In the world of federal sector EEO, we often see cases where agencies lose appeals of EEO decisions not on merit but because of the way the appeal is written, or breach settlement agreements over ambiguously written clauses. Or, what about a motion for summary judgment that should have been granted because there truly were no disputes of material fact, yet wasn’t granted because of a technicality in how the motion was written? These things happen too often – but they shouldn’t. Luckily, we have a fix for these mistakes!
Join FELTG for this writing-based workshop program that focuses specifically on effective legal writing in federal sector EEO cases. After a quick overview of the fundamentals of good legal writing we will build on those basics with sessions targeted to material organization, framing claims, neutral and persuasive writing, and drafting specific documents for the EEOC, including Letters of Acceptance/Dismissal, Final Agency Decisions, Motions for Summary Judgment, Appeals, and EEO Settlement Agreements. Analysis and evaluation of writing exercises allows you to receive immediate feedback from our instructors. Come prepared to write!
Sessions are held daily from 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Instructors
Katherine Atkinson, Meghan Droste
Tuesday
EEO Writing I: The Foundation: Legal writing and citation formats; argumentative approaches; writing from the reader’s perspective; plain language; defining and distinguishing claims, defenses and issues; fixing fragmentation.
Wednesday
EEO Writing II: Neutral Legal Writing: educating the reader; Writing Letters of Acceptance/Dismissal; understanding settlement in federal sector EEO cases; parts of a settlement agreement; drafting legally enforceable settlement agreements; mistakes to avoid.
Thursday
EEO Writing III: Persuasive Legal Writing: Identification of material facts and persuasion; analyzing the evidence, organizing the arguments; distinguishing cases; writing Final Agency Decisions; motion practice and summary judgment; writing an effective Motion for Summary Judgment; OFO briefs; EEOC appeals.
Pricing
Most people attend the full three days, but you may opt out of any days you don’t plan to attend.
- 3 days = $1340
- 2 days = $950
- 1 day = $520
Metro, Parking, Directions
Metro: The International Student House (1825 R Street NW) is located in convenient proximity to the Red Line. Exit Metro at the Dupont Circle station and proceed to the Q Street/North exit. Head north (you will come off the escalator facing north; if you use the elevator take a left after exiting) on Connecticut Avenue to R Street NW (approximately one block). Turn right onto R Street NW. Cross 19th Street NW and the International Student House will be on the left side of the street approximately halfway down the block. If you reach the Bikeshare dock, you’ve gone too far. Approximate walk time: 7-10 minutes.
Parking: Street parking is metered and is limited to two hours, unless you have a Washington, DC, Zone 2 parking pass. The closest parking garage is at 11 Dupont Circle, approximately two blocks from the International Student House (1825 R Street NW). Approximate walk time: 5 -7 minutes.
From the Carlyle Hotel: After exiting the Carlyle Hotel, turn left. At the first intersection, R Street NW, turn right. Proceed approximately one block. The International Student House (1825 R Street NW) will be on your right, just past the Bikeshare dock. Approximate walk time: 4-6 minutes.
Instructor
Course Description
1.5
There’s a lot of discussion these days about whether or not employees can legally be fired for being LGBTQ+. In fact, the EEOC says sexual orientation and gender identity is protected under Title VII, but the DoJ says just the opposite. It’s quite a conflict between two relatively independent federal agencies, so what does it all mean for the federal workforce?
Join FELTG instructor Meghan Droste, an experienced LGBTQ and Gender Issues Practice Group team lead, for this 90-minute webinar that explains the latest information on the state of sexual orientation and gender identity protections in the federal workplace.
After a brief discussion on applicable law and the theories of discrimination, Ms Droste will cover:
- Important definitions in 2018
- The latest on sexual orientation protection under Title VII, and the current federal circuit split
- Transgender status and legal protections
- Gender stereotyping claims and same-sex harassment
- Best practices for agencies to follow
The law has been evolving for quite some time, and with a circuit split it’s crucial to understand where things are – today. Register now!
Price
$270 per site.
Teleworkers may be added to a main site registration for $25 each, on a space-available basis.
Instructors
Course Description
8
Attention EEO Counselors: meet your mandatory 8-hour refresher training with FELTG this summer in Washington, DC.
The EEO world is constantly changing and it’s crucial to stay on top of things. According to recent statistics, the average EEO complaint takes over 3.5 years to process. Wouldn’t it be wonderful to resolve some of these disputes before they go formal?
This session, presented by attorney at law Deborah Hopkins and Ricky Rowe, former National EEO Manager for the VA, will give you insight to the most essential areas counselors and investigators need to know in 2018. Topics include:
- The importance of the counselor’s approach in the precomplaint process
- Alternative Dispute Resolution in the EEO process
- Interviewing techniques
- Focused topics: sexual harassment updates; reasonable accommodation trends
- Mistakes to avoid
- Achieving resolution before litigation
The program runs from 8:30 – 4:30.
Pricing
- 1 day = $465
Metro, Parking, Directions
Metro: The International Student House (1825 R Street NW) is located in convenient proximity to the Red Line. Exit Metro at the Dupont Circle station and proceed to the Q Street/North exit. Head north (you will come off the escalator facing north; if you use the elevator take a left after exiting) on Connecticut Avenue to R Street NW (approximately one block). Turn right onto R Street NW. Cross 19th Street NW and the International Student House will be on the left side of the street approximately halfway down the block. If you reach the Bikeshare dock, you’ve gone too far. Approximate walk time: 7-10 minutes.
Parking: Street parking is metered and is limited to two hours, unless you have a Washington, DC, Zone 2 parking pass. The closest parking garage is at 11 Dupont Circle, approximately two blocks from the International Student House (1825 R Street NW). Approximate walk time: 5 -7 minutes.
From the Carlyle Hotel: After exiting the Carlyle Hotel, turn left. At the first intersection, R Street NW, turn right. Proceed approximately one block. The International Student House (1825 R Street NW) will be on your right, just past the Bikeshare dock. Approximate walk time: 4-6 minutes.
Instructor
Course Description
1.5
According to the EEOC, Management Directive 715 “provides a roadmap for creating effective equal employment opportunity (EEO) programs for all federal employees as required by Title VII and the Rehabilitation Act.” MD-715 comes with a list of reporting requirements. While these requirement are mandatory, not all agencies are fully compliant with MD-715.
This is where FELTG comes in. Join us July 12 where instructor Ricky Rowe – who handled the MD-715 program for the Department of Veterans Affairs for several years – explains everything you need to know to report appropriately, and to develop a model EEO program. After an introduction and explanation of the relevant parts of MD-715, he’ll discuss:
- Appropriate formatting
- Levels of reporting required
- How subordinate reporting components fit into the scheme of overall reporting
- The necessary steps to complete an effective barrier analysis
- Strategies for improving diversity in your agency
As always, this session is held live and gives you a chance to ask your questions, and get immediate answers. Space is limited, so register your site today!
