EEO Training Courses

The realm of Equal Employment Opportunity is as vast and diverse as the people it represents. FELTG offers onsite programs to train EEO attorneys, practitioners and supervisors on the strategies, principles, and authorities relative to federal sector discrimination law. These courses can be modified to meet the legal requirements of executive and legislative branch agencies.
EEO-1: Fundamentals of Federal EEO: Nuts & Bolts (1 day)
If you haven’t played a role in any part of the federal EEO process, it likely seems a mystery. This one-day class spells out everything you need to know to have a fundamental understanding of federal EEO. We’ll guide you through each step of the process, from pre-complaint counseling to formal complaints to EEOC Hearings, and you’ll leave class with a thorough understanding of the various types of workplace discrimination.
Course Topics: Statutory authority and jurisdiction of EEOC; theories of discrimination; overview of the EEO process; amended and consolidated complaints; timeliness issues.
EEO-2: Reasonable Accommodation under the ADA and Rehabilitation Act: What You Need to Know (1-3 days)
How do you determine if an employee is disabled? What does qualified individual mean? What exactly is the interactive process? This course will provide answers to those questions, and then dive into some of the most perplexing reasonable accommodation challenges, including requests to telework, leave as accommodation, who chooses the accommodation, invisible disabilities, and more.
Course Topics: The Rehabilitation Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act; Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (GINA) regulations; defining an individual with a disability; major life activities and substantial limitations; essential job functions; the interactive process; types of reasonable accommodation; telework as reasonable accommodation.
EEO-3: Understanding Sexual Harassment and other Hostile Environment Claims (1/2 – 1 day)
The #MeToo movement has brought about a greater understanding of the impact of this reprehensible harassing behavior, as well as the importance of taking action rather than ignoring it. Join us for this half- or full-day session as we explain – in clear terms – the law on sexual harassment and other hostile environment claims in federal agencies. Learn when your agency could be considered liable, what you can and should be doing to prevent it, and what is required for corrective action to be prompt and effective.
Course Topics: The elements of a claim; unwelcome conduct that leads to hostile environment claims; severe or pervasive standard; tangible employment actions; the EEO process; mitigating agency liability; taking corrective action; disciplining the offender.
EEO-4: Medical Exams & Inquiries under the ADA & GINA (1 day)
Did you know that the innocent release of medical information can result in an expensive decision against an agency even if no harm was done to the employee? Understanding how the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Amendments Act, and the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act impact the collection of medical information is important. This full-day training will explain when pre- and post-employment exams and inquiries are permitted; who should – and should not be – be collecting and managing medical information, and much more.
Course Topics: Collection of employee medical information; conditional offers of employment; medical documentation requests for reasonable accommodation; direct threat and other medical conditions; the “regarded as” provision of the ADA.
EEO-5: Compensatory Damages & Other Remedies in EEO (1 day)
A principle rule in findings of discrimination is to place the victim in the position that person would have occupied but for the discrimination. This is easier said than done, because there’s no way to undo the harm caused by illegal employment discrimination. Even still, damages and remedies is a topic that every EEO practitioner needs to understand, whether they’re preparing for hearing or negotiating a settlement.
Course Topics: Equitable remedies: back pay, front pay, reinstatement; nonpecuniary 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.
EEO-6: Writing Reports of Investigation and Final Agency Decisions (2 days)
This workshop-based program will provide you with the skills and confidence to be more effective in writing reports of investigation and final agency decisions that will withstand third-party scrutiny. Learn how to organize your report and write for your audience and use accepted reporting style and legal writing conventions to ensure your ROI or FAD is clear, effective, and legally sound.
Course Topics: Statutory jurisdiction; EEO complaint process; theories of discrimination; dismissing EEO Complaints; accepting and identifying claims; legal sufficiency; the mechanics of drafting a FAD.
EEO-7: Conducting EEO Investigations (1-5 days)
If your agency decides not to dismiss a complaint, you will then have 180 days to do a thorough investigation of that complaint. What are you required to do? How do you ensure that you complete an effective investigation? And what does the end of the investigation look like? We can do a comprehensive deep dive into the process over four days, or we can provide focused training on topics such as interview techniques or writing the investigative report.
Course Topics: EEOC statutory authority; EEO claims and elements of EEO cases; agency defenses and liability; interview techniques and skills; types of witnesses; writing the investigative report.
Note: The 4- and 5-day classes meet the 32-hour training requirement for EEO Investigators.
EEO-8: EEO Counselor Refresher Training (1 day)
As an EEO counselor, you are required by the EEOC to take an 8-hour annual refresher course. Don’t take training just to check the box. Use this opportunity to refine your counseling skills and improve your EEO knowledge. In FELTG’s refresher training, experienced instructors will cover the content required by the EEOC and share with you the most critical recent case law, regulations, and other legal developments.
Course Topics: May include theories of discrimination; relevant case law; the counseling processes; reasonable accommodation; writing effective reports; current trends in EEO law.
