Annual Federal Sector Conference is BACK in-person and better than ever!

REGISTRATION

8:15 am – 8:30 am   

Opening Plenary: The Federal Workplace and Labor Relations Under the Biden Administration

The panelists will discuss a wide range of federal workplace issues ranging from the Biden Administration's policies on collective bargaining and worker empowerment, the transition to a new way of working due to the pandemic, and trends in resolving labor relations disputes.

• Tim Curry, OPM Deputy Associate Director, Accountability and Workforce Relations 
• Dan Kaspar, NTEU Director of Field Operations and Organizing 
• Susan Grundmann, FLRA Member

EEO Update

As an EEO Update, Chair Burrows will speak about EEOC initiatives and priorities as they relate to the federal sector. Topics include DEIA, pay equity in the federal workforce, and issues around unlawful retaliatory conduct in the federal sector.

• Charlotte Burrows, EEOC Chair

Best Practices for Handling Accommodation Requests 

This panel will address best practices for disability accommodations under the Rehabilitation Act and religious accommodations under Title VII. Through a Q&A format, the panel will provide both the union/employee perspective and the agency's perspective on issues such as seeking accommodations, documenting the need for accommodations, the interactive process, and implementing the accommodations.  

• Julie Lenggenhager, NTEU Deputy Director of Field Operations
• Kevin Deane, Technical Advisor, Disability Services Division Equity, Diversity & Inclusion, Internal Revenue Service
• Nicole Buonocore Porter, Director, Martin H. Malin Institute for Law and the Workplace, Chicago-Kent College of Law

LUNCH SESSION

An Ethical Discussion on the Maturing DEIA model

Is your agency proposing new initiatives to advance diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA) beyond traditional efforts?  Do you want to help your agency move forward but get stuck focusing on sharing all the potential risks?  Join our panel of experts for an interactive discussion to help you capitalize on your wise legal counsel and become an ethical and active ally to mature DEIA models, government wide.

Learning Objectives:

1. how to be an ethical and competent attorney while being a champion for underserved communities
2. identify and examine the DEIA model from an ethical viewpoint

• Nikita Pearson, Deputy to the Chairman for External Affairs and Director, Office of Minority and Women Inclusion, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC)
• Vicky Gillen, Attorney-Advisor to FSIP and a Member of the FLRA's Diversity Equity and Inclusion Committee 
• Elyssa Santos Abrams, Senior Attorney Advisor, Office of Federal Operations
• Nicole Buonocore Porter, Moderator

BREAK

State of the MSPB

The Merit Systems Protection Board emerged in March 2022 from more than five years without a quorum and, for the first time since 2015, achieved a full, three-member Board in June 2022.

Acting Chairman Cathy A. Harris and Member Raymond A. Limon will discuss the agency's statutory mission.

They will also discuss the challenges imposed by the agency's prolonged absence of a quorum, including a large inventory of cases, and the priorities being considered to issue decisions in the most efficient and equitable manner.

• Cathy A. Harris, Acting Chairman, Merit Systems Protection Board
• Raymond Limon, Member, Merit Systems Protection Board

MSPB Caselaw Update + Practicing Before the MSPB

A panel of MSPB Administrative Judges will review selected recent decisions and discuss their significance for practitioners litigating appeals before the Board.

• Jennifer Cassell, MSPB Administrative Judge
• Daniel Fine, MSPB Administrative Judge 
• Mary Senoo, MSPB Administrative Judge 

CONCURRENT SESSIONS

Best Practices in Virtual Hearings/Mediations and Administrative Judge Q&A

In the first portion of the session, EEOC and MSPB administrative judges will discuss best practices applicable to virtual hearings and mediations. In the second portion of the session, the judges will address attendees' questions pertaining to MSPB/EEOC practices in an "Ask the AJ" format. Submit your questions HERE.

• Michael Rhoades, Administrative Judge, EEOC
• David Lidow, Administrative Judge, Merit Systems Protection Board

Challenges and Best Practices for Conducting Misconduct Inquiries

What are an employee's rights when being investigated for misconduct? What obligations do management and advocates have? In this workshop, the panel will use scenarios to cover these topics and explore challenges faced and best practices in dealing with investigating employee misconduct.

• Jeff Friday, General Counsel, National Federation of Federal Employees
• Pamela D. Langston-Cox, Area Counsel, General Legal Services, Office of the Chief Counsel, U.S. Department of Treasury
• Frank Boenzi, ASAC, TIGTA, Chicago Office

FLRA Case Update

The FLRA's Acting General Counsel and Regional Directors from the Authority's five Regional Offices will provide an update of recent decisions of the FLRA and will discuss practices and procedures of the Office of General Counsel.

• Charlotte Dye, Acting General Counsel
• Jessica Barlett, Washington RD
• Brent Hudspeth, Atlanta Regional Attorney
• John Pannozzo, San Francisco RD
• Tim Sullivan, Denver RD
• Greg Weddle, Acting Chicago RD

Closing Plenary:  Federal Service Impasses Panel Update

The members of the Federal Service Impasses Panel are appointed by the President. The goal of the Panel is to successfully resolve bargaining impasses between parties that request its help.  This brief workshop provides the parties with information on what to expect; how to succeed; and practices to avoid when requesting the Panel’s assistance.

• Martin H. Malin, Chairman, U.S. Federal Service Impasses Panel, FLRA 
• Wynter Allen, FSIP Member
• Jeanne Charles, FSIP Member
• Howard Friedman, FSIP Member
• Edward Hartfield, FSIP Member
• Marvin Johnson, FSIP Member
• Mark Pearce, FSIP Member
• Pamela Schwartz, FSIP Member
• Joseph Slater, FSIP Member
• Tamiko Watkins, FSIP Member
• Nicole Buonocore Porter, Moderator