Price
$270 per site
Teleworkers may be added to a main site registration for $25 each, on a space-available basis
Instructor
Course Description
1.5
One of the most important – and challenging – areas in federal employment law is the obligation to provide reasonable accommodation to qualified individuals with disabilities. While the law changed nearly ten years ago with the implementation of the Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act, a number of agencies are still following outdated procedures that are not compliant with the law. Because there are so many complexities in the reasonable accommodation process, the best way for your agency to avoid pitfalls and to be sure you provide accommodations to people who are entitled is to follow the appropriate steps, in the proper order.
Join FELTG Executive Director and Attorney at Law Deborah Hopkins for Part 1 of the four-part Reasonable Accommodation in the Federal Workplace Series. Ms Hopkins will begin by explaining the current state of disability law and how the ADA, ADAAA, and Rehabilitation Act apply to federal employees with disabilities. From there, she’ll discuss:
- Making disability determinations
- What a “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.
Price
$270 per site
Teleworkers may be added to a main site registration for $25 each, if space is available.
Instructor
Course Description
1.5
When the Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act became effective nearly a decade ago, the law expanded ADA coverage to include more individuals in disability determinations. In Part 2 of the Reasonable Accommodation in the Federal Workplace webinar series, FELTG Instructor Katherine Atkinson, attorney at law, will take a focused look at three challenging areas in the disability process that have changed in recent years: qualified individuals, essential functions, and undue hardship.
After an overview of the disability accommodation law and analysis, Ms Atkinson will dive into the details, including:
- How to determine whether an individual is qualified for a particular job
- How to decide what job functions are essential, and what job functions are marginal or ancillary
- What factors control an undue hardship determination
You’ll have time to ask your questions, and get answers in real time, so make plans now to attend this important event.
Price
$270 per site
Teleworkers may be added to a main site registration for $25 each, if space is available.
Instructor
Course Description
1.5
The law requires federal agencies to engage in the interactive process when assessing reasonable accommodations for employees who have disabilities. In 2018, telework and modified work schedules are among the most commonly requested – and most effective – accommodations for individuals who have physical and mental disabilities. But telework is often requested in cases where the “convenience” of working from home is called in to question. What should you do in those situations?
Join FELTG Executive Director and Attorney at Law Deborah Hopkins for a discussion on this timely topic during Part 3 of the Reasonable Accommodation in the Federal Workplace webinar series. Ms Hopkins will start with a quick review of the law, and 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
- Why accommodations are always the agency’s choice
- Alternative approaches to providing telework, leave and modified work schedules as accommodation
- The undue hardship analysis
- What the EEOC says about accommodating an employee’s commute
Oftentimes 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 and 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.
Price
$270 per site
Teleworkers may be added to a main site registration for $25 each, if space is available.
Instructor
Course Description
1.5
Almost everyone knows that individuals with disabilities are entitled to reasonable accommodation – but did you know that federal employees are also entitled to reasonable accommodation for religious beliefs and practices? Not everyone realizes this; in 2017 a company in West Virginia was ordered to pay out damages of nearly $600,000 for not taking an employee’s religious accommodation request seriously.
The law requiring religious accommodation is different than the law for disability accommodation, and it’s important you know the distinctions. Join FELTG for the final session in the Four-Part Reasonable Accommodation in the Federal Workplace webinar series, where Attorney at Law Meghan Droste helps in your goal of Understanding Religious Accommodation: How it’s Different from Disability Accommodation.
After a review of the relevant law and regulations law that pertain to religious accommodation, Ms Droste 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
$270 per site
Teleworkers may be added to a main site registration for $25 each, if space is available.
Instructor
Course Description
1.5
Have you ever opened up a file to look at an employee’s discipline history, only to come across medical information that may or may not be related to the conduct at issue?
Do you know who in your agency is responsible for collecting medical information from healthcare providers in reasonable accommodation cases?
How much information should supervisors be told about their employees’ health conditions?
These are tough questions, and knowing the answers will help ensure you comply with the strict laws on requesting and storing medical documentation in the federal workplace. Join FELTG instructor Meghan Droste, attorney at law, for this 90-minute webinar on a topic we deal with in both the HR and EEO setting. After a brief discussion on applicable law, Ms Droste will cover:
- How the ADAAA and GINA impact the collection of medical information,
- Pre- and post-employment medical exams and inquiries,
- Conditional employment offers and related medical information,
- Who should gather the information – and who should not, and
- How much detail supervisors need in medical accommodation cases.
This is an area where innocent release of medical information can be expensive – and is an automatic loser even if there was no harm done to the employee. Register now!
Price
$270 per site.
Teleworkers may be added to a main site registration for $25 each, on a space-available basis.
Instructors
William Wiley, Deborah Hopkins
Course Description
1
It’s that time of year again! And boy, do we have some new material, with the new executive orders on accountability and labor relations, plus several much-anticipated FLRA decisions bringing clarity to questions we’ve had for years.
Twice a year we update you with what’s new from the MSPB, EEOC and FLRA, and this one looks to be better than ever.
Join FELTG attorneys William Wiley and Deborah Hopkins as they combine forces for a fast-paced discussion on the most surprising, significant and groundbreaking recent decisions and trends from the MSPB, EEOC and FLRA. If you’ve attended a past edition, you know this is not your standard [“boring”] case law update, but an editorial discussion that not only informs you about current cases, but explains how they impact your daily work whether you’re a lawyer, or an HR, ER, LR or EEO practitioner.
Bill and Deb will share where we’ve been and where we’re headed with the trends and regulations that influence your workplace and the way issues are litigated in your agency or union. Plus, ask your questions and get answers in real time.
We’d love to tell you now about the cases and regulations that will be discussed, but that’s entirely up to the MSPB, EEOC and FLRA. Stay tuned!
Price
$270 per site
Teleworkers may be added to a main site registration for $25 each, on a space-available basis.
Instructor
Course Description
1.5
There’s a lot of discussion these days about whether or not employees can legally be fired for being LGBTQ+. In fact, the EEOC says sexual orientation and gender identity is protected under Title VII, but the DoJ says just the opposite. It’s quite a conflict between two relatively independent federal agencies, so what does it all mean for the federal workforce?
Join FELTG instructor Meghan Droste, an experienced LGBTQ and Gender Issues Practice Group team lead, for this 90-minute webinar that explains the latest information on the state of sexual orientation and gender identity protections in the federal workplace.
After a brief discussion on applicable law and the theories of discrimination, Ms Droste will cover:
- Important definitions in 2018
- The latest on sexual orientation protection under Title VII, and the current federal circuit split
- Transgender status and legal protections
- Gender stereotyping claims and same-sex harassment
- Best practices for agencies to follow
The law has been evolving for quite some time, and with a circuit split it’s crucial to understand where things are – today. Register now!
