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.
Instructors
Course Description
Pet ownership increased and animal shelters emptied during COVID-enforced lockdowns in 2020. Undoubtedly, remote workers have enjoyed the therapeutic benefits that come with owning a pet. But does that make their new furry friends therapy or emotional support animals? And can no-longer-remote employees bring their new four-legged friends to the workplace? In most cases, the answer is an easy no. But if it’s a reasonable accommodation request, the answer isn’t quite as definitive.
The EEOC’s stance that an emotional support animal may be a required reasonable accommodation for a qualified individual with a disability, even if it is not a trained service dog, fails to provide an easy answer.
Attendees will learn how to:
- Determine the difference between a service animal and a therapy animal.
- Recognize when an emotional support animal would be a reasonable accommodation
- Effectively navigate the interactive process.
Price
- Early Bird Tuition: $270 per site, per webinar (payment required by September 27)
- Standard Tuition: $295 per site, per webinar (payments made September 28 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
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.
Instructor
Program Description
There are several reasons why an EEO claim might be dismissed, but it’s not a decision that should be made too quickly or without much thought. A surprising number of agency dismissals are overturned by the EEOC each year. Don’t become another EEOC statistic.
FELTG Instructor Katherine Atkinson will review the lawful reasons for dismissing a claim — failure to state a claim, timeliness, collateral attack — and walk you through making that determination.
Learning objectives:
- Identify claims that do not fall under the EEO process
- Understand the components of timeliness in EEO claims
- Draft legally-sufficient acceptance and dismissal documents
Price
- Early Bird Tuition: $270 per site, per webinar (payment required by November 8)
- Standard Tuition: $295 per site, per webinar (payments made November 9 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.
Instructor
Course Description
Navigating the FMLA is one of the most complex challenges a federal agency can face and the addition of Paid Parental Leave (PPL) has further complicated matters. Let Federal leave expert Barbara Haga break it all down for you. During this 90-minute webinar, Ms. Haga will explain entitlements, notice requirements, medical certifications and how to hold employees accountable for conduct and performance matters when FMLA leave is involved.
Attendees will work through scenarios to learn how and when to grant FMLA. And there will be several opportunities to ask questions.
Attendees will learn how to:
- Manage substitution of paid leave (including PPL) in place of unpaid FMLA leave.
- Decide what to do when medical documentation is insufficient.
- Identify covered serious health conditions.
Price
- Early Bird Tuition: $295 per site (payment required by January 21)
- Standard Tuition: $325 per site (payments made January 22 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
Program Description
As 2021 came to a close, agency leaders and supervisors worked diligently processing requests for exemptions to the vaccine mandate, and disciplining those who refused or failed to be vaccinated. Then on January 21, a Federal judge in Texas issue a nationwide injunction that brought everything to a screeching halt. But questions remain:
- Must you overturn discipline you’ve already taken against unvaccinated employees?
- Do employees who complied with the vaccine mandate in order to maintain their jobs have a route of grievance or appeal?
- Do you still process reasonable accommodation requests for exemptions?
- Can you still ask applicants for proof of vaccination status?
- Can you still enforce other safety protocols, such as masking?
- What happens if a higher court reinstates the mandate?
- How do you handle hostile workplace discrimination based on vaccination status?
- What does this mean for agencies that have established, or want to establish, their own vaccine requirements?
During this 60-minute webinar, FELTG President Deborah Hopkins will provide answers to these and other questions — and she will take your questions as you try to navigate these uncertain issues, while at the same time your agency is making preparations to return employees to the physical workspace.
Price
- Early Bird Tuition: $285 per site (payment required by February 7)
- Standard Tuition: $315 per site (payments made February 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.
Instructor
Program Description
Unlike the MSPB, the EEOC allows parties to file motions for summary judgment, potentially eliminating the need for a time-consuming, expensive, and risky hearing. Yet, many agencies fail to take advantage of this opportunity. During this 60-minute webinar, FELTG Instructor Katherine Atkinson will explain the the importance of the Report of Investigation and thorough discovery, the benefits of motions for for summary judgment (MSJs), and what to include in the MSJ to best represent your client and case.
Attendees will learn how to:
- Identify when to file a motion for summary judgment
- Organize for the motion
- Draft an effective motion that withstands third-party scrutiny
Price
- Early Bird Tuition: $270 per site, per webinar (payment required by February 11)
- Standard Tuition: $295 per site, per webinar (payments made February 12 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
Program Description
Recreational marijuana is legal in over 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.
