Calendar

FELTG Executive Director Deborah Hopkins instructing a class
Sep
3
Tue
Webinar Series – Supervising Federal Employees: Managing Accountability and Defending Your Actions
Sep 3 @ 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm

Download Registration Form

Instructors

Deborah Hopkins, Barbara Haga, Meghan Droste, Ann Boehm

Course Description

 

Back by popular demand, and updated for 2019! Join FELTG for the most comprehensive supervisory training event available anywhere. Supervising Federal Employees: Managing Accountability and Defending Your Actions, a 13-part webinar training series (with a bonus session for those who supervise unionized employees), is targeted specifically to the issues and challenges faced by supervisors in agencies across the country, and around the world.

These 60-minute sessions, held every other Tuesday from 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. eastern time, will expand upon legal principles to provide federal supervisors with the necessary tools and best practices they need to manage the agency workplace effectively and efficiently. Plus, they’ll have a chance to ask questions and get answers – in real time.

As a special bonus, the first six modules fulfill OPM’s mandatory training requirements for new supervisors found at 5 CFR 412.202(b).

2019 dates:

March 5: Accountability for Performance and Conduct: The Foundation: The distinction between performance and conduct; an overview on holding employees accountable; setting the stage for discipline and performance actions.

March 19: Disciplining Employees for Misconduct, Part I: The five elements of discipline in the federal government; documentation supervisors need to succeed in a disciplinary action. 

April 2: Disciplining Employees for Misconduct, Part II: Disciplinary procedures: reprimand, suspension, termination; appeals process; agency liability. 

April 16: Writing Effective Performance Plans: Performance management; understanding the system; defining elements and standards; creating the performance plan.

April 30: Preparing an Unacceptable Performance Case: Performance in a nutshell; preparing a performance case; proof and evidence standards.

May 14: Dealing with Poor Performing Employees: Managing the PIP; proposed removal letters; unacceptable performance documents. 

May 28: Mentoring a Multigenerational Workforce: What OPM says about mentorship; mentorship styles; formal and informal mentorship; pilot mentorship programs; best practices for leadership; handling difficult employee types. 

June 11: Tackling Leave Issues I: Handling the leave issues most common in the federal government: annual leave, sick leave, leave transfer. 

June 25: Tackling Leave Issues II: Handling more complicated leave scenarios: FMLA, LWOP, administrative leave, AWOL. 

July 9: Disability Accommodation in 60 Minutes: Defining a disability; requests for accommodation; the interactive process; accommodations of choice; undue hardship. 

July 23: Intentional EEO Discrimination: What supervisors should know about EEO discrimination; discrete acts of discrimination; selection and promotion cases; defending against claims of intentional discrimination. 

August 6: Combating Against Hostile Work Environment Harassment Claims: The elements of a hostile work environment; liability in hostile work environment claims; tangible employment actions; harassment v. bullying; supervisor responsibilities in harassment claims; agency defenses. 

August 20: EEO Reprisal: Handle It, Don’t Fear It: How reprisal is different than other EEO claims; what the complainant must show to establish reprisal; how a supervisor can defend against reprisal claims; what to do and what not to do when an employee engages in protected EEO activity. 

September 3: Supervising in a Unionized Environment: The right to be bargained with; forming a union; employee and union rights; ULPs. 

Price

  • $225 per site, per session.
  • Teleworkers may be added to a primary site registration for $35 each, per session, on a space-available basis.
  • Special series discounts available through March 1. See registration form for details.
Sep
5
Thu
Webinar – Sex Discrimination, Gender Identity, and LGBTQ+ Protections in the Federal Workplace
Sep 5 @ 1:00 pm – 2:30 pm

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Instructor

Meghan Droste

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.

Sep
12
Thu
Webinar – Why the Douglas Factors Are Your Friend
Sep 12 @ 1:00 pm – 2:30 pm

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Instructor

Ann Boehm

Course Description

We are often get asked: “Why should I use the Douglas factors?” Our answer is always: “Why in the world wouldn’t you?”

The Douglas factor analysis is incredibly useful in helping any manager figure out an appropriate penalty for an employee who engaged in misconduct.  If you don’t use Douglas, you are just penalizing based upon what seems or feels right, and that isn’t going to be easy to defend.

FELTG instructor Ann Boehm will explain the importance of the Douglas Factors even in the seemingly most relatively minor misconduct cases. After this 90-minute webinar, attendees will be able to :

  • Explain the importance of the Douglas Factors in penalty determination.
  • Address all 12 Douglas Factors in an analysis.
  • Identify cases that illustrate the perils of not considering the Douglas Factors.

 

Price

Early Bird Tuition: $275 per site (payment required by September 2)

Standard Tuition: $305 per site (for payments made September 3 or later)

Teleworkers may be added to a main site registration for $35 each, if space is available.

Sep
26
Thu
Webinar – Suicidal Employees in the Federal Workplace: Your Actions Can Save a Life
Sep 26 @ 1:00 pm – 2:30 pm

Download Registration Form

Instructor

Shana Palmieri

Course Description

In 2016, suicide was the 10th leading cause of death overall in the United States, killing more than 44,000 people. And 291 of those suicides took place in the workplace.

As suicide rates continue to rise, the impact is becoming more severe on the workplace. Join Shana Palmieri, LCSW for this 90-minute webinar as she discusses the behavior health disorders that lead to suicide risk, provides an overview of suicide and suicidal ideation in the United States and in the workplace, and shares real answers on what you can do and when to save an employee’s life.

