Calendar

FELTG Executive Director Deborah Hopkins instructing a class
Aug
22
Thu
Webinar Series – Reasonable Accommodation in the Federal Workplace: 2024 Edition Webinar Series
Aug 22 @ 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm

Download Individual Registration Form

Instructors

Deborah Hopkins, Katherine Atkinson, Meghan Droste, Ricky Rowe

Course Description

There is no reason to fear the reasonable accommodation process. Yet many Federal supervisors do. They’re not alone. Reasonable Accommodation Coordinators, HR and EEO professionals, program managers and even attorney/advisors have approached reasonable accommodation requests with a bit of trepidation.

FELTG’s annual Reasonable Accommodation webinar series returns in 2024 with all-new updates, laying the important groundwork to make the process of managing requests for accommodation (for disability, pregnancy, or religion) a positive one – for you, the employee, and the agency.

For 2024, we offer six 60-minute sessions that will give the proper framework for providing accommodations for people who are entitled, along with the confidence to do so. And you will have the skills necessary to avoid the pitfalls that lead to unwanted findings of failure to accommodate. FELTG’s experienced instructors will allot time for your reasonable accommodation questions.

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.

6 (1 per webinar)

Session 1: Understanding Disability Accommodation (July 18)

Session 2: Navigating the Interactive Process (July 25)

Session 3: Telework as a Reasonable Accommodation (August 1)

Session 4: Reasonable Accommodation Mistakes: Lessons From an AJ (August 8)

Session 5: The Dos and Don’ts of Reasonable Accommodation for Pregnant Employees (August 15)

Session 6: Providing Religious Accommodations in 2024 (August 22)

Price

Early Bird Tuition (register by June 18):

  • One Webinar: $145
  • Two Webinars: $275
  • Three Webinars: $395
  • Four Webinars: $525
  • Five webinars: $655
  • All Access: $775
  • Rates per registrant.

Standard Tuition (register June 19 through August 22): 

  • One Webinar: $195
  • Two Webinars: $315
  • Three Webinars: $430
  • Four Webinars: $550
  • Five Webinars: $695
  • All Access: $825
  • Rates per registrant.
  • Want to register a group? Group discounts for 10 or more attendees are available through June 18. Contact FELTG.

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.

Aug
27
Tue
Virtual Training Event – A Step-by-Step Guide to Arbitration Success
Aug 27 @ 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm

Course Description

In this two-hour virtual training, FELTG Instructor Joe Schimansky will walk you through the various stages of arbitration, identifying the key actions that will lead to a successful result. Mr. Schimansky, former Executive Director of the Federal Service Impasses Panel, will share the keys to arbitration selection, witness preparation, introduction of documents, hearing room logistics, and more. You’ll learn why it’s so important to educate the arbitrator, particularly on the MSPB and FLRA law applicable to the issues in your case.

Attendees will learn how to:

  • Select the best arbitrator for a given case.
  • Improve their presentation during all phases of the arbitration process.
  • Distinguish between litigation before an arbitrator and other administrative and court hearings.

Date and Time

Tuesday, August 27, 2024, 1-3 pm ET

Instructor

Joe Schimansky

Registration

Download Individual Registration Form

Price

  • Early Bird Tuition: $345 (payments required by February 24)
  • Standard Tuition: $385 (payments made between February 25 – March 26)
  • Want to register a group? Group discounts are available through March 8. 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 attendees for the full event. Group discounts are available through February 24.

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
9
Mon
Virtual Training Event – MSPB Law Week
Sep 9 – Sep 13 all-day

Course Description

Change happens in the world of Federal employee relations, and it often comes quickly. Those who succeed continuously sharpen their MSPB skills and refresh their knowledge. Those who don’t fall behind.

Fortunately, FELTG’s MSPB Law Week provides you with an all-encompassing week of training that offers the most effective guidance and up-to-date information available. During this engaging week of training, attendees will learn the legal requirements and best practices for disciplinary charges and penalties, understanding the law and strategy in handling performance cases, defending against whistleblower reprisal complaints, and much more.

Whether you’ve attended MSPB Law Week previously or not, you’ll leave with the foundational knowledge and cutting-edge strategies to deal with the challenges you’ll be facing in 2024. Plus, we’ll incorporate the very latest Board case law to give you an inside look at how this Board views performance and conduct issues. Join top MSPB practitioners and topic authors, and learn the law, strategies, and techniques from their many years of combined experience.

Daily Agenda

Monday, September 9

The Foundations of Accountability; Adverse Actions: Statutory basis including the Civil Service Reform Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs Accountability and Whistleblower Protection Act, the five elements of every disciplinary case and the burdens of proof, the fundamentals of penalty selection and defense, discipline procedures and appeals.

Tuesday, September 10

Disciplinary Charges: Types of charges, parts of a charge, how charges are interpreted, the role of the proposing and deciding officials, capitalizing on the general charge, allowing the inclusion of lesser-included offenses, charging in the alternative, attractive options to difficult charges and common charging mistakes, proving the difficult “intent” charge element, a step by step approach to charge drafting.