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.
Price
- Early Bird Tuition: $270 per site (payment required by February 16)
- Standard Tuition: $295 per site (payments made February 17 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
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.
Instructor
Course Description
A principle rule in findings of discrimination is to, as nearly as possible, place the victim in the position that person would have occupied but for the discrimination. This is easier said than done, because there’s no way to undo the harm caused by illegal employment discrimination.
Even still, damages and remedies is a topic that every EEO practitioner needs to understand, whether they’re preparing for hearing or negotiating a settlement. Bob Woods, attorney and FELTG instructor, will cover:
- Past and future pecuniary damages
- Non pecuniary damages
- Compensatory damages awards, and how the level of harm is directly related to the cap on damages!
Price
- Early Bird Tuition: $270 per site, per webinar (payment required by March 9)
- Standard Tuition: $295 per site, per webinar (payments made March 10 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
There is a lot of confusion about where the authority comes from to hold employees accountable for many things related to their positions. Position descriptions, performance plans, conduct standards, as well as requirements for training and licenses/certifications all fit into this scheme.
This two-part series will help you navigate which tool works best for building in the accountability that your agency should demand. In Part I, the focus will be on establishing effective performance elements and standards. This workshop will include detailed on guidance on writing measures that are understandable and workable as well as defensible.
FELTG Senior Instructor Barbara Haga will explain requirements for establishing various kinds of elements as well as writing standards that measure what is truly important about an employee’s performance. This workshop will include discussion of important MSPB cases about the content of standards.
Attendees will learn how to:
- Identify what critical elements and performance standards are intended to cover
- Craft workable standards that managers can explain and can effectively measure the key things regarding an employee’s performance
- Understand concepts from MSPB case law that explain how to write standards which will withstand scrutiny in grievances and appeals
Price
- Early Bird Tuition: $295 per site, per webinar (payment required by March 28)
- Standard Tuition: $335 per site, per webinar (payments made March 29 or later)
Register for both webinars by March 28 and pay only $570!
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 courses.
Instructor
Course Description
In this second part of the Tools for Accountability series. FELTG Senior Instructor Barbara Haga will cover the range of tools that are available to set job duties and functions, conduct standards, medical standards and physical requirements, and conditions of employment. The session will include discussion of utilizing position descriptions and other agency tools to establish what conduct standards employees are expected to meet. Ms. Haga will explain how to maximize the effectiveness of the tools management can employ to deal with situations when employees fail to meet those requirements.
Attendees will learn how to:
- Ensure effective use of well-crafted position descriptions.
- Establish conditions of employment and taking action when they are not met.
- Understand how medical examinations and physical requirements are established to ensure that employees can safely and effectively perform.
Price
- Early Bird Tuition: $295 per site, per webinar (payment required by March 28)
- Standard Tuition: $335 per site, per webinar (payments made March 29 or later)
Register for both webinars by March 28 and pay only $570!
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 courses.
Instructor
Course Description
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 Katherine Atkinson will review recent EEO cases to share these mistakes so you know how to avoid them.
During this webinar, 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
- Whether long-term telework during the pandemic affects an agency’s processing of telework accommodation requests
- 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: $270 per site, per session (payment made by April 5).
- Standard Tuition: $295 per site, per session (payment made April 6 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
Program Description
If you’ve been in the business for more than a few days, you know the importance of drafting legally-sufficient disciplinary charges, and making a reasonable penalty determination. Yet many agencies still lose cases because of poorly drafted charges. This session will cover the art and science behind drafting disciplinary charges, including the types of charges, parts of a charge, how charges are interpreted, and alternative charges. From there the discussion will cover the factors required to determine an appropriate penalty for employee misconduct. Plus, with a quorum now restored, we’ll look at how the brand-new MSPB views charges and penalties by deconstructing the first Board cases we’ve gotten in over five years.
Attendees will learn how to:
- Discuss the MSPB and Federal Circuit lead cases involving penalty determination.
- Defend the penalty using the Douglas Factors – or related penalty defense factors.
- Draft effective proposal and decision letters.
Price
- Early Bird Tuition: $270 per site (payment required by April 20)
- Standard Tuition: $295 per site (payments made April 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
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.
Instructor
Course Description
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.
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.
Price
- Early Bird Tuition: $270 per site, per webinar (payment required by May 4)
- Standard Tuition: $295 per site, per webinar (payments made May 5 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
The borderline between on-duty and off-duty became blurred as of late with the omnipresence of social and media and many employees working from home. 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.
