Course Description

Course Description

Back by request, and updated with the very latest.

If one of your agency’s employees had a mental health crisis in the workplace, would you know what to do? And considering most employees are working remotely, how would you even know?

Almost 18 percent of all adults have a mental illness diagnosis at some point in their lives. The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated the ongoing mental health crisis in this country. Meanwhile, much of the federal workplace is struggling with new work processes and heightened responsibilities, especially those working directly on the pandemic while navigating political minefields.

This virtual training program will provide highly practical guidance and straight-forward advice on dealing with the very unique challenges you face at this time. Licensed Clinical Social Work Shana Palmieri will de-stigmatize the truth about “mental illness” and will explain the impact various mental health conditions have on individuals, and those they work with. She’ll also provide strategies for effectively supervising and managing employees with these conditions, even as they work remotely.

Ms. Palmieri will answer challenging questions like:

What do you do if you suspect a mental health crisis and the employee won’t answer his phone?
How do you provide constructive criticism to someone who exhibits narcissistic behavior?
If you suspect that one of your employees has a mental impairment, what can you do beyond directing them to EAP?
What are the symptoms of a personality disorder?

Attendees will learn how to walk the tenuous line between providing accommodations and support for a mental health condition and holding employees accountable for their work performance. Attend this timely virtual training event and learn strategies to:

Improve performance and success for employees with mental health conditions.
Communicate effectively with all employees.
Successfully accommodate employees with behavioral health conditions.
Set appropriate boundaries and expectations in the workplace.
Handle a crisis or outburst in the workplace.

This class focuses on the practical and clinical side of managing employees with behavioral health conditions, rather than the legal side. It will be held from 1:00 – 4:30pm eastern. You won’t want to miss it.

Instructor

Shana Palmieri

Price

Early Bird Tuition: $325 (register by November 27).
Standard Tuition: $365 (register November 28-December 9).
Rates per registrant.

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 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.
Can I earn CLE credits or EEO refresher training 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.
How do I receive a group rate discount?
- Group rates are available for agencies registering 10 or more individuals. Group discounts are available through November 27.

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.

Jan

21

Thu

Webinar Series – Toolkit for a New Administration: Essential Skills and Knowledge for Federal Supervisors, Managers, and Leaders

Deborah Hopkins, Anthony Marchese, Shana Palmieri

Jan 21 @ 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm

Download Registration Form

Instructors

Course Description

Being a leader in the federal government means getting new leadership every four or eight years. There will be many major changes and new priorities in the upcoming months. Being successful in this environment requires the right amount of flexibility, resilience, adaptability, and knowledge. FELTG’s new three-part webinar series will prepare you, your team, and your agency for these uncertain times.

FELTG President and attorney Deborah Hopkins will share a current snapshot of the key areas of federal employment law that impact you most, and provide a look-ahead to help you efficiently prepare for likely changes. Dr. Anthony Marchese will share guidance on how to effectively manage and communicate in dynamic situations, and Shana Palmieri, LCSW, will give you the tools to ensure that you and your staff thrive despite the inherent stress that comes with so much change.

From first-line supervisors to senior executives, federal managers at all levels will benefit from these three 60-minute webinars. This program will also be of significant help to attorneys, HR professionals and EEO directors and specialists.

Join FELTG for one, two, or all three of these timely webinars.

January 21 — Federal Employment Law: The Current Landscape: Over the last few years, President Trump issued several Executive Orders that created significant changes to labor relations, employee accountability, EEO training, and more. What will come of those EOs? Will there finally be a full Board at the MSPB? What are the new trends in EEO law? And how has the pandemic impacted agencies’ accountability systems, particularly the management of a remote workforce? FELTG President Deborah Hopkins will discuss likely upcoming legal changes, share recent critical case law, and prepare you for the year ahead.

January 28 — Navigating Change Through Effective Management and Communication: FELTG Instructor Anthony Marchese, Ph.D., will show you how to communicate, manage conflict, and supervise your staff through new challenges – and a change in management philosophy – with precision. He’ll explain how to get your employees confident and ready to handle changes in direction, policy, and law. Attendees will leave with a structured approach to high-stakes conversations.