Attendees will learn how to:

  • Identify the signs and symptoms of suicide that indicate the need for professional intervention
  • Effectively communicate to employees about suicide
  • Handle a suicidal crisis in the workplace

The webinar will also include time for Q & A on these topics. This is a session you truly can’t afford to miss, so register your site today.

Price

Early Bird Tuition: $275 per site (payment required by September 16)

Standard Tuition: $305 per site (for payments made September 17 or later)

Teleworkers may be added to a main site registration for $35 each, if space is available.

Oct
3
Thu
Webinar – Dealing with Unacceptable Performance: Fast and Effective Accountability Tools for Agencies
Oct 3 @ 1:00 pm – 2:30 pm

Download Registration Form

Instructor

Deborah Hopkins

Course Description

Agencies have a problem addressing unacceptable performance. How else do you explain that nearly 75 percent of non-supervisory federal employees believe supervisors fail to take the necessary steps to address poor performance?

In this 90-minute webinar, FELTG President, attorney and author Deborah Hopkins will answer the question: How does an agency take appropriate, defensible action against poor performers?

Ms. Hopkins will explain the appropriate procedures to take when initiating an Opportunity to Demonstrate Acceptable Performance and will highlight mistakes that your agency can’t afford to make, and show you how to remove a poor performer from the federal service in just 31 days.

In addition, Ms Hopkins will discuss:

  • Critical time periods for the stages of performance-based actions
  • How to draft and deliver performance documents
  • The importance of holding employees accountable throughout the process
  • Tips for managing problem employees during the notice period
  • The necessary levels of proof an agency must maintain to defend a performance-based suspension or termination

Attend this FELTG seminar to learn the appropriate methods to safeguard your agency when removing poor performers, and guarantee that your actions will stand.

Price

Early Bird Tuition: $275 per site (payment required by September 23)

Standard Tuition: $305 per site (for payments made September 24 or later)

Teleworkers may be added to a main site registration for $35 each, if space is available.

Oct
16
Wed
Webinar Series – Absence Due to Illness: Tackling Challenges with Sick Leave and FMLA
Oct 16 @ 1:00 pm – 2:30 pm

Download Registration Form

Instructor

William Wiley, Barbara Haga

Course Description

Absence due to illness has changed the landscape in dealing with federal workplace issues.  Problems arise when employees are absent – let alone the huge amounts of leave entitlements tied to family member medical conditions.

Administering sick leave can be complicated, and proper documentation is critical.  The Family & Medical Leave Act adds an additional layer of complexity to these illness-related absences.  When can you require medical examinations? When can you take action on excessive absences?

If you need more information on absence related to illness so you are able to answer those tough questions on sick leave and FMLA – or if you want to ensure that the adverse action case you assemble will withstand the scrutiny of the MSPB – then this webinar series is custom-made for you.

While the near future of the Merit Systems Protection Board remains uncertain, FELTG is staying on top of the situation and will provide attendees with the most up-to-date information they need to know.

Instructors Deborah Hopkins, William Wiley, and Barbara Haga will guide you through these thorny issues. Register for any or all of the sessions.

  • Session 1 – Sick Leave, Part I (October 16)
    • Earning and accumulation
    • Authorized uses of sick leave
    • Family care sick leave – documentation and limits
    • Advance sick leave
  • Session 2 – Sick Leave, Part II  (October 30)
    • Notice requirements
    • Definition of “serious health condition”
    • Substitution of paid leave for FMLA LWOP
    • Medical certification – what is required and what needs to be in it
    • Sick leave abuse
    • Medical examinations
    • Taking action on sick leave-related absences
  • Session 3 – Understanding FMLA (November 13)
    • Basic entitlement
    • Notice requirements
    • FMLA Medical certification requirements
    • Discipline and FMLA – excessive absence, falsified information, failure to comply with notice requirements, last chance agreements

You’ll have the chance to ask your questions, and get them answered in real time, during each of these 90-minute sessions.  Register your site today.

Price

Early Bird Tuition: $275 per webinar per site (registration submitted by October 7)

Standard Tuition: $305 per webinar per site (registration submitted October 8 or later)

Register for all three webinars by October 7 and pay only $795.

Add a teleworker for $35 per webinar, in addition to a main site registration, if space permits.

 

Oct
24
Thu
Webinar – Discipline Alternatives: Thinking Outside the Adverse Action
Oct 24 @ 1:00 pm – 2:30 pm

Download Registration Form

Instructor

Ann Boehm

Course Description

The Douglas factors require agencies to consider alternative sanctions, but what exactly are alternatives to discipline? How do they work? Does anyone even know where to start an alternative to discipline?

FELTG instructor Ann Boehm does. In this 90-minute webinar, she will show you how how to think outside the box in certain disciplinary situations. For example, the last thing you want to do to someone who is AWOL is suspend them — they already are not coming to work. Instead, we can show you how to give a reprimand in lieu of suspension. The goal of discipline is to rehabilitate, and in certain circumstances, alternative sanctions are very effective in that regard.

Attendees will:

  • Learn the legal requirements that form the foundation of disciplinary actions.
  • Identify several alternatives to adverse actions.
  • Understand the benefits of a reprimand in lieu of a suspension.

Price

Early Bird Tuition: $275 per site (payment required by October 14)

Standard Tuition: $305 per site (for payments made October 15 or later)

Teleworkers may be added to a main site registration for $35 each, if space is available.