Price
$270 per site.
Teleworkers may be added to a main site registration for $25 each, on a space-available basis.
Holding federal employees accountable for performance and conduct is easier than you might think. Too many supervisors believe that an employee’s protected activity (EEO complaints, whistleblower disclosures, or union activity) precludes the supervisor from initiating a suspension or removal, but that’s just not true.
FELTG is here to make federal supervisors’ lives easier by clarifying those misconceptions while helping supervisors understand how to take defensible misconduct actions quickly and fairly – actions that withstand scrutiny on appeal by the MSPB, EEOC, or in grievance arbitration. Plus, if you have a non-performing employee working for you now, we show you how you can remove that employee from your workplace in 31 days, among many other things. Join us for this brand-new three-day seminar and come away with the tools you need to hold your employees accountable.
The program runs 8:30 – 4:00 each day and meets OPM’s mandatory training requirements for federal supervisors found at 5 CFR 412.202(b).
Instructors
Daily Agenda:
Tuesday
Accountability for Conduct and Performance, Part I: Accountability and supervisory authority; discipline and misconduct theory and practice; penalty defense and due process; discipline procedures and appeals; psychology of performance appraisal; performance-based removal procedures.
Wednesday
Accountability for Conduct and Performance, Part II: Completing a performance action; team workshop; mentoring programs; handling the absent employee; understanding the federal supervisor’s personal liability in employment actions.
Thursday
Defending Against Discrimination Complaints: The Supervisor’s Role: The role of EEO in the federal government; defining protected categories: race, color, national origin, religion, sex, age, disability, genetic information and reprisal; theories of discrimination; agency defenses; what to do if you’re a Responding Management Official in a complaint; what happens if you’re called as an EEO witness.
Pricing
Early Bird Tuition (register by February 12):
- 3 days = $1380
- 2 days = $980
- 1 day = $540
Standard Tuition (register February 13 – February 28):
- 3 days = $1480
- 2 days = $1080
- 1 day = $640
Seminar registration includes a copy of the textbook UnCivil Servant: Holding Employees Accountable for Performance and Conduct, 4th ed., by Wiley and Hopkins.
Lodging
The Hilton Garden Inn – Bricktown has a limited number of rooms reserved for $119 a night. Please call the hotel directly at (405) 270-0588 and mention Federal Employment Law Training Group to receive the rate. Rooms must be reserved by January 26, 2019, to qualify for the special rate.
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.
If you’re looking for training that covers the gamut of EEO issues, and provides usable guidance for all practitioners, regardless of experience level, this is it: FELTG’s EEOC Law Week. 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. This course is updated for 2019, and has a whole day focused on harassment. Register early because EEOC Law Week regularly sells out.
The program runs 8:30 – 4:00 each day and is pre-approved for 29 CLE credits in Virginia and California. It is also approved for 29 HRCI general recertification credits.
6 per day Monday – Thursday; 5 on Friday.
Instructors
Ernest Hadley, Katherine Atkinson, Meghan Droste
Daily Agenda
Monday
Basic EEOC, Nuts & Bolts: The Basics – Statutory authority and jurisdiction of EEOC, an overview of the theories of discrimination, overview of EEO process, amended and consolidated complaints; timeliness issues in the wake of the Supreme Court decisions in Morgan and Ledbetter.
Tuesday
Contractor Complaints; Intentional Discrimination and Reprisal Cases: When contractors file EEO complaints; intentional discrimination analysis and cases; selection & promotion cases; a focus on national origin and religious discrimination cases; reprisal analysis and cases.
Wednesday
Accommodating Individuals with Disabilities: The Rehabilitation Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act, defining individuals with a disability, major life activities and substantial limitation; essential job functions, the interactive process, types of reasonable accommodation; the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (GINA) regulations.
Thursday
Current Trends in EEO Law: a Focus on Harassment: The latest on what’s happening in EEO, hostile environment harassment, gender stereotyping, same-sex harassment, sexual orientation and transgender discrimination, non-EEO harassment; resolving EEO cases without litigation; settlement.
Friday
Mixed Cases; Damages & Remedies: 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 March 18):
- 5 days = $2170
- 4 days = $1780
- 3 days = $1370
- 2 days = $970
- 1 day = $530
Standard Tuition (register March 19 – April 5):
- 5 days = $2270
- 4 days = $1880
- 3 days = $1470
- 2 days = $1070
- 1 day = $630
Metro, Parking, Directions
Metro: The International Student House (1825 R Street NW) is located in convenient proximity to the Red Line. Exit Metro at the Dupont Circle station and proceed to the Q Street/North exit. Head north (you will come off the escalator facing north; if you use the elevator take a left after exiting) on Connecticut Avenue to R Street NW (approximately one block). Turn right onto R Street NW. Cross 19th Street NW and the International Student House will be on the left side of the street approximately halfway down the block. If you reach the Bikeshare dock, you’ve gone too far. Approximate walk time: 7-10 minutes.
Parking: Street parking is metered and is limited to two hours, unless you have a Washington, DC, Zone 2 parking pass. The closest parking garage is at 11 Dupont Circle, approximately two blocks from the International Student House (1825 R Street NW). Approximate walk time: 5 -7 minutes.
From the Carlyle Hotel: After exiting the Carlyle Hotel, turn left. At the first intersection, R Street NW, turn right. Proceed approximately one block. The International Student House (1825 R Street NW) will be on your right, just past the Bikeshare dock. Approximate walk time: 4-6 minutes.
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.
SOLD OUT. Register now for this program August 5-9, also in Denver.
This week 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 investigations in the federal workplace, including 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.
The program runs 8:30 – 4:00 each day and is pre-approved for 29 CLE credits in Virginia and California. It is also approved for 29 HRCI general recertification credits.
This program fulfills the requirements for 32-hour EEO Investigator training and 8-hour annual EEO investigator refresher training.
Instructors
Deborah Hopkins, Katherine Atkinson, Meghan Droste
Daily Agenda
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
Harassment Investigations: Investigating allegations of harassment; differentiating between EEO and non-EEO harassment; the intersection with criminal investigations; special considerations in light of #MeToo and #TimesUp.
Wednesday
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
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
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 April 29):
- 5 days = $2170
- 4 days = $1780
- 3 days = $1370
- 2 days = $970
- 1 day = $530
Standard Tuition (register April 30 – May 17):
- 5 days = $2270
- 4 days = $1880
- 3 days = $1470
- 2 days = $1070
- 1 day = $630
Lodging
The host hotel, the Sheraton Denver West, has a limited block of rooms set aside at the per diem rate. Call the hotel directly at 303-987-2000 and mention this training event to receive the special rate.
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.
This class is nearly full. Consider registering for this program in Washington, DC June 25-27 or Atlanta, GA September 17-19.
