Living in a Virtual Reality World

It seems like years since I shared with you the photo I took from the top of the Washington Monument looking over the National Mall and the U.S. Capitol, but that was only in January. It’s amazing how life during a pandemic alters the way time passes.

Time isn’t the only thing that’s been altered. The way we live life and the way we work has changed dramatically. Because telework, travel, and return to work guidelines vary from agency to agency and state to state, FELTG has decided to hold our open enrollment classes virtually through August. We hope this will eliminate some of the uncertainty of “will they or won’t they run the class,” and will allow you to make your summer training plans soon, knowing you can attend whether you’re working from home or are back in your agency workplace. Our website list of events has a full calendar where you can see what programs we’re offering, and when. We hope you can join us, as we all work through this “virtual reality” together.

This month’s newsletter tackles the eventual return of employees to the workplace and other pandemic-related challenges, what happens when you leave a nuclear missile unguarded, Medical Inability to Perform removals, and much more – including an introduction to our newest instructor.

Take care,

Deborah J. Hopkins, FELTG President

Failure to Follow Instructions: A Charge That Seems Particularly Fit for 2020

Ensuring that employees comply with work procedures and requirements has taken on a new characteristic with the pandemic. As agencies prepare to bring...

To Err Is Human — And Maybe Also a Reason to Change a Personnel Record?

As many of you are aware, the work of negotiating settlement agreements became more difficult on May 25, 2018, with the issuance of Executive Order 13...

If You Leave an Intercontinental Ballistic Missile Unguarded, You’re Probably Getting Fired

A few weeks ago, I wrote an article about progressive discipline, and explained how a time-tested approach to discipline in the federal government pro...

The Good News: You Can Still Boost Employee Morale Virtually

In this strange COVID-19 world, we are struggling to see the bright side of the situation and trying to avoid the constant barrage of bad news. Actor ...

The Employee Who Can’t Perform the Essential Functions Because of a Disability

At FELTG, we love a good hypothetical Q & A, especially a hypothetical that comes from a nice student who has attended one of our classes. Here’...

Three Things to Consider as You Prepare for Employees’ Return to the Workplace

While the nation’s slow re-opening is being welcomed by struggling small businesses and Americans eager for a return to normalcy, it is also being m...

Supervisor Survival Series: Trust Your Teleworkers – Unless There’s a Reason Not To

Right now, an unprecedented number of federal employees are teleworking as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to spread across the globe. Supervisors are...

Tips From The Other Side: Provide an Effective Accommodation and Follow Up

As we continue into what feels like the third year of quarantine (but is really just getting to the end of month two, at least in the Washington, DC a...