Trainings That Meet Your Agency’s Needs

FELTG’s flagship course UnCivil Servant empowers Federal supervisors and advisers to confidently handle the challenges that come with supervising in the Federal workplace. It shatters misconceptions about performance and misconduct-based actions and gives you simple step-by-step guidance for taking swift, appropriate, and legally defensible actions. Wednesday, February 12: Accountability for Conduct and …

Maybe you envision yourself donning a Sherlock Holmes hat and cape. Or, perhaps, your model is the masterful Benoit Blanc of Knives Out Mystery fame. If only the work of a Federal administrative investigation was as easy as these fictional detectives make their jobs seem. Instead, there are more than …

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A reference to dinosaurs, a joke about retirement, or a snide “OK Boomer” – nothing wrong with that if it’s just in fun, right?  Wrong! And if you think those are the only actions that’ll lead to an age discrimination claim, you’re wrong again. Join Attorney and FELTG Instructor Meghan …

For many, it’s the most difficult and unpredictable part of the workplace investigation — conducting the interview. This is especially the case when the witness has suffered trauma. And it’s likely to happen, considering these sobering statistics: Seven to eight percent will have PTSD at some point in their lifetimes. …

In this 60-minute webinar, FELTG instructor Ann Boehm identifies and discusses when the law requires your agency to provide the union an opportunity to be involved in discussions, focusing on the requirements for a meeting to be considered a formal discussion, the union’s rights and responsibilities when it comes to …

5 USC 7112 of the Federal Service Labor-Management Relations Statute defines the types of positions that must be excluded from the bargaining units. But in the modern workforce, those definitions aren’t always that clear. In this 60-minute webinar, FELTG Instructor Ann Boehm takes you through how to not only identify …

A principal rule in findings of discrimination is to, as nearly as possible, 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 …

The EEOC allows parties to file motions for summary judgment, potentially eliminating the need for a time-consuming, expensive, and risky hearing. Yet, many agencies fail to take advantage of this opportunity. During this 60-minute webinar, FELTG Instructor Katherine Atkinson explains the importance of the Report of Investigation and thorough discovery, …

The borderline between on-duty and off-duty became blurred in recent years with the omnipresence of social and media and many employees working from home. Yet, one thing has remained clear and constant: If you’re going to discipline someone for what they do on their own time, you need to show …

Could use of pronouns or names that are inconsistent with an individual’s gender identity be considered discrimination or harassment? Yes. In certain circumstances. Gender identity and related topics are so important that in June 2022 the EEOC introduced a nonbinary gender marker for people to use during the intake process, …

When faced with a case involving appealable adverse actions, an arbitrator must apply the same substantive standards as the Merit Systems Protection Board. The arbitrator must decide whether discipline was appropriate, and also assess whether the agency considered the relevant factors in determining the penalty. Just like an MSPB judge, the arbitrator …

The selection and promotion process is an emotional one, especially for those who aren’t selected. If you’re a federal EEO practitioner or supervisor, chances are you’ve had a case where an employee alleges that she was not selected or promoted because of something other than job qualifications – race, sex, …

Antisemitism is never acceptable. However, recent remarks by celebrities, athletes, and news networks have made antisemitism seem more commonplace, in all facets of life, including the workplace. Title VII makes it illegal to discriminate against someone based on, among other things, religion. However, this is one of the protected categories …

Be prepared. Be on time. Be civil. These are fairly basic expectations. Yet, they’re often forgotten once parties enter the EEO process. And once in the process, the potential pitfalls only increase. EEOC Administrative Judge Meghan Droste discusses the common mistakes agencies make, from missing important deadlines to missing the …

When a complaint is filed with your agency’s EEO office, it’s possible that something very wrong has happened. Yet, how agency officials respond to that complaint could go a long way toward not only resolving the complaint, but ensuring that you don’t make matters even worse than they are. Too …

Want to reduce conflict, increase productivity, and limit absenteeism, turnover, and even removals? That’s impossible, you say. Maybe not, if you learn how to effectively manage individuals whose behavior repeatedly generates workplace conflict. This two-hour presentation teaches how to recognize employees with high-conflict personalities, whether it’s individuals who blame their peers …

