Instructors
Course Description
Agencies face many challenges and unanswered questions as they attempt to bring workers back the physical workspace, especially as they pertain to reasonable accommodation requests and medical information. In this 60-minute webinar, the first in our three-part Navigating the Return to the Federal Workplace series, Attorney at Law and FELTG Instructor Katherine Atkinson provide guidance for those challenges and answer those questions, such as:
- How do you accommodate someone with ‘long COVID’ or post-acute sequelae SARS-CoV-2 infection (PASC)?
- What do you do with the results of an employee’s COVD-19 test?
- Where do you store the Certifications of Vaccination?
- Must you accommodate employees who refuse to get the vaccine?
- If a supervisor treats an employee like she has COVID-19, could that employee have a “regarded as” claim under the ADA/Rehabilitation Act?
- Do agencies have to provide a reasonable accommodation of permanent telework for an employee who refuses to get the vaccine for religious reasons?
Join us for the other two webinars in this three-part series:
- October 19: Vexing Vaccine Requirements: Responding to Requests for Exemptions
- October 26: Post-Pandemic Accountability: Handling Employee Performance and Misconduct in a COVID-19 World
This webinar and this series meet 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 October 1).
- Standard Tuition: $295 per site, per session (payment made October 2 or later).
- Register for all three webinars by October 1 and pay only $785.
Teleworkers may be added to a main site registration for $50 per webinar 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.
Instructors
Deborah Hopkins, Katherine Atkinson
Course Description
When you think about it, the federal workforce’s response to the pandemic was nothing short of remarkable. A majority of employees began working remotely for the first time in their careers. And by most accounts, it was a success.
So you’d think the eventual return back to the physical workspace would be a breeze.
Think again.
Even before the delta variant began ravaging the country, there was uncertainty on how to best return to the workplace. Now the variant has put us back almost to square one for a safe and easy return. This makes the Biden Administration’s recent Executive Order mandating all Federal employees and onsite contractors be vaccinated even more prescient.
Between the variant, the vaccination requirement, and the sheer challenge of creating a new hybrid work environment, there is more uncertainty than ever before. FELTG’s “The Return to the Workplace” webinar series offers to provide clear-cut answers, along with the appropriate framework for you to address these unique and unprecedented challenges.
October 12: Handling Pandemic-Related Reasonable Accommodation Requests and Medical Documentation
- How do you accommodate someone with ‘long COVID’ or post-acute sequelae SARS-CoV-2 infection (PASC)?
- What do you do with the results of an employee’s COVID-19 test?
- Where do you store the Certifications of Vaccination?
- Must you accommodate employees who refuse to get the vaccine?
- If a supervisor treats an employee like she has COVID-19, could that employee have a “regarded as” claim under the ADA/Rehabilitation Act?
- Do agencies have to provide a reasonable accommodation for an employee who refuses to get the vaccine for religious reasons?
October 19: Vexing Vaccine Requirements: Responding to Requests for Exemptions
- Does asking the pre-vaccination screening questions create a violation of Title II of the Genetic Information and Nondiscrimination Act?
- Can you require employees to provide proof of vaccination, rather than simply “attest” to vaccination status?
- What do you do if an employee refuses to share his or her vaccination status?
- How will you determine whether an employee’s religion or medical condition requests vaccination exemptions?
- How do you hold remote workers accountable for performance and conduct?
- Is failure to comply with a COVID-19 screening test a performance or conduct issue?
- How do you provide a performance demonstration period for an employee who is teleworking?
- What actions can you take against employees who refuse to get vaccinated?
This series 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 October 1).
- Standard Tuition: $295 per site, per session (payment made October 2 or later).
- Register for all three webinars by October 1 and pay only $785.
Teleworkers may be added to a main site registration for $50 per webinar 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.
Instructors
Course Description
Agencies face many challenges and unanswered questions as they attempt to bring workers back the physical workspace, especially as they pertain to vaccine requirements and attestations. In this 60-minute webinar, the second of our three-webinar Navigating the Return to the Federal Workplace series, Attorney at Law and FELTG Instructor Katherine Atkinson provide guidance for those challenges and answer those questions, such as:
- Does asking the pre-vaccination screening questions create a violation of Title II of the Genetic Information and Nondiscrimination Act?
- Can you require employees to provide proof of vaccination, rather than simply “attest” to vaccination status?
- What do you do if an employee refuses to share his or her vaccination status?