Oct
30
Wed
Webinar Series – Absence Due to Illness: Tackling Challenges with Sick Leave and FMLA
Oct 30 @ 1:00 pm – 2:30 pm

Download Registration Form

Instructor

William Wiley, Barbara Haga

Course Description

Absence due to illness has changed the landscape in dealing with federal workplace issues.  Problems arise when employees are absent – let alone the huge amounts of leave entitlements tied to family member medical conditions.

Administering sick leave can be complicated, and proper documentation is critical.  The Family & Medical Leave Act adds an additional layer of complexity to these illness-related absences.  When can you require medical examinations? When can you take action on excessive absences?

If you need more information on absence related to illness so you are able to answer those tough questions on sick leave and FMLA – or if you want to ensure that the adverse action case you assemble will withstand the scrutiny of the MSPB – then this webinar series is custom-made for you.

While the near future of the Merit Systems Protection Board remains uncertain, FELTG is staying on top of the situation and will provide attendees with the most up-to-date information they need to know.

Instructors Deborah Hopkins, William Wiley, and Barbara Haga will guide you through these thorny issues. Register for any or all of the sessions.

  • Session 1 – Sick Leave, Part I (October 16)
    • Earning and accumulation
    • Authorized uses of sick leave
    • Family care sick leave – documentation and limits
    • Advance sick leave
  • Session 2 – Sick Leave, Part II  (October 30)
    • Notice requirements
    • Definition of “serious health condition”
    • Substitution of paid leave for FMLA LWOP
    • Medical certification – what is required and what needs to be in it
    • Sick leave abuse
    • Medical examinations
    • Taking action on sick leave-related absences
  • Session 3 – Understanding FMLA (November 13)
    • Basic entitlement
    • Notice requirements
    • FMLA Medical certification requirements
    • Discipline and FMLA – excessive absence, falsified information, failure to comply with notice requirements, last chance agreements

You’ll have the chance to ask your questions, and get them answered in real time, during each of these 90-minute sessions.  Register your site today.

Price

Early Bird Tuition: $275 per webinar per site (registration submitted by October 7)

Standard Tuition: $305 per webinar per site (registration submitted October 8 or later)

Register for all three webinars by October 7 and pay only $795.

Add a teleworker for $35 per webinar, in addition to a main site registration, if space permits.

 

Oct
31
Thu
Webinar – Threats of Violence in the Federal Workplace: Assessing Risk and Taking Action
Oct 31 @ 1:00 pm – 2:30 pm

Download Registration Form

Instructor

Shana Palmieri

Course Description

Workplace violence statistics tell a harrowing story. About 17 percent of all workplace fatalities in 2016 were the result of workplace violence, according to the National Safety Council. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration estimates that nearly 2 million workers are victims of workplace violence. And an estimated 25 percent of workplace violence goes unreported.

This topic is too important to ignore. Join FELTG for the webinar Threats of Violence in the Federal Workplace: Assessing Risk and Taking Action. This program will be instructed by Shana Palmieri, FELTG instructor and LCSW who specializes in mental health and handled the psychiatric aftermath of the Navy Yard shooting in 2013.

The session is focused on the practical issues that agencies encounter when dealing with an employee whose behavior poses a risk to workplace safety. Discussion points include:

  • Warning signs that violence may be imminent, and dynamic risk and protective factors for workplace targeted violence
  • Equipping Threat Management Teams to respond to threats or violent acts
  • Understanding the behavioral health issues that contribute to violent behavior – and those that don’t
  • Preparing for domestic or intimate partner violence and its interplay with the federal workplace

The webinar will also include time for Q & A on these topics. This is a session you truly can’t afford to miss, so register your site today.

Price

Early Bird Tuition: $275 per site (payment required by October 21)

Standard Tuition: $305 per site (for payments made October 22 or later)

Teleworkers may be added to a main site registration for $35 each, if space is available.

Nov
13
Wed
Webinar Series – Absence Due to Illness: Tackling Challenges with Sick Leave and FMLA
Nov 13 @ 1:00 pm – 2:30 pm

Download Registration Form

Instructor

William Wiley, Barbara Haga

Course Description

Absence due to illness has changed the landscape in dealing with federal workplace issues.  Problems arise when employees are absent – let alone the huge amounts of leave entitlements tied to family member medical conditions.

Administering sick leave can be complicated, and proper documentation is critical.  The Family & Medical Leave Act adds an additional layer of complexity to these illness-related absences.  When can you require medical examinations? When can you take action on excessive absences?

If you need more information on absence related to illness so you are able to answer those tough questions on sick leave and FMLA – or if you want to ensure that the adverse action case you assemble will withstand the scrutiny of the MSPB – then this webinar series is custom-made for you.

While the near future of the Merit Systems Protection Board remains uncertain, FELTG is staying on top of the situation and will provide attendees with the most up-to-date information they need to know.

Instructors Deborah Hopkins, William Wiley, and Barbara Haga will guide you through these thorny issues. Register for any or all of the sessions.

