October 2022 Federal Employment Law Training Group Newsletter
Muscle Memory For the Win – or at Least, the Finish
Longtime readers may recall that I used to be a semi-competitive triathlete. There was a period of years where I completed several Ironman triathlons, in addition to shorter distance triathlons, and even a few marathons. I still occasionally “race” at events but I don’t put in the same amount of training that I used to and, therefore, my times aren’t quite as fast. Last weekend, I ran a half marathon, and while my time was nowhere near my PR, I was pleased that years of experience and muscle memory carried me across the finish.
What in the world does that have to do with FELTG training? Well, if you attend training and keep up with what you need to know, when it comes time to act (provide a Reasonable Accommodation, draft a settlement agreement, do a Douglas analysis), you’ll be prepared to do exactly what you should do.
This month we discuss conditions of employment, what the EEOC is up to, how far you must go in Weingarten notifications, F-words, and much more.
Take care,
Deborah J. Hopkins, FELTG President
And Now a Word With … EEOC Commissioner Keith Sonderling
By Dan Gephart, October 18, 2022 Efficiency. Enforcement. These two words are probably not among the first to spring to mind when you think of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. But EEOC Commissioner Keith Sonderling has a whole lot of statistics to explain...
Why F-Words Get Agencies in Trouble
By Deborah Hopkins, October 18, 2022 For as long as we’ve been a company (since 2001, in case you’re wondering), FELTG has taught agency reps and supervisors that if you’re charging misconduct that begins with an f-word (falsification, fraud, false _______, etc.),...
The Good News: With Weingarten, The Law Is Enough!
By Ann Boehm, October 18, 2022 Once again, I’m writing about the Weingarten union representation right. This time I want to emphasize something that may seem overly obvious: Stick to the law! Let’s start with a refresher about the statutory language. The Weingarten...
‘Government Careers are Retirement Schemes for the Incompetent’
By William Wiley, October 18, 2022 Oh, did you like that one? Well, how about this: “Federal employment is basically welfare with an attendance requirement, but not a very strict one.” Are you offended yet? No? Well you just might be if you read any more of the...
Know the Warning Signs of Employee Stress and What You Can Do to Help
By FELTG Staff, October 18, 2022 Project deadlines, that one co-worker who rubs you the wrong way, work-life balance, worries about keeping your job. Sometimes, the stress of work can feel overwhelming. Even with a low unemployment rate, which allows workers more...
Conditions of Employment Revisited: VA Priest’s Case Didn’t Have a Prayer
By Barbara Haga, October 18, 2022 I have written several articles about conditions of employment over the years. They are typically simple cases processed under 5 USC Chapter 75. The newly constituted Merit Systems Protection Board ruled on one of these cases in...
Don’t Forget the Accommodation of Last Resort
By Deborah Hopkins, October 18, 2022 In our Reasonable Accommodation training classes, we at FELTG focus on the framework set out in the law. It’s the best way to ensure your agency is handling every request appropriately. Here’s the basic approach once it’s been...