Instructors
Course Description
You don’t have to necessarily be ready to return all employees to the office. But you better have a plan. And it better be in writing. The Biden administration is giving you until July 19 to submit that finalized plan with reentry and post-reentry policies and procedures.
A successful return to the physical workplace plan is going to require more than the safety measures, as there are numerous HR-, EEO-, and legal-related challenges that will need to be addressed in your plan.
Time is winding down. Let FELTG help.
On June 30, FELTG President Deborah Hopkins and instructor Ann Boehm share all of the details you need to consider to successfully return your employees to the physical workspace. While safety is key, your initiatives must “satisfy applicable collective-bargaining obligations and provide ample notice to any employees who will be returning to the physical workplace, who will have altered work schedules, or who will otherwise have altered work circumstances, consistent with the agency’s intended post-reentry work environment.”
Ms. Hopkins and Ms. Boehm will address the challenges you’re likely to face so that they can be adequately addressed in your return-to-work plan. How will you handle leave for those employees who are unable to physically return? What EEO implications must be considered? Can you require that employees be vaccinated? What flexibilities can you offer for those whose child or elder care responsibilities make it difficult to return? How do you charge someone who refuses to report?
This 75-minute webinar will not only provide the answers to these questions, but will give ample time for you to ask our presenters about your own specific challenges.
Price
- Early Bird Tuition: $295 per site, per session (payment made by June 18).
- Standard Tuition: $335 per site, per session (payment made June 19-30).
Teleworkers may be added to a main site registration for $50 per teleworker, on a space-available basis.
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
In this 60-minute webinar, FELTG instructor Ann Boehm will identify and discuss when the law requires you to provide the union an opportunity to be involved in discussions, focusing on the requirements for a meeting to be considered a formal discussion, the union’s rights and responsibilities when it comes to meetings, what to do when an employee requests union representation for a meeting, and more.
Attendees will learn how to:
- Determine whether a right to representation is the union’s right or the employee’s
- Ensure managers know what are legitimate representational rights for bargaining unit members.
Price
- Early Bird Tuition (payment required by June 21): $240
- Standard Tuition (payment made by June 22 or later): $270
Teleworkers may be added to a main site registration for $50 per teleworker, on a space-available basis.
Cancellation and No-show Policy for Registered Participants: Cancellations made after the cancel date on the registration form will not be refunded or given credit toward future courses. Pre-paid training using the “Pay Now” option will not be refunded or given credit toward future courses. No-shows will not be refunded or given credit toward future courses.
Instructor
Course Description
1
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. Before you can appropriately manage the complex reasonable accommodation requests you’re likely to receive in the next few months, you need a thorough understanding of the basics. 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.
This program meets the President’s mandate to provide training on diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility in the Federal workplace.
Price
- Early Bird Tuition: $240 per site, per session (payment made by July 2).
- Standard Tuition: $270 per site, per session (payment made July 3 or later).
Teleworkers may be added to a main site registration for $50 per teleworker, on a space-available basis.
Cancellation and No-show Policy for Registered Participants: Cancellations made after the cancel date on the registration form will not be refunded or given credit toward future courses. Pre-paid training using the “Pay Now” option will not be refunded or given credit toward future courses. No-shows will not be refunded or given credit toward future courses.
Instructor
Course Description
1
Numerous disabilities, such as chronic pain and diabetes, are not always visible or obvious in the workplace. As the federal workforce ages, the number of employees with hidden disabilities continues to grow. And as a result of the pandemic, you’re likely to see more requests for respiratory illnesses and COVID-related conditions, such as chronic fatigue.
Providing reasonable accommodation for so-called invisible disabilities is going to be a major challenge for HR professionals, supervisors, and the people who advise them.
In the second webinar of our Reasonable Accommodation in the Federal Workplace series 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.
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.
This program meets the President’s mandate to provide training on diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility in the Federal workplace.
Price
- Early Bird Tuition: $240 per site, per session (payment made by July 2).
- Standard Tuition: $270 per site, per session (payment made July 3 or later).
Teleworkers may be added to a main site registration for $50 per teleworker, on a space-available basis.
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
Course Description
Welcome to the post-pandemic workplace. We’ve focused our weeklong Managing Federal Employee Accountability program and made it even more timely and useful, specific to challenges your agencies are facing in 2021. If you’re a federal supervisor, an adviser in L/ER or legal, or a union representative, you can’t afford to miss this program.
This week of half-day programs covers a range of topics including:
- Employee accountability for conduct and performance
- Managing leave abuse
- Handling EEO challenges related to COVID-19
- Complaints of discrimination based on race, color, or national origin
- Handling Telework requests as employees return to the office
On the fifth and final day of training, attendees will apply all they’ve learned from the previous four days to handle these challenges in remote work environments.
This open enrollment FELTG Virtual Training Institute program offers opportunities to ask questions of FELTG’s experienced instructors, and get answers in real time. Registrants can attend the full week, or select which days they’d like to attend.
This program runs from 12:30 – 4:00 PM ET each day, with a 30-minute break from 2:00 – 2:30 PM ET.
Download Individual Registration Form
Instructors
Deborah Hopkins, Barbara Haga, Katherine Atkinson, Ann Boehm
Daily Agenda:
Monday, July 26
Understanding Misconduct: Disciplinary Charges and Penalties:
- Legal foundations of disciplinary actions
- The five elements of discipline
- Drafting defensible charges and penalties under a new MSPB
Tuesday, July 27
Maximizing Accountability in Performance:
- The legislative and regulatory background
- Environment, system requirements, elements and standards
- Understanding the difference between conduct and performance feedback
- Writing effective performance plans, MSPB case law on performance plans
- Within-grade increases
- Performance demonstration periods, taking action on unacceptable performance
Wednesday, July 28
Handling Employee Leave Issues:
- General principles regarding leave
- Approval/disapproval of annual leave
- New provisions for Emergency Paid Sick Leave for COVID-19 in 2021
- Accrual of sick leave, eligibility to use sick leave, uses of leave for family care, notification requirements
- Sick leave documentation requirements, discretion in approving sick leave and sick leave abuse, employee eligibility to use FMLA
- Requesting FMLA leave, medical certification requirements, substitution of paid leave, Paid Parental Leave
- Other leave types – LWOP, Disabled Veteran Leave, Leave Transfer, and AWOL.
Thursday, July 29
EEO and COVID-19 in the Federal Workplace:
- Determining whether an employee with COVID-19 or pre-existing respiratory sensitivities should receive a reasonable accommodation
- Taking action against pandemic-related harassment and discrimination
- Discrimination based on race, color, or national origin
Friday, July 30
The 2021 Telework Challenge:
- Holding teleworkers and other remote workers accountable for performance and conduct
- Special telework performance and conduct challenges
- OPM’s telework flexibilities; telework as reasonable accommodation
- Agency options when employees refuse to report to the physical workplace
Price
Most people attend the full training week, but you may opt out of any days you don’t plan to attend.
Early Bird Tuition (register by July 9):
- 1 day = $345
- 2 days = $630
- 3 days = $910
- 4 days = $1195
- 5 days = $1475
Standard Tuition (register July 10-30):
- 1 day = $395
- 2 days = $685
- 3 days = $975
- 4 days = $1285
- 5 days = $1550
Event FAQs
- Can I attend Virtual Training from my government computer?
- FELTG uses Webex for 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?
- 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 July 9.
- Can I earn CLE credits or EEO refresher training 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. Attendees may also request a certificate for EEO refresher hours upon completion of this program.
Cancellation and No-show Policy for Registered Participants: Cancellations made after the cancel date on the registration form will not be refunded or given credit toward future courses. Pre-paid training using the “Pay Now” option will not be refunded or given credit toward future courses. No-shows will not be refunded or given credit toward future courses.
Instructor
Course Description
1
Telework is one of the the most commonly requested accommodations for individuals who have physical and mental disabilities. And after a year of pandemic-induced work challenges, it’s more clear than ever: Telework can be a very effective accommodation, too. In light of that, you can expect even more reasonable accommodation requests for telework than ever before. Are you ready to do the appropriate interactive discussion and analysis?
Join FELTG President and Attorney at Law Deborah Hopkins for a discussion on this timely topic during the third event in our Reasonable Accommodation in the Federal Workplace webinar series. Ms Hopkins 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.
This program meets the President’s mandate to provide training on diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility in the Federal workplace.
Price
- Early Bird Tuition: $240.00 per site, per session (payment made by July 2).
- Standard Tuition: $270.00 per site, per session (payment made July 3 or later).
Teleworkers may be added to a main site registration for $50 per teleworker, on a space-available basis.
Cancellation and No-show Policy for Registered Participants: Cancellations made after the cancel date on the registration form will not be refunded or given credit toward future courses. Pre-paid training using the “Pay Now” option will not be refunded or given credit toward future courses. No-shows will not be refunded or given credit toward future courses.
Instructor
Course Description
1
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 the supervisor’s responsibility to determine if the individual is really disabled? Have you reached out to an employee’s doctor to find out more about his disability? If so, we have one word for you: Uh-oh.
Oftentimes the best way to learn is by making mistakes. But not when it comes to reasonable accommodation law. Instead, learn from the costly and embarrassing blunders that other agencies have already made. Attorney Robert Woods will review recent EEO cases to share these mistakes so you know how to avoid them.
During this session, the fourth in our 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
- 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
Learn how to handle reasonable accommodation requests with confidence.
This program meets the President’s mandate to provide training on diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility in the Federal workplace.
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 $50 per teleworker, on a space-available basis.
Cancellation and No-show Policy for Registered Participants: Cancellations made after the cancel date on the registration form will not be refunded or given credit toward future courses. Pre-paid training using the “Pay Now” option will not be refunded or given credit toward future courses. No-shows will not be refunded or given credit toward future courses.
Instructor
Course Description
1
A request for religious accommodation requires a much different response than a request for reasonable accommodation of a disability. Failure to understand the important distinctions between religious accommodations and those made for individuals with disabilities could lead to costly mistakes and embarrassing gaffes.
Join attorney Katherine Atkinson for the final session in our five-part Reasonable Accommodation in the Federal Workplace webinar series, and leave with specific guidance to help you with accommodation requests involving religious clothing and headwear, grooming, proselytizing, religious displays, and work schedules.
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.
This program meets the President’s mandate to provide training on diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility in the Federal workplace.
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 $50 per teleworker, on a space-available basis.
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
Course Description
As Federal EEO practitioners know, FAD is short for Final Agency Decision. But the word “Final” is often misleading. A FAD is appealable, by the complainant, to the EEOC. And many employees will take advantage of that opportunity to appeal the agency’s decision.