  • Session 1 – Sick Leave, Part I (October 16)
    • Earning and accumulation
    • Authorized uses of sick leave
    • Family care sick leave – documentation and limits
    • Advance sick leave
  • Session 2 – Sick Leave, Part II  (October 30)
    • Notice requirements
    • Definition of “serious health condition”
    • Substitution of paid leave for FMLA LWOP
    • Medical certification – what is required and what needs to be in it
    • Sick leave abuse
    • Medical examinations
    • Taking action on sick leave-related absences
  • Session 3 – Understanding FMLA (November 13)
    • Basic entitlement
    • Notice requirements
    • FMLA Medical certification requirements
    • Discipline and FMLA – excessive absence, falsified information, failure to comply with notice requirements, last chance agreements

You’ll have the chance to ask your questions, and get them answered in real time, during each of these 90-minute sessions.  Register your site today.

Price

Early Bird Tuition: $275 per webinar per site (registration submitted by October 7)

Standard Tuition: $305 per webinar per site (registration submitted October 8 or later)

Register for all three webinars by October 7 and pay only $795.

Add a teleworker for $35 per webinar, in addition to a main site registration, if space permits.

 

Dec
5
Thu
Webinar – Accommodating Hidden Disabilities in the Federal Workplace
Dec 5 @ 1:00 pm – 2:30 pm

Download Registration Form

Instructor

Katherine Atkinson

From chronic pain and chronic fatigue to depression and diabetes, disabilities are not always visible or obvious in the workplace. As the federal workforce ages, the number of employees with hidden disabilities continues to grow. This can make providing reasonable accommodation a challenge for HR professionals, supervisors, and the people who advise them.

During this 90-minute webinar, attorney Katherine Atkinson will explain to how properly navigate Rehabilitation Act regulations and EEOC guidance while taking a common sense approach to reasonably accommodating hidden disabilities. Ms. Atkinson will provide examples of accommodations that have proven successful for hidden disabilities.

Attendees will learn how to:

  • Recognize myths and misconceptions about specific disabilities.
  • Determine whether the employee is a qualified individual.
  • Use the interactive process to find an effective reasonable accommodation.

Price

Early Bird Tuition: $275 per site (payment required by November 25)

Standard Tuition: $305 per site (for payments made November 26 or later)

Teleworkers may be added to a main site registration for $35 each, if space is available.

Dec
12
Thu
Webinar – “OK, Boomer” and the Truth About Age Discrimination in the Federal Workplace
Dec 12 @ 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm

Download Registration Form

Instructor

Deborah Hopkins

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.

Jan
16
Thu
Webinar Series – Legal Writing in Federal Sector Employment Law
Jan 16 @ 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm

Download Registration Form

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.

Jan
23
Thu
Webinar Series – Legal Writing in Federal Sector Employment Law
Jan 23 @ 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm

Download Registration Form

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.

Jan
30
Thu
Webinar Series – Legal Writing in Federal Sector Employment Law
Jan 30 @ 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm

Download Registration Form

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.

Feb
4
Tue
Medical Exams and Conditions of Employment: Ensuring Employees Meet the Position Requirements
Feb 4 @ 1:00 pm – 2:30 pm

Download Registration Form

Instructor

Barbara Haga

Course Description

Ensuring that employees remain capable of performing their duties, whether those requirements involve physical or mental demands of other requirements such as licenses and certifications, is a challenging issue for many HR practitioners.  FELTG instructor Barbara Haga will share specific guidance on how to effectively enforce medical requirements without running afoul of the Merit Systems Protection Board or the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

During this 90-minute webinar, Ms. Haga will review a number of MSPB cases about employees who either met a qualification requirement or certification requirement and then lost it – or never were able to obtain it all.  This program will also cover the gamut from IT to EMT certifications, pilot certifications, ability to qualify with a weapon, and much more.

Attendees will learn how to:

·       Order and offer physical exams.
·       Incorporate physical requirements into positions.
·       Understand the narrow opportunities for requiring psychiatric examinations.
Join us for this important session.

Price

  • Early Bird Tuition: $275 per site (payment made by January 27).
  • Standard Tuition: $305 per site (payment made January 28 or later).

Teleworkers may be added to a main site registration for $40 per teleworker, on a space-available basis.

Feb
6
Thu
Webinar Series – Legal Writing in Federal Sector Employment Law
Feb 6 @ 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm

Download Registration Form

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.

Feb
13
Thu
Webinar Series – Legal Writing in Federal Sector Employment Law
Feb 13 @ 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm

Download Registration Form

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.

Feb
20
Thu
Webinar Series – Legal Writing in Federal Sector Employment Law
Feb 20 @ 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm

Download Registration Form

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.

Mar
3
Tue
Webinar Series – Supervising Federal Employees: Managing Accountability and Defending Your Actions
Mar 3 @ 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm

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 this applies to our webinars, or how you can bring FELTG’s off-the-shelf or custom webinars directly to your agency.

Download Registration Form

Instructors

Deborah Hopkins, Barbara Haga, Meghan Droste, Ann Boehm, Joe Schimansky, Katherine Atkinson, Anthony Marchese

Course Description

Those of you who supervise federal employees know it can be a frustrating calling, especially when you face so many new and challenging issues amid complex and changing laws.

Help is on the way. Register now for one, several, or all of the courses in FELTG’s comprehensive webinar training series Supervising Federal Employees: Managing Accountability and Defending Your Actions. No other training provides the depth and breadth of guidance federal supervisors need to manage the agency workplace effectively and efficiently.

Over the course of 14 webinars, FELTG’s experienced and knowledgeable instructors provide support on everything from managing poor performance and disciplining for employee misconduct to providing reasonable accommodation and rooting out leave abuse, and much much more.

