May 2020 Federal Employment Law Training Group Newsletter
Living in a Virtual Reality World
It seems like years since I shared with you the photo I took from the top of the Washington Monument looking over the National Mall and the U.S. Capitol, but that was only in January. It’s amazing how life during a pandemic alters the way time passes.
Time isn’t the only thing that’s been altered. The way we live life and the way we work has changed dramatically. Because telework, travel, and return to work guidelines vary from agency to agency and state to state, FELTG has decided to hold our open enrollment classes virtually through August. We hope this will eliminate some of the uncertainty of “will they or won’t they run the class,” and will allow you to make your summer training plans soon, knowing you can attend whether you’re working from home or are back in your agency workplace. Our website list of events has a full calendar where you can see what programs we’re offering, and when. We hope you can join us, as we all work through this “virtual reality” together.
This month’s newsletter tackles the eventual return of employees to the workplace and other pandemic-related challenges, what happens when you leave a nuclear missile unguarded, Medical Inability to Perform removals, and much more – including an introduction to our newest instructor.
Take care,
Deborah J. Hopkins, FELTG President
Failure to Follow Instructions: A Charge That Seems Particularly Fit for 2020
By Barbara Haga, May 20, 2020 Ensuring that employees comply with work procedures and requirements has taken on a new characteristic with the pandemic. As agencies prepare to bring employees back into the workplace, there could be new problems with failure to comply...
To Err Is Human — And Maybe Also a Reason to Change a Personnel Record?
By Meghan Droste, May 20, 2020 As many of you are aware, the work of negotiating settlement agreements became more difficult on May 25, 2018, with the issuance of Executive Order 13839. Section 5 orders agencies not to “Erase, remove, alter, or withhold form another...
If You Leave an Intercontinental Ballistic Missile Unguarded, You’re Probably Getting Fired
By Deborah Hopkins, May 20, 2020 A few weeks ago, I wrote an article about progressive discipline, and explained how a time-tested approach to discipline in the federal government provides for a “three strikes and you’re out” mentality, at least when it comes to minor...
The Good News: You Can Still Boost Employee Morale Virtually
By Ann Boehm, May 20, 2020 In this strange COVID-19 world, we are struggling to see the bright side of the situation and trying to avoid the constant barrage of bad news. Actor John Krasinski is providing Some Good News and multiple news outlets are providing Good...
The Employee Who Can’t Perform the Essential Functions Because of a Disability
By William Wiley, May 20, 2020 At FELTG, we love a good hypothetical Q & A, especially a hypothetical that comes from a nice student who has attended one of our classes. Here’s an example of just such an exchange: Greetings, I am an attorney who recently attended...
Three Things to Consider as You Prepare for Employees’ Return to the Workplace
By Dan Gephart, May 20, 2020 While the nation’s slow re-opening is being welcomed by struggling small businesses and Americans eager for a return to normalcy, it is also being met with hesitation and fear by many employees who will soon be making their way back to the...
Supervisor Survival Series: Trust Your Teleworkers – Unless There’s a Reason Not To
Monthly Observations, Guidance, Tools, and Tips to Make Your Job Easier Right now, an unprecedented number of federal employees are teleworking as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to spread across the globe. Supervisors are understandably overwhelmed, especially as...
Tips From The Other Side: Provide an Effective Accommodation and Follow Up
By Meghan Droste, May 20, 2020 As we continue into what feels like the third year of quarantine (but is really just getting to the end of month two, at least in the Washington, DC area), I have a bold prediction for my fellow employment law practitioners: I expect we...
And Now a Word With … Bob Woods
By Dan Gephart, May 20, 2020 We are thrilled to announce the newest addition to our FELTG Faculty – Bob Woods (pictured at right). As a former federal conference program chair, I had the opportunity to work with Bob in recent years. He’s smart, engaging, approachable,...