EEOC decisions are littered with reversals of agency’s FADs finding no discrimination. An employee has that right to appeal and you cannot interfere with that. However, you can ensure that your FADs are written in a way that withstands scrutiny by the EEOC, and it starts with knowing and understanding discrimination law, as applied to the Federal workplace.
Over two half-days, Attorney Katherine Atkinson will present you with everything you need to know to write an effective FAD, including identifying and avoiding the pitfalls that often lead to the EEOC reversals.
This program runs from 12:30 – 4:00 eastern each day, with a 30-minute break from 2:00 – 2:30 eastern.
This program meets the President’s mandate to provide training on diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility in the Federal workplace.
Instructor
Agenda
Monday, August 23
Applying Theories of Discrimination: EEO Law Overview; Intentional Discrimination; Disparate Impact; Hostile Work Environment; Reasonable Accommodation; Retaliation; overlapping forms of discrimination.
Tuesday, August 24
Writing the Report: Timeliness Issues; Effective Legal Writing: structure and language; FAD Legal Sufficiency; deconstruction exercise.
Price
- Early Bird Tuition: $370 per session, $700 for both sessions (register by August 6).
- Standard Tuition: $400 per session, $750 for both sessions (register August 7-24).
- Rates per registrant. No split registrations permitted.
- Want to register a group? Contact FELTG.
Event FAQs
- Can I attend Virtual Training from my government computer?
- FELTG will use Zoom for this Virtual Training Institute event. Many government computers and systems allow Zoom access. If for some reason your firewall will not allow access, you’re welcome to use your personal email address to register, and to attend the sessions from your personal device.
- What if I want to attend a session but have a schedule conflict?
- FELTG plans to offer this live event periodically, so check our calendar for upcoming dates.
- 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 August 6.
- 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.
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.
There is one action you can take that, when done effectively, could have a major impact on your team’s morale and productivity. This action is something that you should be doing on a regular basis, yet it’s often overlooked amid your busy schedule. What’s this transformative action? It’s giving your employees honest, and ongoing, feedback.
During this half-day interactive virtual training experience, FELTG Instructor Anthony Marchese, Ph.D., will equip participants with the necessary tools to nurture a culture of candor that will lead to healthy and actionable feedback. You’ll learn best practices for motivating and recognizing employees, and neuroscience-based strategies for maximizing performance even when leading employees in a virtual environment. Dr. Marchese will also expose feedback myths and share the ineffective practices that you need to avoid.
Don’t let anxiety, frustration, or confusion prevent you from having honest performance-related discussions with your employees. Providing feedback effectively is a skill that can — and should — be developed. Fix performance problems before they begin. Make your agency a more efficient place to work.
This interactive session will include breakout groups, giving participants a chance to interact with each other.
Learning Objectives
Attendees will learn how to:
- Communicate performance expectations.
- Supervise effectively in a virtual environment.
- Differentiate between positive and negative framing.
- Identify behavioral styles, including your own, to provide feedback that is better understood and more useful.
Also, you will have numerous opportunities to ask questions about the unique problems you’re facing during these unprecedented times. This program runs from 12:30 – 4:00 eastern, with a 30-minute break from 2:00 – 2:30 eastern.
Download Individual Registration Form
Instructor
Price
- Early Bird Tuition (register by August 17): $340
- Standard Tuition (register August 18-31): $380
- Rates per registrant.
- Want to register a group? Group discounts for 10 or more attendees are available through August 31. Contact FELTG.
Event FAQs
- Can I attend Virtual Training from my government computer?
- FELTG uses Zoom for this 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. You may also attend the training event as an audio training, by dialing in over the phone and following along with the materials independently.
- Can I earn CLE credits for this class?
- CLE applications are the responsibility of each attendee; FELTG does not apply for the credits on behalf of attendees. If you are seeking CLE credit, attendees may use the materials provided by FELTG in submission to your state bar. Attendees may also request a certificate of completion which will contain the number of training hours attended.
- Can I share my access link with co-workers?
- No. Registration for this event is per individual, and access links may not be shared. Each link may only be used by one person.
- Can I register a teleworker?
- This event is individual registration, so the cost is the same whether the person is teleworking or in an agency facility.
- How do I receive a group rate discount?
- Group rates are available for agencies registering 10 or more individuals. Group discounts are available through August 17.
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
Program Description
There have been at least six cases, so far, remanded to the FLRA by the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals during the Trump era, although more may be in the works. What are these cases? How should this change your approach to working with the bargaining unit? And what can we expect in the near future from the FLRA?
- How, on remand, the FLRA handled the Court’s rejection of its distinction between conditions of employment and working conditions
- Why the Court could overturn an FLRA decision involving an arbitration award when such cases are generally unreviewable
- The current status of the negotiability of union proposals concerning the number of days per week employees can telework
Price
- Early Bird Tuition: $285 per site, per webinar (payment required by September 3)
- Standard Tuition: $315 per site, per webinar (payments made September 4 or later)
Teleworkers may be added to a main site registration for $50 per teleworker, on a space-available basis.
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
If you’re looking for training that covers the gamut of EEO issues, and provides usable guidance for all practitioners, regardless of experience level, this is it: FELTG’s EEOC Law Week. FELTG’s expert speakers, drawing on years of experience from all sides of the litigation table, deliver a fast-paced week of strategies, principles, and authorities relative to the major aspects of the field of discrimination law in the federal government. This course is updated for 2021 to include the latest on the intersection of EEO COVID-19, harassment, the virtual workplace, and more.
The program runs 9:00 – 4:00 each day.
6 per day.
Instructors
Katherine Atkinson, Ann Boehm, Robert Woods
Daily Agenda
Monday
Basic EEOC, Nuts & Bolts: The Basics – Statutory authority and jurisdiction of EEOC, an overview of the theories of discrimination, overview of EEO process, amended and consolidated complaints; timeliness issues in the wake of the Supreme Court decisions in Morgan and Ledbetter.
Tuesday
Accommodating Individuals with Disabilities: The Rehabilitation Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act, defining individuals with a disability, major life activities and substantial limitation; essential job functions, the interactive process, types of reasonable accommodation; the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (GINA) regulations.
Wednesday
Contractor Complaints; Intentional Discrimination and Reprisal Cases: Contractor complaints; intentional discrimination analysis and cases; selection & promotion cases; a focus on national origin and religious discrimination cases; reprisal analysis and cases.
Thursday
Current Trends in EEO Law: a Focus on Harassment: The latest on what’s happening in EEO, hostile environment harassment, gender stereotyping, same-sex harassment sexual orientation and transgender discrimination, non-EEO harassment; settlement.
Friday
Mixed Cases; Damages & Remedies: Mixed cases; overview of Equitable Remedies: back pay, front pay, reinstatement; non-pecuniary and pecuniary damages, past and future damages, damages offsets, the duty to mitigate damages, collateral sources and pre-existing conditions, multiple causations of harm, the eggshell complainant.
Pricing
Most people attend the full training week, but you may opt out of any days you don’t plan to attend.
Early Bird Tuition (register by September 3):
- 5 days = $2375
- 4 days = $1995
- 3 days = $1575
- 2 days = $1100
- 1 day = $575
Standard Tuition (register September 4-24):
- 5 days = $2475
- 4 days = $2095
- 3 days = $1675
- 2 days = $1200
- 1 day = $675
Seminar registration includes a printed copy of the materials. In order to receive materials by the training date, please register by September 4 and provide a shipping address. Registrations received after September 4 will also receive printed materials, but materials are not guaranteed to arrive by the training date.
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 or HRCI credits for this class?
- This program has been submitted for CLE credits in Virginia and we anticipate 27 hours of CLEs will be awarded. 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. This program is also pre-approved for 26.5 HRCI general recertification hours.
- Can I share my access link with co-workers?
- No. Registration for this event is per individual, and access links may not be shared. Each link may only be used by one person. No split registrations.
- Can I register a teleworker?
- This event is individual registration, so the cost is the same whether the person is teleworking or in an agency facility.
- How do I receive a group rate discount?
- Group rates are available for agencies registering 10 or more individuals for the full event. Group discounts are available through September 3.
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
Course Description
We’re back! Once again, FELTG’s experienced and widely respected instructors come together for the Federal Workplace 2021: Accountability, Challenges, and Trends virtual training event. In this event we focus on making sure you’re prepared to effectively manage the Federal employment challenges that are new, complicated, and critical to your and your agency’s success. Let FELTG lead you into the new fiscal year the right way.
The last year was, to continue the overuse of the word, unprecedented. A pandemic. Remote work. Political chaos. Targeted harassment. A new administration. During the course of this weeklong training, FELTG instructors will share the best practices and lessons learned over the previous fiscal year, and provide the guidance and expertise you’ll need to thrive in the upcoming year.
We know you have plenty of training options – both onsite and virtual – to choose from this time of year. This program has several advantages. Although not a conference, it provides an opportunity for conference-like training for those who can’t get travel approval, or for those not quite ready to squish into packed rooms. And unlike other virtual events where you have to register for the full agenda, this training event allows attendees to register for only the sessions they prefer to attend. In addition, FELTG is an SBA-certified Woman Owned Small Business, allowing your agency to help achieve its small business set aside fiscal targets. And if all that wasn’t enough, Federal Workplace 2021: Accountability, Challenges, and Trends is completely live, and attendees have the opportunities to ask questions and engage in polls and other activities. Beware of “virtual” conferences that aren’t live.
No matter your job title, this event has something for you. Attendees will receive clear strategies and straight-forward guidance on holding employees accountable on emerging performance and conduct issues, deftly handling the most complex challenges, and identifying and handling those pesky issues that are new — or will be soon enough.
Who Should Attend
Attorneys; Labor and Employee Relations Specialists; EEO managers and directors; EEO specialists; Reasonable Accommodation Coordinators; Federal supervisors and managers; emerging leaders; security officers; union representatives.
Download Individual Registration Form
Monday, September 27, 2021
Pre-session
1 – 4:30 pm EDT
EEO Challenges, COVID-19, and a Return to Workplace Normalcy
Presented by Katherine Atkinson, Attorney at Law, FELTG Instructor
(Earn 3 EEO counselor & investigator refresher hours and/or 3 CLE credits)
President Biden’s Executive Order requires all Federal employees to be vaccinated with no option for regular coronavirus testing to opt out of the mandate. What does this mean for employees who refuse to get vaccinated? Are there any religious exemptions that would allow employees to continue to work without vaccination? What about employees who cannot get vaccinated due to a disability – can agencies accommodate them?