Your agency has ordered some employees to return to the physical workplace, and one of them hasn’t shown up for work for three days straight. He hasn’t contacted his supervisor either. Is the best way to discipline the employee to charge him with AWOL?  What if he comes up with …

Subtle and overt language, joking, off-handed comments, and offensive comments and gestures can lead to a hostile work environment. And that includes ill-advised, even if not ill-intentioned, phrases such as “hold down the fort” and “low man on the totem pole.” Being a respectful communicator means more than just not …

Whether it’s up-and-down roller coaster performers or repeat offenders of misconduct, chronically challenging employees eat up time, create workplace stress, and dampen productivity. And it will only get worse until you address the issue. FELTG President Deborah J. Hopkins shares the tools necessary to address performance issues and lays the …

Every agency has employees who struggle with performance, but there is a reliable solution for addressing unacceptable performance. A successful Performance Demonstrate Period (DP) will either lead to sustained improved performance or a defensible performance-based removal or demotion. This fast-paced class guides you through the critical steps to reaching that …

The most difficult and unpredictable part of the workplace investigation – conducting the interview – can be especially challenging when the witness has a behavioral or mental health condition, or violent tendencies. This course will explain temperament traits and personality disorders and provide a road map to help you understand how to …

Any effective misconduct investigation starts with a solid foundation of the law and an understanding of the full scope of your investigation. This class explains the principles that underpin a successful investigation of Federal employee misconduct, including harassment.  You’ll leave with guidance on developing the investigation, from creating a plan …

There are numerous examples of investigations that have gone awry. It could be an investigator’s failure to interview certain witnesses, a failure to take a complainant’s statement into account, or, perhaps, an action, such as a widely shared email, that shows a lack of objectivity. This course will provide guidance …

This class provides attendees with a full understanding of their rights and responsibilities as Federal employees. Employees will learn about the merit system principles, EEO, whistleblower, and retaliation protections, as well as what will happen if their performance becomes an issue. The course will also educate employees on the various …

What are the warning signs that one of your coworkers may become violent? What’s the best way to intervene when you think a fellow employee is suicidal? If you’re a bystander during a behavioral or psychiatric crisis, what should you do – or not do – to keep yourself and …

Does your agency or organization rely on teams to get mission-critical work accomplished? Then invest in this training that helps teams leverage individual personality types and strengths to promote accurate communication, diminish unhealthy conflict, and increase individual and collective performance. The High-performing Team includes assessments, relevant articles and videos, real-life …

Receiving a promotion is a career highlight. However, if that promotion means you’re now supervising your former coworkers, then it also means you’re about to navigate the trickiest part of your career. This course is perfect those who have been promoted, or hope to be promoted at some point, and …

This course will provide employees with answers to their most perplexing questions about reasonable accommodation. They’ll leave with a firm grasp on the how and why of agency reasonable accommodation decisions. The law under the Rehabilitation Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act and its Amendments Act will be explained …

In recent years, harassment in the workplace has become more public than ever before. And when left unaddressed, it’s one of the top reasons agencies lose good employees. This course will provide employees with a basic grasp of workplace harassment law, and most importantly, what they should do when they …

Why are labor-management relations perpetually adversarial? Are agencies and unions supposed to be working together, or against each other?  How can both sides get along better, as Congress intended? The Federal Service Labor-Management Relations Statute says collective bargaining “safeguards the public interest,” “contributes to the effective conduct of public business,” …

Executive Order 14003 rescinded limitations on collective bargaining and instructed agency leaders that they “shall elect to negotiate over the subjects set forth in 5 USC 7106(b)(1) and shall instruct subordinates to do the same.” How should this be interpreted? Shall seems to be the critical word here.  In this training, …

Did you know that an arbitrator, much like a Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB) judge, has the authority to mitigate a penalty if it is outside the bounds of reasonableness? This session will explain how the Douglas Factors came about and provide a detailed look at the role those factors play in the arbitration …

