Calendar

FELTG Executive Director Deborah Hopkins instructing a class
Sep
16
Mon
Virtual Training Event – EEOC Law Week
Sep 16 – Sep 20 all-day

Course Description

An increase in reasonable accommodation requests based on religion, disability, and pregnancy. Continued focus of diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility (DEIA). Way too many harassment complaints.  The usual areas of confusion, such as contractor complaints, mixed cases. FELTG’s EEOC Law Week runs the gamut of EEO issues, providing usable and up-to-date guidance for all practitioners, regardless of experience level.

This in-depth training from FELTG instructors, drawing on years of experience from all sides of the litigation table, provides 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. If you work in EEO at all, this is the class for you.

3.5 per day (Tuesday-Friday)

Monday, September 16

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 17

Contractor Complaints; Intentional Discrimination; 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 18

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 19

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 20

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.

Date and Time

September 16-20, 2024

12:30 – 4:30 pm ET each day (with a 30-minute break)

Instructors

Katherine Atkinson, Ann Boehm, Robert Woods

Registration

Download Individual Registration Form

Pricing

Most people attend the full training week, but you may opt out of any days you don’t plan to attend.

Early Bird Tuition (register by August 16):

  • 5 days = $1695
  • 4 days = $1465
  • 3 days = $1095
  • 2 days = $825
  • 1 day = $495

Standard Tuition (register August 17 – September 20):

  • 5 days = $1795
  • 4 days = $1565
  • 3 days = $1195
  • 2 days = $925
  • 1 day = $595

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 16.

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

Sep
23
Mon
Virtual Training Event – Absence, Leave Abuse & Medical Issues Week
Sep 23 – Sep 27 all-day

Course Description

Whether you’re an HR professional, employee relations practitioner, EEO specialist, supervisor, or agency counsel, you have undoubtedly faced a leave-related challenge. And chances are, you struggled.

We understand. Leave is an entitlement. But not always. And it’s a complex and seemingly burdensome issue, one often laced with emotion. Numerous laws intersect to make it even more challenging. 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.

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 managing leave issues of hybrid and teleworking employees.

Daily Agenda

Monday, September 23

Understanding Federal Leave Categories and Processes: Course topics: Overview of leave; entitlements; eligibility; notification requirements; Leave Without Pay; Sick Leave; Medical documentation; and more.

Tuesday, September 24

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.

Wednesday, September 25

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;  leave as reasonable accommodation; flexible work schedules and alternative work locations; religious accommodation.

Thursday, September 26

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.

Friday, September 27

Managing Telework and Hybrid Workers: Course topics: Telework as a reasonable accommodation; valid performance standards, unacceptable performance; setting expectations; monitoring performance.

Participants will receive program materials via email the week before the training.

Date and Time

September 23-27, 2024

12:30 – 4:30 pm ET each day

Instructors

Katherine Atkinson, Ann Boehm, Bob Woods

Registration

Download Individual Registration Form

Pricing

Most people attend the full training week, but you may opt out of any days you don’t plan to attend.

Early Bird Tuition (register by August 23):

  • 5 days = $1695
  • 4 days = $1465
  • 3 days = $1095
  • 2 days = $825
  • 1 day = $495

Standard Tuition (register August 24-September 27):

  • 5 days = $1795
  • 4 days = $1565
  • 3 days = $1195
  • 2 days = $925
  • 1 day = $595

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 23.
Sep
24
Tue
Virtual Training Event – Setting the Bar: Advancing Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility for FY 2025
Sep 24 @ 1:00 pm – 4:30 pm

Course Description

In this half-day training, FELTG Instructor and Attorney at Law Katherine Atkinson will provide the foundation you need to jumpstart your DEIA efforts or take them to the next level. After an overview of civil rights law, Ms. Atkinson will share everything you need to know to foster DEIA at your agency, including:

  • What the EO says about agency obligations to underserved communities
  • What you should know about preventing and correcting harassment and discrimination in the workplace
  • Ensuring adherence to the Merit Systems principles, especially as they apply to the hiring process
  • Why and how some agencies are focusing on the concept of belonging
  • What microaggressions look like
  • How to determine your own implicit biases

Plus, you’ll have plenty of opportunities to ask questions and get answers live.

Learning objectives:

  • Identify the laws, regulations and Executive Orders that require your agency to promote DEIA in the workplace
  • Understand legally problematic selection processes and learn remedies to overcome the imbalance
  • Overcome the tendency to exhibit microaggressions in the workplace

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

Date and Time

Tuesday, September 24, 2024, 1 – 4:30 pm ET

Instructor

Katherine Atkinson

Registration

Download Individual Registration Form

Price

  • Early Bird Tuition (register by August 23): $495
  • Standard Tuition (August 24-September 24): $595
  • Rates per registrant.
  • Want to register a group? Group discounts for 10 or more attendees are available through August 23. 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 August 23. 

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.

Oct
8
Tue
Webinar – Do You Really Know How to Use the Douglas Factors?
Oct 8 @ 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm

Course Description

It’s been over 40 years since we were all introduced to those 12 factors identified in the Merit System Protection Board’s landmark Douglas v. VA decision, the most cited case in Federal employment law. But you don’t have to go back to the Reagan Administration to find examples of agencies misunderstanding and/or misapplying those factors.

Just look at a any recent batch of MSPB decisions, and you’ll find continued confusion about how to appropriately determine a penalty – and clarity from the Board about their view on Douglas.

Instructor and attorney Ann Boehm will share recent case law, highlighting how agencies correctly use the Douglas factors and also how they have been misapplied. She will answer all your Douglas questions, such as: Do the factors go in the proposal or the decision? What do OPM’s new regs say about the Douglas factors? What’s the best way to prevent penalty mitigation?

Learning takeaways

Attendees will learn how to:

  • Understand the Douglas factors principles
  • Explain when and how to use each factor
  • Avoid the too-common Douglas mistakes that sink your case

Date and Time

Tuesday, October 8, 2024, 1:00 – 2:00pm ET

Instructor

Ann Boehm

Registration

Download Individual Registration Form

Pricing

  • Early Bird Tuition (register by September 6): $145
  • Standard Tuition (register September 7-October 8): $195
  • Rates per registrant.
  • Want to register a group? Group discounts for 10 or more attendees are available through September 6. 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 September 6. 

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

Nov
19
Tue
Virtual Training Event – Writing Final Agency Decisions
Nov 19 – Nov 20 all-day

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

Tuesday, November 19, 2024

Applying Theories of Discrimination: EEO Law Overview; Intentional Discrimination; Disparate Impact; Hostile Work Environment; Reasonable Accommodation; Retaliation; Overlapping Forms of Discrimination.

Wednesday, November 20, 2024

Writing the Report: Timeliness Issues; Effective Legal Writing: structure and language; FAD Legal Sufficiency; Deconstruction Exercise.

Date and Time

November 19-20, 2024

1-4:30 pm ET each day (with a 30-minute break midway)

Instructor

Katherine Atkinson

Registration

Download Individual Registration Form

Price

  • Early Bird Tuition: $495 per session, $825 for both sessions (register by October 18).
  • Standard Tuition: $595 per session, $925 for both sessions (register October 19-November 20).
  • 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 18.
  • 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.

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