October 2023 Federal Employment Law Training Group Newsletter
Mark Your 2024 Calendars

A female presenter interacting with the audience at a training event
Happy fall, FELTG readers! You will be happy to know we’ve just posted the Winter/Spring 2024 schedule for FELTG’s week-long virtual training events. Stay tuned for an announcement on other calendar additions, but for now mark your calendars, or register, for any (or heck, all) of these programs:
- Calling All Counselors: Initial 32 Hour Plus Refresher Training, Jan. 29 – Feb. 1
- Workplace Investigations Week, March 4-8
- EEOC Law Week, March 18-22
- MSPB Law Week, April 15-19
- FLRA Law Week, May 6-10
- Absence, Leave Abuse & Medical Issues Week, June 3-7
We’ve got a lot more on the calendar: check here for everything by month.
The October FELTG newsletter tackles conduct unbecoming, hostile work environment, lack of candor, and reasonable accommodation.
Take care,
Deborah J. Hopkins, FELTG President
Apparently, This is NOT Conduct Unbecoming a Supervisor
By Deborah J. Hopkins, October 16, 2023 The Merit Systems Protection Board has taken a several-week break from issuing decisions while it updates its e-Appeal online system. The system was scheduled to come back online this week. In the meantime, I wanted to highlight...
It’s a Bumper-to-Bumper Ride When Determining Hostile Environment
By Ann Boehm, October 16, 2023 While teaching a recent class about hostile work environment, a participant asked me if an offensive bumper sticker on a co-worker’s car could create a hostile work environment. Hmmmm. Interesting question. Let’s work through this, shall...
Was Employee Being Honest With Her Agency? Not Even Remotely
By Dan Gephart, October 16, 2023 Sen. Joni Ernst is clearly not a fan of remote work. She recently accused Federal teleworkers of “fraud.” Dig beyond the headline and you’ll see many of Ernst’s claims were based on outdated reports. But she may have been onto...
Invisible Disabilities Require Same Focus as Those You Can See
By Frank Ferreri, October 17, 2023 Although the Rehabilitation Act just turned 50, and the ADA is in its 30-something stage of life, employers – Federal and otherwise – continue to struggle with accommodations, particularly for employees whose disabilities aren’t...