Instructor
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:
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.
Instructor
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.
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.
Instructor
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.
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
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.
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.
Instructor
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.
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.
Instructor
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.
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.
Download Individual Registration Form
Course Description
FELTG’s flagship course UnCivil Servant empowers federal supervisors and advisers to confidently handle the challenges that come with supervising in the federal workplace. We hope that you never have to fire an employee. But it’s important that you have the tools to effectively address poor performance and misconduct, should the need arise.
Over the course of two half-days, UnCivil Servant identifies misconceptions about performance and misconduct-based actions and provides you with simple step-by-step guidance for taking swift, appropriate and legally defensible actions. The program also covers the very latest with Executive Order 13839, plus OPM regulations on performance and conduct.
Join FELTG for this special event, from wherever you are working – agency office or home. The program will be presented live, and you’ll have time to ask questions and get answers in real time. Note: This course fulfills OPM’s mandatory training requirements for new supervisors found at 5 CFR 412.202(b).
This program runs from 12:30 – 4:00 eastern each day, with a 30-minute break from 2:00 – 2:30 eastern.
Download Individual Registration Form
Instructor
Who Should Attend
Federal supervisors and managers; attorneys; Labor and Employee Relations Specialists; EEO specialists; union representatives.
Agenda
Wednesday, April 29
Accountability for Conduct and Performance, Part I: Accountability and supervisory authority; discipline and misconduct theory and practice; the five elements of discipline; off-duty misconduct; penalty defense and due process.
Thursday, April 30
Accountability for Conduct and Performance, Part II: Discipline procedures and appeals; disciplinary documents; defining unacceptable performance; dealing with poor performers; performance-based removal procedures.
Price
- Early Bird Tuition: $210 per session, $395 for both sessions (register by April 20).
- Standard Tuition: $225 per session, $425 for both sessions (register April 21-30).
- Rates per registrant.
- Want to register a group? Group discounts available though April 20. Contact FELTG.
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.
- 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. FELTG also plans to offer this live event periodically.
- Can I share my access link with co-workers?
- No. Registration for this event is per individual, and access links may not be shared. Each link may only be used by one person.
- Can I register a teleworker?
- This event is individual registration, so the cost is the same whether the person is teleworking or in an agency facility.
- How do I receive a group rate discount?
- If an agency wishes to register 10 or more attendees for the full event, a group discount will be applied if all registrations are received and paid for together. Group discount deadline is April 20.
- Can I earn CLE credits for this class?
- CLE applications are the responsibility of each attendee; FELTG goes not apply for the credits on behalf of attendees. If you are seeking CLE credit, attendees may use the materials provided by FELTG in submission to your state bar. Attendees may also request a certificate of completion which will contain the number of training hours attended.
- Can I earn 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.
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.
Instructor
Course Description
What will be the impact on President Trump’s letter permitting the Department of Defense to bypass unions? What about the FLRA’s decision to change the rules on dues withholding?
Joe Schimansky, former Executive Director of the Federal Service Impasses Panel, will take a look at what’s been happening at the FLRA in the last several months, and what’s likely to happen in the near future. He’ll review the latest decisions by the FLRA and FSIP to demonstrate how the world of federal labor relations is changing daily.
If you are involved in federal sector labor relations, this is a webinar you can’t afford to miss.
Price
- Early Bird Tuition (payment required by April 27, 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 28, 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.
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
If a contractor files an EEO complaint, your agency may be liable. The federal-sector EEO process is not exclusively limited to civil service employees. Contractors can file EEO complaints if the agency is determined to be a “joint employer.” How do you determine if you are a joint employer? Join FELTG as we cover the Ma factors; applying the Ma test; roles and responsibilities of agency personnel when contractors start the EEO process; defenses to the “joint employer” allegation; and the common questions and answers that arise from agencies dealing with contractors.
This is the third webinar in a four-part series on Navigating Challenges in the EEO Process.
1
Price
- Early Bird Tuition (payment required by April 28, 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 29, 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.
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
The federal workforce is full of incredibly talented and dedicated law enforcement personnel across many agencies. Like all federal employees, these LEOs deserve a workplace free of toxic and misbehaving coworkers. Ann Boehm, who spent most of her 26 years as a government attorney with federal law enforcement agencies, will explain how conduct standards for LEOs may differ from other feds, and she will highlight the Douglas factors that are of specific importance when disciplining officers. This 60-minute webinar will also cover off-duty misconduct, Giglio determinations, and what to do when LEOs commit felonies. This is the final webinar in the three-part Navigating Challenges in the Discipline Process series.
Price
- Early Bird Tuition (payment required by May 5, 2020):
- 1 line: $100
- 2-5 lines: $185
- 6-9 lines: $260
- 10-15 lines: $340
- 16-20 lines: $425
- Standard Tuition (payments made May 6, 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.