February 4 — Effective Performance Under Stress: A new administration means new goals, new policies and new directions. And this time, the change in direction is likely to more often be 180 degrees instead of quarter turns. Meanwhile, the pandemic continues to ravage communities, and the important work you do continues to be done at a distance. FELTG Instructor and Licensed Clinical Social Worker Shana Palmieri will show you how to implement strategies to stabilize mood and stress level, and improve the overall health of you and your employees.

Pricing

Early Bird Tuition (price per webinar, payment required by January 12):

1 line: $195
2-5 lines: $345
6-9 lines: $480
10-15 lines: $760
16-20 lines: $975

Standard Tuition (price per webinar, payment made by January 13 or later):

1 line: $225
2-5 lines: $385
6-9 lines: $530
10-15 lines: $820
16-20 lines: $1040

Additional lines above 20 attendees may be added to a main site registration for $40 per person, on a space-available basis.

Categories: EEO Leadership Open Enrollment Webinar Tags: webinar

Jan

28

Thu

Webinar Series – Toolkit for a New Administration: Essential Skills and Knowledge for Federal Supervisors, Managers, and Leaders

Deborah Hopkins, Anthony Marchese, Shana Palmieri

Jan 28 @ 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm

Download Registration Form

Instructors

Course Description

Being a leader in the federal government means getting new leadership every four or eight years. There will be many major changes and new priorities in the upcoming months. Being successful in this environment requires the right amount of flexibility, resilience, adaptability, and knowledge. FELTG’s new three-part webinar series will prepare you, your team, and your agency for these uncertain times.

FELTG President and attorney Deborah Hopkins will share a current snapshot of the key areas of federal employment law that impact you most, and provide a look-ahead to help you efficiently prepare for likely changes. Dr. Anthony Marchese will share guidance on how to effectively manage and communicate in dynamic situations, and Shana Palmieri, LCSW, will give you the tools to ensure that you and your staff thrive despite the inherent stress that comes with so much change.

From first-line supervisors to senior executives, federal managers at all levels will benefit from these three 60-minute webinars. This program will also be of significant help to attorneys, HR professionals and EEO directors and specialists.

Join FELTG for one, two, or all three of these timely webinars.

January 21 — Federal Employment Law: The Current Landscape: Over the last few years, President Trump issued several Executive Orders that created significant changes to labor relations, employee accountability, EEO training, and more. What will come of those EOs? Will there finally be a full Board at the MSPB? What are the new trends in EEO law? And how has the pandemic impacted agencies’ accountability systems, particularly the management of a remote workforce? FELTG President Deborah Hopkins will discuss likely upcoming legal changes, share recent critical case law, and prepare you for the year ahead.

January 28 — Navigating Change Through Effective Management and Communication: FELTG Instructor Anthony Marchese, Ph.D., will show you how to communicate, manage conflict, and supervise your staff through new challenges – and a change in management philosophy – with precision. He’ll explain how to get your employees confident and ready to handle changes in direction, policy, and law. Attendees will leave with a structured approach to high-stakes conversations.

February 4 — Effective Performance Under Stress: A new administration means new goals, new policies and new directions. And this time, the change in direction is likely to more often be 180 degrees instead of quarter turns. Meanwhile, the pandemic continues to ravage communities, and the important work you do continues to be done at a distance. FELTG Instructor and Licensed Clinical Social Worker Shana Palmieri will show you how to implement strategies to stabilize mood and stress level, and improve the overall health of you and your employees.

Pricing

Early Bird Tuition (price per webinar, payment required by January 12):

1 line: $195
2-5 lines: $345
6-9 lines: $480
10-15 lines: $760
16-20 lines: $975

Standard Tuition (price per webinar, payment made by January 13 or later):

1 line: $225
2-5 lines: $385
6-9 lines: $530
10-15 lines: $820
16-20 lines: $1040

Additional lines above 20 attendees may be added to a main site registration for $40 per person, on a space-available basis.