Beyond the vaccination mandate, Ms. Atkinson will also help you answer the following questions and more
- If a supervisor treats an employee like she has COVID-19, could that employee have a “regarded as” claim under the ADA/Rehabilitation Act?
- How would you handle an employee’s claim that he’s being harassed because he is at high risk for COVID-19, or has recovered from the virus?
- Does asking the pre-vaccination screening questions create a violation of Title II of the Genetic Information and Nondiscrimination Act?
Plus, you’ll have plenty of opportunities to ask questions about the unique problems you’re facing during these unprecedented times.
Learning takeaways
Attendees will learn how to determine:
- Whether an employee with COVID-19 or pre-existing respiratory sensitivities should receive a reasonable accommodation.
- How pregnant women fit into the framework of EEO and COVID-19.
Tuesday, September 28, 2021
Spotlight on Accountability
Session 1
9:30 – 10:45 am EDT
You Want Accountability? Avoid These Too-Common Mistakes
Presented by Deborah J. Hopkins, Attorney at Law, FELTG President
(Earn 1.25 CLE credits)
Almost 60 percent of Federal employees think their supervisors do not do enough to hold unacceptable performers accountable. Meanwhile, myths about the inability to discipline employees for misconduct continue to fester. There is one action you can take to boost your agency’s FEVS scores, increase morale, and improve productivity, and it’s this: Do a better job holding employees accountable for performance and conduct. The best way to start is by eliminating the most common mistakes that derail your efforts. FELTG President Deborah Hopkins will identify these habitual errors, such as using too many suspensions, delaying discipline in favor of unhelpful letters of caution, committing due process violations, and more.
Learning takeaways
Attendees will learn how to:
- Avoid due process mistakes in appealable actions.
- Properly document an employee’s poor performance before a PIP.
- Draft effective charges that hold up to third-party scrutiny.
Session 2
11:15 am – 12:30 pm EDT
Got Nexus? Accountability for Off-duty Conduct
Presented by Bob Woods, Attorney at Law, FELTG Instructor
(Earn 1.25 CLE credits)
The borderline between on-duty and off-duty has become blurred as of late, with a majority of employees working from home and the omnipresence of social media. Yet, one thing has remained clear and constant: If you’re going to discipline someone for what they do on their own time, you need to show a nexus between the employee’s actions and their Federal job. FELTG Instructor Robert Woods will help you untangle your most challenging off-duty misconduct scenarios and illustrate the situations where the conduct is so egregious as to create a rebuttable presumption of nexus.
Learning takeaways
Attendees will learn how to:
- Demonstrate nexus between the off-duty conduct and the efficiency of the service.
- Understand how Douglas Factor Eight: Notoriety and Agency Reputation can create nexus.
- Select an effective and defensible penalty for off-duty conduct.
Session 3
1:30 – 2:45 pm EDT
Medical Certification Requirements for Sick Leave and FMLA
Presented by Barbara Haga, President/Federal HR Services, FELTG Senior Instructor
(Earn 1.25 CLE credits)
Challenging situations involving sick leave and FMLA are, unfortunately, neither rare nor easy to solve. For example: An employee brings in a medical statement in support of her FMLA request. The statement only says that the employee is “unable to work.” Here’s another one: An employee refuses to bring medical documentation to support three weeks of absence to care for a family member who has a serious health condition. Or what about the employee who claims, for the first time during an MSPB appeal, that she was not AWOL and should have been entitled to sick leave. FELTG Senior Instructor Barbara Haga will provide the solutions to these scenarios, explain how MSPB decisions inform discussions about requirements for medical certification, share OPM’s requirements for revoking retroactive FMLA, and more.
Learning takeaways
Attendees will learn how to:
- Recognize the different medical certification requirements for sick leave and for FMLA.
- Implement clear policies on deadlines for submitting medical certification.
- Explain the requirement for granting provisional leave under the FMLA.
Session 4
3:15 – 4:30 pm EDT
Tools for Accountability: Position Descriptions, Performance Standards, and Medical Requirements
Presented by Barbara Haga, President/Federal HR Services, FELTG Senior Instructor
(Earn 1.25 CLE credits)
There is a lot of confusion about where the authority comes from to hold employees accountable for many things related to their positions, whether it’s medical requirements to hold licenses and certifications, work rules for proper use of credit cards and completing mandatory training, or successful performance of the key functions of their jobs. FELTG Senior Instructor Barbara Haga will explain how to maximize the effectiveness of the various tools management can employ to establish requirements and then deal with situations when employees fail to meet those requirements.
Learning takeaways
Attendees will learn how to:
- Ensure effective use of well-crafted position descriptions.
- Implement conduct standards that cover the full gamut of expectations that employees must meet.
- Develop effective and workable performance plans to accurately capture how well employees perform.
Wednesday, September 29, 2021
Spotlight on Challenges
Session 5
9:30 – 10:45 am EDT
Re-boarding: Strategies to Support a Successful Return to the Office
Presented by Anthony Marchese, PhD, Author/Coach/Consultant, FELTG Instructor
Most Federal employees are still working remotely, though many of them may soon make a return to the physical workplace. The remote work experience of the last 18 months has provided us with many lessons learned, research findings, and best practices to help supervisors seize the opportunity to nurture a workforce that is stronger and more resilient than ever before. During this session, FELTG Instructor Anthony Marchese, PhD, will share practical strategies for supervisors and advisers to help your employees return to the office smarter, stronger, and more satisfied with work.
Learning takeaways
Attendees will learn how to:
- Reset expectations and accountability in the post-pandemic workplace.
- Improve communication and collaboration among hybrid teams.
- Create a culture of candor and connection.
Session 6
11:15 am – 12:30 pm EDT
Resolving Conflicts Before They Lead to Litigation
Presented by Marcus Hill, Principal/Hill Management Consultancy (HMC) LLC, FELTG Instructor
As a Federal supervisor, it’s not a matter of if you will ever experience conflict within the workplace, but when. While workforce diversity is without a doubt an organizational strength, it can also make resolving conflict more difficult due to varying perspectives, orientations, and backgrounds. Conflict that is properly managed can be very beneficial to organizational performance and mission effectiveness. Marcus L. Hill, a recently retired Federal senior executive, will discuss common causes that create workplace conflicts, as well as strategies and practices supervisors can employ to resolve conflict before it leads to workplace chaos, organizational ineffectiveness, and costly litigation.
Learning takeaways
Attendees will learn how to:
- Identify the common types of conflicts that exists within organizations.
- Identify conflict management styles, strategies and tools, and when to apply them.
- Create an organizational culture that builds staff trust through inclusivity, promotes workplace harmony, and inspires innovative problem-solving to resolve conflict.
Session 7
1:30 – 2:45 pm EDT
Identifying and Eliminating Microaggressions in the Workplace
Presented by Deborah J. Hopkins, Attorney at Law, FELTG President
(Earn 1.25 EEO counselor & investigator refresher hours and 1.25 CLE credits)
FELTG Instructor Deborah J. Hopkins, attorney at law, will explain what microaggressions look like in their various forms — including microinsults, microassaults, and microinvalidations. If those words are all new to you, you’re not alone – but it’s time to get up to speed. Ms. Droste will share an implicit bias test, explain its impact, and provide examples where bias can lead to EEO and non-EEO discrimination and harassment.
Learning takeaways
Attendees will learn how to:
- Determine when bias or microaggression leads to the level of discrimination.
- Identify acts of microaggression and acts influenced by implicit bias.
- Respond appropriately and effectively when you see a microaggression in the workplace.
Session 8
3:15 – 4:30 pm EDT
The Reasonable Accommodation Mistakes Agencies Make
Presented by Bob Woods, Attorney at Law, FELTG Instructor
(Earn 1.25 EEO counselor & investigator refresher hours and 1.25 CLE credits)
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 to prepare your agency to do things the right way. Bob Woods will share those mistakes, covering everything from the interactive process to telework to undue hardship, to raise awareness of how to avoid them.
Learning takeaways
Attendees will learn how to:
- Determine when to offer an accommodation different from the one requested.
- Recognize when leave would be considered an appropriate accommodation.
- Identify the agency defenses that have been successful when denying a reasonable accommodation request.
Thursday, September 30, 2021
Spotlight on Trends
Session 9
9:30 – 10:45 am EDT
The Changing Nature of Hostile Work Environment Claims
Presented by Katherine Atkinson, Attorney at Law, FELTG Instructor
(Earn 1.25 EEO counselor & investigator refresher hours and 1.25 CLE credits)
Unfortunately, the Federal workplace is not immune to reprehensible harassing behavior. As the pandemic raged and employees remained home, many thought that hostile work environment incidents would wane, yet the targets of hostile work environment merely expanded and changed. More harassment was aimed at Asian American and Pacific Islanders and LGBTQ employees, and harassment took more virtual forms including email and social media. Katherine Atkinson will discuss in clear terms the law on hostile work environment claims, amid the changing nature of the harassing behavior.
Learning takeaways
Attendees will learn how to:
- Determine when an agency could be held liable for hostile work environment.
- Raise awareness to prevent harassment from taking place.
- Take prompt and effective corrective action when harassment is alleged.
Session 10
11:15 am – 12:30 pm EDT
High Times and Misdemeanors: Weed and the Workplace
Presented by Deborah J. Hopkins, Attorney at Law, FELTG President
(Earn 1.25 CLE credits)
Recreational marijuana is legal in almost a dozen states and the District of Columbia, and its use for medical purposes is now legal in 30-plus states. What does that mean for Federal workers in those locations? Could their careers still go up in smoke for a “legal” activity? Are you required to accommodate an employee’s medically certified marijuana usage? What should you do if the Federal employee is married to someone who legally grows marijuana? Should you overlook an employee’s suspected marijuana usage because it makes him more pleasant to work with? FELTG President Deborah Hopkins will review the laws that apply to Federal employees and share the most effective approach to managing and/or disciplining employees when their drug usage seeps into the workplace.
Learning takeaways
Attendees will learn how to:
- Craft the right charge when disciplining an employee for marijuana usage.
- Determine when it’s appropriate to require an employee to take a drug test.
- Handle an employee who has lied about previous marijuana usage.
Session 11
1:30 – 2:45 pm EDT
Preparing for the Surge in Accommodation Requests for Telework
Presented by Ann Boehm, Attorney at Law, FELTG Instructor
(Earn 1.25 EEO counselor & investigator refresher hours and 1.25 CLE credits)
By most accounts, the great telework experiment worked. And as employees are directed to return to the physical workplace, it’s widely expected that requests for telework as a reasonable accommodation for disability (and, perhaps, for religious reasons) will increase significantly. Are you prepared for these requests? Do you have a proper procedure in place? What do you need to know about the interactive process? Ann Boehm discusses it all.