Wednesday, September 11

Defensible Penalties: MSPB and Federal Circuit lead cases in penalty determination, getting “intent” penalties off of “non-intent” charges, proving harsh penalties off of vanilla charges, charging down and proving up, how the maximum penalty is established, penalty mitigation; law enforcement officer discipline.

Thursday, September 12

Handling Unacceptable Performance: Performance actions in perspective, drafting a defensible performance standard, documenting and justifying your decision to put an employee on a Performance Demonstrating Period (DPs, formerly known as PIPs), implementing DPs, defeating the DP rollercoaster; the proof needed to take a performance-based action; removing a poor performer in 31 days.

Friday, September 13

Defending Against Whistleblower Reprisal Claims and other Affirmative Defenses: Whistleblower claims: protected disclosures and whistleblower reprisal, claims of harmful error, reprisal for union activity, excessive penalty findings.

Date and Time

September 9-13, 2024

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

Instructors

Deborah Hopkins, Ann Boehm, Bob Woods

Registration

Download Individual Registration Form

Pricing

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

Early Bird Tuition (register by August 9):

  • 5 days = $1740
  • 4 days = $1505
  • 3 days = $1130
  • 2 days = $855
  • 1 day = $525

Standard Tuition (register August 10-September 13):

  • 5 days = $1840
  • 4 days = $1605
  • 3 days = $1230
  • 2 days = $955
  • 1 day = $625

Seminar registration includes a copy of the textbook UnCivil Servant: Holding Employees Accountable for Performance and Conduct, 5th ed., by Wiley and Hopkins. In order to receive your copy of the textbook by the training date, please register by August 9 and provide a shipping address in the designated space on the registration form.

Event FAQs

  • Can I attend Virtual Training from my government computer?
    • FELTG uses Zoom for this Virtual Training Institute event. Many government computers and systems allow Zoom access. If for some reason your firewall will not allow access, you’re welcome to use your personal email address to register, and to attend the sessions from your personal device.
  • Can I earn CLE credits for this class?
    • CLE applications are the responsibility of each attendee; FELTG does not apply for the credits on behalf of attendees.  If you are seeking CLE credit, attendees may use the materials provided by FELTG in submission to your state bar. Attendees may also request a certificate of completion which will contain the number of training hours attended.
  • Can I share my access link with co-workers?
    • No. Registration for this event is per individual, and access links may not be shared. Each link may only be used by one person.
  • Can I register a teleworker?
    • This event is individual registration, so the cost is the same whether the person is teleworking or in an agency facility.
  • How do I receive a group rate discount?
    • Group rates are available for agencies registering 10 or more individuals for the full event. Group discounts are available through August 9.

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
16
Mon
Virtual Training Event – FLRA Law Week
Sep 16 – Sep 20 all-day

Course Description

Official time. Bargaining topics. Negotiation timeframes. Meetings. Union responsibilities. Management rights.

And what about the recent Executive Order about expanding labor-management forums?

Anyone who has worked in Federal labor relations for any amount of time knows that it’s an always-changing and ever-challenging field. It’s absolutely necessary to continually update and refresh your knowledge and skills. So why not get that important training from two instructors with a combined 40 years of experience working at the Federal Labor Relations Authority and even more years of experience in the Federal employment law world?

This training will bring you up to speed on where the current law stands, and share best practices on how to effectively navigate it in your day-to-day work, whether you’re a labor attorney, labor relations specialist or union representative.

FLRA Law Week provides attendees with a firm foundation of the historical perspective and precedence of FLRA decisions, as well as a strategy for taking advantage of any new approaches that are coming out of the FLRA.

There’s no other place where you can get in-depth guidance on hot-button LR issues to guide you through this dynamic time. So join us for this class where the entire world of Federal labor relations will be discussed.

Daily Agenda

Monday, September 16

Basic Management and Employee Rights: An overview of the Federal Service Labor-Management Relations Statute; the current status of Executive Orders 13836 and 13837; fundamental employee, union, and management rights; bargaining unit definition; the union organizer’s role; information requests; official time.

Tuesday, September 17

Labor Relations Meetings and Bargaining: More on official time; formal discussions; union representative rights; the collective bargaining process; the three categories of bargaining: mandatory, permissive, and prohibited; introduction to negotiability.

Wednesday, September 18

Unfair Labor Practices and Negotiability: Employee rights vs. Management rights; the anatomy of an Unfair Labor Practice; an overview of the Federal Services Impasse Panel; negotiability appeals.

Thursday, September 19

The Psychology of Bargaining, Plus Grievances and Emerging Issues: Selecting a bargaining strategy; interest based bargaining as compared to hard ball bargaining; grievances; exceptions to arbitration awards.

Friday, September 20

Understanding the FSIP and Arbitration: Panel members, FSIP procedures, recent FSIP developments, the arbitration process overview; binding the arbitrator; how federal government arbitration is different from private sector arbitration and appeals; educating the arbitrator.

Date and Time

September 16 – 20, 2024

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

Instructors

Ann Boehm, Joe Schimansky

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. No split registrations.
  • Can I register a teleworker?
    • This event is individual registration, so the cost is the same whether the person is teleworking or in an agency facility.
  • How do I receive a group rate discount?
    • Group rates are available for agencies registering 10 or more individuals for the full event. Group discounts are available through August 16.
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.

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