Holding federal employees accountable for performance and conduct is easier than you might think. Too many supervisors believe that an employee’s protected activity (EEO complaints, whistleblower disclosures, or union activity) precludes the supervisor from initiating a suspension or removal, but that’s just not true.
FELTG is here to make federal supervisors’ lives easier by clarifying those misconceptions while helping supervisors understand how to take defensible misconduct actions quickly and fairly – actions that withstand scrutiny on appeal by the MSPB, EEOC, or in grievance arbitration. Plus, if you have a non-performing employee working for you now, we show you how you can remove that employee from your workplace in 31 days, among many other things. Join us for this three-day seminar and come away with the tools you need to hold your employees accountable.
The program runs 8:30 – 4:00 each day and meets OPM’s mandatory training requirements for federal supervisors found at 5 CFR 412.202(b).
Instructors
Deborah Hopkins, Meghan Droste
Daily Agenda:
Tuesday
Accountability for Conduct and Performance, Part I: Accountability and supervisory authority; discipline and misconduct theory and practice; penalty defense and due process; discipline procedures and appeals; psychology of performance appraisal; performance-based removal procedures.
Wednesday
Accountability for Conduct and Performance, Part II: Completing a performance action; team workshop; handling the absent employee and dealing with attendance issues; medical removals; union considerations; mentorship in the federal government.
Thursday
Defending Against Discrimination Complaints: The Supervisor’s Role: The role of EEO in the federal government; defining protected categories: race, color, national origin, religion, sex, age, disability, genetic information and reprisal; theories of discrimination; agency defenses; what to do if you’re a Responding Management Official in a complaint; what happens if you’re called as an EEO witness.
Pricing
Early Bird Tuition (register by April 30):
- 3 days = $1380
- 2 days = $980
- 1 day = $540
Standard Tuition (register May 1 – May 16):
- 3 days = $1480
- 2 days = $1080
- 1 day = $640
Seminar registration includes a copy of the textbook UnCivil Servant: Holding Employees Accountable for Performance and Conduct, 4th ed., by Wiley and Hopkins.
Lodging
The host hotel, the Sheraton Denver West, has a limited block of rooms set aside at the per diem rate. Call the hotel directly at 303-987-2000 and mention this training event to receive the special rate.
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
1.5
The EEO process can be challenging for even the most experienced practitioners. If only there was someone with close to 35 years of experience as an EEOC administrative judge who has seen numerous agency mistakes who was willing to take the time to explain what you can do to avoid them.
Now there is. Meet Dwight Lewis, who recently retired as chief administrative judge in the Dallas region – a post he held since 1990. Mr. Lewis will guide you through the Dos and Don’ts of the EEO process from effectively framing an EEO complaint to avoiding sanctions.
Join FELTG for this 90-minute webinar, where Mr. Lewis will discuss appropriate etiquette when interacting with a judge. He’ll also help you learn how to:
- Determine which complaints should be investigated, and which should be dismissed.
- Avoid retaliation claims.
- Get past your resistance to settle.
The webinar will also include time for Q&A on these topics. Don’t miss this important opportunity to learn from the highly respected former Chief AJ. Register now.
Price
Early Bird Tuition: $275 per site (registration submitted by May 6) Standard Tuition: $305 per site (registration submitted May 7 or later)
Teleworkers may be added to a main site registration for $35 each, on a space-available basis.
Instructor
Course Description
1.5
In 2017, an MSPB survey revealed that more than 20 percent of female federal employees were sexually harassed in the workplace between 2014 and 2016. There has been a lot of talk about the need for training on this important topic. But now it’s time for action.
Let FELTG help you take that action. Join us for the 90-minute webinar Employee Sexual Misconduct: Discipline Early to Make Your Agency a Safer Place. FELTG President Deborah Hopkins, attorney at law, will show you how to address sexual harassment in the federal government as MISCONDUCT — not just as an EEO issue.
We’ll discuss the foundational law and how sexual harassment cases come to be, but our emphasis will be on STOPPING it from happening by addressing the misconduct before it becomes a problem. Case examples will show you the best ways to handle inappropriate sexual conduct from employees and supervisors – and things to avoid. We hope you’ll be able to attend this important discussion.
Price
Early Bird Tuition: $275 per site (payment required by June 17)
Standard Tuition: $305 per site (for payments made June 18 or later)
Teleworkers may be added to a main site registration for $35 each, if space is available.
This week 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 investigations in the federal workplace, including 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.
The program runs 8:30 – 4:00 each day and is pre-approved for 29 CLE credits in Virginia and California. It is also approved for 29 HRCI general recertification credits.
This program fulfills the requirements for 32-hour EEO Investigator training and 8-hour annual EEO investigator refresher training. It also meets the requirements for training under the Department of Interior’s Anti-Harassment Policy.
Instructors
Daily Agenda
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
Harassment Investigations: Investigating allegations of harassment; differentiating between EEO and non-EEO harassment; the intersection with criminal investigations; special considerations in light of #MeToo and #TimesUp.
Wednesday
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
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
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 July 22):
- 5 days = $2170
- 4 days = $1780
- 3 days = $1370
- 2 days = $970
- 1 day = $530
Standard Tuition (register July 23-August 9):
- 5 days = $2270
- 4 days = $1880
- 3 days = $1470
- 2 days = $1070
- 1 day = $630
Lodging
The host hotel, the Sheraton Denver West, has a limited block of rooms set aside at the per diem rate. Call the hotel directly at 303-987-2000 and mention this training event to receive the special rate.
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
1.5
The law regarding sexual orientation and gender identity in the workplace continues to evolve, but not in a way that makes the law clear. For example: The EEOC says sexual orientation and gender identity are protected under Title VII. The Department of Justice says just the opposite. There is the federal circuit split on the issue. And in October 2019, the Supreme Court will finally consider the issue.
It may be confusing, but you don’t have to be confused. In this 90-minute webinar, FELTG instructor Meghan Droste, attorney at law and experienced LGBTQ and Gender Issues Practice Group team lead, will explain where the law stands now. She will provide the latest information on protections under the law, define the terminology, and explain gender stereotyping as sex discrimination.
Attendees will also learn about:
- Transgender status and legal protections
- Identify the actions that have gotten agencies into legal trouble
- Cases involving LGBTQ status and religion
- The best practices for agencies to follow
Price
Early Bird Tuition: $275 per site (payment required by August 26)
Standard Tuition: $305 per site (for payments made August 27 or later)
Teleworkers may be added to a main site registration for $35 each, if space is available.
This training is SOLD OUT. Register now for EEOC Law Week April 27 – May 1 to guarantee your spot for 2020!
If you’re looking for training that covers the gamut of EEO issues, and provides usable guidance for all practitioners, regardless of experience level, this is it: FELTG’s EEOC Law Week. 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. This course is updated for 2019, and has a whole day focused on harassment. Register early because EEOC Law Week regularly sells out.