- How will you determine whether an employee’s religion or medical condition requests vaccination exemptions?
- How do you discipline an employee for lying on the certification of vaccination form?
Join us on October 26, for the final webinar in this series: Post-Pandemic Accountability: Handling Employee Performance and Misconduct in a COVID-19 World.
This series 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 (payment made by October 1).
- Standard Tuition: $295 per site (payment made October 2 or later).
- Register for all three webinars in the Navigating the Return to the Federal Workplace series by October 1 and pay only $785.
Teleworkers may be added to a main site registration for $50 per webinar 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.
Instructors
Deborah Hopkins, Katherine Atkinson
Course Description
When you think about it, the federal workforce’s response to the pandemic was nothing short of remarkable. A majority of employees began working remotely for the first time in their careers. And by most accounts, it was a success.
So you’d think the eventual return back to the physical workspace would be a breeze.
Think again.
Even before the delta variant began ravaging the country, there was uncertainty on how to best return to the workplace. Now the variant has put us back almost to square one for a safe and easy return. This makes the Biden Administration’s recent Executive Order mandating all Federal employees and onsite contractors be vaccinated even more prescient.
Between the variant, the vaccination requirement, and the sheer challenge of creating a new hybrid work environment, there is more uncertainty than ever before. FELTG’s “The Return to the Workplace” webinar series offers to provide clear-cut answers, along with the appropriate framework for you to address these unique and unprecedented challenges.
October 12: Handling Pandemic-Related Reasonable Accommodation Requests and Medical Documentation
- How do you accommodate someone with ‘long COVID’ or post-acute sequelae SARS-CoV-2 infection (PASC)?
- What do you do with the results of an employee’s COVID-19 test?
- Where do you store the Certifications of Vaccination?
- Must you accommodate employees who refuse to get the vaccine?
- If a supervisor treats an employee like she has COVID-19, could that employee have a “regarded as” claim under the ADA/Rehabilitation Act?
- Do agencies have to provide a reasonable accommodation for an employee who refuses to get the vaccine for religious reasons?
October 19: Vexing Vaccine Requirements: Responding to Requests for Exemptions
- Does asking the pre-vaccination screening questions create a violation of Title II of the Genetic Information and Nondiscrimination Act?
- Can you require employees to provide proof of vaccination, rather than simply “attest” to vaccination status?
- What do you do if an employee refuses to share his or her vaccination status?
- How will you determine whether an employee’s religion or medical condition requests vaccination exemptions?
- How do you hold remote workers accountable for performance and conduct?
- Is failure to comply with a COVID-19 screening test a performance or conduct issue?
- How do you provide a performance demonstration period for an employee who is teleworking?
- What actions can you take against employees who refuse to get vaccinated?
This series 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 October 1).
- Standard Tuition: $295 per site, per session (payment made October 2 or later).
- Register for all three webinars by October 1 and pay only $785.
Teleworkers may be added to a main site registration for $50 per webinar 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.
Instructors
Course Description
Agencies face many challenges and unanswered questions about performance and conduct as they attempt to bring workers back the physical workspace, while maintaining some type of hybrid work environment. In this final webinar of our three-part Navigating the Return to the Federal Workplace series, Attorney at Law and FELTG President Deborah Hopkins provide guidance for those challenges and answer those questions, such as:
- How do you hold remote workers accountable for performance and conduct?
- Is failure to comply with a COVID-19 screening test a performance or conduct issue?
- How do you provide a performance demonstration period for an employee who is teleworking?
- What discipline is appropriate for an employee who refuses to get the COVID-19 vaccine?
This series 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 (payment made by October 1).
- Standard Tuition: $295 per site (payment made October 2 or later).
- Register for all three webinars in the Navigating the Return to the Federal Workplace series by October 1 and pay only $785.
Teleworkers may be added to a main site registration for $50 per webinar 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.
Instructors
Deborah Hopkins, Katherine Atkinson
Course Description
When you think about it, the federal workforce’s response to the pandemic was nothing short of remarkable. A majority of employees began working remotely for the first time in their careers. And by most accounts, it was a success.
So you’d think the eventual return back to the physical workspace would be a breeze.
Think again.
Even before the delta variant began ravaging the country, there was uncertainty on how to best return to the workplace. Now the variant has put us back almost to square one for a safe and easy return. This makes the Biden Administration’s recent Executive Order mandating all Federal employees and onsite contractors be vaccinated even more prescient.