Event Description
Investigating harassment in your agency can be an intimidating assignment, one that is rife with innuendo, conflicting accounts, and raw emotions. Ensuring that your investigation is legally compliant and protects employees, while helping the agency minimize liability, is a taxing task. It’s even more challenging during the COVID-19 pandemic when most investigations must be done virtually.
Together, these three instructor-led live training sessions will provide a solid basis for a successful and effective approach to conducting legally-sufficient harassment investigations that stand up upon third-party review. Peruse MSPB and EEOC cases and you’ll find that poorly conducted investigations are far more common than they should be, and the cost of these investigations to agencies are bigger than you’d expect.
Understand the differences between EEO and non-EEO harassment. Learn the best techniques to conduct an investigation – whether onsite or virtually. Write a report that covers all the crucial information. And much more.
This open enrollment FELTG Virtual Training Institute program Conducting Effective Harassment Investigations offers opportunities to ask questions of FELTG’s experienced instructors, and get answers in real time. Plus, this program fulfills the requirements for 8-hour annual EEO investigator refresher training.
You can register for any of the sessions individually, or you can register for all three. This program runs from 12:30 – 4:00 eastern each day, with a 30-minute break from 2:00 – 2:30 eastern.
Download Individual Registration Form
Monday, May 18, 2020
Session 1: Investigating Harassment: Misconduct Principles
12:30 pm – 4:00 pm EDT (break from 2:00 – 2:30)
Presented by Deborah J. Hopkins, Attorney at Law, FELTG President
Course Description: An effective harassment investigation begins with a solid foundation of misconduct law in the federal workplace. Attorney and FELTG President Deborah J. Hopkins will explain the principles that underpin a successful investigation of federal employee misconduct, whether it’s on-duty or off-duty. Attendees will learn the five elements of discipline and understand how they relate to the misconduct investigation process. Plus, they’ll learn about evidence standards and burdens of proof in misconduct cases, how Douglas factors play in to an investigation, the importance of nexus, what to do when a witness won’t cooperate, and much more.
Learning Objectives
Attendees will learn how to:
- Identify the relationship between the foundations of federal accountability and misconduct investigations.
- Identify and collect relevant penalty evidence during the investigation.
- Recognize the mistakes that derail effective misconduct and harassment investigations.
Tuesday, May 19, 2020
Session 2: Understanding Harassment and Planning the Investigation
12:30 pm – 4:00 pm EDT (break from 2:00 – 2:30)
Presented by Katherine Atkinson, Attorney at Law, FELTG Instructor
Course description: What is the scope of the investigation? Who should you interview? What documents are you going to need? Preparing your investigative plan is a critical step in developing a legally sufficient investigation. Attorney Katherine Atkinson will explain the proper role of the investigator and how you can avoid the pitfalls of an insufficient investigation with the proper preparation and knowledge. Plus, she’ll answer important questions about representation: Does the witness have the right to a representative? Does the union have a right to attend the interview – even if the witness doesn’t want the union there? What rights does agency management have in the process?
Learning Objectives
Attendees will learn how to:
- Discern the difference between EEO and non-EEO harassment, and the impact that has on the investigations’ legal sufficiency.
- Identify witness rights and management rights.
- Recognize the three basic characteristics of evidence in a harassment investigation.
Wednesday, May 20, 2020
Session 3: Conducting the Investigation and Writing the Report
12:30 pm – 4:00 pm EDT (break from 2:00 – 2:30)
Presented by Meghan Droste, Attorney at Law, FELTG Instructor
Course description: Attorney Meghan Droste will share legal principles and proven guidance to navigate this most critical and challenging part of harassment investigations: conducting the interviews and gathering relevant evidence. Attendees will leave the session with techniques for questioning, tools for reading body language, suggestions on how to handle difficult personality types, and tips for writing the fact-finding report (FFR) and report of investigation (ROI). Ms. Droste will also share how technology is changing the investigation process, including a very timely discussion of conducting virtual interviews.
Learning Objectives
Attendees will learn how to:
- Identify the similarities and differences in conducting onsite and virtual interviews.
- Apply logic and judgment to evaluate conflicting statements.
- Write a fulsome report on the findings from the harassment investigation.
Price
- Early Bird Tuition (register by May 8): One Session = $240 | Two Sessions = $480 | Full Event = $645
- Standard Tuition (register May 9-May 20): One Session = $255 | Two Sessions = $510 | Full Event = $695
- Rates per registrant. No split registrations permitted.
- Want to register a group? Group discounts are available through May 8. Contact FELTG.
- 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.
- Can I earn CLE credits for this class?
- CLE applications are the responsibility of each attendee; FELTG does not apply for the credits on behalf of attendees. If you are seeking CLE credit, attendees may use the materials provided by FELTG in submission to your state bar. Attendees may also request a certificate of completion which will contain the number of training hours attended.