The program runs 8:30 – 4:00 each day and is pre-approved for 29 CLE credits in Virginia and California. It is also approved for 29 HRCI general recertification credits.
6 per day Monday – Thursday; 5 on Friday.
Instructors
Ernest Hadley, Meghan Droste, Katherine Atkinson
Daily Agenda
Monday
Basic EEOC, Nuts & Bolts: The Basics – Statutory authority and jurisdiction of EEOC, an overview of the theories of discrimination, overview of EEO process, amended and consolidated complaints; timeliness issues in the wake of the Supreme Court decisions in Morgan and Ledbetter.
Tuesday
Contractor Complaints; Intentional Discrimination and Reprisal Cases: Contractor complaints; intentional discrimination analysis and cases; selection & promotion cases; a focus on national origin and religious discrimination cases; reprisal analysis and cases.
Wednesday
Accommodating Individuals with Disabilities: The Rehabilitation Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act, defining individuals with a disability, major life activities and substantial limitation; essential job functions, the interactive process, types of reasonable accommodation; the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (GINA) regulations.
Thursday
Current Trends in EEO Law: a Focus on Harassment: The latest on what’s happening in EEO, hostile environment harassment, gender stereotyping, same-sex harassment sexual orientation and transgender discrimination, non-EEO harassment; settlement.
Friday
Mixed Cases; Damages & Remedies: 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 3):
- 5 days = $2170
- 4 days = $1780
- 3 days = $1370
- 2 days = $970
- 1 day = $530
Standard Tuition (register September 4 – September 20):
- 5 days = $2270
- 4 days = $1880
- 3 days = $1470
- 2 days = $1070
- 1 day = $630
Metro, Parking, Directions
Metro: The International Student House (1825 R Street NW) is located in convenient proximity to the Red Line. Exit Metro at the Dupont Circle station and proceed to the Q Street/North exit. Head north (you will come off the escalator facing north; if you use the elevator take a left after exiting) on Connecticut Avenue to R Street NW (approximately one block). Turn right onto R Street NW. Cross 19th Street NW and the International Student House will be on the left side of the street approximately halfway down the block. If you reach the Bikeshare dock, you’ve gone too far. Approximate walk time: 7-10 minutes.
Parking: Street parking is metered and is limited to two hours, unless you have a Washington, DC, Zone 2 parking pass. The closest parking garage is at 11 Dupont Circle, approximately two blocks from the International Student House (1825 R Street NW). Approximate walk time: 5 -7 minutes.
From the Carlyle Hotel: After exiting the Carlyle Hotel, turn left. At the first intersection, R Street NW, turn right. Proceed approximately one block. The International Student House (1825 R Street NW) will be on your right, just past the Bikeshare dock. Approximate walk time: 4-6 minutes.
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.
Sessions are held daily from 8:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and 8:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Friday.
Instructor
Daily Agenda
Monday
Legal Writing I — The Basics: Legal writing and citation formats, argumentative approaches, writing from the reader’s perspective, organizational logic, word choice and structure, legal terms and court structure. Workshops: Spin Words, Speed Ball Exercise & Spin an Issue, Putting it All Together
Tuesday
Legal Writing II — Writing for Your Audience: Defining and distinguishing claims, defenses and issues, the factual narrative, identification of material facts, and persuasion. Workshops: Defining Claims, Writing the Agency Factual Statement, Writing the Employee Factual Statement
Wednesday
Legal Writing III — Writing for Your Audience (con’t.): Educating the reader, analyzing the evidence, organizing the arguments, distinguishing cases. Workshops: State the Rule, Writing the Analysis.
Thursday
Legal Writing IV — Writing for the MSPB and EEOC: MSPB prehearing submissions, drafting final agency decisions. Workshops: Drafting a Prehearing Submission, Writing a FAD.
Friday
Legal Writing V — Writing for the MSPB and EEOC (con’t.): Motion practice and summary judgment, MSPB petitions for review and EEOC appeals, MSPB petitions for review and EEOC appeals, editing your work. Workshop: Deconstruction of a Final Decision.
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 Sept. 23):
- 5 days = $2180
- 4 days = $1790
- 3 days = $1380
- 2 days = $980
- 1 day = $540
Standard Tuition (register Sept. 23-Oct. 11):
- 5 days = $2280
- 4 days = $1890
- 3 days = $1480
- 2 days = $1080
- 1 day = $640
Metro, Parking, Directions
Metro: The International Student House (1825 R Street NW) is located in convenient proximity to the Red Line. Exit Metro at the Dupont Circle station and proceed to the Q Street/North exit. Head north (you will come off the escalator facing north; if you use the elevator take a left after exiting) on Connecticut Avenue to R Street NW (approximately one block). Turn right onto R Street NW. Cross 19th Street NW and the International Student House will be on the left side of the street approximately halfway down the block. If you reach the Bikeshare dock, you’ve gone too far. Approximate walk time: 7-10 minutes.
Parking: Street parking is metered and is limited to two hours, unless you have a Washington, DC, Zone 2 parking pass. The closest parking garage is at 11 Dupont Circle, approximately two blocks from the International Student House (1825 R Street NW). Approximate walk time: 5 -7 minutes.
From the Carlyle Hotel: After exiting the Carlyle Hotel, turn left. At the first intersection, R Street NW, turn right. Proceed approximately one block. The International Student House (1825 R Street NW) will be on your right, just past the Bikeshare dock. Approximate walk time: 4-6 minutes.
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
A few weeks ago, a 25-year-old lawmaker in New Zealand took the internet by storm when she shut down a heckler with two words that went viral: “OK, Boomer.” There were all kinds of connotations in those two words, and while it may be meme-worthy, it’s not a phrase that we’d recommend you start using in the workplace.
Join FELTG President Deborah Hopkins for a 60-minute discussion on age discrimination in the federal workplace, to learn what you can and can’t do – and say – when it relates to an employee’s age. From hiring to promotion, hostile work environment to regarded as disabilities, to performance appraisals, this is a conversation you won’t want to miss.
Attendees will learn how to:
- Understand the various theories of age discrimination in the federal workplace.
- Identify the types of conduct that give rise to age discrimination claims.
- Know the dos and don’ts when discussing age-related topics in the workplace including retirement, OWBPA, and more.
Register today.
Price
Early Bird Tuition: $225 per site (payment required by December 2)
Standard Tuition: $255 per site (for payments made December 3 or later)
Teleworkers may be added to a main site registration for $35 each, if space is available.
Instructors
Katherine Atkinson, Ann Boehm, Deborah Hopkins, Meghan Droste
Course Description
Legal writing in federal sector employment law is a specialized craft. Cases have been lost because of poorly or ambiguously written documents. This webinar series will help you sharpen the skills you need to produce effective, defensible, legally sound documents in the federal sector. This includes disciplinary letters, summary judgment motions, reports of investigation, and more. With the sample language, templates and documents provided during the webinars, you’ll have tools use can continue to use long after the series ends.