Categories: EEO Leadership Open Enrollment Webinar Tags: webinar

Feb

3

Wed

Virtual Training Event – The Performance Equation: Providing Feedback That Makes a Difference

Feb 3 @ 12:30 pm – 4:00 pm

There is one action you can take that, when done effectively, could have a major impact on your team’s morale and productivity. This action is something that you should be doing on a regular basis, yet it’s often overlooked amid your busy schedule. What’s this transformative action? It’s giving your employees honest, and ongoing, feedback.

During this half-day interactive virtual training experience, FELTG Instructor Anthony Marchese, Ph.D., will equip participants with the necessary tools to nurture a culture of candor that will lead to healthy and actionable feedback. You’ll learn best practices for motivating and recognizing employees, and neuroscience-based strategies for maximizing performance even when leading employees in a virtual environment. Dr. Marchese will also expose feedback myths and share the ineffective practices that you need to avoid.

Don’t let anxiety, frustration, or confusion prevent you from having honest performance-related discussions with your employees. Providing feedback effectively is a skill that can — and should — be developed. Fix performance problems before they begin. Make your agency a more efficient place to work.

This interactive session will include breakout groups, giving participants a chance to interact with each other.

Learning Objectives

Attendees will learn how to:

Communicate performance expectations.
Supervise effectively in a virtual environment.
Differentiate between positive and negative framing.
Identify behavioral styles, including your own, to provide feedback that is better understood and more useful.

Also, you will have numerous opportunities to ask questions about the unique problems you’re facing during these unprecedented times. This program runs from 12:30 – 4:00 eastern, with a 30-minute break from 2:00 – 2:30 eastern.

Instructor

Anthony Marchese

Price

Early Bird Tuition (register by January 22): $325
Standard Tuition (register January 23 – February 3): $365
Rates per registrant.
Want to register a group? Group discounts for 10 or more attendees are available through January 22. Contact FELTG.

Event FAQs

Can I attend Virtual Training from my government computer?
- FELTG uses Zoom for this Virtual Training Institute events. 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. You may also attend the training event as an audio training, by dialing in over the phone and following along with the materials independently.
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. Group discounts are available through October 15.

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.

Feb

4

Thu

Webinar Series – Toolkit for a New Administration: Essential Skills and Knowledge for Federal Supervisors, Managers, and Leaders

Deborah Hopkins, Anthony Marchese, Shana Palmieri

Feb 4 @ 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm

Download Registration Form

Instructors

Course Description

Being a leader in the federal government means getting new leadership every four or eight years. There will be many major changes and new priorities in the upcoming months. Being successful in this environment requires the right amount of flexibility, resilience, adaptability, and knowledge. FELTG’s new three-part webinar series will prepare you, your team, and your agency for these uncertain times.

FELTG President and attorney Deborah Hopkins will share a current snapshot of the key areas of federal employment law that impact you most, and provide a look-ahead to help you efficiently prepare for likely changes. Dr. Anthony Marchese will share guidance on how to effectively manage and communicate in dynamic situations, and Shana Palmieri, LCSW, will give you the tools to ensure that you and your staff thrive despite the inherent stress that comes with so much change.

From first-line supervisors to senior executives, federal managers at all levels will benefit from these three 60-minute webinars. This program will also be of significant help to attorneys, HR professionals and EEO directors and specialists.

Join FELTG for one, two, or all three of these timely webinars.

January 21 — Federal Employment Law: The Current Landscape: Over the last few years, President Trump issued several Executive Orders that created significant changes to labor relations, employee accountability, EEO training, and more. What will come of those EOs? Will there finally be a full Board at the MSPB? What are the new trends in EEO law? And how has the pandemic impacted agencies’ accountability systems, particularly the management of a remote workforce? FELTG President Deborah Hopkins will discuss likely upcoming legal changes, share recent critical case law, and prepare you for the year ahead.

January 28 — Navigating Change Through Effective Management and Communication: FELTG Instructor Anthony Marchese, Ph.D., will show you how to communicate, manage conflict, and supervise your staff through new challenges – and a change in management philosophy – with precision. He’ll explain how to get your employees confident and ready to handle changes in direction, policy, and law. Attendees will leave with a structured approach to high-stakes conversations.

