Instructor
Course Description
FELTG’s annual Reasonable Accommodation webinar series comes to a close with this 60-minute session on accommodations of the religious variety. There are significant distinctions between religious accommodations and those for individuals with disabilities and pregnancy. It’s important for you to understand those differences. A recent Supreme Court decision changed the undue hardship standard for religious accommodations, on the heels of increases in employee requests for accommodations for religion.
This 60-minute webinar will provide guidance as you handle accommodation requests involving religious clothing and headwear, grooming, religious displays in the workplace, and work schedules, among other things.
Attendees will learn how to:
- Define the term “undue hardship” and provide case examples.
- Determine whether the agency can provide an effective religious accommodation.
- Handle requests to be excused from performing certain job tasks because of religious
reasons.
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This program meets the President’s mandate to provide training on diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility in the Federal workplace.
Price
- Early Bird Tuition: (payment by June 18) $145
- Standard Tuition: (payment made June 19-August 22) $195
- 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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
Course 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.
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. Learn to conduct investigations virtually, as more are done since the pandemic. 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 midway.
Tuesday, October 1, 2024
Session 1: Investigating Harassment: Misconduct Principles
1:00 pm – 4:30 pm eastern (30-minute break midway)
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 into 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 2, 2024
Session 2: Understanding Harassment and Planning the Investigation
1:00 pm – 4:30 pm eastern (30-minute break midway)
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 3, 2024
Session 3: Conducting the Investigation and Writing the Report
1:00 pm – 4:30 pm eastern (30-minute break midway)
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 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.
Registration
Download Individual Registration Form
Price
- Early Bird Tuition (register by September 1): One Session = $495 | Two Sessions = $825 | Full Event = $1095
- Standard Tuition (register September 2-October 3): One Session = $595 | Two Sessions = $925 | Full Event = $1195
- Rates per registrant. No split registrations permitted.
- Want to register a group? Group discounts are available through September 1. 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 September 1.
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’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
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.