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Douglas Factors Worksheets Dos & Don’ts to Support Your Agency’s Discipline Cases
Presented by Robert Erbe, Esq.
Wednesday | October 25, 2023 • 12 - 1:30 p.m. ET
REGISTER NOWRecent MSPB case decisions show that administrative judges and the Board are closely scrutinizing agency Douglas factors worksheets — and just one small error or inconsistency can torpedo your agency’s discipline case before it even begins. Join noted Douglas factors expert Bob Erbe to find out about potential problem areas and how to address them.
Pointing out the lessons to be learned from these cases, Erbe will highlight the common and uncommon errors agencies make with the worksheets. Then, you’ll gain best and worst practices for avoiding these missteps and get guidance to ensure worksheets are completed in a way that supports the agency’s cases.
Along with finding out which Douglas factors require the most attention and why, you’ll take away practical strategies to:
- Effectively document the Douglas factors to obtain the maximum penalty deference
- Scrutinize a completed worksheet for mistakes and due process violations
- Use a worksheet during direct examination at the MSPB hearing
- Train deciding officials on how to properly complete a worksheet
- Avoid certain language or conclusory statements on a worksheet that can come back to haunt the agency
- And more
Meet Your Trainer
Attorney Robert Erbe has been practicing federal sector labor and employment law for more than 20 years. Currently, he is in private practice primarily representing the National Border Patrol Council. During his federal service, he handled more than 100 MSPB appeals for numerous agencies. He is considered an expert on the Douglas factors as well as MSPB practice and procedure. He also writes the “Discipline Advisor” column for cyberFEDS®. He is an Advisory Board member and regular presenter at the annual FDR Training, and is an attendee-favorite presenter of LRP’s Federal Webinars.
Who Should Attend
- Employee relations specialists
- Labor relations specialists
- HR specialists
- Agency attorneys
- Deciding officials
- Union/employee representatives
Registration Information Main Site (required for Additional Site registrations): $295 per connection
Additional Site for Teleworker: $115 per connection
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Barbara Haga on FMLA Compliance: Techniques to Tackle Your Agency’s Top Trouble Areas
Presented by Barbara Haga
Wednesday | November 8, 2023 • 12 - 1:30 p.m. ET
REGISTER NOWLRP is pleased to offer this can’t-miss opportunity to learn directly from the federal community’s most trusted authority on FMLA leave administration. Join Barbara Haga for a full 90 minutes of expert guidance, as she focuses on 10 common trouble areas of FMLA Title II and provides best practices you can use to stay compliant as you apply the very specific provisions of this complex law.
From intermittent leave, to covered family members, to what constitutes a serious health condition, Ms. Haga will guide you through challenging issues when handling leave requests. With a practical, here’s what to do approach, you’ll take away proven strategies to:
- Properly advise managers on how to document use of FMLA hours
- Give legally compliant notice of employee entitlement and responsibilities under FMLA rules
- Determine if an employee’s request for FMLA leave meets notice requirements
- Analyze a request for substitution of leave and whether it should be granted
- Evaluate if a request for provisional leave meets regulatory requirements under 5 CFR 630
- Request and evaluate medical certification from the employee
- And more
The presentation will be followed by interactive Q&A — don’t miss your chance to have Ms. Haga answer your toughest questions!
Meet Your Trainer
Barbara Haga is the president of Federal HR Services, Inc., which provides HR training, consulting and functional services to federal agencies. Previously, she 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.
Who Should Attend
- HR practitioners and specialists
- Leave administration professionals
- Employee Relations professionals
- Attorneys handling HR, leave and discipline cases
Registration Information Main Site (required for Additional Site registrations): $295 per connection
Additional Site for Teleworker: $115 per connection
REGISTER NOW
Addressing Complex Disability Accommodation Issues in Agencies’ Telework, Hybrid and Return to On-Site Work
Presented by Jo Linda Johnson, Esq.
Wednesday | December 6, 2023 • 12 - 1:30 p.m. ET
REGISTER NOWReasonable accommodation of disabilities has always been one of federal professionals’ most challenging tasks. And with today’s evolving federal work environment, the issues involved in employees’ accommodation requests are only getting more complex.
Join attorney Jo Linda Johnson for guidance on addressing the new issues that are arising, with a focus on telework requests and other issues related to hybrid work/returning to on-site work. First, you’ll get an overview of the current accommodation landscape — and a look into what’s to come. Then Ms. Johnson will provide instruction on how the core reasonable accommodation basics can be applied to today’s requests, giving you best practices to:
- Determine if telework or hybrid work is a valid accommodation option even if all other employees are returning/have returned to on-site work
- Determine if an unusual accommodation, such as a comfort animal, will allow an employee to effectively perform the essential job functions
- Respond when an employee seeking accommodation will not provide requested medical documentation
- Reassess current accommodations if the jobsite changes or the employee's needs/condition change
- And more
Plus, case scenarios will further illustrate how to apply the accommodation process to complex requests, such as full-time telework for a previously on-site job and accessibility for an employee who experienced loss of function during the pandemic.
Meet Your Trainer
Jo Linda Johnson is a civil rights attorney with over 20 years of experience enforcing anti-discrimination laws, protecting federal employees and members of the public. During her distinguished 21-year federal career, Ms. Johnson served within the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and the Department of Homeland Security. Now in the private sector, Ms. Johnson brings the same zeal for equity and justice to her new industry. She previously served on the Advisory Board for LRP’s FDR Training and is a frequent speaker at the annual event.
Registration Information Main Site (required for Additional Site registrations): $295 per connection
Additional Site for Teleworker: $115 per connection
REGISTER NOW