Between the variant, the vaccination requirement, and the sheer challenge of creating a new hybrid work environment, there is more uncertainty than ever before. FELTG’s “The Return to the Workplace” webinar series offers to provide clear-cut answers, along with the appropriate framework for you to address these unique and unprecedented challenges.
October 12: Handling Pandemic-Related Reasonable Accommodation Requests and Medical Documentation
- How do you accommodate someone with ‘long COVID’ or post-acute sequelae SARS-CoV-2 infection (PASC)?
- What do you do with the results of an employee’s COVID-19 test?
- Where do you store the Certifications of Vaccination?
- Must you accommodate employees who refuse to get the vaccine?
- If a supervisor treats an employee like she has COVID-19, could that employee have a “regarded as” claim under the ADA/Rehabilitation Act?
- Do agencies have to provide a reasonable accommodation for an employee who refuses to get the vaccine for religious reasons?
October 19: Vexing Vaccine Requirements: Responding to Requests for Exemptions
- Does asking the pre-vaccination screening questions create a violation of Title II of the Genetic Information and Nondiscrimination Act?
- Can you require employees to provide proof of vaccination, rather than simply “attest” to vaccination status?
- What do you do if an employee refuses to share his or her vaccination status?
- How will you determine whether an employee’s religion or medical condition requests vaccination exemptions?
- How do you hold remote workers accountable for performance and conduct?
- Is failure to comply with a COVID-19 screening test a performance or conduct issue?
- How do you provide a performance demonstration period for an employee who is teleworking?
- What actions can you take against employees who refuse to get vaccinated?
This series 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 October 1).
- Standard Tuition: $295 per site, per session (payment made October 2 or later).
- Register for all three webinars by October 1 and pay only $785.
Teleworkers may be added to a main site registration for $50 per webinar 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
As an Employee Relations Specialist, you have a challenging job, and you never know just what personnel challenges might find a spot on your ever-increasing “to do” list.
This seminar starts by grounding the student in the laws, regulations and policies associated with job functions, and provides an explanation on how ER fits within the agency’s greater HR function. After the basics, we’ll dive in to a number of unique topics, which include (but definitely are not limited to) performance plans, standards and recognition; hours of work — including overtime and compensatory time; pay and RIFs; furloughs; handling specific disciplinary situations; leave – including types, accrual, FMLA, military leave and leave stacking; involuntary separations; dispute resolution; EAPs; medical issues and injury compensation; drug testing; plus basic EEO information – including disparate treatment, disparate impact and reasonable accommodation.
Daily sessions run from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Instructor
Daily Agenda
Monday
Introduction to Employee Relations: Functions, key terms and concepts; intersection of Employee Relations and Labor Relations; merit system principles; hours of work; modified schedules; overtime; types of leave.
Tuesday
Leave Administration: Introduction to Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA); Medical documentation; military leave; administrative leave; performance management appraisal periods; monitoring performance; grievances and appeals; 432 actions.
Wednesday
Performance Issues & Introduction to EEO: Performance Plans; Performance measures; employee recognition; Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs); introduction to Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO): framework and disparate impact.
Thursday
Discipline Issues: Discipline Overview; Responsibilities of HR and supervisors; adverse actions; penalties; alternative discipline; standards of proof; harmful error; specific disciplinary situations; methods of dispute resolution.
Friday
Employee Relations Potpourri: Separations, Retirement; Involuntary Actions; Medical issues: qualification and documentations; reasonable accommodation; drug testing; roles and responsibilities of HR in the process.
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 November 1):
- 5 days = $2375
- 4 days = $1995
- 3 days = $1575
- 2 days = $1100
- 1 day = $575
Standard Tuition (register November 2-19):
- 5 days = $2475
- 4 days = $2095
- 3 days = $1675
- 2 days = $1200
- 1 day = $675
Seminar registration includes a printed copy of the materials via USPS. In order to receive materials by the training date, please register by November 1 and provide a shipping address. Registrations received after November 1 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 credits for this class?
- This program is pre-approved for CLE credits in Virginia. 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 November 1.
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
The Board is back and now is the right time to sharpen your MSPB skills and refresh your knowledge.
And in the five years since MSPB last had a quorum, the civil service world, particularly as it applies to employee relations, has not stood still. Change happened, sometimes quickly. It’s important to be aware of the laws, regulations, and executive orders that apply to you .