Learning takeaways
Attendees will learn:
- How to determine whether telework would be an effective accommodation.
- When an agency can legally deny telework as an accommodation.
- What the EEOC says about accommodating an employee’s commute.
Session 12
3:15 – 4:30 pm EDT
Case Law Update, Part I: MSPB, EEOC, and Fed Circuit
Presented by Ann Boehm, Attorney at Law, FELTG Instructor
(Earn 1.25 CLE credits)
In Federal employment law, things can change quickly. FELTG Instructor Ann Boehm will review the most recent and relevant cases, regulations, studies and reports from OPM, the EEOC, the courts, OSC, and (hopefully) the MSPB. 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.
Learning takeaways
Attendees will learn:
- How a few recent Federal Circuit decisions have caused a major change at the MSPB in the absence of a quorum.
- The most updated guidance on Whistleblower protections.
- Recent trends in EEOC case law.
Friday, October 1, 2021
Spotlight on Labor Relations
Session 13
9:30 – 10:45 am EDT
Case Law Update, Part II: FLRA and FSIP
Presented by Joseph Schimansky, Former Executive Director/FSIP, FELTG Instructor
(Earn 1.25 CLE credits)
Over the past year-and-a-half, the Federal Labor Relations Authority has released several precedent-altering decisions. The Federal Service Impasses Panel has also issued several noteworthy decisions, but a new panel is on its way. Join FELTG Instructor Joseph Schimansky, the former Executive Director of the Federal Service Impasses Panel, as he reviews the cases and explains what it all means for Federal counsel, HR professionals, Labor Relations practitioners, and union representatives.
Learning takeaways
Attendees will learn:
- Which Trump FLRA decisions are most likely to be reversed by the Biden FLRA.
- How the Biden FSIP will operate differently from the practices adopted by the Trump FSIP.
- The latest updates on the appointment of new FLRA and FSIP Members by the Biden Administration.
Session 14
11:15 am – 12:30 pm EDT
Permissive Bargaining
Presented by Ann Boehm, Attorney at Law, FELTG Instructor
(Earn 1.25 CLE credits)
Permissive bargaining isn’t really permissive now, thanks to Executive Order 14003. Agencies must bargain over the 5 U.S.C. 7106(b)(1) topics. But what are the topics that fall under 5 U.S.C. 7106(b)(1)? This course will help you understand the complicated world of negotiability, and it will also help agencies realize that bargaining over these topics isn’t the end of the world.
Learning takeaways
Attendees will learn:
- Determine best practices in dealing with negotiability determinations in light of EO 14003.
- Develop effective negotiation strategies.
- Implement communication strategies to ensure mission is not adversely impacted by labor negotiations.
Session 15
1:30 – 2:45 pm EDT
Requests for Information
Presented by Ann Boehm, Attorney at Law, FELTG Instructor
(Earn 1.25 CLE credits)
Just about any federal labor relations professional has dealt with a union request for information, but they may not have handled it correctly. This class will help anyone dealing with a union’s request for information ensure that the agency provides information that it owes the union, but also ensure that the unions are establishing a particularized need. Engaging in the proper interactive process will help agencies avoid unfair labor practice complaints while providing only information that is legally required.
Learning takeaways
Attendees will learn how to:
- Identify the rights and obligations of both agencies and unions regarding information requests.
- Apply the “particularized need” standard.
- Reply when the union fails to meet the “particularized need” standard.
Pricing
- Early bird pricing for individual sessions start at $150. Daily and full event All Access discounts available.
- Early Bird discounts available until September 3.
- See registration form for full pricing details.
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?
- This program is submitted for CLE credits to, and we anticipate approval by, the State Bar of Virginia. Individual 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 All Access registration options only. Group discounts are available through September 3.
Download Individual Registration Form
President Biden’s Executive Order requires all Federal employees to be vaccinated with no option for regular coronavirus testing to opt out of the mandate. What does this mean for employees who refuse to get vaccinated? Are there any religious exemptions that would allow employees to continue to work without vaccination? What about employees who cannot get vaccinated due to a disability – can agencies accommodate them?
Attorney Katherine Atkinson will not only share with you the latest guidance from the president’s EO, the EEOC and the CDC, but she will also explain how applying the basic EEO framework can answer the aforementioned and other puzzling EEO questions you may suddenly face. Because Ms. Atkinson will use a legal analysis to address these challenges, the answers and guidance you receive during this virtual training will be useful long after the coronavirus is gone.
Beyond the vaccination mandate, Ms. Atkinson will also help you answer the following questions and more
- If a supervisor treats an employee like she has COVID-19, could that employee have a “regarded as” claim under the ADA/Rehabilitation Act?
- How would you handle an employee’s claim that he’s being harassed because he is at high risk for COVID-19, or has recovered from the virus?
- Does asking the pre-vaccination screening questions create a violation of Title II of the Genetic Information and Nondiscrimination Act?
Plus, you’ll have plenty of opportunities to ask questions about the unique problems you’re facing during these unprecedented times.
Learning takeaways
Attendees will learn how to determine:
- Whether an employee with COVID-19 or pre-existing respiratory sensitivities should receive a reasonable accommodation.
- How pregnant women fit into the framework of EEO and COVID-19.
This program runs from 1:00 – 4:30 eastern, with a 30-minute break from 2:30 – 3:00 eastern.
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This program meets the President’s mandate to provide training on diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility in the Federal workplace.
Download Individual Registration Form
Price
- Early Bird Tuition (register by September 3): $355
- Standard Tuition (register September 4 or later): $395
- Rates per registrant.
- Want to register a group? Group discounts for 10 or more attendees are available through September 17. Contact FELTG.
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.
- What if I want to attend a session but have a schedule conflict?
- FELTG also plans to offer this live event periodically, so check our calendar for upcoming dates.
- Can I share my access link with co-workers?
- No. Registration for this event is per individual, and access links may not be shared. Each link may only be used by one person.
- Can I register a teleworker?
- This event is individual registration, so the cost is the same whether the person is teleworking or in an agency facility.
- How do I receive a group rate discount?
- Group rates are available for agencies registering 10 or more individuals. Group discounts are available through September 17.
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.
Event Description
Investigating harassment in your Federal agency can be an intimidating assignment, one that is rife with innuendo, conflicting accounts, and raw emotions. Ensuring that your investigation is legally compliant and protects employees, while helping the agency minimize liability, is a taxing task. 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.
Tuesday, October 5, 2021
Session 1: Investigating Harassment: Misconduct Principles
12:30 pm – 4:00 pm eastern (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 6, 2021
Session 2: Understanding Harassment and Planning the Investigation
12:30 pm – 4:00 pm eastern (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 7, 2021
Session 3: Conducting the Investigation and Writing the Report
12:30 pm – 4:00 pm EDT (break from 2:00 – 2:30)
Presented by Katherine Atkinson, Attorney at Law, FELTG Instructor
Course description: Attorney Katherine Atkinson will share legal principles and proven guidance to navigate this most critical and challenging part of harassment investigations: conducting the interviews and gathering relevant evidence. Attendees will leave the session with techniques for questioning, tools for reading body language, suggestions on how to handle difficult personality types, and tips for writing the fact-finding report (FFR) and report of investigation (ROI). Ms. Atkinson will also share how technology is changing the investigation process, including a 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 Sept 20): One Session = $340 | Two Sessions = $650 | Full Event = $900
- Standard Tuition (register Sept 21 – Oct 7): One Session = $390 | Two Sessions = $695 | Full Event = $950
- Rates per registrant. No split registrations permitted.
- Want to register a group? Group discounts are available through Sept 20. 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 20.
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.
COVID-19 Note: Due to continued travel and gathering restrictions and a concern for our customers’ health and safety, this class will be held virtually. If circumstances change and FELTG decides to hold this class in person in Washington, DC, FELTG will give priority transfers to individuals registered for the virtual training, who wish to attend in person.
Download Individual Registration Form
Course Description
With one Executive Order, President Joseph R. Biden created a dramatic shift in the world of federal labor relations, rescinding numerous Trump Executive Orders, including those regarding official time, bargaining topics, negotiation timeframes, and union responsibilities to pay for things they never had to pay for before. Are you ready for this 180-degree change in federal labor relations?
Now, more than ever, you need FELTG’s FLRA Law Week. Led by two instructors with a combined total of nearly 40 years experience working at the FLRA, this training will bring you up to speed on where the current law stands, and share best practices on how to effectively navigate it in your day-to-day work, whether you’re a labor attorney, labor relations specialist or union representative.
FLRA Law Week provides attendees with a firm foundation of the historical perspective and precedence of FLRA decisions, as well as a strategy for taking advantage of any new approaches that are coming out of an ever-evolving FLRA. And this includes the latest guidance based on the FLRA’s recent precedent-breaking decisions have on collective bargaining.
There’s no other place where you can get in-depth guidance on hot-button issues, such as permissive bargaining, official time, and negotiations, to guide you through this dynamic time. So join us for this class October 18-22, where the entire world of Federal labor relations will be discussed.
The program runs 9:00 am – 4:00 pm eastern each day, with a break from 12:00-1:00.
Instructors
Daily Agenda
Monday, October 18
Basic Management and Employee Rights: An overview of the Federal Service Labor-Management Relations Statute; the current status of Executive Orders 13836 and 13837; fundamental employee, union, and management rights; bargaining unit definition; the union organizer’s role; information requests; official time.
Tuesday, October 19
Labor Relations Meetings and Bargaining: More on official time; formal discussions; union representative rights; the collective bargaining process; the three categories of bargaining: mandatory, permissive, and prohibited; introduction to negotiability.
Wednesday, October 20
Unfair Labor Practices and Negotiability: Employee rights vs. Management rights; the anatomy of an Unfair Labor Practice; an overview of the Federal Services Impasse Panel; negotiability appeals.
Thursday, October 21
The Psychology of Bargaining, Plus Grievances and Pandemic-Related Issues: Selecting a bargaining strategy; interest based bargaining as compared to hard ball bargaining; grievances; exceptions to arbitration awards; a new Administration
Friday, October 22
Understanding the FSIP and Arbitration: Panel members, FSIP procedures, recent FSIP developments, the arbitration process overview; binding the arbitrator; how federal government arbitration is different from private sector arbitration and appeals; educating the arbitrator.