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.
Price
- Early Bird Tuition: $270 per site, per webinar (payment required by May 27)
- Standard Tuition: $295 per site, per webinar (payments made May 28 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
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.
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, which allows 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.
Attendees will learn how to:
- Recognize appropriate uses of sick leave.
- Determine who is eligible for FMLA and when.
- Discuss eligibility and proper uses of Paid Parental Leave.
Price
- Early Bird Tuition: $270 per site, per webinar (payment required by June 30)
- Standard Tuition: $295 per site, per webinar (payments made July 1 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
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.
Instructor
Course Description
1
The Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) requires employers to reasonably accommodate qualified employees who have disabilities, as long as doing so doesn’t cause an undue hardship. Reasonable accommodations should be determined by the employee and the agency, through what those of us in the business call “the interactive process.”
This 60-minute webinar, the second in FELTG’s Reasonable Accommodation in the Federal Workplace series, will tackle what agencies need to know when they work with employees on reasonable accommodation, including practical applications and best practices on topics including:
- Determining the essential functions of the job
- Accommodations of choice: who gets to select the accommodation
- Holding successful discussions with the employee
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 courses.
Instructor
Program Description
Could use of pronouns or names that are inconsistent with an individual’s gender identity be considered discrimination or harassment?
Yes.
In certain circumstances.
Gender identity and related topics are so important that in June 2022 the EEOC introduced a nonbinary gender marker for people to use during the intake process, reasoning that “presenting only ‘male’ and ‘female’ options does not reflect the full range of gender identities.
In this 60-minute webinar, FELTG President Deborah Hopkins will explain how and why proper pronoun use, name use, and recognition of employee gender identity in the workplace is more than just a liability issue for your agency. From the statutory bases through precedent-setting decisions on sexual orientation and gender identity, to President Biden’s Executive order on Preventing and Combating Discrimination on the Basis of Gender Identity or Sexual Orientation, this issue is prevalent in every workplace in America.
Attendees will learn how to:
- Define key terms and concepts related to gender identity, including gender identity, confirmation, sex/gender stereotyping and more.
- Recognize microaggressions and other harassment related to gender identity.
- Identify situations when misuse of an employee’s pronoun would constitute sex-based discrimination and/or harassment.
Price
- Early Bird Tuition: $285 per site (payment required by July 18)
- Standard Tuition: $315 per site (payments made July 19 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
Before the pandemic, telework was one of the the most commonly requested accommodations for individuals with physical and mental disabilities.
After the success of two years of pandemic-induced remote work, you better believe that you’ll be getting even more reasonable accommodation requests for telework as employees are directed to return to the physical workplace. 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: $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 courses.
Instructor
Course Description
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 Ann Boehm will review recent EEO cases to share these mistakes so you know how to avoid them.
During this webinar, the fourth in FELTG’s Reasonable Accommodation in the Federal Workplace webinar series, attendees will learn:
- What steps to take when an employee informs you of his or her disability
- How to determine if telework would be an effective accommodation
- When leave would be considered an accommodation
- Whether long-term telework during the pandemic affects an agency’s processing of telework accommodation requests
- 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: $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 courses.
Instructor
Course Description
1
When the vaccine mandate, which is now on hold for many agencies, was first being enforced, vaccine-hesitant employees filed reasonable accommodation requests to be exempt from the vaccine for religious reasons. It’s probably the most religious accommodation requests agencies have received in years.
Yet, unfortunately, there is still much confusion about the law. It’s different than the law for disability accommodation, and it’s important you know the distinctions. Join FELTG for the final session in the five-part Reasonable Accommodation in the Federal Workplace webinar series.
After a review of the relevant law and regulations law that pertain to religious accommodation, FELTG Instructor Bob Woods will discuss:
- What religions qualify for accommodation
- The definition of “undue hardship” and case examples
- The most common accommodations for religion
- Issues related to dress code and grooming
- What to do when employees request to be excused from performing certain job tasks because of religious reasons
Whether you’re an attorney, EEO program specialist, HR specialist or manager, you’ll want to be sure to join us for this important session.
Price
- Early Bird Tuition: $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 courses.
Download Individual Registration Form
Course Description
FELTG’s Federal Workplace 2022: Accountability, Challenges, and Trends offers short, engaging, and guidance-filled training sessions to help you effectively manage the Federal employment challenges that are new, complicated, and critical to your and your agency’s success.