There is one place you can consistently get the best guidance and most up-to-date information you need. MSPB Law Week covers the legal requirements and best practices for disciplinary charges and penalties, plus understanding the law and strategy in handling performance cases and defending against whistleblower reprisal complaints. Join top MSPB practitioners and topic authors, and learn the law, strategies, and techniques from their many years of combined experience.
The program runs 12:00 – 4:00 pm eastern each day, with a break from 1:45 – 2:15.
Instructors
Deborah Hopkins, Ann Boehm, Bob Woods
Daily Agenda
Monday
The Foundations of Accountability; Adverse Actions: Statutory basis including the Civil Service Reform Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs Accountability and Whistleblower Protection Act, the five elements of every disciplinary case and the burdens of proof, the fundamentals of penalty selection and defense, discipline procedures and appeals.
Tuesday
Disciplinary Charges: Types of charges, parts of a charge, how charges are interpreted, the role of the proposing and deciding officials, capitalizing on the general charge, allowing the inclusion of lesser-included offenses, charging in the alternative, attractive options to difficult charges and common charging mistakes, proving the difficult “intent” charge element, a step by step approach to charge drafting.
Wednesday
Penalties: MSPB and Federal Circuit lead cases in penalty determination, getting “intent” penalties off of “non-intent” charges, proving harsh penalties off of vanilla charges, charging down and proving up, how the maximum penalty is established, penalty mitigation; law enforcement officer discipline.
Thursday
Unacceptable Performance: Performance actions in perspective, drafting a defensible performance standard, documenting and justifying your decision to put an employee on a Performance Demonstrating Period (DPs, formerly known as PIPs), implementing DPs, defeating the DP rollercoaster; the proof needed to take a performance-based action; removing a poor performer in 31 days.
Friday
Defending Against Whistleblower Reprisal Claims and other Affirmative Defenses: Whistleblower claims: protected disclosures and whistleblower reprisal, claims of harmful error, reprisal for union activity, excessive penalty findings.
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 14):
- 5 days = $1525
- 4 days = $1245
- 3 days = $960
- 2 days = $680
- 1 day = $395
Standard Tuition (register March 14 – April 1):
- 5 days = $1600
- 4 days = $1325
- 3 days = $1015
- 2 days = $725
- 1 day = $445
Seminar registration includes a copy of the textbook UnCivil Servant: Holding Employees Accountable for Performance and Conduct, 5th ed., by Wiley and Hopkins. In order to receive your copy of the textbook by the training date, please register by March 14 and provide a shipping address in the designated space on the registration form.
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 14.
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.
Instructors
Course Description
After two-plus years of pandemic upheaval, agencies are finally bringing most employees back to the physical workplace, at least some of the time. After previous attempts were upended by COVID variants, agencies now have tangible plans on who is coming back, and when. And with those plans come brand-new challenges for your agency.
- Uncertainty about the future of the vaccination requirement.
- Medical considerations as new variants continue to circulate.
- Strongly held feelings and belief about COVID-related matters.
- Employees, now used to the flexibilities of remote work, who don’t want to return to the physical workplace.
- And the uncertainty about the new hybrid workplace that many agencies are creating.
FELTG’s “The Return to the Workplace” webinar series offers to provide clear-cut answers, along with the appropriate framework for you to address these unique and unprecedented challenges.
May 4: New EEO Challenges: Preventing Post-COVID Reprisal and Harassment
Rather than bringing people together to fight a common cause, the pandemic widened the deep politicization in this country, which, unfortunately, has filtered into workplaces. Federal agencies should be prepared to identify and handle expected increases in COVID-related reprisal and harassment. In this 60-minute webinar, FELTG President Deborah Hopkins will provide answers to numerous questions, including:
- What’s the difference between COVID-related harassment and reprisal?
- How can you prevent adverse treatment of individuals who requested an exemption to the vaccine requirement?
- Is harassing someone who doesn’t believe in COVID an EEO issue?
- What parameters can employers set about COVID- and vaccine-related conversations in the workplace?