February 4 — Effective Performance Under Stress: A new administration means new goals, new policies and new directions. And this time, the change in direction is likely to more often be 180 degrees instead of quarter turns. Meanwhile, the pandemic continues to ravage communities, and the important work you do continues to be done at a distance. FELTG Instructor and Licensed Clinical Social Worker Shana Palmieri will show you how to implement strategies to stabilize mood and stress level, and improve the overall health of you and your employees.

Pricing

Early Bird Tuition (price per webinar, payment required by January 12):

1 line: $195
2-5 lines: $345
6-9 lines: $480
10-15 lines: $760
16-20 lines: $975

Standard Tuition (price per webinar, payment made by January 13 or later):

1 line: $225
2-5 lines: $385
6-9 lines: $530
10-15 lines: $820
16-20 lines: $1040

Additional lines above 20 attendees may be added to a main site registration for $40 per person, on a space-available basis.

Categories: EEO Leadership Open Enrollment Webinar Tags: webinar

Mar

2

Tue

Virtual Training Event: Conducting Effective Harassment Investigations

Mar 2 – Mar 4 all-day

Event Description

Investigating harassment in your agency can be an intimidating assignment, one that is rife with innuendo, conflicting accounts, and raw emotions. Ensuring that your investigation is legally compliant and protects employees, while helping the agency minimize liability, is a taxing task. It’s even more challenging during the COVID-19 pandemic when most investigations must be done virtually.

Together, these three instructor-led live training sessions will provide a solid basis for a successful and effective approach to conducting legally-sufficient harassment investigations that stand up upon third-party review. Peruse MSPB and EEOC cases and you’ll find that poorly conducted investigations are far more common than they should be, and the cost of these investigations to agencies are bigger than you’d expect.

Understand the differences between EEO and non-EEO harassment. Learn the best techniques to conduct an investigation – whether onsite or virtually. Write a report that covers all the crucial information. And much more.

This open enrollment FELTG Virtual Training Institute program Conducting Effective Harassment Investigations offers opportunities to ask questions of FELTG’s experienced instructors, and get answers in real time. Plus, this program fulfills the requirements for 8-hour annual EEO investigator refresher training.

You can register for any of the sessions individually, or you can register for all three. This program runs from 12:30 – 4:00 eastern each day, with a 30-minute break from 2:00 – 2:30 eastern. Participants will receive program materials via email on Monday, October 5.

Tuesday, March 2, 2021

Session 1: Investigating Harassment: Misconduct Principles

12:30 pm – 4:00 pm eastern (break from 2:00 – 2:30)

Presented by Deborah J. Hopkins, Attorney at Law, FELTG President

Course Description: An effective harassment investigation begins with a solid foundation of misconduct law in the federal workplace. Attorney and FELTG President Deborah J. Hopkins will explain the principles that underpin a successful investigation of federal employee misconduct, whether it’s on-duty or off-duty. Attendees will learn the five elements of discipline and understand how they relate to the misconduct investigation process. Plus, they’ll learn about evidence standards and burdens of proof in misconduct cases, how Douglas factors play in to an investigation, the importance of nexus, what to do when a witness won’t cooperate, and much more.

Learning Objectives

Attendees will learn how to:

Identify the relationship between the foundations of federal accountability and misconduct investigations.
Identify and collect relevant penalty evidence during the investigation.
Recognize the mistakes that derail effective misconduct and harassment investigations.

Wednesday, March 3, 2021

Session 2: Understanding Harassment and Planning the Investigation

12:30 pm – 4:00 pm eastern (break from 2:00 – 2:30)

Presented by Meghan Droste, Attorney at Law, FELTG Instructor

Course description: What is the scope of the investigation? Who should you interview? What documents are you going to need? Preparing your investigative plan is a critical step in developing a legally sufficient investigation. Attorney Meghan Droste will explain the proper role of the investigator and how you can avoid the pitfalls of an insufficient investigation with the proper preparation and knowledge. Plus, she’ll answer important questions about representation: Does the witness have the right to a representative? Does the union have a right to attend the interview – even if the witness doesn’t want the union there? What rights does agency management have in the process?