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 October 1):
- 5 days = $2375
- 4 days = $1995
- 3 days = $1575
- 2 days = $1100
- 1 day = $575
Standard Tuition (register October 2-22):
- 5 days = $2475
- 4 days = $2095
- 3 days = $1675
- 2 days = $1200
- 1 day = $675
Seminar registration includes a printed copy of the materials. In order to receive materials by the training date, please register by October 1 and provide a shipping address. Registrations received after October 1 will also receive printed materials, but materials are not guaranteed to arrive by the training date. No split registrations.
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. No split registrations.
- Can I register a teleworker?
- This event is individual registration, so the cost is the same whether the person is teleworking or in an agency facility.
- How do I receive a group rate discount?
- Group rates are available for agencies registering 10 or more individuals for the full event. Group discounts are available through October 1.
Download Individual Registration Form
About the Event
Federal employees have until November 22 to get vaccinated to comply with Executive Order 14043. The Biden Administration’s mandate is direct. However, a sizable percentage of the population still refuses to get the vaccination, and misinformation continues to spread. You should expect to have more than the usual share of requests for exemptions on either religious or medical grounds. How will you handle these requests? And how do you plan to discipline an employee who refused to get vaccinated?
Attorneys Katherine Atkinson and Deborah Hopkins (FELTG President), have the answers. They have stayed on top of the ever-changing guidance and mandates over the past year, providing FELTG customers with up-to-the-minute instruction on navigating the challenging issues related to COVID-19. Join them on November 3 for The Exemption Proves the Rule: Reasonable Accommodation, Discipline, and the Vaccine Mandate and you’ll leave with the basic framework for dealing with these unique and unprecedented challenges with a focus on:
- Reasonable accommodation for disability
- Reasonable accommodation for religion
- Discipline for vaccine-related misconduct
Ms. Hopkins and Ms. Atkinson will walk you through the legal analysis for addressing challenges in these areas, and answer all your questions, including:
- What medical conditions that qualify as disabilities under the ADA could exempt an employee from the vaccination mandate?
- What is the definition of religion under Title VII?
- When can you question the sincerity of an employee’s espoused religious belief?
- How do you discipline an employee for using falsified vaccine cards?
Join FELTG for this critical and timely training, 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. This program runs from 1 pm – 4:30 pm eastern, with a 30-minute break from 2:30 – 3:00 eastern.
Download Individual Registration Form
Instructors
Deborah J. Hopkins, Katherine Atkinson
Price
- Early Bird Tuition (register by October 20): $355
- Standard Tuition (register October 21 or later): $395
- Rates per registrant.
- Want to register a group? Group discounts for 10 or more attendees are available through October 20. Contact FELTG.
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.
- What if I want to attend a session but have a schedule conflict?
- FELTG also plans to offer this live event periodically, so check our calendar for upcoming dates.
- Can I share my access link with co-workers?
- No. Registration for this event is per individual, and access links may not be shared. Each link may only be used by one person.
- Can I register a teleworker?
- This event is individual registration, so the cost is the same whether the person is teleworking or in an agency facility.
- How do I receive a group rate discount?
- Group rates are available for agencies registering 10 or more individuals. Group discounts are available through October 20.
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
Program Description
5 USC 7112 of the Federal Service Labor-Management Relations Statute defines the types of positions that must be excluded from the bargaining units. But in the modern workforce, those definitions aren’t always that clear. In this 60-minute webinar, FELTG Instructor Ann Boehm will walk you through how to not only identify the statutory provisions, but provide practical and specific examples of how particular positions are determined to be in or out of the bargaining unit.
Attendees will learn how to:
- Identify positions the FLRA has determined to be excluded from the BU
- Recognize the specific actions that make an employee a supervisor or a management official
- Determine when a non-management official should be excluded from the BU
- Navigate the FLRA representation and clarification of unit process
Price
- Early Bird Tuition: $285 per site, per webinar (payment required by October 25)
- Standard Tuition: $315 per site, per webinar (payments made October 26 or later)
Teleworkers may be added to a main site registration for $50 per teleworker, on a space-available basis.
Cancellation and No-show Policy for Registered Participants: Cancellations made after the cancel date on the registration form will not be refunded or given credit toward future courses. Pre-paid training using the “Pay Now” option will not be refunded or given credit toward future courses. No-shows will not be refunded or given credit toward future courses.
Download Individual Registration Form
Instructors
Program Description
Substantial. Dramatic. Marked. Any of these adjectives would suffice in describing the 180-degree turn in the world of federal labor relations over the past year.
President Biden’s Executive Order rescinding numerous Trump Executive Orders meant immediate about-face changes in approaches to official time, bargaining topics, negotiation timeframes, and union responsibilities to pay for things they never had to pay for before. Most agencies are still grappling to adjust, meanwhile more change could be on the way if the Democratic nominee gets appointed.
In this two-hour virtual training event held from 1:00-3:00 PM eastern, Ann Boehm and Joe Schimansky will review the previous year of federal LR under the new Administration and provide a look ahead to what you can expect in 2022. When it comes to change in federal LR, these two presenters, who have a combined total of nearly 40 years working at the FLRA, have seen their fair share.
Ms. Boehm will explore the impact of EO 14003 and the Office of Personnel Management directives issued Oct. 20, 2021 that instruct Federal agencies to highlight collective bargaining rights for Federal employees. She’ll discuss the current status of the three-member Authority and the impact of having (potentially) a permanent General Counsel, a position that has sat vacant or left for someone in an acting capacity for far too long.
Mr. Schimansky will dive into the Authority’s precedent-altering decisions over the past year-and-a-half. The former Executive Director of the Federal Service Impasses Panel will not only explain what each decision means for Federal counsel, HR professionals, Labor Relations practitioners, and union representatives, but also detail which ones are most likely to be reversed under a Democratic majority.
Begin 2022 on the right note. Ensure that you are prepared to navigate the continued upheaval of federal labor relations. Register now for this engaging, timely, and highly useful training.
The program will be held from 1:00-3:00 PM eastern.
Price
- Early Bird Tuition: $295 per site (payment required by January 3)
- Standard Tuition: $325 per site (payments made January 4 or later)
- Rates per registrant. No split registrations permitted.
- Want to register a group? Group discounts are available through January 3. Contact FELTG.
Event FAQs
- Can I attend Virtual Training from my government computer?
- FELTG uses Zoom to broadcast this Virtual Training Institute event. Many government computers and systems allow Zoom access. If for some reason your firewall will not allow access, you’re welcome to use your personal email address to register, and to attend the sessions from your personal device.
- Can I earn CLE credits for this class?
- CLE applications are the responsibility of each attendee; FELTG does not apply for the credits on behalf of attendees. If you are seeking CLE credit, attendees may use the materials provided by FELTG in submission to your state bar. Attendees may also request a certificate of completion which will contain the number of training hours attended.
- Can I share my access link with co-workers?
- No. Registration for this event is per individual, and access links may not be shared. Each link may only be used by one person.
- Can I register a teleworker?
- This event is individual registration, so the cost is the same whether the person is teleworking or in an agency facility.
- How do I receive a group rate discount?
- Group rates are available for agencies registering 10 or more attendees for the full event. Group discounts are available through January 3.
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
Event Description
The world of Federal EEO is constantly changing. With the expected deluge of complaints related to vaccine exemption denials, it’s also expected to get much more challenging in the next few months. Agencies will be onboarding new EEO counselors, and need to make sure they’re prepared for the unique challenges 2022 is sure to bring. FELTG has the solution — the most engaging, up-to-date, and comprehensive 32-hour EEO Counselor initial training available.
Over the course of four 8-hour days, FELTG’s experienced instructors will steer you through a carefully and meticulously crafted agenda that explains EEO law in easy-to-understand terms and helps you develop the skills necessary to be an effective EEO professional, and provides the mandatory 32-hour initial training for new counselors as required by EEOC.
Topics include an overview of the EEO process, the counselor’s responsibilities, the applicable statutes, theories of discrimination, remedies and more. Plus, we’ll focus on emerging issues related to COVID-19 and vaccine exemption requests, provide updated on LGBTQ+ discrimination, and take attendees through a thorough discussion of reasonable accommodation.
And there’s more.
Are you a veteran counselor looking for your 8-hour refresher? Attend one of the final three days of training to earn your refresher hours. Plus, if you work in another realm of EEO, you’re welcome to join us for the very latest guidance on all these timely topics.
This is an interactive class. You will not be asked to share your screen, but there will be many opportunities to participate, and you should be prepared to share and discuss.
You can’t afford to trust this required initial training to whatever is available at the last minute. Register by January 11 for the Early Bird rate.
Daily Agenda
Monday, January 24
EEO Counselor Training, Part I — Introduction and Role of the Counselor: Introduction to Counseling; the EEO process; timelines; requirements; why counseling first; EEO counselor approach; purpose of the EEO counselor; what makes a good EEO counselor; an intro to alternative dispute resolution; ADR in EEO counseling; the counselor’s role when ADR is elected.
Tuesday, January 25
EEO Counselor Training, Part II — Theories of Discrimination: EEOC jurisdiction; discrimination base on race, color, national origin, reprisal, and disability; intentional discrimination; hostile work environment; sexual harassment; LGBTQ status; MD-110; COVID-19 related EEO topics; vaccine mandates.
8 per day
Wednesday, January 26
EEO Counselor Training, Part III — Interview Skills: Introduction to interview skills; interviewing the counselee; interviewing the RMO; meeting with counselee after RMO; interviewing difficult personality types; what happens if a contractor wants to file an EEO complaint.
8 per day
Thursday, January 27
EEO Counselor Training, Part IV — Avoiding Mistakes; Writing the Report: Mistakes to avoid in the counseling process; organizing the report; issue spotting; knowing your audience; writing the narrative; writing styles; plain language writing.
8 per day
Join FELTG for this training, 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. This program runs from 9 am – 5 pm eastern each day.
Instructors
Robert Woods, Ricky Rowe, Katherine Atkinson, Ann Boehm
Price
- Early Bird Tuition (register by January 11): One Day = $575 | Two Days = $1100 | Three Days = $1575 | Four Days = $1995
- Standard Tuition (register January 12-24): One Day = $675 | Two Days = $1200 | Three Days = $1675 | Four Days = $2095
- Rates per registrant. No split registrations permitted.
- Want to register a group? Group discounts are available through January 11. Contact FELTG.
- REGISTER NOW.
Event FAQs
- Can I attend Virtual Training from my government computer?
- FELTG uses Zoom to broadcast this Virtual Training Institute event. Many government computers and systems allow Zoom access. If for some reason your firewall will not allow access, you’re welcome to use your personal email address to register, and to attend the sessions from your personal device.
- Can I earn CLE credits for this class?