This unique series has been updated to address the most timely and important topics supervisors are facing right now. The 60-minute webinars, held every other Tuesday from 1 – 2 p.m. eastern time, will expand upon legal principles to provide attendees with the necessary tools and best practices. Plus, you’ll have a chance to ask questions and get answers from FELTG instructors – in real time.

As an added bonus, this series fulfills OPM’s mandatory training requirements for new supervisors found at 5 CFR 412.202(b).

2020 dates:

March 3: The Foundations of Accountability: Performance vs. Misconduct: The distinction between performance and conduct; an overview on holding employees accountable; setting the stage for discipline and performance actions.

March 17: Writing Effective Performance Plans: Performance management; understanding the performance appraisal system; defining elements and standards; drafting standards according to legal requirements; creating the performance plan.

March 31: Preparing an Unacceptable Performance Case: Performance accountability in a nutshell; preparing and executing a performance demonstration period; proof and evidence standards.

April 14: Addressing Special Challenges with Performance: Permutations on performance accountability and the performance warning period; performance standards with multiple sub-components; managing teleworker performance; what do when a poor-performing employee requests reasonable accommodation.

April 28: Providing Performance Feedback That Makes a Difference: Communicating performance expectations; providing ongoing feedback; positive vs. negative framing; why you shouldn’t wait until the mid-year to discuss performance issues; what OPM says about mentorship; leader as mentor.

May 12: Disciplining Employees for Misconduct, Part I: The five elements of discipline in the federal government; documentation supervisors need to succeed in a disciplinary action. 

May 26: Disciplining Employees for Misconduct, Part II: Disciplinary procedures: reprimand, suspension, termination; appeals process; agency liability. 

June 9: Tackling Leave Issues I: Handling the leave issues most common in the federal government: annual leave, sick leave, leave transfer. 

June 23: Tackling Leave Issues II: Handling more complicated leave scenarios: FMLA, LWOP, administrative leave, AWOL. 

July 7: Combating Against Hostile Work Environment Harassment Claims: The elements of a hostile work environment; liability in hostile work environment claims; tangible employment actions; harassment v. bullying; supervisor responsibilities in harassment claims; agency defenses.

July 21: Intentional EEO Discrimination: What supervisors should know about EEO discrimination; discrete acts of discrimination; selection and promotion cases; defending against claims of intentional discrimination. 

August 4:  Disability Accommodation in 60 Minutes: Defining a disability; requests for accommodation; the interactive process; accommodations of choice; undue hardship. 

August 18: EEO Reprisal: Handle It, Don’t Fear It: How reprisal is different than other EEO claims; what the complainant must show to establish reprisal; how a supervisor can defend against reprisal claims; what to do and what not to do when an employee engages in protected EEO activity. 

September 1: Supervising in a Unionized Environment: The right to be bargained with; forming a union; employee and union rights; ULPs. 

Pricing

Early Bird Tuition:

  • $240 per site, per session (payment required by Feb 24).
  • Special series discounts available through February 24: $2,925 for the first 13 webinars or $3,150 for all 14. See registration form for details.

Standard Tuition: 

  • $270 per site, per session (payments made Feb. 25 or later).

 

Teleworkers may be added to a primary site registration for $40 each, per session, on a space-available basis.

Mar
5
Thu
Webinar – EEO Claims: When to Accept, and When to Dismiss
Mar 5 @ 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm

Download Registration Form

Instructor

Meghan Droste

Course Description

There are several reasons why an EEO claim might be dismissed, but it’s not a decision that should be made quickly or without much thought. A surprising number of agency dismissals are overturned by the EEOC each year. Join FELTG as we dive into the very core of the EEO complaint process, and understand when to accept EEO claims, and when to deny them. This 60-minute webinar will review the reasons for dismissing a claim — failure to state a claim, timeliness, collateral attack, and framing claims.

This is the first of a four-part series on Navigating Challenges in the EEO Process.

 1

Price

  • Early Bird Tuition: $240 per site, per session (payment made by February 24).
  • Standard Tuition: $270 per site, per session (payment made February 25 or later).
  • Register for all four webinars by February 24 and pay only $910!

Teleworkers may be added to a main site registration for $40 per teleworker, on a space-available basis.

Mar
17
Tue
Webinar Series – Supervising Federal Employees: Managing Accountability and Defending Your Actions
Mar 17 @ 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm

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 this applies to our webinars, or how you can bring FELTG’s off-the-shelf or custom webinars directly to your agency.

Download Registration Form

Instructors

Deborah Hopkins, Barbara Haga, Meghan Droste, Ann Boehm, Joe Schimansky, Katherine Atkinson, Anthony Marchese

Course Description

Those of you who supervise federal employees know it can be a frustrating calling, especially when you face so many new and challenging issues amid complex and changing laws.

Help is on the way. Register now for one, several, or all of the courses in FELTG’s comprehensive webinar training series Supervising Federal Employees: Managing Accountability and Defending Your Actions. No other training provides the depth and breadth of guidance federal supervisors need to manage the agency workplace effectively and efficiently.

Over the course of 14 webinars, FELTG’s experienced and knowledgeable instructors provide support on everything from managing poor performance and disciplining for employee misconduct to providing reasonable accommodation and rooting out leave abuse, and much much more.

This unique series has been updated to address the most timely and important topics supervisors are facing right now. The 60-minute webinars, held every other Tuesday from 1 – 2 p.m. eastern time, will expand upon legal principles to provide attendees with the necessary tools and best practices. Plus, you’ll have a chance to ask questions and get answers from FELTG instructors – in real time.