Each day focuses on a specific topic – a day each on Accountability, Challenges, and Trends. And we’ve added a bonus fourth day with a focus on Labor Relations. During the course of this program, FELTG instructors will share the best practices and lessons learned over the previous year, and provide the guidance and expertise you’ll need to thrive when faced with issues such as charging for misconduct, preparing performance narratives, reassessing reasonable accommodation post-COVID, harassment other than EEO, creating an inclusive mentality, preparing to bargain and much more. And we’ll get you up to date on the latest decisions from EEOC, MSPB, and FLRA.
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 themselves back into packed training rooms. Other virtual training providers make you register and pay for the full agenda. Not FELTG. 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 2022: Accountability, Challenges, and Trends is completely live, and attendees have the opportunities to ask questions and engage in polls and other activities.
Who Should Attend
Attorneys; Labor and Employee Relations Specialists; EEO managers and directors; EEO specialists; Reasonable Accommodation Coordinators; DEIA specialists, Federal supervisors and managers; emerging leaders; union representatives.
Download Individual Registration Form
Monday, August 29, 2022
Spotlight on Accountability
Session 1
10:30 – 11:45 am EDT
Is That Misconduct? What Do I Charge?
Presented by Bob Woods, Attorney at Law, FELTG Instructor
(Earn 1.25 CLE credits)
Too often, a misconduct action is derailed not by lack of evidence, but due to a poorly drafted disciplinary charge. Attend this session to ensure that doesn’t happen to you. FELTG Instructor Bob Woods will cover the art and science behind drafting disciplinary charges, including the types of charges, parts of a charge, how charges are interpreted, and alternative charges. He’ll provide guidance on the best charge for any disciplinary scenario. This class will also include discussion of new MSPB cases involving charges.
Learning takeaways
Attendees will learn how to:
- Discern between misconduct and poor performance.
- Identify the pros and cons of the three different styles of charging.
- Recognize why certain charges may fail, and select alternatives that will withstand review.
Session 2
1 – 2:15 pm EDT
Make Your Best Case: Effectively Preparing Performance Narratives
Presented by Barbara Haga, President/Federal HR Services, FELTG Senior Instructor
Preparing performance narratives can be tough. It’s a lot of writing, sometimes it’s hard to make the documentation you have fit what was written in the performance plan, and sometimes you know there’s going to be a fight about what you put down on that form. It may be the employee who thinks the rating should be higher. Sometimes, it’s a reviewer who doesn’t necessarily see your employee’s performance at the same level as you do. And, in some agencies, there are review panels that may be scouring your documentation. FELTG Senior Instructor Barbara Haga provides guidance to make preparing performance narratives less tough – and more effective.
Learning takeaways
Attendees will learn how to:
- Ensure they have the right criteria to measure an individual’s performance.
- Identify poorly written narratives and explain how to correct them.
- Write narratives of deficient performance that will stand up if challenged.
Session 3
3 – 4:15 pm EDT
What You Think You Know About AWOL is Probably Wrong
Presented by Deborah J. Hopkins, Attorney at Law, FELTG President
(Earn 1.25 CLE credits)
You can’t discipline an employee for AWOL unless it has reached a certain number of days. Employees can’t be removed for AWOL. You can’t be charged AWOL for time that you were physically present in the office. None of these statements is true; they are AWOL myths. During this presentation, FELTG President Deborah Hopkins will shatter those myths and provide you with clear guidance on how to handle situations when an employee doesn’t show up for work. She’ll also explain the difference in AWOL as a charge and AWOL as a non-pay status, and provide strategies on how to handle employees who don’t report for duty.
Learning takeaways
Attendees will learn how to:
- Understand the elements of the charge of Absent Without Leave or Unauthorized Absence.
- Determine reasonable penalties when AWOL is charged.
- Identify situations where a perceived AWOL might be another type of absence.
Tuesday, August 30, 2022
Spotlight on Challenges
Session 4
10:30 – 11:45 am EDT
Other Types of Harassment: Beyond Discriminatory and Sexual Harassment
Presented by Deborah J. Hopkins, Attorney at Law, FELTG President
(Earn 1.25 CLE credits)
Not everyone has the same definition of “harassment.” While most professionals recognize harassment that violates Title VII, some employees consider it harassment when supervisors provide unflattering performance feedback. And, in between, there are threatening, intimidating, and disturbing acts that are unrelated to protected classes, but nonetheless must be addressed as misconduct. FELTG President Deborah Hopkins will not only identify the lines that separate these different levels of harassment both perceived and real, but also explain how and when to address harassment as misconduct.