- CLE applications are the responsibility of each attendee; FELTG does not apply for the credits on behalf of attendees. If you are seeking CLE credit, attendees may use the materials provided by FELTG in submission to your state bar. Attendees may also request a certificate of completion which will contain the number of training hours attended.
- Can I share my access link with co-workers?
- No. Registration for this event is per individual, and access links may not be shared. Each link may only be used by one person.
- Can I register a teleworker?
- This event is individual registration, so the cost is the same whether the person is teleworking or in an agency facility.
- How do I receive a group rate discount?
- Group rates are available for agencies registering 10 or more attendees for the full event. Group discounts are available through January 11.
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
President Biden’s Executive Order requires all Federal employees to be vaccinated with no option for regular coronavirus testing to opt out of the mandate. What does this mean for employees who refuse to get vaccinated? Are there any religious exemptions that would allow employees to continue to work without vaccination? What about employees who cannot get vaccinated due to a disability – can agencies accommodate them?
Attorney Katherine Atkinson will not only share with you the latest guidance from the president’s EO, the EEOC and the CDC, but she will also explain how applying the basic EEO framework can answer the aforementioned and other puzzling EEO questions you may suddenly face. Because Ms. Atkinson will use a legal analysis to address these challenges, the answers and guidance you receive during this virtual training will be useful long after the coronavirus is gone.
Beyond the vaccination mandate, Ms. Atkinson will also help you answer the following questions and more:
- Is an employee with asymptomatic COVID-19 an individual with a disability under the ADA and Rehabilitation Act?
- Do more employees have potential retaliation claims now, even though the vaccine mandate is enjoined?
- What should your agency do with pending vaccine exemption requests?
Plus, you’ll have plenty of opportunities to ask questions about the unique problems you’re facing during these unprecedented times.
Learning takeaways
Attendees will learn how to determine:
- Whether an unvaccinated employee creates an undue hardship to an agency’s operations in the religious accommodation context
- How the undue hardship determination is different for an employee who requested accommodation due to a disability
- How to spot pandemic-related retaliation that constitutes a legal violation
This program runs from 1:00 – 4:30 eastern, with a 30-minute break from 2:30 – 3:00 eastern.
Price
- Early Bird Tuition (register by January 24): $355
- Standard Tuition (register January 25 or later): $395
- Rates per registrant.
- Want to register a group? Group discounts for 10 or more attendees are available through January 24. Contact FELTG.
Event FAQs
- Can I attend Virtual Training from my government computer?
- FELTG uses Zoom to broadcast this Virtual Training Institute event. Many government computers and systems allow Zoom access. If for some reason your firewall will not allow access, you’re welcome to use your personal email address to register, and to attend the sessions from your personal device.
- Can I earn CLE credits for this class?
- CLE applications are the responsibility of each attendee; FELTG does not apply for the credits on behalf of attendees. If you are seeking CLE credit, attendees may use the materials provided by FELTG in submission to your state bar. Attendees may also request a certificate of completion which will contain the number of training hours attended.
- Can I share my access link with co-workers?
- No. Registration for this event is per individual, and access links may not be shared. Each link may only be used by one person.
- Can I register a teleworker?
- This event is individual registration, so the cost is the same whether the person is teleworking or in an agency facility.
- How do I receive a group rate discount?
- Group rates are available for agencies registering 10 or more individuals. Group discounts are available through January 24.
Cancellation and No-show Policy for Registered Participants: Cancellations made after the cancel date on the registration form will not be refunded or given credit toward future courses. Pre-paid training using the “Pay Now” option will not be refunded or given credit toward future courses. No-shows will not be refunded or given credit toward future courses.
Instructor
Course Description
It’s no secret that the FLRA Chair and the two other members of the Authority rarely see eye-to-eye. That was especially evident in a late 2021 decision that revealed widely differing opinions about the future of the covered-by doctrine. In this 60-minute webinar, Joseph Schimansky will explain the covered-by doctrine: what it is, and how it’s determined, plus the details of the Authority’s disagreement, and what it means to you as a labor relations practitioner or union representative. Plus, you’ll have a chance to ask your questions and get answers in real time.
With the ever-changing nature of Federal LR and the prospect of the Authority soon shifting from a Republican majority to a Democratic majority, you won’t want to miss this event.
Price
- Early Bird Tuition: $270 per site, per webinar (payment required by March 7)
- Standard Tuition: $295 per site, per webinar (payments made March 8 or later)
Teleworkers may be added to a main site registration for $50 per teleworker, on a space-available basis.
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
Course Description
An increase in reasonable accommodations requests based on religion and disability. Pandemic-related civil rights crises. Increase discussion of diversity and inclusion. Way too many harassment complaints. Talk of changes to the EEO process. If you’ve thought about registering for FELTG’s EEOC Law Week in the past, now is the time to act on it. This weeklong virtual is updated for 2022, including the latest on COVID-related challenges and workplace harassment.
This in-depth training overs the gamut of EEO issues, and provides usable guidance for all practitioners, regardless of experience level. FELTG’s expert speakers, drawing on years of experience from all sides of the litigation table, deliver a fast-paced week of strategies, principles, and authorities relative to the major aspects of the field of discrimination law in the federal government.
And it provides the required material for EEO counselors and investigators to receive refresher training hours
The program runs 12:30 – 4:30 pm eastern each day, with a break from 2:00 – 2:30.
3.5 per day.
Download Individual Registration Form
Who Should Attend
Attorneys; EEO managers and directors; EEO specialists; EEO counselors and investigators; reasonable accommodation coordinators; federal supervisors and managers who have complicated EEO issues in the workplace; Labor and Employee Relations specialists; union representatives.
Instructors
Katherine Atkinson, Ann Boehm, Bob Woods
Daily Agenda
Monday, April 4
Basic EEOC: Nuts & Bolts: Course topics: Statutory authority and jurisdiction of EEOC; an overview of the theories of discrimination; overview of the EEO process; amended and consolidated complaints; timeliness issues in the wake of the Supreme Court decisions in Morgan and Ledbetter.
Tuesday, April 5
Contractor Complaints; Intentional Discrimination and Reprisal Cases: Course topics: The agency’s role and obligations when a contractor files an EEO complaint; intentional discrimination analysis and cases; selection and promotion cases; reprisal analysis and case updates.
Wednesday, April 6
Accommodating Individuals with Disabilities: Course topics: The Rehabilitation Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act, defining individual with a disability, understanding major life activities and substantial limitations; identifying essential job functions; the legal requirements for the interactive process; types of reasonable accommodation; the latest on the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (GINA) and relevant regulations.
Thursday, April 7
Current Trends in EEO Law: A Focus on Harassment: Course topics: The very latest on what’s happening in EEO; hostile environment harassment; gender stereotyping; same-sex harassment; recent court decisions on sexual orientation and transgender discrimination including the SCOTUS decision Bostock v. Clayton County; non-EEO harassment; settling EEO cases.
Friday, April 8
Mixed Cases; Damages & Remedies: Course topics: Understanding the world of mixed cases; overview of equitable remedies: back pay, front pay, reinstatement; non-pecuniary and pecuniary damages; past and future damages; damages offsets; the duty to mitigate damages; collateral sources and pre-existing conditions; multiple causations of harm; the eggshell complainant.
Pricing
Most people attend the full training week, but you may opt out of any days you don’t plan to attend.
Early Bird Tuition (register by March 18):
- 5 days = $1475
- 4 days = $1195
- 3 days = $910
- 2 days = $630
- 1 day = $345
Standard Tuition (register March 19-April 8):
- 5 days = $1550
- 4 days = $1285
- 3 days = $975
- 2 days = $685
- 1 day = $395
Event FAQs
- Can I attend Virtual Training from my government computer?
- FELTG uses Zoom for this Virtual Training Institute event. Many government computers and systems allow Zoom access. If for some reason your firewall will not allow access, you’re welcome to use your personal email address to register, and to attend the sessions from your personal device.
- Can I earn CLE credits for this class?
- CLE applications are the responsibility of each attendee; FELTG does not apply for the credits on behalf of attendees. If you are seeking CLE credit, attendees may use the materials provided by FELTG in submission to your state bar. Attendees may also request a certificate of completion which will contain the number of training hours attended.
- Can I share my access link with co-workers?
- No. Registration for this event is per individual, and access links may not be shared. Each link may only be used by one person.
- Can I register a teleworker?
- This event is individual registration, so the cost is the same whether the person is teleworking or in an agency facility.
- How do I receive a group rate discount?
- Group rates are available for agencies registering 10 or more individuals for the full event. Group discounts are available through March 18.
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
Event Description
A politicized multi-year pandemic, a change in Administration, and nationwide trends, such as the Great Resignation, have set the Federal workplace reeling with seemingly new and daunting employment-related challenges, along with several that won’t go away. FELTG’s four-day training event Emerging Issues in Federal Employment Law returns for a third straight year, poised to provide you with the strategies and challenges to meet these unique times.
Three years ago, who would have thought that:
- Federal agencies would be devising detailed plans to create hybrid workplaces?
- The FLRA, under a Democratic Administration, would continue to issue decisions rankling unions?
- The MSPB would go without a quorum for nearly 1,900 days?
- Diversity and inclusion efforts would go from persona non grata to major priority with the stroke of a pen?
- A Federal Circuit would suddenly end 40 years of MSPB precedent on PIPs, only to have OPM release conflicting guidance months later?
- EEO discrimination issues would continue to flourish despite a majority of employees working from home?
The FELTG Virtual Training Institute’s Emerging Issues in Federal Employment Law program offers 11 unique and timely sessions to help you navigating these unsettling times. Hold remote and on-site employees equally accountable for performance and conduct. Stay up to date on changing legal issues involving performance improvement, leave, labor relations and more. Identify and prepare your agency for new EEO trends. Learn effective strategies for managing in a hybrid workplace and negotiating collective bargaining agreements.
We’ve developed these sessions to fit into your busy workdays. The training sessions are 75 minutes long, and you can register for all or for any of them individually. Or you can register for a whole day. Or all four days. Earn CLE credits and EEO refresher training credits.
The training is presented LIVE by FELTG’s experienced and respected instructors, who will answer your questions, so you get answers in real time.
Download Individual Registration Form
This program meets the President’s mandate to provide training on diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility in the Federal workplace.
Tuesday, April 26, 2022
The New Hybrid Workplace
Session 1
10:30 – 11:45 am ET
Holding Employees Accountable Regardless of Their Work Location
Presented by Ann Boehm, Attorney at Law, FELTG Instructor
Course description: Agencies face many challenges and unanswered questions about performance and conduct as they attempt to bring some workers back to the physical workspace. How do you hold workers accountable for performance and conduct when some are in the office and others are remote? How do you provide a performance demonstration period for an employee who is teleworking? As always, FELTG has the answers when it comes to accountability. Attendees will leave with a simple and effective approach to accountability, regardless of where the employee is working. Earn 1.25 CLE credits.