May 11: Managing Post-pandemic Reasonable Accommodation Requests and Medical Documentation
Before a Federal district judge in Texas issued an injunction on the vaccine requirement for many (but not all) Federal employees, many of you were dealing with multiple requests for exemptions. And with the injunction set to be lifted May 31, those requests – plus any new ones that are filed – will once again require processing. And even more new accommodation challenges await you, along with potential minefields that if not avoided could lead to ADA/Rehabilitation Action violations. In this 60-minute webinar, FELTG Instructor Ann Boehm will provide answers to numerous questions, including:
- How do you accommodate someone with ‘long COVID’?
- What do you do with the results of an employee’s COVID-19 test or vaccine documentation?
- If an employee successfully performed remotely, must you grant his accommodation request for permanent telework?
- Should you review all of the reasonable accommodations offered before employees return to the workplace?
- What should agencies be doing with all those requests for vaccine exemptions?
May 18: Managing Return-to-the-Workplace Conduct Challenges
Many Federal employees are eager to return to the physical workplace. However, it’s important to remember that there are just as many employees, if not more, who are comfortable in their current remote work situation, and do not look forward to a return. There are likely numerous other employees who continue to carry a chip on their shoulder about how the pandemic was handled. In this 60-minute webinar, FELTG President Deborah Hopkins will address how to handle some of the conduct challenges you’re likely to face. She’ll provide answers to numerous questions, including:
- Is failure to comply with a COVID-19 screening test or mask requirement a performance or conduct issue?
- Where do things stand with the vaccine requirement?
- What actions can you take against employees who refuse to return to the workplace?
- If an employee is AWOL, what options does your agency have?
- Can you discipline someone for publicly sharing their personal opinions about COVID restrictions?
This series meets the President’s mandate to provide training on diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility in the Federal workplace.
Price
- Early Bird Tuition: $290 per site, per session (payment made by April 25).
- Standard Tuition: $320 per site, per session (payment made April 26 or later).
- Register for all three webinars by April 25 and pay only $830.
Teleworkers may be added to a main site registration for $50 per webinar 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.
Instructors
Course Description
After two-plus years of pandemic upheaval, agencies are finally bringing most employees back to the physical workplace, at least some of the time. After previous attempts were upended by COVID variants, agencies now have tangible plans on who is coming back, and when. And with those plans come brand-new challenges for your agency.
- Uncertainty about the future of the vaccination requirement.
- Medical considerations as new variants continue to circulate.
- Strongly held feelings and belief about COVID-related matters.
- Employees, now used to the flexibilities of remote work, who don’t want to return to the physical workplace.
- And the uncertainty about the new hybrid workplace that many agencies are creating.
FELTG’s “The Return to the Workplace” webinar series offers to provide clear-cut answers, along with the appropriate framework for you to address these unique and unprecedented challenges.
May 4: New EEO Challenges: Preventing Post-COVID Reprisal and Harassment
Rather than bringing people together to fight a common cause, the pandemic widened the deep politicization in this country, which, unfortunately, has filtered into workplaces. Federal agencies should be prepared to identify and handle expected increases in COVID-related reprisal and harassment. In this 60-minute webinar, FELTG President Deborah Hopkins will provide answers to numerous questions, including:
- What’s the difference between COVID-related harassment and reprisal?
- How can you prevent adverse treatment of individuals who requested an exemption to the vaccine requirement?
- Is harassing someone who doesn’t believe in COVID an EEO issue?
- What parameters can employers set about COVID- and vaccine-related conversations in the workplace?
May 11: Managing Post-pandemic Reasonable Accommodation Requests and Medical Documentation
Before a Federal district judge in Texas issued an injunction on the vaccine requirement for many (but not all) Federal employees, many of you were dealing with multiple requests for exemptions. And with the injunction set to be lifted May 31, those requests – plus any new ones that are filed – will once again require processing. And even more new accommodation challenges await you, along with potential minefields that if not avoided could lead to ADA/Rehabilitation Action violations. In this 60-minute webinar, FELTG Instructor Ann Boehm will provide answers to numerous questions, including:
- How do you accommodate someone with ‘long COVID’?
- What do you do with the results of an employee’s COVID-19 test or vaccine documentation?
- If an employee successfully performed remotely, must you grant his accommodation request for permanent telework?
- Should you review all of the reasonable accommodations offered before employees return to the workplace?
- What should agencies be doing with all those requests for vaccine exemptions?