Learning takeaways
Attendees will learn how to:
- Differentiate between non-EEO harassment, EEO harassment, and actions that don’t qualify as harassment.
- Use the appropriate disciplinary framework for handling harassment as misconduct.
- Recognize agency obligations for addressing harassing employee behavior.
Session 5
1 – 2:15 pm EDT
Preparing for COVID-19 EEO Challenges in FY23
Presented by Ricky Rowe, former National EEO Manager/Veterans Administration, FELTG Instructor
As much as we are all ready to move on from COVID-19, the latest variant has made it clear: The virus is not done with us. As summer moves to fall, agencies will face new roadblocks returning employees to the physical workplace while keeping safe those employees who are already there. In this presentation, FELTG Instructor Ricky Rowe will focus on the relative laws and guidance surrounding temperature screening, which agencies will need to be familiar with this upcoming fiscal year. This presentation will include the most up-to-date guidance available at that time.
Learning takeaways
Attendees will learn how to:
- Implement the most updated guidance from the EEOC, CDC, the Task Force, etc.
- Recognize the potential legal pitfalls of seeking certain medical information.
- Create an effective, lawful, and operational framework for temperature screening employees.
Session 6
3 – 4:15 pm EDT
Managing a Potentially Suicidal Employee
Presented by Shana Palmieri, LCSW, CCO & Co-founder, XFERALL, FELTG Instructor
As suicide rates rise across the country, the impact is being felt in the workplace. Learning how to correctly manage an employee’s suicidal crisis and ideations is increasingly important. Knowing what to do, and when, might save an employee’s life. Shana Palmieri, LCSW will provide an overview of suicide ideation in the country and, more specifically, the workplace. She’ll share the signs, symptoms, and appropriate responses when managing an individual suffering with suicidal thoughts.
Learning takeaways
Attendees will learn how to:
- Communicate effectively with employees with suicidal ideation.
- Identify the signs and symptoms of suicide that indicate the need for professional intervention.
- Handle behavioral health emergencies.
Wednesday, August 31, 2022
Spotlight on Trends
Session 7
10:30 – 11:45 am EDT
The Power of an Inclusive Mentality
Presented by J. Bruce Stewart, PhD, Chief Executive Officer, Small World Solutions
What do rats addicted to heroin, Rosa Parks, a third-grade school teacher, a prize winning stage director, Miles Davis, and a little girl who has a form of autism called Williams Syndrome have in common? They have figured out the code to great performance. And that code? It is Inclusive Mentality. Dr. Stewart, former Deputy Director for Diversity and Inclusion for the Office of Personnel Management and creator of OPM’s New IQ, will explain what the inclusive mentality code is and how it can be unlocked to unleash the full potential of diverse teams, in line with the President’s DEIA mandates.
Learning takeaways
Attendees will learn how to:
- Develop an inclusive mentality for team and organizational success.
- Explain why diversity alone or inclusion alone is not the answer but instead a big part of the problem.
- Make others around you better (and explain why it’s the key 21st Century skill).
Session 8
1 – 2:15 pm EDT
Revisiting Existing Reasonable Accommodations
Presented by Katherine Atkinson, Attorney at Law, FELTG Instructor
(Earn 1.25 CLE credits)
One of the most important, yet often forgotten, parts of the reasonable accommodation process is the follow up. Sometimes, accommodations are no longer effective, no longer needed – or, perhaps, a more effective accommodation has become available. It’s a win-win process. And as employees start returning to the physical workplace after, for some, more than two years of remote work, now is the time to re-evaluate the effectiveness of employees’ reasonable accommodations. FELTG Instructor Katherine Atkinson, Attorney at Law, will explain why this is important and how to go about ensuring you find the right accommodation.
Learning takeaways
Attendees will learn how to:
- Restart the interactive process.
- Make an appropriate reasonable accommodation determination.
- Determine if telework is an effective accommodation.
Session 9
3 – 4:15 pm EDT
MSPB and EEOC Case Law Update
Presented by Deborah J. Hopkins, Attorney at Law, FELTG President
Whether you’re an HR professional, attorney, EEO specialist, or supervisor, keeping up with the ever-evolving Federal employment law is a necessity. Change happens quickly. This fast-paced review of the most relevant cases from the EEOC, the newly minted MSPB, and the Federal Circuit will ensure you’re not behind the times. 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 to:
- Determine the impact recent MSPB decisions on whistleblowing.
- Identify the recent critical decisions from the EEOC.