Session 2
1:00 – 2:15 pm ET
What to Do When Harassment Occurs Outside the Building
Presented by Katherine Atkinson, Attorney at Law, FELTG Instructor
Course Description: Hostile environment harassment can be alleged based not only on sex, but any protected category, such as race, national origin, religion, disability, and more. With the pandemic-fueled increase in telework and virtual meetings, and continued vitriol on social media, hostile environment harassment does not require that people be in the same location. Attendees will learn how to identify hostile work environment scenarios, discuss agency and supervisory liability, and develop successful prevention techniques. Earn 1.25 CLE credits. 1.25
Session 3
3:00 – 4:15 pm ET
The New World of Work: Understanding Expectations, Aspirations, and Opportunities
Presented by Anthony Marchese, PhD., Consultant/Author/Trainer, FELTG Instructor
Course Description: The Pandemic of 2020-2022 thrust leaders into an unusual, unsettling territory where many are unequipped to rapidly respond to the systematic shift in employee expectations. Employees want increased autonomy and a voice in the decision-making process. With increased scrutiny of the employee value proposition (EVP), employees are eagerly anticipating how things will look in the next 6-12 months. Attendees will learn about embedded and emerging trends happening across the Federal landscape and leave with relevant best practices to navigate this landscape as a supervisor.
Wednesday, April 27, 2022
The Ever-Changing Law
Session 4
10:30 – 11:45 am ET
Santos, OPM and Performance Accountability: What Gives?
Presented by Robert Woods, Attorney at Law, FELTG Instructor
Course Description: Last year, the Federal Circuit in Santos v. NASA undid more than 40 years of case precedent, requiring agencies to have substantial evidence of poor performance before they can place an employee on a PIP. Yet, OPM’s proposed regulations, while not yet final, seem to indicate that employees must first be notified and given an opportunity to improve. Don’t let these seemingly contradictory approaches keep you from taking appropriate action. Attendees will leave this session with clear guidance and an effective approach for placing an employee on notice about unacceptable performance and explaining to the employee what’s required next. Earn 1.25 CLE credits.
Session 5
1:00 – 2:15 pm ET
What’s New in Leave 2022?
Presented by Barbara Haga, President/Federal HR Services, FELTG Senior Instructor
Course description: Leave is an ever-changing topic and 2022 is no exception. The passage of the NDAA for FY 2022 created a new type of leave: Parental Bereavement Leave will allow for two weeks of paid time off in the event of death of a son or daughter. The devil, of course, is in the details. Which employees are covered? How is son or daughter defined? As if that wasn’t enough, the NDAA for FY 2021 made a change to the type of service that is qualifying to become FMLA eligible, and the regulations implementing the Paid Parental Leave Act issued in 2020 made some changes to the basic FMLA entitlement. The session will cover these changes, as well as leave in COVID-related situations. Earn 1.25 CLE credits.
Session 6
3:00 – 4:15 pm ET
Federal Employment Law Update: Significant Cases and Developments
Presented by Ann Boehm, Attorney at Law, FELTG Instructor
Course description: The MSPB is back and delivering decisions, the FLRA and EEOC continue to issue important decisions, the Federal Circuit has been hopping, and OPM regularly updates its guidance. A District Court in Texas recently put a hold on major Federal workplace mandates, and a Federal Appeals court has recently struck down FLRA policy decisions. It’s a lot to keep up with. That’s why you need to join FELTG for this fast-paced review of the most surprising, significant, and groundbreaking developments in Federal employment law. Earn 1.25 CLE credits.
Thursday, April 28, 2022
Post-COVID EEO Challenges
Session 7
10:30 – 11:45 am ET
The Widening Net of Reprisal Discrimination
Presented by Deborah Hopkins, Attorney at Law, FELTG President
Course description: Reprisal is asserted in almost half of all EEO complaints, and it’s the most common discrimination finding in Federal sector cases. With increasing political and societal rifts creating workplace conflicts, ongoing questions about employee vaccination and exemption status, and the soon-to-be imminent return of many Federal employees to the physical workplace, EEO challenges such as reprisal are expected to grow even more. Attendees will learn the various forms of EEO reprisal and receive important guidance on how to limit it from happening at your agency. Earn 1.25 CLE credits. 1.25
Session 8
1:00 – 2:15 pm ET
Telework as a Reasonable Accommodation When Employees Return to the Workplace
Presented by Ricky Rowe, Former National EEO Manager/Veterans Administration
Course description: By most accounts, telework was an enormous success for Federal agencies over the past two years. As you start the process of returning most employees back to the physical workplace, it’s likely that you’re going to receive a sudden increase in requests for telework, likely within the framework of reasonable accommodation. OPM guidance last summer anticipated as much. Attend this session to best prepare yourself for this onslaught of requests and give you and your staff a proper guide on how to determine whether telework is an effective reasonable accommodation, and what alternative accommodations might be available as well. 1.25
Session 9
3:00 – 4:15 pm ET
When Medical Issues Cause Performance and Misconduct Problems
Presented by Deborah Hopkins, Attorney at Law, FELTG President
Course description: Few situations draw as much angst among supervisors as when they have an employee with a physical or mental impairment who is struggling to do the job and/or failing to meet conduct standards. With the rise in mental health diagnoses, substance abuse disorders and the physical challenges that come with an aging workforce, Federal supervisors can expect more of these gut-wrenching situations. If the employee already has a reasonable accommodation, can you put him on a PIP or must you offer a new reasonable accommodation first? Should disability be a mitigating factor in discipline? How do you process removals for medical inability to perform? Attendees will learn the answers to these questions and much more.Earn 1.25 CLE credits. 1.25
Friday April 29, 2022
Labor Relations Spotlight
Session 10
10:30 – 11:45 am ET
Representation Decisions Under FLRA
Presented by Joseph Schimansky, Former Executive Director/FSIP, FELTG Instructor
Course description: The FLRA, by a 2-1 margin, recently rejected requests to throw out its 2020 decision that stripped immigration judges of their collective bargaining rights. This rejection came just a month after the Biden Administration reversed a Trump-era policy and officially recognized the union. In this session, Mr. Schimansky will examine Representation decisions under the current FLRA and what they mean for agencies and unions in the short and long term. Earn 1.25 CLE credits.
Session 11
1:00 – 2:15 pm ET
What I Learned as a Chief Management Negotiator
Marcus Hill, Principal/Hill Management Consultancy, FELTG Instructor
Course description: Have you been appointed chief management negotiator charged with representing the agency during collective bargaining with the union? Were you a little apprehensive or challenged how to start and ultimate accomplish this critical assignment? Whether you are a seasoned labor relations professional or a manager possessing little to no collective bargaining experience, this session is for you. During his distinguished Federal career, Mr. Hill served as Chief Management Negotiator on several occasions, achieving effective collective bargaining agreements for industrial and professional environments. Mr. Hill will share experiences, and successful strategies that will result in win-win, labor-management agreements.
Price
- Early Bird Tuition (register by April 11):
- One Session = $150
- One Day (Three Sessions) = $395
- Labor Relations Day = $275
- April 26-28 All Access = $1175
- April 26-29 All Access with Labor Relations = $1450
- Standard Tuition (register April 12-29)
- One Session = $175
- One Day (Three Sessions) = $495
- Labor Relations Day = $325
- April 26-28 All Access = $1475
- April 26-29 All Access with Labor Relations = $1795
- Rates per registrant and may not be used for groups under any circumstances. No split registrations.
Event FAQs
- Can I attend Virtual Training from my government computer?
- FELTG uses Zoom 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 1.25 hours of HRCI general recertification credit. The HRCI course numbers will be available upon the conclusion of the training.
- 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 April 11.
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
Event Description
Investigating harassment in your Federal agency can be an intimidating assignment, one that is rife with innuendo, conflicting accounts, and raw emotions. Ensuring that your investigation is legally compliant and protects employees, while helping the agency minimize liability, is a taxing task. 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
Tuesday, May 3
Session 1: Investigating Harassment: Misconduct Principles
12:30 pm – 4:00 pm eastern (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, May 4
Session 2: Understanding Harassment and Planning the Investigation
12:30 pm – 4:00 pm eastern (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, May 5
Session 3: Conducting the Investigation and Writing the Report
12:30 pm – 4:00 pm eastern (break from 2:00 – 2:30)
Presented by Katherine Atkinson, Attorney at Law, FELTG Instructor
Course description: Attorney Katherine Atkinson will share legal principles and proven guidance to navigate this most critical and challenging part of harassment investigations: conducting the interviews and gathering relevant evidence. Attendees will leave the session with techniques for questioning, tools for reading body language, suggestions on how to handle difficult personality types, and tips for writing the fact-finding report (FFR) and report of investigation (ROI). Ms. Atkinson will also share how technology is changing the investigation process, including a 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 April 18): One Session = $340 | Two Sessions = $650 | Full Event = $900
- Standard Tuition (register April 19-May 5): One Session = $390 | Two Sessions = $695 | Full Event = $950
- Rates per registrant. No split registrations permitted.
- Want to register a group? Group discounts are available through April 18. Contact FELTG.
- REGISTER NOW.
Event FAQs
- Can I attend Virtual Training from my government computer?
- FELTG uses Zoom to broadcast this Virtual Training Institute event. Many government computers and systems allow Zoom access. If for some reason your firewall will not allow access, you’re welcome to use your personal email address to register, and to attend the sessions from your personal device.
- Can I earn CLE credits for this class?
- CLE applications are the responsibility of each attendee; FELTG does not apply for the credits on behalf of attendees. If you are seeking CLE credit, attendees may use the materials provided by FELTG in submission to your state bar. Attendees may also request a certificate of completion which will contain the number of training hours attended.
- Can I share my access link with co-workers?
- No. Registration for this event is per individual, and access links may not be shared. Each link may only be used by one person.
- Can I register a teleworker?
- This event is individual registration, so the cost is the same whether the person is teleworking or in an agency facility.
- How do I receive a group rate discount?
- Group rates are available for agencies registering 10 or more attendees for the full event. Group discounts are available through April 18.
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
Course Description
The last year has presented a dramatic shift in the world of federal labor relations. President Biden’s Executive Order rescinding numerous Trump Executive Orders, including those regarding official time, bargaining topics, negotiation timeframes, and union responsibilities to pay for things they never had to pay for before. Meanwhile, a Democratic nominee awaits confirmation that would change the political make-up of the Authority, and another Democrat awaits confirmation for the permanent General Counsel position that sat vacant for far too long.