EEO-9: EEO Investigator Refresher Training (1 day)
As an EEO investigator, you are required by the EEOC to take an 8-hour annual refresher course. Don’t take training just to check the box. Use this opportunity to refine your investigatory skills and improve your EEO knowledge. In FELTG’s refresher training, experienced instructors will cover the content required by the EEOC and share with you the most critical recent case law.
Course Topics: Topics may include theories of discrimination; relevant case law; the investigation process; interviewing difficult witnesses; types of questioning; understanding evidence; writing effective reports; current trends in EEO law.
EEO-10: EEO Counselor/Investigator Initial Training (up to 5 days)
FELTG’s five-day initial counselor and investigator training provides the mandatory 32-hour initial training for new counselors and investigators required by EEOC, and much more. Our experienced instructors will explain EEO law in easy-to-understand terms and help you develop the skills necessary to be an effective counselor or investigator.
Course Topics for Counselors: Course Topics: Introduction to EEO Counseling; EEO Counselor approach; qualifications of a good EEO Counselor; purpose of EEO Counseling; duties of an EEO Counselor; the Counselor’s role when ADR is elected; interviewing the Counselee; Interviewing the RMO; theories of discrimination; the federal EEO complaint process; writing the EEO Counselor’s Report.
Course Topics for Investigators: Understanding the EEO process and timelines; theories of discrimination; qualifications of a good EEO Counselor; purpose of the EEO investigation; duties of an EEO Investigator; interviewing witnesses; Interviewing the RMO; employee rights to representation; writing the Report of Investigation.
Upcoming EEO Training Events
Course Description
The federal hiring process is a challenging one that requires patience. Those who hurry the hiring process are not only likely to make a mistake in hiring, but they may also end up without sufficient documentation to combat a discrimination complaint, making the allegation difficult to defend against.
And there is NO excuse these days for having any steps in your hiring process that could be discriminatory. Per Executive Order, your agency should have already taken steps to “advance diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility,” and “eliminate, where applicable, barriers to equity, in Federal workforce functions.”
Regardless of where you are in the development of an agency Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA) plan or whether your agency is even currently hiring, this half-day virtual training provides important guidance that you cannot afford to miss if you want to ensure your hiring practices are nondiscriminatory and align with the federal merit system principles.
FELTG instructor and attorney at law Katherine Atkinson will explain the types of interview questions that cause problems, and discuss selection panel roles and responsibilities, including ensuring the selecting officials implement best practices to develop and maintain evidence, demonstrating the non-selection was neither discriminatory nor retaliatory.
Attend from wherever you are working — agency office or home. The program will be presented live, and you’ll have time to ask questions and get answers in real time. This program runs from 1:00 – 4:30 pm eastern, with a 30-minute break midway.
This program meets the President’s mandate to provide training on diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility in the Federal workplace.
Date and Time
Wednesday, April 5, 2023, 1:00 – 4:30 pm ET
Instructor
Registration
Download Individual Registration Form
Price
- Early Bird Tuition: $370 (register by March 21)
- Standard Tuition: $395 (register March 22 or later)
- Rates per registrant.
- Want to register a group? Group discounts for 10 or more attendees are available through March 21. Contact FELTG.
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. 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.
- What if I want to attend a session but have a schedule conflict?
- FELTG plans to offer this live event periodically, so check our calendar for upcoming dates.
- 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 March 21.
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.
Course Description
Most disputes in federal agencies settle employment disputes — whether they initiate as grievances, EEO complaints, or as appeals of agency disciplinary actions. While it’s common to assume that settlement means the agency has a flaw in its case, it has no direct tie to liability or admissions of wrongdoing. Often, it’s the most efficient and effective way to handle a dispute and allow you to get back to focusing on your agency’s mission.
During this interactive half-day virtual training, Bob Woods will discuss the roles and responsibilities of individuals involved in settlement discussions, and will cover considerations for why and when to consider settlement as an option. In addition, he’ll explain concepts including confidentiality, legality, and enforceability.
Mr. Woods will also cover specific settlement terms that may be negotiated including references, compensatory damages, reinstatement or promotions, modifications to benefits, clean records, and more.
Learning objectives
Attendees will learn how to:
- Implement best practices in drafting plain language agreements.
- Structure a possible agreement.
- Identify the limits on settlement terms.
Plus, you’ll have opportunities to ask questions. The training will run from 1 – 4:30 pm ET, with 10 minute breaks throughout.
Date and Time
Wednesday, April 12, 2023, 1:00 – 4:30 pm eastern.
Instructor
Registration
Download Individual Registration Form
Price
- Early Bird Tuition (register by March 28): $370
- Standard Tuition (March 29 or later): $395
- Rates per registrant.
- Want to register a group? Group discounts for 10 or more attendees are available through March 28. Contact FELTG.
Event FAQs
- Can I attend Virtual Training from my government computer?
- FELTG uses Zoom to broadcast 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. Group discounts are available through March 28.
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.