Sessions will be held on Thursdays from 1:00 – 2:00 p.m. ET.
It doesn’t matter if you haven’t been to law school recently, or ever at all. Spend an hour a week with FELTG and you’ll find the way to make the documents you write be more clear, effective, and persuasive.
- January 16 – Legal Writing for the MSPB, EEOC and FLRA: Nuts and Bolts
- January 23 – Writing Performance Demonstration Period Plans that Work
- January 30 – Framing Charges and Drafting Proposed Discipline
- February 6 – The Douglas Factor Analysis and Writing the Decision
- February 13 – Writing Effective Motions for Summary Judgment
- February 20 – Drafting a Legally Sufficient Report of Investigation
Price
- Early Bird Tuition: $240 per site (payment made by January 13).
- Standard Tuition: $270 per site (payment made January 14 or later).
- Register for all six webinars by January 13 and pay only $1350!
Teleworkers may be added to a main site registration for $40 per teleworker, on a space-available basis.
Instructors
Katherine Atkinson, Ann Boehm, Deborah Hopkins, Meghan Droste
Course Description
Legal writing in federal sector employment law is a specialized craft. Cases have been lost because of poorly or ambiguously written documents. This webinar series will help you sharpen the skills you need to produce effective, defensible, legally sound documents in the federal sector. This includes disciplinary letters, summary judgment motions, reports of investigation, and more. With the sample language, templates and documents provided during the webinars, you’ll have tools use can continue to use long after the series ends.
Sessions will be held on Thursdays from 1:00 – 2:00 p.m. ET.
It doesn’t matter if you haven’t been to law school recently, or ever at all. Spend an hour a week with FELTG and you’ll find the way to make the documents you write be more clear, effective, and persuasive.
- January 16 – Legal Writing for the MSPB, EEOC and FLRA: Nuts and Bolts
- January 23 – Writing Performance Demonstration Period Plans that Work
- January 30 – Framing Charges and Drafting Proposed Discipline
- February 6 – The Douglas Factor Analysis and Writing the Decision
- February 13 – Writing Effective Motions for Summary Judgment
- February 20 – Drafting a Legally Sufficient Report of Investigation
Price
- Early Bird Tuition: $240 per site (payment made by January 13).
- Standard Tuition: $270 per site (payment made January 14 or later).
- Register for all six webinars by January 13 and pay only $1350!
Teleworkers may be added to a main site registration for $40 per teleworker, on a space-available basis.
Instructors
Katherine Atkinson, Ann Boehm, Deborah Hopkins, Meghan Droste
Course Description
Legal writing in federal sector employment law is a specialized craft. Cases have been lost because of poorly or ambiguously written documents. This webinar series will help you sharpen the skills you need to produce effective, defensible, legally sound documents in the federal sector. This includes disciplinary letters, summary judgment motions, reports of investigation, and more. With the sample language, templates and documents provided during the webinars, you’ll have tools use can continue to use long after the series ends.
Sessions will be held on Thursdays from 1:00 – 2:00 p.m. ET.
It doesn’t matter if you haven’t been to law school recently, or ever at all. Spend an hour a week with FELTG and you’ll find the way to make the documents you write be more clear, effective, and persuasive.
- January 16 – Legal Writing for the MSPB, EEOC and FLRA: Nuts and Bolts
- January 23 – Writing Performance Demonstration Period Plans that Work
- January 30 – Framing Charges and Drafting Proposed Discipline
- February 6 – The Douglas Factor Analysis and Writing the Decision
- February 13 – Writing Effective Motions for Summary Judgment
- February 20 – Drafting a Legally Sufficient Report of Investigation
Price
- Early Bird Tuition: $240 per site (payment made by January 13).
- Standard Tuition: $270 per site (payment made January 14 or later).
- Register for all six webinars by January 13 and pay only $1350!
Teleworkers may be added to a main site registration for $40 per teleworker, on a space-available basis.
Instructors
Katherine Atkinson, Ann Boehm, Deborah Hopkins, Meghan Droste
Course Description
Legal writing in federal sector employment law is a specialized craft. Cases have been lost because of poorly or ambiguously written documents. This webinar series will help you sharpen the skills you need to produce effective, defensible, legally sound documents in the federal sector. This includes disciplinary letters, summary judgment motions, reports of investigation, and more. With the sample language, templates and documents provided during the webinars, you’ll have tools use can continue to use long after the series ends.
Sessions will be held on Thursdays from 1:00 – 2:00 p.m. ET.
It doesn’t matter if you haven’t been to law school recently, or ever at all. Spend an hour a week with FELTG and you’ll find the way to make the documents you write be more clear, effective, and persuasive.
- January 16 – Legal Writing for the MSPB, EEOC and FLRA: Nuts and Bolts
- January 23 – Writing Performance Demonstration Period Plans that Work
- January 30 – Framing Charges and Drafting Proposed Discipline
- February 6 – The Douglas Factor Analysis and Writing the Decision
- February 13 – Writing Effective Motions for Summary Judgment
- February 20 – Drafting a Legally Sufficient Report of Investigation
Price
- Early Bird Tuition: $240 per site (payment made by January 13).
- Standard Tuition: $270 per site (payment made January 14 or later).
- Register for all six webinars by January 13 and pay only $1350!
Teleworkers may be added to a main site registration for $40 per teleworker, on a space-available basis.
Instructors
Katherine Atkinson, Ann Boehm, Deborah Hopkins, Meghan Droste
Course Description
Legal writing in federal sector employment law is a specialized craft. Cases have been lost because of poorly or ambiguously written documents. This webinar series will help you sharpen the skills you need to produce effective, defensible, legally sound documents in the federal sector. This includes disciplinary letters, summary judgment motions, reports of investigation, and more. With the sample language, templates and documents provided during the webinars, you’ll have tools use can continue to use long after the series ends.
Sessions will be held on Thursdays from 1:00 – 2:00 p.m. ET.
It doesn’t matter if you haven’t been to law school recently, or ever at all. Spend an hour a week with FELTG and you’ll find the way to make the documents you write be more clear, effective, and persuasive.
- January 16 – Legal Writing for the MSPB, EEOC and FLRA: Nuts and Bolts
- January 23 – Writing Performance Demonstration Period Plans that Work
- January 30 – Framing Charges and Drafting Proposed Discipline
- February 6 – The Douglas Factor Analysis and Writing the Decision
- February 13 – Writing Effective Motions for Summary Judgment
- February 20 – Drafting a Legally Sufficient Report of Investigation
Price
- Early Bird Tuition: $240 per site (payment made by January 13).
- Standard Tuition: $270 per site (payment made January 14 or later).
- Register for all six webinars by January 13 and pay only $1350!
Teleworkers may be added to a main site registration for $40 per teleworker, on a space-available basis.