Now, more than ever, you need FELTG’s FLRA Law Week. Led by two instructors with a combined total of nearly 40 years experience working at the FLRA, this training will bring you up to speed on where the current law stands, and share best practices on how to effectively navigate it in your day-to-day work, whether you’re a labor attorney, labor relations specialist or union representative.
FLRA Law Week provides attendees with a firm foundation of the historical perspective and precedence of FLRA decisions, as well as a strategy for taking advantage of any new approaches that are coming out of the FLRA. And this includes the latest guidance based on the FLRA’s recent precedent-breaking decisions have on collective bargaining.
There’s no other place where you can get in-depth guidance on hot-button issues, such as permissive bargaining, official time, and negotiations, to guide you through this dynamic time. So join us for this class May 9-13, where the entire world of Federal labor relations will be discussed.
The program runs 12:00 – 4:00 pm eastern each day, with a break from 1:45 – 2:15.
Instructors
Daily Agenda
Monday, May 9
Basic Management and Employee Rights: An overview of the Federal Service Labor-Management Relations Statute; the current status of Executive Orders 13836 and 13837; fundamental employee, union, and management rights; bargaining unit definition; the union organizer’s role; information requests; official time.
Tuesday, May 10
Labor Relations Meetings and Bargaining: More on official time; formal discussions; union representative rights; the collective bargaining process; the three categories of bargaining: mandatory, permissive, and prohibited; introduction to negotiability.
Wednesday, May 11
Unfair Labor Practices and Negotiability: Employee rights vs. Management rights; the anatomy of an Unfair Labor Practice; an overview of the Federal Services Impasse Panel; negotiability appeals.
Thursday, May 12
The Psychology of Bargaining, Plus Grievances and Pandemic-Related Issues: Selecting a bargaining strategy; interest based bargaining as compared to hard ball bargaining; grievances; exceptions to arbitration awards; a new Administration.
Friday, May 13
Understanding the FSIP and Arbitration: Panel members, FSIP procedures, recent FSIP developments, the arbitration process overview; binding the arbitrator; how federal government arbitration is different from private sector arbitration and appeals; educating the arbitrator.
Pricing
Most people attend the full training week, but you may opt out of any days you don’t plan to attend.
Early Bird Tuition (register by April 22):
- 5 days = $1475
- 4 days = $1195
- 3 days = $910
- 2 days = $630
- 1 day = $345
Standard Tuition (register April 23 or later):
- 5 days = $1550
- 4 days = $1285
- 3 days = $975
- 2 days = $685
- 1 day = $395
Event FAQs
- Can I attend Virtual Training from my government computer?
- FELTG uses Zoom for this Virtual Training Institute event. Many government computers and systems allow Zoom access. If for some reason your firewall will not allow access, you’re welcome to use your personal email address to register, and to attend the sessions from your personal device.
- Can I earn CLE credits for this class?
- CLE applications are the responsibility of each attendee; FELTG does not apply for the credits on behalf of attendees. If you are seeking CLE credit, attendees may use the materials provided by FELTG in submission to your state bar. Attendees may also request a certificate of completion which will contain the number of training hours attended.
- Can I share my access link with co-workers?
- No. Registration for this event is per individual, and access links may not be shared. Each link may only be used by one person. No split registrations.
- Can I register a teleworker?
- This event is individual registration, so the cost is the same whether the person is teleworking or in an agency facility.
- How do I receive a group rate discount?
- Group rates are available for agencies registering 10 or more individuals for the full event. Group discounts are available through April 22.
Download Individual Registration Form
Course Description
Are you looking for a convenient and engaging way to pick up your mandatory annual refresher training? Are you looking for useful, timely, and up-to-date guidance delivered in an engaging format?
Each day of FELTG’s two-day virtual training event provides an opportunity for you to pick up your mandatory annual refresher training. Attend both days and earn all eight hours, while receiving instruction on important EEO topics, such as: EEO timelines, best practices for interviewing complainants and witnesses, trends in reasonable accommodation, the very latest on sexual orientation and gender discrimination, what happens when disabilities and FMLA overlap, the latest on Post-COVID EEO challenges, and more.
Attendees will also receive a certificate of attendance verifying they’ve met the annual training requirement. We hope to see you there.
This program meets the President’s mandate to provide training on diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility in the Federal workplace.
Download Individual Registration Form
Tuesday, June 21, 12:00-4:00 pm eastern
FELTG Instructor Ricky Rowe, former National EEO Manager for the Department of Veterans Affairs, kicks things off with an in-depth presentation on the foundational issues that EEO professionals need to know – everything from theories of discrimination to the complaints procedure process. Mr. Rowe will share guidance to help you sharpen your practical skills, especially when it comes to interviewing witnesses. Attendees will learn various methods of communication, the difference between interviews and interrogation, types of questions, and techniques
EEO Refreshers Hours: 4
Learning takeaways
Attendees will learn how to:
- Avoid the common mistakes made in the counseling process.
- Identify the appropriate bases for dismissing a complaint.
- Prepare and conduct effective witness interviews.
Wednesday, June 22,12:00-4:00 pm eastern
In recent years, the Supreme Court and the EEOC have issued dozens of significant decisions that impact how you approach your job. Meanwhile, agencies are seeing new examples of hostile work environment and national origin and religious discrimination. This session will cover those topics, as well as the changing nature of reprisal discrimination, protections for LGBTQ employees, and the increase in reasonable accommodation requests (both disability-related and religious). Many of these trends are directly related to the pandemic. Attorney at Law Ann Boehm will look at the latest trends in EEO and you’ll leave the session with the confidence to successfully handle them all.
EEO Refreshers Hours: 4
Learning takeaways
Attendees will learn how to:
- Address challenging reasonable accommodations, such as requests for permanent telework and new supervisor.
- Explain the 2021 Executive Orders on Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accommodation.
- Recognize incidents of hostile work environment and reprisal.
Price
- Early Bird Tuition: $370 per session, $700 for both sessions (register by June 6).
- Standard Tuition: $400 per session, $730 for both sessions (register June 7-22).
- Rates per registrant. No split registrations permitted.
- Want to register a group? Contact FELTG.
Event FAQs
- Can I attend Virtual Training from my government computer?
- FELTG uses Zoom for 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 offer this live event periodically, so check our calendar for upcoming dates.
- 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 June 6.
- 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.
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
Did you know that the Federal labor statute says collective bargaining “safeguards the public interest,” “contributes to the effective conduct of public business,” and “facilitates and encourages the amicable settlement of disputes between employees and their employers”? If this is the case, why are labor-management relations perpetually adversarial? Are agencies and unions working together or against each other? How can both sides get along better, as Congress intended?
This webinar will explore strategies agencies and unions can employ to fulfill their mutual obligations to the public.
Price
- Early Bird Tuition: $270 per site, per webinar (payment required by June 13)
- Standard Tuition: $295 per site, per webinar (payments made June 14 or later)
Teleworkers may be added to a main site registration for $50 per teleworker, on a space-available basis.
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
President Biden’s Executive Order requiring all Federal employees to be vaccinated with no option for regular coronavirus testing to opt out of the mandate, will likely be back in effect within days. What does this mean for employees who refuse to get vaccinated? Are there any religious exemptions that would allow employees to continue to work without vaccination? What about employees who cannot get vaccinated due to a disability – can agencies accommodate them?
Attorney Katherine Atkinson will not only share with you the latest guidance from the president’s EO, the EEOC and the CDC, but she will also explain how applying the basic EEO framework can answer the aforementioned and other puzzling EEO questions you may suddenly face. Because Ms. Atkinson will use a legal analysis to address these challenges, the answers and guidance you receive during this virtual training will be useful long after the coronavirus is gone.
Beyond the vaccination mandate, Ms. Atkinson will also help you answer the following questions and more:
- How should agencies prioritize all the exemption requests that were on hold during the several months the EO was enjoined?
- Is COVID-related harassment and reprisal illegal under the EEO statutes?
- What documentation should agencies maintain to defend agains the complaints that will inevitably be filed?
Plus, you’ll have plenty of opportunities to ask questions about the unique problems you’re facing during these unprecedented times.
Learning takeaways
Attendees will learn how to determine:
- Whether an unvaccinated employee creates an undue hardship to an agency’s operations in the religious accommodation context
- How the undue hardship determination is different for an employee who requested accommodation due to a disability
- How to spot pandemic-related retaliation that constitutes a legal violation
This program runs from 1:00 – 4:30 eastern, with a 30-minute break midway.
This program meets the President’s mandate to provide training on diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility in the Federal workplace.
Price
- Early Bird Tuition (register by June 13): $355
- Standard Tuition (register June 14-28 or later): $395
- Rates per registrant.
- Want to register a group? Group discounts for 10 or more attendees are available through June 13. Contact FELTG.
Event FAQs
- Can I attend Virtual Training from my government computer?
- FELTG uses Zoom to broadcast this Virtual Training Institute event. Many government computers and systems allow Zoom access. If for some reason your firewall will not allow access, you’re welcome to use your personal email address to register, and to attend the sessions from your personal device.
- Can I earn CLE credits for this class?
- CLE applications are the responsibility of each attendee; FELTG does not apply for the credits on behalf of attendees. If you are seeking CLE credit, attendees may use the materials provided by FELTG in submission to your state bar. Attendees may also request a certificate of completion which will contain the number of training hours attended.
- Can I share my access link with co-workers?
- No. Registration for this event is per individual, and access links may not be shared. Each link may only be used by one person.
- Can I register a teleworker?
- This event is individual registration, so the cost is the same whether the person is teleworking or in an agency facility.
- How do I receive a group rate discount?
- Group rates are available for agencies registering 10 or more individuals. Group discounts are available through June 13.
Cancellation and No-show Policy for Registered Participants: Cancellations made after the cancel date on the registration form will not be refunded or given credit toward future courses. Pre-paid training using the “Pay Now” option will not be refunded or given credit toward future courses. No-shows will not be refunded or given credit toward future courses.
Instructor
Course Description
1
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. Before you can appropriately manage the complex reasonable accommodation requests you’re likely to receive in the next few months, you need a thorough understanding of the basics. 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.
This program meets the President’s mandate to provide training on diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility in the Federal workplace.
Price
- Early Bird Tuition: $250 per site, per session (payment made by July 11).
- Standard Tuition: $280 per site, per session (payment made July 12 or later).
- Register for all five webinars in the series by July 11 and pay only $1195!
Teleworkers may be added to a main site registration for $50 per teleworker, per webinar, on a space-available basis.
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 course.