May 18: Managing Return-to-the-Workplace Conduct Challenges
Many Federal employees are eager to return to the physical workplace. However, it’s important to remember that there are just as many employees, if not more, who are comfortable in their current remote work situation, and do not look forward to a return. There are likely numerous other employees who continue to carry a chip on their shoulder about how the pandemic was handled. In this 60-minute webinar, FELTG President Deborah Hopkins will address how to handle some of the conduct challenges you’re likely to face. She’ll provide answers to numerous questions, including:
- Is failure to comply with a COVID-19 screening test or mask requirement a performance or conduct issue?
- Where do things stand with the vaccine requirement?
- What actions can you take against employees who refuse to return to the workplace?
- If an employee is AWOL, what options does your agency have?
- Can you discipline someone for publicly sharing their personal opinions about COVID restrictions?
This series meets the President’s mandate to provide training on diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility in the Federal workplace.
Price
- Early Bird Tuition: $290 per site, per session (payment made by April 25).
- Standard Tuition: $320 per site, per session (payment made April 26 or later).
- Register for all three webinars by April 25 and pay only $830.
Teleworkers may be added to a main site registration for $50 per webinar 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.
Instructors
Course Description
After two-plus years of pandemic upheaval, agencies are finally bringing most employees back to the physical workplace, at least some of the time. After previous attempts were upended by COVID variants, agencies now have tangible plans on who is coming back, and when. And with those plans come brand-new challenges for your agency.
- Uncertainty about the future of the vaccination requirement.
- Medical considerations as new variants continue to circulate.
- Strongly held feelings and belief about COVID-related matters.
- Employees, now used to the flexibilities of remote work, who don’t want to return to the physical workplace.
- And the uncertainty about the new hybrid workplace that many agencies are creating.
FELTG’s “The Return to the Workplace” webinar series offers to provide clear-cut answers, along with the appropriate framework for you to address these unique and unprecedented challenges.
May 4: New EEO Challenges: Preventing Post-COVID Reprisal and Harassment
Rather than bringing people together to fight a common cause, the pandemic widened the deep politicization in this country, which, unfortunately, has filtered into workplaces. Federal agencies should be prepared to identify and handle expected increases in COVID-related reprisal and harassment. In this 60-minute webinar, FELTG President Deborah Hopkins will provide answers to numerous questions, including:
- What’s the difference between COVID-related harassment and reprisal?
- How can you prevent adverse treatment of individuals who requested an exemption to the vaccine requirement?
- Is harassing someone who doesn’t believe in COVID an EEO issue?
- What parameters can employers set about COVID- and vaccine-related conversations in the workplace?
May 11: Managing Post-pandemic Reasonable Accommodation Requests and Medical Documentation
Before a Federal district judge in Texas issued an injunction on the vaccine requirement for many (but not all) Federal employees, many of you were dealing with multiple requests for exemptions. And with the injunction set to be lifted May 31, those requests – plus any new ones that are filed – will once again require processing. And even more new accommodation challenges await you, along with potential minefields that if not avoided could lead to ADA/Rehabilitation Action violations. In this 60-minute webinar, FELTG Instructor Ann Boehm will provide answers to numerous questions, including:
- How do you accommodate someone with ‘long COVID’?
- What do you do with the results of an employee’s COVID-19 test or vaccine documentation?
- If an employee successfully performed remotely, must you grant his accommodation request for permanent telework?
- Should you review all of the reasonable accommodations offered before employees return to the workplace?
- What should agencies be doing with all those requests for vaccine exemptions?
May 18: Managing Return-to-the-Workplace Conduct Challenges
Many Federal employees are eager to return to the physical workplace. However, it’s important to remember that there are just as many employees, if not more, who are comfortable in their current remote work situation, and do not look forward to a return. There are likely numerous other employees who continue to carry a chip on their shoulder about how the pandemic was handled. In this 60-minute webinar, FELTG President Deborah Hopkins will address how to handle some of the conduct challenges you’re likely to face. She’ll provide answers to numerous questions, including:
- Is failure to comply with a COVID-19 screening test or mask requirement a performance or conduct issue?
- Where do things stand with the vaccine requirement?
- What actions can you take against employees who refuse to return to the workplace?
- If an employee is AWOL, what options does your agency have?
- Can you discipline someone for publicly sharing their personal opinions about COVID restrictions?
This series meets the President’s mandate to provide training on diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility in the Federal workplace.
Price
- Early Bird Tuition: $290 per site, per session (payment made by April 25).
- Standard Tuition: $320 per site, per session (payment made April 26 or later).
- Register for all three webinars by April 25 and pay only $830.