- Can I share my access link with co-workers?
- No. Registration for this event is per individual, and access links may not be shared. Each link may only be used by one person.
- Can I register a teleworker?
- This event is individual registration, so the cost is the same whether the person is teleworking or in an agency facility.
- How do I receive a group rate discount?
- Group rates are based on the number of sessions attended by employees in an organization. If an agency wishes to register participants for a total of 30 sessions, a group discount will apply if all registrations received and paid for together. For example, that could be 10 Full Event registrations; or 15 people attending two sessions each. Group discounts are only available through May 8.
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.
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.
Instructors
Course Description
If one of your employees had a behavioral health crisis in the workplace, would you know what to do? This isn’t a far-fetched scenario. One in six workers are experiencing mental health problems at any time, according to recent studies. Crisis management in the federal workplace is a critical area to understand – it is truly life and death. And with the current COVID-19 global pandemic, uncertainty about the world – combined with social isolation – has more people struggling than ever before.
This 90-minute webinar, led by Licensed Clinical Social Worker Shana Palmieri, will provide you with an understanding of mental and behavioral health conditions and the impact they have on the individual, as well as strategies to effectively provide supervision and management to ensure a productive workplace. Learn to walk that tenuous line between providing accommodations and support for a mental health condition and holding employees accountable for their work performance.
Attendees will leave this webinar with strategies to:
- Improve performance and success for employees with mental health conditions.
- Effectively accommodate employees with behavioral health conditions.
- Set appropriate boundaries and expectations in the workplace.
This class focuses on the practical and clinical side of managing employees with behavioral health conditions, rather than the legal side. You won’t want to miss it.
Price
- Early Bird Tuition (payment required by May 19, 2020):
- 1 line: $120
- 2-5 lines: $205
- 6-9 lines: $280
- 10-15 lines: $360
- 16-20 lines: $445
- Standard Tuition (payments made May 20, 2020 or later):
- 1 line: $135
- 2-5 lines: $235
- 6-9 lines: $3100
- 10-15 lines: $390
- 16-20 lines: $485
Additional teleworkers may be added for $40 each, if space is available.
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
Failure to interview any of the witnesses identified by the complainant? Yes, it’s happened. Failure to investigate the complainant’s overriding claim? Yes, that too has happened. The EEOC has seen its fair share of bad investigations in recent years. Join FELTG for this final installment of our Navigating Challenges in the EEO Process series. This 60-minute webinar will explain how to keep integrity in the EEO process and review the following topics: Characteristics of a legally sufficient investigation; investigatory standards – impartiality, appropriateness, evidence-based investigation; relevant documents and witnesses; reviewing the investigation.
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Price
- Early Bird Tuition (payment required by May 26, 2020):
- 1 line: $100
- 2-5 lines: $185
- 6-9 lines: $260
- 10-15 lines: $340
- 16-20 lines: $425
- Standard Tuition (payments made May 27, 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
Course Description
If there’s one issue that comes up in every training class regardless of the audience or topic, it’s Reasonable Accommodation in the federal workplace. Now’s your chance to attend a two-day event focused entirely on appropriately and legally handling reasonable accommodation requests, including the more complicated scenarios where there’s not an easy answer. FELTG’s Virtual Training Institute proudly presents Reasonable Accommodation Spotlight: Challenges and Trends in Federal Agencies.
Let FELTG’s experienced instructors guide you through the complexities in the reasonable accommodation process, and show you the best ways to avoid pitfalls, so that your agency provides appropriate, useful, and legally-defensible accommodations for individuals who are entitled to receive them. Covering everything from the foundations of the law to challenges such as providing accommodations to teleworkers, allowing emotional support animals in the workplace, accommodating stress, properly handling requests for medical documentation, and including the very latest EEOC guidance on COVID-19 and more, this is a class you can’t afford to miss. Plus, you’ll have multiple opportunities to ask your Reasonable Accommodation questions – and get answers in real time.
This program runs from 12:30 pm – 4:00 pm eastern each day, with a 30-minute break from 2:00 – 2:30 pm.
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Who Should Attend
Reasonable Accommodation Coordinators; EEO managers and directors; EEO specialists; EEO counselors and investigators; federal supervisors and managers who have employees with reasonable accommodation requests; attorneys; Labor and Employee Relations Specialists; union representatives.
Agenda
Tuesday, June 16 – Reasonable Accommodation: The Foundations and Challenges
12:30 – 4:00 pm eastern (break from 2:00 – 2:30), with Instructor Meghan Droste
Course topics: Overview of Reasonable Accommodation law and the Reasonable Accommodation process; the “regarded as” provision of the Americans with Disabilities Act; a closer look at complicated cases involving determining essential functions, the definition of qualified individual, agency obligations during the interactive process, and undue hardship claims.