Learning Objectives

Attendees will learn how to:

Discern the difference between EEO and non-EEO harassment, and the impact that has on the investigations’ legal sufficiency.
Identify witness rights and management rights.
Recognize the three basic characteristics of evidence in a harassment investigation.

Thursday, March 4, 2021

Session 3: Conducting the Investigation and Writing the Report

12:30 pm – 4:00 pm EDT (break from 2:00 – 2:30)

Presented by Katherine Atkinson, Attorney at Law, FELTG Instructor

Course description: Attorney Katherine Atkinson will share legal principles and proven guidance to navigate this most critical and challenging part of harassment investigations: conducting the interviews and gathering relevant evidence. Attendees will leave the session with techniques for questioning, tools for reading body language, suggestions on how to handle difficult personality types, and tips for writing the fact-finding report (FFR) and report of investigation (ROI). Ms. Atkinson will also share how technology is changing the investigation process, including a very timely discussion of conducting virtual interviews.

Learning Objectives

Attendees will learn how to:

Identify the similarities and differences in conducting onsite and virtual interviews.
Apply logic and judgment to evaluate conflicting statements.
Write a fulsome report on the findings from the harassment investigation.

Price

Early Bird Tuition (register by February 19): One Session = $340 | Two Sessions = $650 | Full Event = $900
Standard Tuition (register February 20 – March 4: One Session = $390 | Two Sessions = $695 | Full Event = $950
Rates per registrant. No split registrations permitted.
Want to register a group? Group discounts are available through February 19. Contact FELTG.
REGISTER NOW.

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?
- 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 only available through February 19.

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.

Mar

15

Virtual Training Event – EEOC Law Week

Mar 15 – Mar 19 all-day

Katherine Atkinson, Meghan Droste, Bob Woods

Course Description

If you’re looking for training that covers the gamut of EEO issues, and provides usable guidance for all practitioners, regardless of experience level, this is it: FELTG’s EEOC Law Week. 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. This course is updated for 2021, including the latest on EEOC’s COVID-19 guidance and workplace harassment. In addition, this in-depth training provides the required material for EEO counselors and investigators to receive certification hours.

The program runs 9:30 am – 4:00 pm eastern each day, with a break from 12:00 – 1:00, and is pre-approved for 29 CLE credits in Virginia. It is also approved for 28 HRCI general recertification credits.

5.5 per day.

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

Daily Agenda

Monday, March 15

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, March 16

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; a focus on national origin and religious discrimination cases; reprisal analysis and case updates.

Wednesday, March 17

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; non-EEO harassment; settling EEO cases.

Thursday, March 18

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.

Friday, March 19

Mixed Cases; Damages & Remedies: Course topics: Understanding the world of mixed cases with special presenter Don Names; 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; plus a bonus segment on recent relevant EEOC decisions.

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 1):

5 days = $2190
4 days = $1795
3 days = $1385
2 days = $980
1 day = $540

Standard Tuition (register March 2-19):

5 days = $2290
4 days = $1895
3 days = $1485
2 days = $1080
1 day = $640

Seminar registration includes a printed copy of the materials. In order to receive materials by the training date, please register by March 1 and provide a shipping address. Registrations received after July 27 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.
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 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.

Categories: EEO EEO EEO Refresher Open Enrollment Settlement Virtual Training Tags: virtual training

Mar

29

Virtual Training Event – MSPB Law Week

Mar 29 – Apr 2 all-day

The civil service world is changing and it’s important to be aware of the laws, regulations, and executive orders that apply to you. 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.

While the near future of the Merit Systems Protection Board remains uncertain, FELTG’s instructors are staying on top of the situation and will provide attendees with the information they need to know.

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, President Trump’s 2018 Executive Orders, 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, implementing Performance Demonstration Periods (DPs, formerly known as PIPs), 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 15):

5 days = $1525
4 days = $1245
3 days = $960
2 days = $680
1 day = $395

Standard Tuition (register March 16 – April 2):

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 1 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 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.
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 15.

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.