Teleworkers may be added to a main site registration for $50 per webinar 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
Let’s face it: being a federal sector Employee Relations Specialist is a tough job. It’s great to know the basics, but the basics don’t always help you when you’re facing those really challenging situations. That’s when you realize that there is much more to learn.
FELTG is presenting Advanced Employee Relations, a three-day seminar that gives you the kind of interactive foundational-based training necessary to handle the most challenging and complicated situations.
Held in Washington, DC, you’ll receive in-depth training on topics including leave, performance, misconduct, disability accommodation and medical issues that affect Federal employees, and more. Plus, hands-on workshops will allow you to leave with the tools you’ll need to succeed. And it will all be taught by FELTG Senior Instructor Barbara Haga.
Great training. Great instructor. Great location. Register now.
The class will run from 8:30 am – 4:30 pm each day.
Instructor
Daily Agenda:
Tuesday, September 26
Leave and Attendance: Administering leave, with particular emphasis on sick leave, LWOP,
and FMLA. Detailed review of sick leave provisions including authorized purposes for use of sick leave, limitations on use of sick leave for family care and bereavement, eligibility to use leave for care, notice requirements, acceptable documentation. Management actions to control use of leave and abuse of sick leave. Detailed review of FMLA provisions including eligibility to
invoke FMLA, entitlement, coverage of family members, administration and notice
requirements. Acceptable medical documentation under FMLA, definition of serious health
condition. Substitution of paid leave, including a review of the requirements for administering
Paid Parental Leave. Discipline tied to FMLA. LWOP – when LWOP is mandatory, limits on
granting LWOP, employee status while on extended LWOP. Other topics – issues related to
annual leave and leave transfer, other leave entitlements.
Wednesday, September 27
Performance Management: Managing performance from system establishment to conducting
annual appraisals to taking actions linked to performance. Requirements for
performance plans, including design of agency systems, rating schemes, and procedures for
conducting appraisals. Linkage between appraisal and other personnel management decisions, including reduction-in-force and within-grade increases. Writing effective and measurable performance criteria that will withstand third-party review, including a workshop where participants will do an in-depth review of performance plans. Requirements for successful performance-based actions – from drafting a PIP notice that will withstand scrutiny (including post-Santos issues) to conducting a bona fide PIP.
Thursday, September 28
Misconduct and Other Related Issues: Implementation of a successful disciplinary program – delegation of authority, role of advisors, warnings and cautions, use of administrative leave. Nexus. Dealing with comparators in determining a penalty. Adjudication of claimed involuntary resignations and retirements. Ordering and offering offering medical examinations. Specific disciplinary situations: handling situations when an employee is unable to perform including excessive leave, separation disability; conduct unbecoming; misuse and technology-related misconduct; failure to meet conditions of employment.
Pricing
Early Bird Tuition (register by September 1):
- 3 days = $1795
- 2 days = $1335
- 1 day = $745
Standard Tuition (register September 2 or later):
- 3 days = $1995
- 2 days = $1535
- 1 day = $945
Metro, Parking, Directions
Metro: The International Student House (1825 R Street NW) is located in convenient proximity to the Red Line. Exit Metro at the Dupont Circle station and proceed to the Q Street/North exit. Head north (you will come off the escalator facing north; if you use the elevator take a left after exiting) on Connecticut Avenue to R Street NW (approximately one block). Turn right onto R Street NW. Cross 19th Street NW and the International Student House will be on the left side of the street approximately halfway down the block. If you reach the Bikeshare dock, you’ve gone too far. Approximate walk time: 7-10 minutes.
Parking: Street parking is metered and is limited to two hours, unless you have a Washington, DC, Zone 2 parking pass. The closest parking garage is at 11 Dupont Circle, approximately two blocks from the International Student House (1825 R Street NW). Approximate walk time: 5 -7 minutes.
From the Lyle Hotel: After exiting the Lyle Hotel, turn left. At the first intersection, R Street NW, turn right. Proceed approximately one block. The International Student House (1825 R Street NW) will be on your right, just past the Bikeshare dock. Approximate walk time: 4-6 minutes.
Cancellation and No-show Policy for Registered Participants: Cancellations made after the cancel date on the registration form will not be refunded or given credit toward future courses. Pre-paid training using the “Pay Now” option will not be refunded or given credit toward future courses. No-shows will not be refunded or given credit toward future courses.