Wednesday, June 17 – Reasonable Accommodation Trends
12:30 – 4:00 pm eastern (break from 2:00 – 2:30), with Instructor Katherine Atkinson
Course topics: Requests for telework, flexible work schedules, and leave as Reasonable Accommodation; accommodating the commute; accommodating stress; handling requests for a new supervisor as accommodation; accommodating service animals vs. emotional support animals in the workplace; medical documentation; medical exams and inquiries; updated COVID-19 guidance from EEOC.
Price
- Early Bird Tuition: $295 per session, $560 for both sessions (register by June 5).
- Standard Tuition: $330 per session, $595 for both sessions (register June 6-17).
- Rates per registrant. No split registrations.
Event FAQs
- Can I attend Virtual Training from my government computer?
- FELTG uses Webex to broadcast its Virtual Training Institute events. Many government computers and systems allow Webex access. If for some reason your firewall will not allow access, you’re welcome to use your personal email address to register, and to attend the sessions from your personal device.
- Can I 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.
- Can I earn CLE credits or EEO refresher training for this class?
- CLE applications are the responsibility of each attendee; FELTG does not apply for the credits on behalf of attendees. If you are seeking CLE credit, attendees may use the materials provided by FELTG in submission to your state bar. Attendees may also request a certificate of completion which will contain the number of training hours attended. Attendees may also request a certificate for EEO refresher hours upon completion of this program.
- How do I receive a group rate discount?
- Group rates are available for agencies registering 10 or more individuals for the full event. Group discounts are available through June 5.
Cancellation and No-show Policy for Registered Participants: Cancellations made after the cancel date on the registration form will not be refunded or given credit toward future courses. Pre-paid training using the “Pay Now” option will not be refunded or given credit toward future courses. No-shows will not be refunded or given credit toward future courses.
Download Individual Registration Form
Instructor
Course Description
FELTG’s flagship courses, such as UnCivil Servant, have empowered supervisors and their advisors to confidently handle the challenges that come with supervising federal employees.
But what if those employees are not in the physical workspace, and instead are working remotely, as most federal employees currently are (and most will likely be for the foreseeable future)? FELTG President and attorney at law Deborah Hopkins will address and provide guidance on handling employee conduct and performance issues during a pandemic.
Over the course of 75 minutes, Ms. Hopkins will address challenges such as remote employees, who:
- Refuse to report to duty after the agency re-opens.
- Misuse technology or violate time and attendance protocols.
- Fail to perform their critical element(s) at an acceptable level.
Many employees are thriving under remote work, but others continue to struggle with performance. It’s imperative to agency mission that you use the right tools to swiftly and effectively address poor performance and misconduct, regardless of where the employee is doing – or NOT doing – the actual work.
Learning Objectives
Attendees will learn how to:
- Take disciplinary action against a teleworking employee.
- Determine whether a non-performer should be put on a demonstration period during emergency telework.
- Manage a demonstration period remotely.
Price
- Early Bird Tuition (payment required by June 22, 2020):
- 1 line: $140
- 2-5 lines: $225
- 6-9 lines: $300
- 10-15 lines: $385
- 16-20 lines: $465
- Standard Tuition (payments made June 23, 2020 or later):
- 1 line: $165
- 2-5 lines: $260
- 6-9 lines: $340
- 10-15 lines: $420
- 16-20 lines: $495
Additional teleworkers may be added for $40 each, if space is available.
Instructor
Course Description
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FELTG kicks off its five-part webinar series Reasonable Accommodation in the Federal Workplace with an overview of the the current state of disability law and how the ADA, ADAAA, and Rehabilitation Act apply to federal employees with disabilities. Attendees will learn about:
- Making disability determinations
- What “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
- Early Bird Tuition: $240 per site, per session (payment made by July 20).
- Standard Tuition: $270 per site, per session (payment made July 21 or later).
Teleworkers may be added to a main site registration for $40 per teleworker, on a space-available basis.
Instructor
Course Description
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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
- Early Bird Tuition: $240 per site, per session (payment made by July 20).
- Standard Tuition: $270 per site, per session (payment made July 21 or later).
Teleworkers may be added to a main site registration for $40 per teleworker, on a space-available basis.
Instructor
Course Description
1
The law requires federal agencies to engage in the interactive process when assessing reasonable accommodations for employees who have disabilities. Telework is one of the 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 into question. What should you do in those situations?
Join FELTG President 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
- Who gets to choose the accommodation
- What the EEOC says about accommodating an employee’s commute
- When an agency can legally deny telework as an accommodation
Often times 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 requests as 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
- Early Bird Tuition: $240 per site, per session (payment made by July 20).
- Standard Tuition: $270 per site, per session (payment made July 21 or later).
Teleworkers may be added to a main site registration for $40 per teleworker, on a space-available basis.