This course will discuss when the law requires you to provide the union an opportunity to be involved in agency meetings with employees, focusing on the requirements for a meeting to be considered a formal discussion. It will also explore the union’s rights and responsibilities when it comes to meetings, …

The Federal Service Labor-Management Relations Statute defines the types of positions that must be excluded from the bargaining units. But in the modern workforce, those definitions aren’t always entirely clear. This course will take you through how to not only identify the applicable statutory provisions, but also provide practical and …

Whether you’re currently preparing to negotiate a collective bargaining agreement, or if it’s a year down the road, now is always the best time to ensure that you’re ready for anything.  This training will provide you with key strategies and guidance to ensure you are well-equipped to begin negotiations and …

Just about every Federal labor relations professional has dealt with a union request for information, but they may not have handled it correctly. This training will help anyone dealing with an information request to ensure the agency provides information that it owes the union, but also ensure that the unions …

Working in labor relations requires a firm foundation of the statute, historical perspective, and FLRA decisions, plus an understanding of agency and union rights and responsibilities. Whether you’re new to labor relations or looking for a refresher, this class will provide an overview of the Federal Service Labor-Management Relations Statute …

5 U.S.C. § 7116(a) lists eight agency ULPs and 5 U.S.C. § 7116(b) lists eight labor organization ULPs, which will be covered in full detail during this class. This training will also include a discussion of employee rights vs. management rights, an overview of the Federal Service Impasses Panel, and …

Do you have someone on your staff who is working with unions for the first time? Do you have seasoned LR/ER practitioners looking for a refresher? Did employees in your organization recently organize and form a union or change unions? This course will bring you immediately up to speed on …

Arbitration in the Federal government is a very different process than in the private sector, and it requires an understanding of not only the collective bargaining agreement, but also the ability to interpret relevant Federal employment laws, regulations, and Executive Orders. Attendees will leave this training with an understanding of …

Negotiability may be the most complex topic in Federal sector labor relations, and an understanding of which topics are negotiable, and which topics are not, is fundamental to determining the legality of your negotiations and contract provisions. This immersion into negotiability will provide attendees a foundational knowledge of negotiability terminology, …

It’s time for negotiations, and it’s critical not only that you know the current law, but that you have the right skills and know how to choose wisely your words and your battles. This training will cover it all — everything from understanding management rights and management maybes to handling …

Not all meetings are created equally. In fact, some meetings can get your supervisors in trouble, despite their good intentions. This training will cover everything you need to know about meetings. Plus, we’ll discuss official time, identify unfair labor practices (ULPs), and discuss practical strategies along with common legal missteps …

Whether you’ve been to law school or not, you can always use a refresher on legal writing, especially if you work in the specialized and sometimes arcane-sounding world of Federal sector labor relations. In this interactive class, FELTG’s experienced instructors will help you sharpen your skills and provide you with …

A fundamental rule in findings of discrimination is to, as nearly as possible, place the victim in the position that person would have occupied but for the discrimination. But how? There’s no way to undo the harm caused by illegal employment discrimination. That’s why every EEO practitioner needs to understand the concepts …

Unlike the MSPB, the EEOC allows parties to file motions for summary judgment, potentially eliminating the need for a time-consuming, expensive, and risky hearing. Yet, many agencies fail to take advantage of this opportunity. This training will explain the importance of the Report of Investigation and thorough discovery, the benefits …

Few things create as much confusion among even experienced Federal attorneys, EEO specialists, or HR professionals as mixed cases. FELTG is here to help. This training untangles this often-complicated area when MSPB and EEOC both have potential jurisdiction over a case. What do you do when a mixed case lands …

We get it. You don’t want to look like you did something wrong. But here’s the thing: Settling a case does not mean there were flaws in your case, nor is it an admittance of liability or wrongdoing. This training will explain why so many disputes are settled and why …

The Supreme Court upended decades of precedent in its unanimous 2023 decision Groff v. DeJoy. It’s a big change for the concept of undue hardship in religious accommodation, according to some experts – but not not to others. Plus, there’s also an undue hardship standard in disability accommodation cases and …