Categories: Employee Relations MSPB Open Enrollment Tags: virtual training

Apr

12

Virtual Training Event – Absence, Leave Abuse & Medical Issues Week

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Apr 12 – Apr 16 all-day

Download Individual Registration Form

Course Description

Federal employees enjoy a wide variety of leave-related benefits. However, many of us would never use the words “enjoy” and “leave” so closely together. Whether you’re an HR professional, employee relations practitioner, EEO specialist, supervisor, or agency counsel, you have undoubtedly faced a leave-related challenge. FELTG’s Absence, Leave Abuse & Medical Issues Week will give you the critical foundation you need to address the most complex areas of federal employment law, including the recent challenges related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Our speakers will discuss sick leave, annual leave, leave without pay, absence without leave, and FMLA. Then they will tackle the most current, relevant topics, such as disciplining employees for leave abuse, dealing with medical issues and unacceptable performance, leave and reasonable accommodation, medical documentation, medical exams, and more.

If you attend, you’re going to learn an awful lot about “leave” and you’re going to “enjoy” the training.

The program runs 12:00 – 4:00 each day, with a break from 1:45-2:15 (all times eastern). Participants will receive program materials via email the week before the training.

Who Should Attend

Attorneys; Labor and Employee Relations Specialists; EEO managers and directors; EEO specialists; Reasonable Accommodation Coordinators; federal supervisors and managers; union representatives.

Instructors

Barbara Haga, Deborah Hopkins, Katherine Atkinson, Meghan Droste

Daily Agenda:

Monday, April 12

Leave Use Overview: Course topics: Emergency Paid Sick Leave, Sick Leave: eligibility, notification requirements, medical certification, dealing with abuse, Additional Leave Entitlements, Administrative Leave.

Tuesday, April 13

FMLA Law and Policy: Course topics: FMLA: eligibility, notification requirements, definition of serious health condition, medical certification, intermittent use, and Paid Family Leave.

Wednesday, April 14

Leave-Related Discipline & Medical Removals: Course topics: The five elements of discipline; leave-related misconduct; documentation necessary to discipline an employee for leave-related misconduct and leave abuse; AWOL charges; excessive absence removals; medical inability to perform removals.

Thursday, April 15

Reasonable Accommodation: Entitlements and Processes: Course topics: The ADA Amendments Act; the Rehabilitation Act; the reasonable accommodation process; the “regarded as” provision of the ADA; telework and leave as reasonable accommodation; flexible work schedules and alternative work locations; religious accommodation.

Friday, April 16

Medical Documentation, Medical Requests and Record Confidentiality: Course topics: How the ADAAA and GINA impact the collection of medical information; pre- and post-employment medical exams and inquiries; conditional employment offers; medical documentation requests; direct threat; conflicting regulations and contra court decisions.

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 29):

5 days = $1475
4 days = $1195
3 days = $910
2 days = $630
1 day = $345

Standard Tuition (register March 30 – April 16):

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 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.
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 29.

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.

Categories: EEO Employee Relations Leave MSPB Open Enrollment Virtual Training Tags: virtual training

Jun

29

Tue

Federal Workplace Challenges: Managing Performance, Conduct, Reasonable Accommodation, and Behavioral Health Issues – Honolulu @ Ala Moana Hotel

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Jun 29 – Jul 1 all-day

Performance. Conduct. Reasonable Accommodation. Behavioral Health Issues. Whether you’re a supervisor, or someone who advises them, these are the kind of workplace challenges that make you pause, and doubt yourself. There seems to be more questions than answers:

Is attendance really not an essential function of a job?
When it comes to disciplinary action for misconduct, do I have to treat all employees the same?
Should I hold off putting an employee on an ODAP until he has his upcoming annual rating?
What do I do when an employee with bipolar disorder is going through a manic phase?
Must I allow an employee to telework as a reasonable accommodation?
What am I supposed to do when my employee is on an ODAP?
What do I do if I suspect an employee is going to become violent?

The answers aren’t easy because they often require understanding more than just what the law says. Only FELTG training gives you the specific legal, practical, and clinical guidance you need to reply effectively to these and similar challenging situations. Join FELTG in Hawaii for an intensive three-day training and we’ll provide you the the tools and knowledge to better understand how to:

Determine the appropriate “disciplinary” action to take in a situation.
Deal with employees who have mental and behavioral health issues.
Effectively take an unacceptable performance action that will stand up to third party scrutiny.
Respond appropriately to the most challenging reasonable accommodation requests.