As an added bonus, this series fulfills OPM’s mandatory training requirements for new supervisors found at 5 CFR 412.202(b).

2020 dates:

March 3: The Foundations of Accountability: Performance vs. Misconduct: The distinction between performance and conduct; an overview on holding employees accountable; setting the stage for discipline and performance actions.

March 17: Writing Effective Performance Plans: Performance management; understanding the performance appraisal system; defining elements and standards; drafting standards according to legal requirements; creating the performance plan.

March 31: Preparing an Unacceptable Performance Case: Performance accountability in a nutshell; preparing and executing a performance demonstration period; proof and evidence standards.

April 14: Addressing Special Challenges with Performance: Permutations on performance accountability and the performance warning period; performance standards with multiple sub-components; managing teleworker performance; what do when a poor-performing employee requests reasonable accommodation.

April 28: Providing Performance Feedback That Makes a Difference: Communicating performance expectations; providing ongoing feedback; positive vs. negative framing; why you shouldn’t wait until the mid-year to discuss performance issues; what OPM says about mentorship; leader as mentor.

May 12: Disciplining Employees for Misconduct, Part I: The five elements of discipline in the federal government; documentation supervisors need to succeed in a disciplinary action. 

May 26: Disciplining Employees for Misconduct, Part II: Disciplinary procedures: reprimand, suspension, termination; appeals process; agency liability. 

June 9: Tackling Leave Issues I: Handling the leave issues most common in the federal government: annual leave, sick leave, leave transfer. 

June 23: Tackling Leave Issues II: Handling more complicated leave scenarios: FMLA, LWOP, administrative leave, AWOL. 

July 7: Combating Against Hostile Work Environment Harassment Claims: The elements of a hostile work environment; liability in hostile work environment claims; tangible employment actions; harassment v. bullying; supervisor responsibilities in harassment claims; agency defenses.

July 21: Intentional EEO Discrimination: What supervisors should know about EEO discrimination; discrete acts of discrimination; selection and promotion cases; defending against claims of intentional discrimination. 

August 4:  Disability Accommodation in 60 Minutes: Defining a disability; requests for accommodation; the interactive process; accommodations of choice; undue hardship. 

August 18: EEO Reprisal: Handle It, Don’t Fear It: How reprisal is different than other EEO claims; what the complainant must show to establish reprisal; how a supervisor can defend against reprisal claims; what to do and what not to do when an employee engages in protected EEO activity. 

September 1: Supervising in a Unionized Environment: The right to be bargained with; forming a union; employee and union rights; ULPs. 

Pricing

Early Bird Tuition:

  • $240 per site, per session (payment required by Feb 24).
  • Special series discounts available through February 24: $2,925 for the first 13 webinars or $3,150 for all 14. See registration form for details.

Standard Tuition: 

  • $270 per site, per session (payments made Feb. 25 or later).

 

Teleworkers may be added to a primary site registration for $40 each, per session, on a space-available basis.

Mar
19
Thu
Webinar – Using Progressive Discipline in the Federal Workplace
Mar 19 @ 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm

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 this applies to our webinars, or how you can bring FELTG’s off-the-shelf or custom webinars directly to your agency.

Download Registration Form

Instructor

Deborah Hopkins

Course Description

The Trump Executive Orders made it clear that progressive discipline is not mandatory. However, that doesn’t mean it can’t be an important tool, particularly when considering whether an employee should be fired on the heels of new misconduct. Join FELTG as we dive into when and how to effectively use progressive discipline. The 60-minute webinar will also cover the foundations of discipline, the differences between performance and misconduct; the options to discipline; and the tricky concept of comparator employees. This webinar is part of the Navigating Challenges in the Discipline Process series.

Price

  • Early Bird Tuition: $240 per site, per session (payment made by March 9).
  • Standard Tuition: $270 per site, per session (payment made March 10 or later).

Teleworkers may be added to a main site registration for $40 per teleworker, on a space-available basis.

Mar
25
Wed
Webinar – COVID-19 Guidance for the Federal Workplace: Medical Inquiries, Leave, and More
Mar 25 @ 2:30 pm – 3:00 pm

Course Description

In a matter of weeks, the COVID-19 pandemic has drastically changed the federal workplace, the country, and the world. In this free 30-minute webinar, FELTG President and attorney at law Deborah Hopkins discusses two areas where the response to this virus has impacted the federal workplace:

  • ADA and EEOC guidance on the medical impact of COVID-19 in the federal workplace
    • Including medical inquiries, fitness for duty exams, and clearance to return to work
  • OPM and White House guidance on agency operations during the COVID-19 pandemic
    • Including telework, evacuation orders, and weather and safety leave

Instructor

Deborah Hopkins

Price and Registration

FREE. Registration is currently full. However, if you use the registration link below FELTG will add you to the wait list, and after the webinar’s conclusion we will email you a link so you can view the recorded presentation.

Register here. Enrollment is limited to the first 200 individuals and space is not guaranteed.

If you are one of the first 200 participants to register, you will receive a confirmation email from Zoom webinars confirming your registration and containing important access information.
Mar
31
Tue
Webinar Series – Supervising Federal Employees: Managing Accountability and Defending Your Actions
Mar 31 @ 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm

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 this applies to our webinars, or how you can bring FELTG’s off-the-shelf or custom webinars directly to your agency.