Instructors
Katherine Atkinson, Ann Boehm, Deborah Hopkins, Meghan Droste
Course Description
Legal writing in federal sector employment law is a specialized craft. Cases have been lost because of poorly or ambiguously written documents. This webinar series will help you sharpen the skills you need to produce effective, defensible, legally sound documents in the federal sector. This includes disciplinary letters, summary judgment motions, reports of investigation, and more. With the sample language, templates and documents provided during the webinars, you’ll have tools use can continue to use long after the series ends.
Sessions will be held on Thursdays from 1:00 – 2:00 p.m. ET.
It doesn’t matter if you haven’t been to law school recently, or ever at all. Spend an hour a week with FELTG and you’ll find the way to make the documents you write be more clear, effective, and persuasive.
- January 16 – Legal Writing for the MSPB, EEOC and FLRA: Nuts and Bolts
- January 23 – Writing Performance Demonstration Period Plans that Work
- January 30 – Framing Charges and Drafting Proposed Discipline
- February 6 – The Douglas Factor Analysis and Writing the Decision
- February 13 – Writing Effective Motions for Summary Judgment
- February 20 – Drafting a Legally Sufficient Report of Investigation
Price
- Early Bird Tuition: $240 per site (payment made by January 13).
- Standard Tuition: $270 per site (payment made January 14 or later).
- Register for all six webinars by January 13 and pay only $1350!
Teleworkers may be added to a main site registration for $40 per teleworker, on a space-available basis.
FELTG is making its webinars easier to access during the COVID-19 closures and emergency telework scheduling, to ensure that proper training is still available when the majority of employees are working at home. Contact us at 844.283.3584 or [email protected] to find out how you can bring FELTG’s off-the-shelf or custom webinars directly to your agency.
Instructor
Course Description
Due process is a simple, yet often misunderstood, concept. FELTG President Deborah Hopkins will explain constitutional due process, how it applies to the federal workforce, and what happens if your agency violates it. (Hint: You will lose your appeal.) This 60-minute webinar, part of the Navigating Challenges in the Discipline Process series, will cover Ward and Stone violations, the role of the proposing and deciding officials and the discipline timelines as required by Executive Order 13839.
Price
- Early Bird Tuition (payment required by April 10, 2020):
- 1 line: $100
- 2-5 lines: $185
- 6-9 lines: $260
- 10-15 lines: $340
- 16-20 lines: $425
- Standard Tuition (payments made April 11, 2020 or later):
- 1 line: $115
- 2-5 lines: $215
- 6-9 lines: $290
- 10-15 lines: $370
- 16-20 lines: $455
Additional teleworkers may be added for $40 each, if space is available.
Download Individual Registration Form
Event Description
These are challenging times for the federal workforce. Over three days, the FELTG Virtual Training Institute will broadcast nine live instructor-led sessions, aimed at providing you with the latest legal and practical guidance to meet these current challenges.
Renew your efforts to hold employees accountable for performance and conduct. Review your responsibilities regarding leave, reasonable accommodation, investigating harassment, and preventing discrimination in the workplace. Stay current on case law. Learn strategies for managing teleworkers – and for managing your own stress and handling employee stress during these trying times. And much more.
There’s no need to feel isolated – even if you’re working alone at home. The open enrollment FELTG Virtual Training Institute’s Emerging Issues in Federal Employment Law program offers opportunities to ask questions of FELTG’s experienced instructors, and get answers in real time. Plus, we’ll provide a forum for participants to get in touch and discuss the issues after the sessions are over.
You can register for any of the sessions individually. You can register for a whole day. Or you can register for the whole program. Earn CLE credits and EEO refresher training credits. Three days. Nine sessions. Eight instructors. We’d love to have you join us.
Download Individual Registration Form
Tuesday, April 21, 2020
Performance, Conduct and Legal Updates
Session 1
10:30 am – 12:00 pm EDT
Accountability for Conduct: Taking Defensible Disciplinary Actions
Presented by Deborah J. Hopkins, Attorney at Law, FELTG President
Course Description: This session begins with a discussion on the foundation of supervisory authority, and it will clarify the too-common misconceptions that prevent federal agencies from taking successful misconduct actions against employees. Attendees will learn the five elements that must be present in a disciplinary case, with a special focus on penalty justification and due process requirements. Attendees will leave with the guidance necessary to take defensible actions quickly and fairly – and to ensure that those actions will withstand scrutiny on appeal by the MSPB, EEOC, or in grievance arbitration. Earn 1.5 CLE credits.
Learning Objectives
Attendees will learn how to:
- Understand the legal definition of discipline, and which corrective actions are not discipline under the law.
- Identify the legal elements required in every disciplinary case, and the standard of proof to take a defensible action.
- Use the Douglas Factors in penalty determination.
Session 2
1:00 – 2:30 pm EDT
Unacceptable Performance: Streamlining the Procedures
Presented by William Wiley, Attorney at Law, FELTG Past President
Course Description: When it comes to poor performance, the one action you can’t afford to take is not taking action. Yet, when you do take a performance-based action, there are limitless mistakes that can trip you up and result in lost appeals. During this session, Bill Wiley shares the tools you need to confidently and effectively address poor performance, including initiating a performance demonstration period/PIP, the evidence and documentation needed to justify a performance-based action, and a secret trick on removing an employee for poor performance without using a demonstration period/PIP. After this session, attendees will have the tools necessary to remove an unacceptable performer in 31 days. Earn 1.5 CLE credits.
Learning Objectives
Attendees will learn how to:
- Recognize the standards of proof needed for a performance-based action.
- Implement recent Executive Orders and OPM guidance into your performance procedures.
- Successfully take a defensible performance-based action.
Session 3
3:00 – 4:30 pm EDT
Federal Employment Law Update: Recent Developments at the EEOC, FLRA and MSPB
Presented by Ann Boehm, Attorney at Law, FELTG Instructor
Course Description: In the world of federal employment law, things can change quickly; there has been more action in the past three years than in the last 35 years before. Join FELTG Instructor Ann Boehm for a review of the most recent and relevant cases, regulations, studies and reports from the EEOC, FLRA and MSPB, plus information from OPM and the Office of Special Counsel. She will also cover the very latest on Executive Orders 13836, 13836, 13837 and 13839. Attendees will leave with knowledge of recent developments and with an in-depth analysis of the current employment law climate and its impact on the federal workplace. Earn 1.5 CLE credits.
Learning Objectives
Attendees will learn how to:
- Identify the most critical recent decisions from the EEOC and FLRA.
- Explain the status and impact of President Trump’s Executive Orders regarding the federal workplace.
- Understand the current status of the MSPB and how the lack of quorum impacts agency actions and appeals.