- Understand the effect of new Federal Circuit decisions on the executive branch.
Thursday, September 1, 2022
Spotlight on Labor Relations
Session 10
10:30 – 11:45 am pm EDT
What’s Happening in Federal Labor Relations?
Presented by Ann Boehm, Attorney at Law, FELTG Instructor
(Earn 1.25 CLE credits)
Ann Boehm, who spent 26 years as a government attorney (including a stint at the Federal Labor Relations Authority), will look at what’s been happening at the FLRA and what’s likely to happen now that third member Susan Tsui Grundmann has been confirmed. She’ll review recent decisions by the Federal Service Impasses Panel and discuss the five memos recently released by OPM that address enhanced workers’ rights.
Learning takeaways
Attendees will learn how to:
- Identify areas of labor law that may change with a fully staffed Authority.
- Understand the recent decisions from the FLRA and FSIP.
- Explain what your agency needs to do to meet OPM’s expectations for labor management relations.
Session 11
1 – 2:15 pm EDT
Preparing to Bargain
Presented by Joseph Schimansky, Former Executive Director/FSIP, FELTG Instructor
(Earn 1.25 CLE credits)
Whether you’re currently preparing to negotiate with the union or if it’s a year down the road, this is a do-not-miss session. Joseph Schimansky will provide you with key strategies and guidance to ensure you are well-equipped to begin negotiations, and have a plan to successfully navigate the bargaining process.
Learning takeaways
Attendees will learn how to:
- Identify the work that must be done before bargaining begins.
- Build an effective bargaining team.
- Evaluate your bargaining techniques for the most effective approach.
Pricing
- Early bird pricing for individual sessions starts at $150 per session. Daily and full event All Access discounts available.
- Early Bird discounts available until August 12.
- See registration form for full pricing details.
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?
- This program is submitted for CLE credits to the State Bar of Virginia, and we anticipate approval within. few weeks. 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 August 12.
Instructor
Course Description
The new MSPB quorum is working its way through the vast backlog of cases, and it has become clear that they’ve made whistleblower cases a priority. Over the course of 60 minutes, Attorney and FELTG instructor Bob Woods will share everything you need to know about whistleblower reprisal – the standards, burdens of proof, and actions that constitute reprisal. Plus, he’ll discuss how to defend your agency against the inevitable whistleblower reprisal allegation, and discuss the recent MSPB decisions.
Mr. Woods will also provide BONUS content — synopses of all of the new MSPB’s whistleblower decisions up to this point.
Attendees will learn how to:
- Handle whistleblower disclosures that turn out to be false.
- Recognize what constitutes whistleblower reprisal, and how to avoid it.
- Discipline a whistleblower for misconduct unrelated to whistleblowing.
Price
- Early Bird Tuition: $270 per site, per webinar (payment required by August 29)
- Standard Tuition: $295 per site, per webinar (payments made August 30 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
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 September 19-23, where the entire world of Federal labor relations will be discussed.
The program runs 12:00 – 4:00 pm eastern each day, with a 30-minute break midway through.
Instructors
Daily Agenda
Monday, September 19
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, September 20
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, September 21
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, September 22
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, September 23
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 September 5):
- 5 days = $1495
- 4 days = $1225
- 3 days = $935
- 2 days = $700
- 1 day = $370
Standard Tuition (register September 6-23):
- 5 days = $1575
- 4 days = $1305
- 3 days = $995
- 2 days = $730
- 1 day = $400
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 September 5.
Course Description
When faced with a case involving appealable adverse actions, an arbitrator must apply the same substantive standards as the Merit Systems Protection Board. The arbitrator must decide whether discipline was appropriate, and also assess whether the agency considered the relevant factors in determining the penalty. Just like an MSPB judge, the arbitrator has the authority to mitigate the penalty if it is outside the bounds of reasonableness. In this 60-minute webinar, Joe Schimansky will explain how the Douglas Factors came about and provide a detailed look at the role those factors play in the arbitration process.
Attendees will learn how to:
- Identify all 12 Douglas Factors.
- Determine whether the Douglas Factors have been appropriately considered.
- Explain how the factors apply in the circumstances of a particular case, and how to educate the arbitrator who may be unfamiliar with the Douglas framework.
Instructor
Date and Time
Thursday, September 29, 2:00 – 3:00 ET
Price
- Early Bird Tuition: $270 per site, per webinar (payment required by September 19)
- Standard Tuition: $295 per site, per webinar (payments made September 20 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.