Download Individual Registration Form
Course Description
The one-size-fits-all approach to managing others is ineffective, and that becomes particularly apparent when the majority of your staff is teleworking. Drawing upon the latest research and best practices in behavioral science, communication, team effectiveness, and generational studies, while making special consideration of the increased use of telework during the COVID-19 pandemic, FELTG Instructor Dr. Anthony Marchese will share his insight and practical strategies to ensure you are managing for success.
Sessions will be held from 12:30 pm – 4:00 pm eastern, with a break from 2:00-2:30 pm.
Instructor
Who Should Attend
Federal supervisors and managers; attorneys; Labor and Employee Relations Specialists; EEO specialists; union representatives.
Agenda
Wednesday, August 19 – Managing Effectively
12:30-4:00 pm eastern (break from 2:00-2:30)
Course description: Dr. Marchese will explain the difference between managing and leading, and help you to identify your strength and hone your supervisory skills. Using realistic agency scenarios, participants will learn how to understand and leverage individual differences to develop a meaningful management methodology that is targeted to the needs of their employees and those of the agency.
Learning Objectives
Attendees will learn how to:
- Identify strategies for managing difficult employees.
- Successfully manage a mobile workforce.
- Employ a specific set of skills to resolve workplace conflicts – including virtual conflicts.
Thursday, August 20 – Communicating Effectively
12:30-4:00 pm eastern (break from 2:00-2:30)
Course description: What is stopping you and your team from developing innovative solutions to your most challenging problems? Oftentimes, the problem lies in a unit’s lack of communication. In Day 2 of this interactive virtual training, Dr. Marchese will share several strategies for improving communication with your staff – and it starts with you providing ongoing feedback on employee performance.
Learning Objectives
Attendees will learn how to:
- (And how often to) communicate performance expectations.
- Recognize the differences between positive and negative framing.
- Hold difficult conversations with employees.
Price
- Early Bird Tuition: $275 per session, $525 for both sessions (register by August 10).
- Standard Tuition: $330 per session, $595 for both sessions (register August 11-20).
- Rates per registrant. No split registrations.
Event FAQs
- Can I attend Virtual Training from my government computer?
- FELTG uses Webex to broadcast its Virtual Training Institute events. Many government computers and systems allow Webex access. If for some reason your firewall will not allow access, you’re welcome to use your personal email address to register, and to attend the sessions from your personal device.
- Can I share my access link with co-workers?
- No. Registration for this event is per individual, and access links may not be shared. Each link may only be used by one person.
- Can I register a teleworker?
- This event is individual registration, so the cost is the same whether the person is teleworking or in an agency facility.
- How do I receive a group rate discount?
- Group rates are available for agencies registering 10 or more individuals for the full event. Group discounts are available through August 10.
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
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Are you likely to outright deny a reasonable accommodation request for leave or a flexible work schedule? Do you think undue hardship is a viable reason to deny most reasonable accommodations? Do you think it’s your responsibility as a supervisor or HR professional to determine if the individual is really disabled? Have you reached out to an employee’s doctor to find out more about his disability?
Oftentimes the best way to learn is by making mistakes. But not when it comes to reasonable accommodation law. Instead, learn from the blunders that other agencies have already made. Join Dwight Lewis, former Chief Administrative Judge of the EEOC – Dallas Region, for Part 4 of FELTG’s Reasonable Accommodation in the Federal Workplace webinar series.
Attendees will learn:
- What steps to take when an employee informs you of his or her disability
- What judges really think when an agency chooses an accommodation that is different than what the employee requested
- How to determine if telework would be an effective accommodation
- When leave would be considered an accommodation
- Why undue hardship is rarely a successful defense for denying an accommodation request
Believe us: You don’t want to make these costly and embarrassing gaffes. Find out from a respected EEOC Chief AJ, how to handle reasonable accommodation requests the right way.
Price
- Early Bird Tuition: $240 per site, per session (payment made by July 20).
- Standard Tuition: $270 per site, per session (payment made July 21 or later).
Teleworkers may be added to a main site registration for $40 per teleworker, on a space-available basis.
Download Individual Registration Form
This week of FELTG training 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 administrative investigations, including understanding what constitutes misconduct, the differences between EEO and non-EEO harassment, 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.
Special content will also discuss conducting investigations during a pandemic including tips for interviewing witnesses virtually, addressing safety concerns during in-person interviewing and evidence gathering, and more.
The program runs 12:30 – 4:00 eastern each day, with a 30-minute break from 2:00 – 2:30.
This program meets the requirements for training under the Department of Interior’s Anti-Harassment Policy.
Instructors
TBD
Daily Agenda
Monday, August 24
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, August 25
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, August 26
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, August 27
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, August 28
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 August 14):
- 5 days = $1425
- 4 days = $1150
- 3 days = $860
- 2 days = $580
- 1 day = $295
Standard Tuition (register August 15 – 28):
- 5 days = $1495
- 4 days = $1225
- 3 days = $925
- 2 days = $635
- 1 day = $345
Event FAQs
- Can I attend Virtual Training from my government computer?