Download Registration Form

Instructors

Deborah Hopkins, Barbara Haga, Meghan Droste, Ann Boehm, Joe Schimansky, Katherine Atkinson, Anthony Marchese

Course Description

Those of you who supervise federal employees know it can be a frustrating calling, especially when you face so many new and challenging issues amid complex and changing laws.

Help is on the way. Register now for one, several, or all of the courses in FELTG’s comprehensive webinar training series Supervising Federal Employees: Managing Accountability and Defending Your Actions. No other training provides the depth and breadth of guidance federal supervisors need to manage the agency workplace effectively and efficiently.

Over the course of 14 webinars, FELTG’s experienced and knowledgeable instructors provide support on everything from managing poor performance and disciplining for employee misconduct to providing reasonable accommodation and rooting out leave abuse, and much much more.

This unique series has been updated to address the most timely and important topics supervisors are facing right now. The 60-minute webinars, held every other Tuesday from 1 – 2 p.m. eastern time, will expand upon legal principles to provide attendees with the necessary tools and best practices. Plus, you’ll have a chance to ask questions and get answers from FELTG instructors – in real time.

As an added bonus, this series fulfills OPM’s mandatory training requirements for new supervisors found at 5 CFR 412.202(b).

2020 dates:

March 3: The Foundations of Accountability: Performance vs. Misconduct: The distinction between performance and conduct; an overview on holding employees accountable; setting the stage for discipline and performance actions.

March 17: Writing Effective Performance Plans: Performance management; understanding the performance appraisal system; defining elements and standards; drafting standards according to legal requirements; creating the performance plan.

March 31: Preparing an Unacceptable Performance Case: Performance accountability in a nutshell; preparing and executing a performance demonstration period; proof and evidence standards.

April 14: Addressing Special Challenges with Performance: Permutations on performance accountability and the performance warning period; performance standards with multiple sub-components; managing teleworker performance; what do when a poor-performing employee requests reasonable accommodation.

April 28: Providing Performance Feedback That Makes a Difference: Communicating performance expectations; providing ongoing feedback; positive vs. negative framing; why you shouldn’t wait until the mid-year to discuss performance issues; what OPM says about mentorship; leader as mentor.

May 12: Disciplining Employees for Misconduct, Part I: The five elements of discipline in the federal government; documentation supervisors need to succeed in a disciplinary action. 

May 26: Disciplining Employees for Misconduct, Part II: Disciplinary procedures: reprimand, suspension, termination; appeals process; agency liability. 

June 9: Tackling Leave Issues I: Handling the leave issues most common in the federal government: annual leave, sick leave, leave transfer. 

June 23: Tackling Leave Issues II: Handling more complicated leave scenarios: FMLA, LWOP, administrative leave, AWOL. 

July 7: Combating Against Hostile Work Environment Harassment Claims: The elements of a hostile work environment; liability in hostile work environment claims; tangible employment actions; harassment v. bullying; supervisor responsibilities in harassment claims; agency defenses.

July 21: Intentional EEO Discrimination: What supervisors should know about EEO discrimination; discrete acts of discrimination; selection and promotion cases; defending against claims of intentional discrimination. 

August 4:  Disability Accommodation in 60 Minutes: Defining a disability; requests for accommodation; the interactive process; accommodations of choice; undue hardship. 

August 18: EEO Reprisal: Handle It, Don’t Fear It: How reprisal is different than other EEO claims; what the complainant must show to establish reprisal; how a supervisor can defend against reprisal claims; what to do and what not to do when an employee engages in protected EEO activity. 

September 1: Supervising in a Unionized Environment: The right to be bargained with; forming a union; employee and union rights; ULPs. 

Pricing

Early Bird Tuition:

  • $240 per site, per session (payment required by Feb 24).
  • Special series discounts available through February 24: $2,925 for the first 13 webinars or $3,150 for all 14. See registration form for details.

Standard Tuition: 

  • $270 per site, per session (payments made Feb. 25 or later).

 

Teleworkers may be added to a primary site registration for $40 each, per session, on a space-available basis.

Apr
9
Thu
Webinar – When the ADA and FMLA Collide
Apr 9 @ 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm

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 this applies to our webinars, or how you can bring FELTG’s off-the-shelf or custom webinars directly to your agency.

Download Registration Form

Instructor

Barbara Haga

Course Description

Navigating the FMLA is one of the most complex challenges a federal agency can face unless, of course, it is navigating the ADA at the same time. What’s the difference between a serious health condition and an ADA disability? Does the FMLA limit on leave apply to a reasonable accommodation of leave? This 60-minute webinar will compare and contrast coverage under the FMLA and coverage under the ADA, discuss the tricky role of medical documentation, and review leave under the FMLA and as a reasonable accommodation.

This is the second of four webinars on Navigating Challenges in the EEO Process.

EEO Refresher Hours: 1

Price

  • Early Bird Tuition: $240 per site, per session (payment made by February 24).
  • Standard Tuition: $270 per site, per session (payment made February 25 or later).
  • Register for all four webinars by February 24 and pay only $910!

Teleworkers may be added to a main site registration for $40 per teleworker, on a space-available basis.

Webinar – When the ADA and FMLA Collide
Apr 9 @ 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm

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 this applies to our webinars, or how you can bring FELTG’s off-the-shelf or custom webinars directly to your agency.