The program runs 8:30 – 4:00 each day.

Instructors

Deborah Hopkins, Shana Palmieri

Daily Agenda:

Tuesday

Uncivil Servant: Holding Employees Accountable for Performance and Conduct: Fundamentals of disciplinary actions and unacceptable performance actions; establishing rules of conduct; proving misconduct; selecting a defensible penalty; providing due process via agency discipline procedures; writing valid performance standards; implementing a Performance Demonstration Period; removing employees for unacceptable performance in 31 days.

Wednesday

Reasonable Accommodation in the Federal Workplace: Understanding the ADA Amendments Act and the Rehabilitation Act; the reasonable accommodation process for employees with disabilities; the “regarded as” provision of the ADA; essential functions and the “qualified” individual; undue hardship; telework, modified work scheduled and leave as reasonable accommodation; medical documentation; religious accommodation entitlements and how they differ from disability accommodation.

Thursday

Handling Behavioral Health Issues and Threats of Violence: Understanding mental impairments and other behavioral health issues; types of mental disabilities and how they may exhibit in the workplace; dealing with suicidal employees; dos and don’ts when working employees who have behavioral health issues; myths and facts about targeted violence in the workplace; individual characteristics that put an employee at higher risk of committing an act of violence; steps to take if someone becomes violent in the workplace; developing and implementing an in-house threat management team to deal with threat assessments; risk management; the best ways to keep employees safe during a crisis.

Pricing

Early Bird Tuition (registration required by June 15, 2021)

3 days = $1400
2 days = $1000
1 day = $560

Standard Tuition (registrations received June 16-July 1, 2021)

3 days = $1500
2 days = $1100
1 day = $660

Seminar registration includes a copy of the textbook UnCivil Servant: Holding Employees Accountable for Performance and Conduct, 5th ed.

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 will not be refunded, and will not be given credit toward another course after the cancellation date on the registration form. No-shows will not be refunded or given credit toward future courses.

Jul

26

Managing Federal Employee Accountability – Chicago @ The Palmer House - a Hilton Hotel

Download Registration Form

Jul 26 – Jul 30 all-day

Attention, all federal supervisors (and those who advise them): this is a program you can’t afford to miss. This week covers a range of topics including employee accountability for conduct and performance, managing leave abuse, handling EEO complaints, reasonable accommodation, workplace management and leadership skills, and managing difficult employees.

Supervisors who complete this training meet OPM’s mandatory training requirements for new supervisors found at 5 CFR 412.202(b).

The program runs 8:30 – 4:00 each day.

Instructors

TBD

Daily Agenda:

Monday

Uncivil Servant: Holding Employees Accountable for Conduct: Fundamentals of disciplinary actions; establishing rules of conduct; proving misconduct; selecting a defensible penalty; providing due process via agency discipline procedures; drafting disciplinary documents; alternatives to discipline.

Tuesday

The Supervisor’s Role in EEO: The role of EEO in the federal government; defining protected categories: race, color, national origin, religion, sex, age, disability, genetic information and reprisal; documentation to help you defend against frivolous complaints; what to do if you’re a Responding Management Official in a complaint.

Wednesday

Maximizing Accountability in Performance: Eliminating unnecessary barriers to addressing poor performance; analyzing your existing appraisal systems; writing clear, measurable, and enforceable performance standards; Within Grade Increases (WIGIs); eliminating unacceptable performance requirements that are not based on law/regulation; employee opportunity periods.

Thursday

Handling Employee Leave Issues: An overview of leave types and entitlements; annual leave; sick leave; AWOL and Leave Without Pay; FMLA crash course; medical certification requirements; substitution of paid leave; handling complicated leave issues; leave abuse.

Friday

Effectively Managing Today’s Federal Workforce: Communicating effectively with employees; managing teleworkers; managing a multigenerational workforce; handling difficult employees; mentorship.

Supervisors who attend the full week will receive a certificate verifying participation in OPM’s mandatory training requirements for new supervisors, found at 5 CFR 412.202(b).