- FELTG uses Webex for this Virtual Training Institute event. Many government computers and systems allow Webex access. If for some reason your firewall will not allow access, you’re welcome to use your personal email address to register, and to attend the sessions from your personal device.
- Can I earn CLE credits for this class?
- CLE applications are the responsibility of each attendee; FELTG does not apply for the credits on behalf of attendees. If you are seeking CLE credit, attendees may use the materials provided by FELTG in submission to your state bar. Attendees may also request a certificate of completion which will contain the number of training hours attended.
- Can I share my access link with co-workers?
- No. Registration for this event is per individual, and access links may not be shared. Each link may only be used by one person.
- Can I register a teleworker?
- This event is individual registration, so the cost is the same whether the person is teleworking or in an agency facility.
- How do I receive a group rate discount?
- Group rates are available for agencies registering 10 or more individuals for the full event. Group discounts are available through August 14.
Instructor
Course Description
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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? There are important distinctions between religious accommodations and those made for individuals with disabilities, and it’s important that you understand those differences. It’ll help you with accommodation requests involving religious clothing and headwear, grooming, proselytizing, religious displays, and work schedules.
Join FELTG for the final session in our five-part Reasonable Accommodation in the Federal Workplace webinar series. We will help you to meet these challenging requests in Understanding Religious Accommodations: How They’re Different from Disability Accommodations.
After a review of the relevant law and regulations law that pertain to religious accommodation, the instructor 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
- Early Bird Tuition: $240 per site, per session (payment made by July 20).
- Standard Tuition: $270 per site, per session (payment made July 21 or later).
Teleworkers may be added to a main site registration for $40 per teleworker, on a space-available basis.
Instructor
Course Description
During this 90-minute webinar, FELTG Senior Instructor Barbara Haga will share the details practitioners need to understand regarding implementation and use of paid time off for childbirth, adoption, and foster care under the provisions of the Federal Employee Paid Leave Act which become effective October 1, 2020. Ms. Haga will address important additional changes that OPM incorporated in basic Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) in the interim regulations.
The session will include information on eligibility, computing the number of hours an employee is eligible for, the length of time the employee has to use the leave, multiple uses of FMLA in the same twelve-month period, requirements for care of the son or daughter during the leave period, and much more. The session will include discussion of intermittent use of the paid leave as well as documentation of the need for leave, return to work agreements, and the enforcement and waiver requirements for those agreements.
Attendees will also be able to:
- Explain the details of when an employee is eligible to utilize the paid leave.
- Identify what type of documentation may be requested.
- Make decisions about options agencies have regarding return to work agreements and waivers.
You’ll want to attend this session so that you’ll be equipped with all the relevant information when the law becomes effective October 1. We hope you’ll join us.
Price
- Early Bird Tuition (payment required by August 27, 2020):
- 1 line: $170
- 2-5 lines: $255
- 6-9 lines: $330
- 10-15 lines: $415
- 16-20 lines: $495
- Standard Tuition (payments made August 28, 2020 or later):
- 1 line: $195
- 2-5 lines: $290
- 6-9 lines: $370
- 10-15 lines: $460
- 16-20 lines: $545
Additional teleworkers may be added for $40 each, if space is available.
Instructor
Series Description
Join FELTG Instructor Joe Schimansky for this two-part webinar series on the timely and challenging federal labor relation topics your agency is facing. A new era of federal LR was ushered in with President Trump’s three executive orders, which cleared court review in 2019. Mr. Schimansky will explain how the EOs and FLRA case law have changed negotiations over the past few months, and he’ll share new bargaining strategies that have emerged in the current climate.
But first, the webinar series will kick off with an explanation of the union’s right to be involved in discussions. You’ll learn when meetings become formal discussions or Weingarten meetings, and what to do when an employee requests union representation.
Sessions will be held on Thursdays from 1:00 – 2:00 p.m. ET.
- September 3, 2020 – Meeting Your Responsibility When Discussions Become Formal: Union rights and responsibilities; management obligations; what a union rep can and cannot do during a formal discussion; what constitutes a reasonable belief the discipline may occur; EEO-related meetings.
- September 17, 2020 – The Changing World of Federal Sector Negotiations: Bargaining obligations; status quo; permissive bargaining; conditions of employment vs. working conditions; the Trump Executive Orders; three categories of bargaining
Price
- Early Bird Tuition: $240 per site, per webinar (payment required by August 24)
- Standard Tuition: $270 per site, per webinar (payments made August 24-September 17)
- Register for both webinars by August 24 and pay only $470!
Teleworkers may be added to a main site registration for $40 per teleworker, on a space-available basis.