Download Registration Form

Instructor

Barbara Haga

Course Description

Navigating the FMLA is one of the most complex challenges a federal agency can face unless, of course, it is navigating the ADA at the same time. What’s the difference between a serious health condition and an ADA disability? Does the FMLA limit on leave apply to a reasonable accommodation of leave? This 60-minute webinar will compare and contrast coverage under the FMLA and coverage under the ADA, discuss the tricky role of medical documentation, and review leave under the FMLA and as a reasonable accommodation.

This is the second of four webinars on Navigating Challenges in the EEO Process.

EEO Refresher Hours: 1

Price

  • Early Bird Tuition: $240 per site, per session (payment made by February 24).
  • Standard Tuition: $270 per site, per session (payment made February 25 or later).
  • Register for all four webinars by February 24 and pay only $910!

Teleworkers may be added to a main site registration for $40 per teleworker, on a space-available basis.

Apr
14
Tue
Webinar Series – Supervising Federal Employees: Managing Accountability and Defending Your Actions
Apr 14 @ 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm

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 this applies to our webinars, or how you can bring FELTG’s off-the-shelf or custom webinars directly to your agency.

Download Registration Form

Instructors

Deborah Hopkins, Barbara Haga, Meghan Droste, Ann Boehm, Joe Schimansky, Katherine Atkinson, Anthony Marchese

Course Description

Those of you who supervise federal employees know it can be a frustrating calling, especially when you face so many new and challenging issues amid complex and changing laws.

Help is on the way. Register now for one, several, or all of the courses in FELTG’s comprehensive webinar training series Supervising Federal Employees: Managing Accountability and Defending Your Actions. No other training provides the depth and breadth of guidance federal supervisors need to manage the agency workplace effectively and efficiently.

Over the course of 14 webinars, FELTG’s experienced and knowledgeable instructors provide support on everything from managing poor performance and disciplining for employee misconduct to providing reasonable accommodation and rooting out leave abuse, and much much more.

This unique series has been updated to address the most timely and important topics supervisors are facing right now. The 60-minute webinars, held every other Tuesday from 1 – 2 p.m. eastern time, will expand upon legal principles to provide attendees with the necessary tools and best practices. Plus, you’ll have a chance to ask questions and get answers from FELTG instructors – in real time.

As an added bonus, this series fulfills OPM’s mandatory training requirements for new supervisors found at 5 CFR 412.202(b).

2020 dates:

March 3: The Foundations of Accountability: Performance vs. Misconduct: The distinction between performance and conduct; an overview on holding employees accountable; setting the stage for discipline and performance actions.

March 17: Writing Effective Performance Plans: Performance management; understanding the performance appraisal system; defining elements and standards; drafting standards according to legal requirements; creating the performance plan.

March 31: Preparing an Unacceptable Performance Case: Performance accountability in a nutshell; preparing and executing a performance demonstration period; proof and evidence standards.

April 14: Addressing Special Challenges with Performance: Permutations on performance accountability and the performance warning period; performance standards with multiple sub-components; managing teleworker performance; what do when a poor-performing employee requests reasonable accommodation.

April 28: Providing Performance Feedback That Makes a Difference: Communicating performance expectations; providing ongoing feedback; positive vs. negative framing; why you shouldn’t wait until the mid-year to discuss performance issues; what OPM says about mentorship; leader as mentor.

May 12: Disciplining Employees for Misconduct, Part I: The five elements of discipline in the federal government; documentation supervisors need to succeed in a disciplinary action. 

May 26: Disciplining Employees for Misconduct, Part II: Disciplinary procedures: reprimand, suspension, termination; appeals process; agency liability. 

June 9: Tackling Leave Issues I: Handling the leave issues most common in the federal government: annual leave, sick leave, leave transfer. 

June 23: Tackling Leave Issues II: Handling more complicated leave scenarios: FMLA, LWOP, administrative leave, AWOL. 

July 7: Combating Against Hostile Work Environment Harassment Claims: The elements of a hostile work environment; liability in hostile work environment claims; tangible employment actions; harassment v. bullying; supervisor responsibilities in harassment claims; agency defenses.

July 21: Intentional EEO Discrimination: What supervisors should know about EEO discrimination; discrete acts of discrimination; selection and promotion cases; defending against claims of intentional discrimination. 

August 4:  Disability Accommodation in 60 Minutes: Defining a disability; requests for accommodation; the interactive process; accommodations of choice; undue hardship. 

August 18: EEO Reprisal: Handle It, Don’t Fear It: How reprisal is different than other EEO claims; what the complainant must show to establish reprisal; how a supervisor can defend against reprisal claims; what to do and what not to do when an employee engages in protected EEO activity. 

September 1: Supervising in a Unionized Environment: The right to be bargained with; forming a union; employee and union rights; ULPs. 

Pricing

Early Bird Tuition:

  • $240 per site, per session (payment required by Feb 24).
  • Special series discounts available through February 24: $2,925 for the first 13 webinars or $3,150 for all 14. See registration form for details.

Standard Tuition: 

  • $270 per site, per session (payments made Feb. 25 or later).

 

Teleworkers may be added to a primary site registration for $40 each, per session, on a space-available basis.

Apr
16
Thu
Webinar – Due Process Violations: How One Mistake Could Cost You the Case
Apr 16 @ 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm

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.

Download Registration Form

Instructor

Deborah Hopkins

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.

Apr
21
Tue
Virtual Training Event: Emerging Issues in Federal Employment Law
Apr 21 – Apr 23 all-day

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.

 

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