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 July 12):

5 days = $2210
4 days = $1815
3 days = $1400
2 days = $1000
1 day = $560

Standard Tuition (register July 13-July 30):

5 days = $2310
4 days = $1915
3 days = $1500
2 days = $1100
1 day = $660

Registered participants will receive a copy of the textbook UnCivil Servant, fifth edition, by Wiley and Hopkins.

Lodging: The host hotel, the Palmer House, has a limited number of rooms available at the federal per diem rate, for reservations made through June 28, 2021. Please contact the hotel directly at 312-726-7500 and mention this event to check rate availability.

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.

Categories: Open Enrollment Supervisory Tags: chicago-il

Sep

13

MSPB Law Week – Washington, DC @ International Student House (ISH) – Ella Burling Hall

William Wiley, Deborah Hopkins

Sep 13 – Sep 17 all-day

Save the dates! Registration and location information coming soon.

The civil service world is changing and it’s important to be aware of the new laws and executive orders that apply to you. 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.

While the near future of the Merit Systems Protection Board remains uncertain, FELTG’s instructors are staying on top of the situation and will provide attendees with the information they need to know.

The program runs 8:30 – 4:00 each day and is pre-approved for 29 CLE credits in Virginia and California. It is also approved for 29 HRCI general recertification credits.

Instructors

Daily Agenda

Monday

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, obtaining testimony to protect the penalty selection should one or more charges fail, types of evidence necessary to support a penalty selection, the MSPB’s power to mitigate a penalty and recent trends in the Board’s use of that authority, educating uninformed arbitrators, using alternatives to discipline.

Tuesday

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, an update of recent Board and court decisions: what’s really new and what’s old wine in new bottles, placing the emphasis on notice, the Board’s lack of a quorum, penalty mitigation changes.

Thursday

Unacceptable Performance: Performance actions in perspective, drafting a defensible performance standard, implementing PIP’s, defeating the PIP rollercoaster, accommodating disability-related poor performance, converting an unacceptable performance problem into a Part 752 disciplinary action, termination based on failing a performance quiz.

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

Coming soon.

Categories: Employee Relations MSPB Open Enrollment Tags: Washington DC

Sep

20

EEOC Law Week – Washington, DC @ International Student House (ISH) – Ella Burling Hall

Sep 20 – Sep 24 all-day

Save the dates! Registration and specific event information coming soon.

If you’re looking for training that covers the gamut of EEO issues, and provides usable guidance for all practitioners, regardless of experience level, this is it: FELTG’s EEOC Law Week. 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. This course is updated for 2020, and has a whole day focused on harassment. Register early because EEOC Law Week regularly sells out.

The program runs 8:30 – 4:00 each day and is pre-approved for 29 CLE credits in Virginia and California. It is also approved for 29 HRCI general recertification credits.

6 per day Monday – Thursday; 5 on Friday.

Instructors

TBD

Daily Agenda

Monday

Basic EEOC, Nuts & Bolts: The Basics – Statutory authority and jurisdiction of EEOC, an overview of the theories of discrimination, overview of EEO process, amended and consolidated complaints; timeliness issues in the wake of the Supreme Court decisions in Morgan and Ledbetter.

Tuesday

Contractor Complaints; Intentional Discrimination and Reprisal Cases: Contractor complaints; intentional discrimination analysis and cases; selection & promotion cases; a focus on national origin and religious discrimination cases; reprisal analysis and cases.

Wednesday

Accommodating Individuals with Disabilities: The Rehabilitation Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act, defining individuals with a disability, major life activities and substantial limitation; essential job functions, the interactive process, types of reasonable accommodation; the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (GINA) regulations.

Thursday

Current Trends in EEO Law: a Focus on Harassment: The latest on what’s happening in EEO, hostile environment harassment, gender stereotyping, same-sex harassment sexual orientation and transgender discrimination, non-EEO harassment; settlement.

Friday

Mixed Cases; Damages & Remedies: 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

Coming soon.

Categories: EEO EEO EEO Refresher Open Enrollment Tags: Washington DC

Sep

27

Absence, Leave Abuse & Medical Issues Week – Washington, DC