Download Individual Registration Form
Instructor
Course Description
Almost overnight, our federal workforce has been thrust into unprecedented circumstances disrupting the way that we think about work and how we lead employees. Supervisors are scrambling to figure out how to keep their teams engaged and intact, drive performance, and meet the needs of stakeholders.
Emerging research indicates that employee engagement and related performance are actually exceeding expectations during these difficult times! Virtual isn’t an inferior way to work. It’s just different. In fact, virtual training offers many advantages to the traditional approach that we are all used to. Rather than attempting to do “business as usual” but over a computer screen, consider the tremendous opportunity to thoughtfully build trust and community on your team through richer, more results-driven interactions, more dynamic and innovative team meetings, and increased accountability for performance.
With uncertainty about when things will return to “normal,” now is the time to develop your awareness and skills to drive your team toward success. During this interactive webinar, leadership and team effectiveness expert, Dr. Anthony J. Marchese will equip you with tools that you can implement immediately within your agency to drive performance in a way that is fresh, fun, and drives results. This 75-minute session will address:
- Leading Differently: Considering the Advantages of Virtual Teams
- Leading Engaging Team Meetings
- Leading Performance Conversations
- Leading Career Growth Conversations
- Leading the Agency through Collaboration
Price
- Early Bird Tuition (payment required by September 1, 2020):
- 1 line: $140
- 2-5 lines: $225
- 6-9 lines: $300
- 10-15 lines: $385
- 16-20 lines: $465
- Standard Tuition (payments made September 2, 2020 or later):
- 1 line: $165
- 2-5 lines: $260
- 6-9 lines: $340
- 10-15 lines: $420
- 16-20 lines: $495
Additional teleworkers may be added for $40 each, if space is available.
Instructor
Series Description
Join FELTG Instructor Joe Schimansky for this two-part webinar series on the timely and challenging federal labor relation topics your agency is facing. A new era of federal LR was ushered in with President Trump’s three executive orders, which cleared court review in 2019. Mr. Schimansky will explain how the EOs and FLRA case law have changed negotiations over the past few months, and he’ll share new bargaining strategies that have emerged in the current climate.
But first, the webinar series will kick off with an explanation of the union’s right to be involved in discussions. You’ll learn when meetings become formal discussions or Weingarten meetings, and what to do when an employee requests union representation.
Sessions will be held on Thursdays from 1:00 – 2:00 p.m. ET.
- September 3, 2020 – Meeting Your Responsibility When Discussions Become Formal: Union rights and responsibilities; management obligations; what a union rep can and cannot do during a formal discussion; what constitutes a reasonable belief the discipline may occur; EEO-related meetings.
- September 17, 2020 – The Changing World of Federal Sector Negotiations: Bargaining obligations; status quo; permissive bargaining; conditions of employment vs. working conditions; the Trump Executive Orders; three categories of bargaining
Price
- Early Bird Tuition: $240 per site, per webinar (payment required by August 24)
- Standard Tuition: $270 per site, per webinar (payments made August 24-September 17)
- Register for both webinars by August 24 and pay only $470!
Teleworkers may be added to a main site registration for $40 per teleworker, on a space-available basis.
Instructor
Course Description
The Bureau of Labor Statistics report on occupational fatalities, released in late 2019, revealed an alarming trend: Workplace suicides had risen by 11 percent since the previous year, and reached the highest number since the report began tracking these fatalities 26 years ago. This tragic phenomenon of workplace suicides is a growing concern and has been dubbed “the next frontier” in workplace safety.
Join Shana Palmieri, LCSW, for this 90-minute webinar as she discusses the practical and clinical aspects of behavioral health disorders that lead to suicide risk. She will also provide an overview of suicide and suicidal ideation in the United States and in the workplace, and share real answers on what you can do to help save an employee’s life. This is the second webinar in our three-part series on Handling Behavioral Health Issues in the Federal Workplace.
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, per session (payment made by May 12).
- Standard Tuition: $305 per site, per session (payment made May 13 or later).
Teleworkers may be added to a main site registration for $40 per teleworker, on a space-available basis.
Download Individual Registration Form
Event Description
Investigating harassment in your agency can be an intimidating assignment, one that is rife with innuendo, conflicting accounts, and raw emotions. Ensuring that your investigation is legally compliant and protects employees, while helping the agency minimize liability, is a taxing task. It’s even more challenging during the COVID-19 pandemic when most investigations must be done virtually.
Together, these three instructor-led live training sessions will provide a solid basis for a successful and effective approach to conducting legally-sufficient harassment investigations that stand up upon third-party review. Peruse MSPB and EEOC cases and you’ll find that poorly conducted investigations are far more common than they should be, and the cost of these investigations to agencies are bigger than you’d expect.
Understand the differences between EEO and non-EEO harassment. Learn the best techniques to conduct an investigation – whether onsite or virtually. Write a report that covers all the crucial information. And much more.
