll participate in an exercise to refresh what you’ve learned about acceptance/dismissal.
Attendees will leave with guidance and tools for identifying claims that do not fall under the EEO process, understanding the various components of timeliness in EEO claims, and drafting a legally sufficient acceptance and dismissal document.
Wednesday, February 22 – Session 1
Topics covered: Bases to dismiss claims; claim fragmentation; role of the EEO counselor’s report; legally protected categories under the EEOC’s jurisdiction; spotting and framing intentional discrimination claims; spotting and framing disparate impact claims; spotting and framing hostile work environment claims; spotting and framing reasonable accommodation claims; spotting and framing other ADA/Rehabilitation Act causes of action.
Thursday, February 23 – Session 2
Topics covered: Spotting and framing reprisal claims, including per se retaliation; timeliness principles; contractor EEO complaints.
Date and Time
Wednesday, February 22 and Thursday, February 23, 2023, 1:00 – 4:30pm ET each day.
Instructor
Registration
Download Individual Registration Form
Pricing
Most people attend both training days, but you may attend either day independently.
Early Bird Tuition (register by February 8):
- 2 days = $725
- 1 day = $395
Standard Tuition (register February 9 and after):
- 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.
- 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 February 8.
Cancellation and No-show Policy for Registered Participants: Cancellations made after the cancel date on the registration form will not be refunded or given credit toward future courses. Pre-paid training using the “Pay Now” option will not be refunded or given credit toward future courses. No-shows will not be refunded or given credit toward future courses.
Course Description
Antisemitism is never acceptable. However, recent remarks by celebrities, athletes, and news networks have made antisemitism seem more commonplace, in all facets of life, including the workplace. Title VII makes it illegal to discriminate against someone based on, among other things, religion. However, this is one of the protected categories least understood.
In this 60-minute webinar, FELTG Instructor Katherine Atkinson will explain these Title VII protections. Ms. Atkinson will also provide guidance on how to ensure that individuals in protected categories are not discriminated against, with a specific focus on harassment and discrimination against Jewish employees.
Attendees will learn how to:
- Recognize incidents of religious harassment, particularly those aimed at Jewish employees.
- Promptly correct harassing behavior aimed at an employee’s religious beliefs.
- Understand when an agency would be liable for religious harassment.
Date and Time
Thursday, March 9, 2023, 1:00 – 2:00pm ET.
Instructor
Registration
Download Registration Form Here
Price
- Early Bird Tuition: $270 per site, per webinar (payment required by February 27)
- Standard Tuition: $295 per site, per webinar (payments made February 28 or later)
Teleworkers may be added to a main site registration for $60 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
An increase in reasonable accommodations requests based on religion and disability. Pandemic-related civil rights crises. Increased discussion of diversity and inclusion. Way too many harassment complaints. Talk of changes to the EEO process. If you’ve thought about registering for FELTG’s EEOC Law Week in the past, now is the time to act on it. This weeklong virtual training is updated for 2023, including the latest on COVID-related challenges and workplace harassment.
This in-depth training overs the gamut of EEO issues, and provides usable guidance for all practitioners, regardless of experience level. FELTG’s expert speakers, drawing on years of experience from all sides of the litigation table, deliver a fast-paced week of strategies, principles, and authorities relative to the major aspects of the field of discrimination law in the federal government.
And it provides the required material for EEO counselors and investigators to receive refresher training hours.
The program runs 12:30 – 4:30 pm eastern each day, with a 30-minute break midway.
3.5 per day.
Download Individual Registration Form
Who Should Attend
Attorneys; EEO managers and directors; EEO specialists; EEO counselors and investigators; reasonable accommodation coordinators; federal supervisors and managers who have complicated EEO issues in the workplace; Labor and Employee Relations specialists; union representatives.
Instructors
TBD
Daily Agenda
Monday, March 13
Basic EEOC: Nuts & Bolts: Course topics: Statutory authority and jurisdiction of EEOC; an overview of the theories of discrimination; overview of the EEO process; amended and consolidated complaints; timeliness issues in the wake of the Supreme Court decisions in Morgan and Ledbetter.
Tuesday, March 14
Contractor Complaints; Intentional Discrimination and Reprisal Cases: Course topics: The agency’s role and obligations when a contractor files an EEO complaint; intentional discrimination analysis and cases; selection and promotion cases; reprisal analysis and case updates.
Wednesday, March 15
Accommodating Individuals with Disabilities: Course topics: The Rehabilitation Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act, defining individual with a disability, understanding major life activities and substantial limitations; identifying essential job functions; the legal requirements for the interactive process; types of reasonable accommodation; the latest on the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (GINA) and relevant regulations.
Thursday, March 16
Current Trends in EEO Law: A Focus on Harassment: Course topics: The very latest on what’s happening in EEO; hostile environment harassment; gender stereotyping; same-sex harassment; recent court decisions on sexual orientation and transgender discrimination including the SCOTUS decision Bostock v. Clayton County; non-EEO harassment; settling EEO cases.
Friday, March 17
Mixed Cases; Damages & Remedies: Course topics: Understanding the world of mixed cases; overview of equitable remedies: back pay, front pay, reinstatement; non-pecuniary and pecuniary damages; past and future damages; damages offsets; the duty to mitigate damages; collateral sources and pre-existing conditions; multiple causations of harm; the eggshell complainant.
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 February 27):
- 5 days = $1595
- 4 days = $1365
- 3 days = $995
- 2 days = $725
- 1 day = $395
Standard Tuition (register February 28-March 17):
- 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.
- 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 February 27.
Cancellation and No-show Policy for Registered Participants: Cancellations made after the cancel date on the registration form will not be refunded or given credit toward future courses. Pre-paid training using the “Pay Now” option will not be refunded or given credit toward future courses. No-shows will not be refunded or given credit toward future courses.