Trainings That Meet Your Agency’s Needs

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 …

Discovery is a critical and effective part of any litigation – when conducted properly. Annoying and abusive discovery techniques could have negative consequences, and possibly even lead to sanctions. From disrespect and profanity in depositions to the other party refusing to produce requested documents, it’s important to be prepared for …

Litigating cases in Federal sector employment law is a unique prospect and isn’t for the unprepared. In addition, taking a case to arbitration is also a world of its own. This training focuses on providing tips to practice effectively and successfully in administrative hearings before the MSPB, EEOC, and in …

Whether you’re representing your agency before the Merit Systems Protection Board or the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, there is one ultimate goal: Win the case. This interactive course will prepare you for these kinds of hearings. Part 1: Developing a Theory In this session you’ll learn strategies for developing a …

Your heart suddenly beats faster, and your blood pressure rises to a dangerous level. It could be a health issue. Or possibly, you may have heard your name mentioned in connection with “an EEO case.” As the much-repeated saying goes: We fear what we don’t understand. This class aims to …

In the world of Federal employment law, discovery is an integral part of the litigation process. Discovery is your opportunity to obtain the information and documents that are critical to your case. But discovery is fraught with potential mistakes, some of which could lead to sanctions – or even cause …

Learn how to prepare an engaging and effective case, targeted to the appropriate forum: MSPB or EEOC. This class will methodically describe the keys of each step in prepping your case, whether it’s getting witnesses ready, developing the record, objecting to documents, preparing your lines of questioning, or closing statements. …

Letters of acceptance/dismissal. Settlement agreements. Final agency decisions. Motions for summary judgment. Reports of investigation. Let’s face it, your job requires a lot of writing. Yet when was the last time you had training on these important skills? This workshop-based class covers the fundamentals of good legal writing. Through the …

With the rise in mental health diagnoses, substance abuse disorders, and the physical challenges that come with an aging workforce, Federal supervisors can expect a corresponding increase in employees failing to meet conduct standards due to physical or mental impairments. This course will walk you through a step-by-step process for …

What if you are unable to make an appropriate determination at the end of an employee’s probationary period? Must you notify employees when their probationary periods are coming to an end? Can you discipline or PIP someone during a probationary period? On the surface, probationary periods seem rather simple. An …

Most 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 …

You can’t discipline an employee for AWOL unless it has reached a certain number of days. Employees can’t be removed for AWOL. You can’t be charged AWOL for time that you were physically present in the office. None of these statements are true; they are AWOL myths. This training will …

The borderline between on-duty and off-duty has become increasingly blurred with the omnipresence of social media and many employees working flexible hours 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 …

Between President Biden’s pardon for people convicted of simple possession of marijuana and the growing legalization movement, we have received a lot of questions regarding Federal employees and their use, whether recreationally, medicinally, or “accidentally” – of marijuana. This course will review the laws that apply to Federal employees, discuss …

Is there a more maddening or confusing element of workplace management than navigating the alphabet soup of employee leave – AWOL, LWOP, FMLA, PPL, etc.? This class imparts the knowledge and skills to deal with any leave-related situation. This training covers all types of leave and leave entitlements, ensuring you …

One of the quickest ways to damage workplace morale is when employees see a coworker getting away with unacceptable performance or misconduct. The less you look away from these problems, the more likely it is for good employees to stay. This class offers an immersion into accountability principles, regardless of …

Legal writing in Federal sector employment law is a specialized craft. Attend this one-day training to ensure that your cases are not lost because of poorly or ambiguously written documents. FELTG will help you sharpen the skills you need to produce effective, defensible, and legally sound discipline and performance documents, …

This course is an excellent introduction for those new to the field, as well as those trying to align their actions and policies with the most current case law, regulations, and Executive Orders. Regardless of your skill level or experience, you’ll leave this class with the practical guidance necessary to …

Wouldn’t it be nice if you had an appraisal system that helped managers effectively and quickly deal with unacceptable performance in the Federal workplace – and survive third-party review? Believe it or not, regardless of your current appraisal system, you can hold employees accountable if you know the parameters. This …

Drafting appropriate charges and choosing a defensible penalty are two crucial parts of the disciplinary process. FELTG is here to make sure you have the tools you need to make the right decision in employee discipline. Course topics include how to structure charges and specifications, identifying alternate charges, charging down and proving …

If you’re confused, uncertain, or even timid about holding employees accountable for misconduct, this is the class for you. We’ll provide a step-by-step process for taking successful and defensible misconduct-based actions, while bringing you up to speed on topics such as charge drafting, penalty defense, assessing evidence, due process, burdens …