This open enrollment FELTG Virtual Training Institute program Conducting Effective Harassment Investigations offers opportunities to ask questions of FELTG’s experienced instructors, and get answers in real time. Plus, this program fulfills the requirements for 8-hour annual EEO investigator refresher training.
You can register for any of the sessions individually, or you can register for all three. This program runs from 12:30 – 4:00 eastern each day, with a 30-minute break from 2:00 – 2:30 eastern. Participants will receive program materials via email on Monday, October 5.
Download Individual Registration Form
Tuesday, October 6, 2020
Session 1: Investigating Harassment: Misconduct Principles
12:30 pm – 4:00 pm EDT (break from 2:00 – 2:30)
Presented by Deborah J. Hopkins, Attorney at Law, FELTG President
Course Description: An effective harassment investigation begins with a solid foundation of misconduct law in the federal workplace. Attorney and FELTG President Deborah J. Hopkins will explain the principles that underpin a successful investigation of federal employee misconduct, whether it’s on-duty or off-duty. Attendees will learn the five elements of discipline and understand how they relate to the misconduct investigation process. Plus, they’ll learn about evidence standards and burdens of proof in misconduct cases, how Douglas factors play in to an investigation, the importance of nexus, what to do when a witness won’t cooperate, and much more.
Learning Objectives
Attendees will learn how to:
- Identify the relationship between the foundations of federal accountability and misconduct investigations.
- Identify and collect relevant penalty evidence during the investigation.
- Recognize the mistakes that derail effective misconduct and harassment investigations.
Wednesday, October 7, 2020
Session 2: Understanding Harassment and Planning the Investigation
12:30 pm – 4:00 pm EDT (break from 2:00 – 2:30)
Presented by Katherine Atkinson, Attorney at Law, FELTG Instructor
Course description: What is the scope of the investigation? Who should you interview? What documents are you going to need? Preparing your investigative plan is a critical step in developing a legally sufficient investigation. Attorney Katherine Atkinson will explain the proper role of the investigator and how you can avoid the pitfalls of an insufficient investigation with the proper preparation and knowledge. Plus, she’ll answer important questions about representation: Does the witness have the right to a representative? Does the union have a right to attend the interview – even if the witness doesn’t want the union there? What rights does agency management have in the process?
Learning Objectives
Attendees will learn how to:
- Discern the difference between EEO and non-EEO harassment, and the impact that has on the investigations’ legal sufficiency.
- Identify witness rights and management rights.
- Recognize the three basic characteristics of evidence in a harassment investigation.
Thursday, October 8, 2020
Session 3: Conducting the Investigation and Writing the Report
12:30 pm – 4:00 pm EDT (break from 2:00 – 2:30)
Presented by Meghan Droste, Attorney at Law, FELTG Instructor
Course description: Attorney Meghan Droste will share legal principles and proven guidance to navigate this most critical and challenging part of harassment investigations: conducting the interviews and gathering relevant evidence. Attendees will leave the session with techniques for questioning, tools for reading body language, suggestions on how to handle difficult personality types, and tips for writing the fact-finding report (FFR) and report of investigation (ROI). Ms. Droste will also share how technology is changing the investigation process, including a very timely discussion of conducting virtual interviews.
Learning Objectives
Attendees will learn how to:
- Identify the similarities and differences in conducting onsite and virtual interviews.
- Apply logic and judgment to evaluate conflicting statements.
- Write a fulsome report on the findings from the harassment investigation.
Price
- Early Bird Tuition (register by September 25): One Session = $325 | Two Sessions = $600 | Full Event = $850
- Standard Tuition (register September 26 – October 8): One Session = $375 | Two Sessions = $650 | Full Event = $900
- Rates per registrant. No split registrations permitted.
- Want to register a group? Group discounts are available through September 25. Contact FELTG.
- REGISTER NOW.
Event FAQs
- Can I attend Virtual Training from my government computer?
- FELTG uses Webex to broadcast this Virtual Training Institute event. Many government computers and systems allow Webex access. If for some reason your firewall will not allow access, you’re welcome to use your personal email address to register, and to attend the sessions from your personal device.
- Can I earn CLE credits for this class?
- CLE applications are the responsibility of each attendee; FELTG does not apply for the credits on behalf of attendees. If you are seeking CLE credit, attendees may use the materials provided by FELTG in submission to your state bar. Attendees may also request a certificate of completion which will contain the number of training hours attended.
- Can I share my access link with co-workers?
- No. Registration for this event is per individual, and access links may not be shared. Each link may only be used by one person.
- Can I register a teleworker?
- This event is individual registration, so the cost is the same whether the person is teleworking or in an agency facility.
- How do I receive a group rate discount?
- Group rates are available for agencies registering 10 or more attendees for the full event. Group discounts are only available through September 25.
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.