Wednesday, April 22, 2020
Managing and Advising During the COVID-19 Pandemic and Beyond
Session 4
10:30 am – 12:00 pm EDT
Handling Current Leave Challenges in the Federal Workplace
Presented by Barbara Haga, President/Federal HR Services, FELTG Senior Instructor
Course description: Barbara Haga will review some of the most pressing issues involving leave, including tough questions related to FMLA and sick leave, the paid family leave provisions expected to go into effect in October, and the flexibilities related to leave tied to the COVID-19 pandemic including weather and safety leave. Attendees will come away with an array of knowledge for handling the leave issues they’re likely to face in the coming weeks and months, and will be equipped for a successful return to more normal operations in the future.
Learning Objectives
Attendees will learn how to:
- Apply weather and safety leave standards during the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Identify the provisions of the new paid family leave, and which employees are affected.
- Manage requests for sick leave and FMLA, from near and far.
Session 5
1:00 – 2:30 pm EDT
Managing a Mobile Workforce: Tools for Accountability
Presented by Deborah J. Hopkins, Attorney at Law, FELTG President
Course description: One of the biggest challenges facing agencies during this COVID-19 Pandemic is that so much of the workforce is no longer in the workplace. How do you handle performance issues? What about conduct? Are work expectations lowered or amended when people telework in emergency situations? What are the pitfalls or best practices for managing employees from afar? Using anecdotes from her decade of experience managing a remote workforce, FELTG President Deborah J. Hopkins will provide the answers and share exclusive tips you shouldn’t miss. Earn 1.5 CLE credits
Learning Objectives
Attendees will learn how to:
- Communicate expectations to employees who are new to telework.
- Conduct a performance demonstration period while an employee is working remotely.
- Identify the telework performance pitfalls for employees and supervisors.
Session 6
3:00 – 4:30 pm EDT
Strategies for Stress: Effectively Coping in a COVID-19 World
Presented by Shana Palmieri, LCSW, FELTG Instructor
Course description: The COVID-19 pandemic has required all of us to make major lifestyle changes, whether you’re in the office or working from home. Our lives have quickly been altered, creating varying levels of anxiety and uncertainty. Change, stress and social isolation can significantly impact your health and job performance. Licensed Clinical Social Worker Shana Palmieri will guide you through how to manage change and stress for yourself and your employees so you can continue to focus on your agency’s mission – from wherever you happen to be working.
Learning Objectives
Attendees will learn how to:
- Manage workforce disruptions to successfully stay focused on work during the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Cope with social distancing and social isolation.
- Recognize and manage stress levels that, when unaddressed, impact your work performance and overall wellness.
Thursday, April 23, 2020
EEO Challenges in the Federal Workplace
Session 7
10:30 am – 12:00 pm EDT
Preventing and Correcting Discrimination: A Focus on Race, Color, and National Origin
Presented by Ricky Rowe, Former National EEO Manager/Veterans Affairs, FELTG Instructor
Course description: During stressful times, there is often a desire to find something, or someone, to blame. In some cases, employees perceive a conflict with agency management to be motivated by an illegal reason. And every now and then, an agency official engages in unlawful discrimination, and then the agency has a responsibility to make amends with the employee. FELTG Instructor Ricky Rowe will use his 38 years of federal sector EEO and HR experience to address these scenarios with a review of relevant EEOC decisions involving employee race, color and national origin, and will share timely and critical information to ensure that your workplace is safe and inclusive for all. Earn 1.5 EEO refresher training hours by attending this session.
Learning Objectives
Attendees will learn how to:
- Identify the discrimination theories where race, color and national origin could form the basis of a complaint.
- Recognize and immediately address instances of race, color, and national origin discrimination in the workplace.
- Determine when language-restrictive policies are discriminatory – and when they are permitted.
Session 8
1:00 – 2:30 pm EDT
Conducting Effective Harassment Investigations
Presented by Katherine Atkinson, Attorney at Law, FELTG Instructor
Course description: If there’s one topic on every agency’s front burner, it’s harassment. FELTG Instructor Katherine Atkinson will explain the differences between EEO and non-EEO harassment, and the critical steps that agencies should take when investigating misconduct. An incomplete investigation could cost you the case, so it’s imperative to understand the requirements for a legally sufficient harassment investigation. Attendees will leave with useful guidance and practical tools to help them complete an effective and thorough investigation. Earn 1.5 EEO refresher training hours by attending this session. Earn 1.5 CLE credits.
Learning Objectives
Attendees will learn how to:
- Address the issue of harassment as misconduct, not just an EEO issue.
- Identify the numerous forms that harassment takes.
- Interview all relevant parties in a harassment investigation: the complainant, the accused, and material witnesses.
Session 9
3:00 – 4:30 pm EDT
Reasonable Accommodation in the Federal Workplace: Challenges and Solutions for 2020
Presented by Meghan Droste, Attorney at Law, FELTG Instructor
Course description: Reasonable accommodation for disabilities intersects with every aspect of the federal workforce: conduct, performance, leave, telework, and more. FELTG Instructor Meghan Droste will explain answers to the most common questions including: What does qualified individual really mean? What is the agency required to do during the interactive process? Must I provide a provisional accommodation? Do I have to grant telework as an accommodation? Is providing a new supervisor a reasonable accommodation? You’ll receive guidance on other perplexing reasonable accommodation challenges, and discuss the mistakes agencies have made in recent cases – so you can avoid similar mistakes. You can’t afford to miss this session. Earn 1.5 EEO refresher hours and 1.5 CLE credits.
Learning Objectives
Attendees will learn how to:
- Make legal disability determinations.
- Understand “qualified individual” standard.
- Provide the most effective reasonable accommodation to allow the employee to successfully perform the essential functions of the job.
Price
- Early Bird Tuition (register by April 14): One Session = $100 | Three Sessions = $250 | All Access = $700
- Standard Tuition (register April 15-23): One Session = $115 | Three Sessions = $275 | All Access = $750
- Rates per registrant.
- REGISTER NOW.
Event FAQs
- Can I attend Virtual Training from my government computer?
- FELTG uses Zoom Webinars (not Zoom Meetings) to broadcast its Virtual Training Institute events. Many government computers and systems allow Zoom access. If for some reason your firewall will not allow access, you’re welcome to use your personal email address to register, and to attend the sessions from your personal device.
- How do I claim CLE or EEO refresher credits?
- This program has been submitted (and we anticipate this program will be approved) for Virginia CLE credits. Members of other state bars must submit for CLE credit on their own, and may use the materials provided by FELTG in submissions. Attendees may also request a certificate of completion which will contain the number of training hours attended, and will designate how many EEO refresher hours were earned.
- Can I get HRCI credits for attending this class?
- Each session is approved for 1.5 hours of HRCI general recertification credit. The HRCI course numbers will be available upon the conclusion of the training.
- What if I want to attend a session but have a schedule conflict?
- FELTG plans to record every session, and will make recordings available for purchase after the conclusion of the event.
- 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?
- The group discount deadline has passed.