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Now that all executive agencies are required to transition to the new standardized governmentwide performance appraisal cycle, your agency’s policies and procedures have to be revised. In this interactive webinar, federal HR expert Barbara Haga will guide you in implementing a performance appraisal system based on the recent OPM guidance by the 2026 agencywide deadline.

She’ll take you through the nuts and bolts of the appraisal system guidance and its new requirements related to expediting performance improvement plans, expediting removal of poor performers, and ensuring that performance appraisals are in line with the agency’s mission while rewarding high performers.

Along with learning about new management training requirements designed to maintain a focus on accountability, you will leave with best practices to properly:

• Determine when and for how long a performance improvement plan should be in place
• Identify when it is appropriate to provide a meaningful bonus or award for a high performer
• Connect the importance of the agency’s mission with the performance of the employee
• Correctly address excessive performance review ratings
• Identify when and how “pass-fail” performance systems may be used
• And more

Following her presentation, Ms. Haga will answer participants’ questions so you can get her guidance on your specific concerns.

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Meet Your Trainer

Barbara Haga is the president of Federal HR Services, Inc., which provides HR training, consulting, and functional services to federal agencies. She previously served as the Head of Organizational Development and Workforce Relations for NASA Langley Research Center, with responsibility for Center training programs, the Career Transition Assistance Program, and employee and labor relations and benefits functions. Prior to NASA, she worked with the Department of Navy, where her responsibilities encompassed assignments at HRO Norfolk, the Office of Civilian Personnel Management, and the Human Resources Service Center East.

Ms. Haga has had experience in all HR functional areas including delivery of numerous courses and presentations for managers and HR professionals. Her primary areas of expertise are in employee and labor relations, including performance appraisal, dealing with performance and conduct deficiencies, and grievances and appeals.

Ms. Haga writes the regular “Leave Advisor” column for cyberFEDS^® and is a popular presenter at the annual FDR Training conference on HR, leave, and performance management topics.

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Who Should Attend

• HR practitioners and specialists
• Employee Relations professionals
• Labor Relations professionals
• Attorneys handling HR and performance management cases
• Federal Supervisors and Managers
• Outside counsel who represent employees

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Registration Information Main Site (required for Additional Site registrations): $295 per connection
Additional Site for Teleworker: $115 per connection
REGISTER NOW

Under the Trump administration there has been a concerted effort to make disciplinary actions easier for agencies. Now OPM has been given authority to order the head of an agency to take action against agency employees for misconduct that occurs after being hired. Kevin Owen will explain how the changes can force the removal of an employee over the objection of the employing agency and impact agencies’ ability to take disciplinary action on their own.

Along with learning how we got from the previous OPM pre-appointment suitability determination process to the new post-appointment suitability rules, you’ll gain this attorney’s insights on:

• What is a suitability determination
• The 9 factors and other considerations used in making suitability determinations under current regulations
• Which employee behaviors the new OPM regulation specifically targets for action
• The impact of the changes on whistleblowing and the Trump administration’s desire to “fast-track” removals
• The role the MSPB plays in reviewing suitability actions
• Agencies’ role if OPM makes the determination to move forward with an adverse action
• And more

Q&A time will follow the presentation, so you can ask Mr. Owen your specific questions.

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Meet Your Trainer

Kevin L. Owen is a Partner with Gilbert Employment Law, P.C. and chairs the Adverse Action and Whistleblower Practice Group. He litigates all phases of complaints of employment discrimination and appeals of disciplinary action involving federal employees in administrative forums, primarily the U.S. Merit Systems Protection Board, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the U.S. Office of Special Counsel, and the Federal Circuit Court of Appeals. He has prevailed on many appeals before the MSPB, including appeals involving due process issues violations, complex appeals involving a denial of a security clearance, and constructive suspension appeals related to disability discrimination claims.

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Who Should Attend

• ER practitioners and specialists
• Agency counsel
• LR practitioners and specialists
• HR practitioners and specialists
• Union officials

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Registration Information Main Site (required for Additional Site registrations): $295 per connection
Additional Site for Teleworker: $115 per connection
REGISTER NOW