# Federal Employee Relations: Advanced Casework and Governance (Self-Paced)

Canonical URL: <https://www.graduateschool.edu/courses/federal-employee-relations-advanced>

## Overview

This advanced course builds on Federal Employee Relations (Intermediate) and focuses on the most complex aspects of federal employee relations casework. Participants will examine high-risk adverse actions, apply the Douglas factors, conduct comparator analyses, and develop defensible case files that can withstand third-party review. The course also addresses agencywide penalty governance, case-quality standards, and the coordination required when matters overlap with EEO, labor relations, OSC, MSPB, privacy, or legal counsel.

Designed for experienced federal employee relations professionals who advise management and oversee challenging cases, this course is case-based and does not provide attorney litigation training.

## What you'll learn

- Review a complex case for legal sufficiency before an action is proposed.
- Apply the Douglas factors and defend a penalty as reasonable and consistent.
- Perform comparator analysis to avoid disparate-penalty exposure.
- Recognize multi-forum risk (EEO, labor relations, OSC, MSPB, Privacy) and when to engage each.
- Build a defensible case file and agency record that will withstand third-party review.
- Govern penalties and case quality across an agency's ER portfolio.

## Prerequisites

[Federal Employee Relations (Intermediate)](https://www.graduateschool.edu/courses/federal-employee-relations-intermediate) or equivalent experience.

## Curriculum

#### Complex Case Assessment and Legal Sufficiency

- Evaluating complex conduct and performance matters
- Identifying evidentiary, procedural, and documentation gaps
- Reviewing a proposed action for legal and procedural sufficiency
- Assessing the relationship between the charge, specifications, and supporting evidence
- Determining when to involve agency counsel or other specialists

#### High-Risk Adverse Actions and Due Process

- Managing complex and high-risk adverse-action cases
- Providing notice and a meaningful opportunity to respond
- Maintaining impartiality between proposing and deciding officials
- Evaluating employee replies and mitigating information
- Recognizing procedural errors that may affect an action

#### Penalty Governance and Comparator Analysis

- Applying the Douglas factors to penalty decisions
- Connecting the penalty to the facts and circumstances of the case
- Identifying appropriate comparators
- Evaluating similarities and distinctions among cases
- Reducing the risk of inconsistent or disparate penalties
- Documenting and defending the reasonableness of a penalty

#### Multi-Forum Risk and Case Coordination

- Recognizing matters that may involve EEO, labor relations, OSC, MSPB, privacy, or other forums
- Identifying overlapping claims, rights, and procedural requirements
- Determining when and how to coordinate with counsel and other offices
- Managing referrals and handoffs without compromising the case record
- Tracking deadlines and obligations across multiple forums

#### Defensible Case Files and Agency Records

- Building a complete and well-organized case file
- Documenting management decisions and supporting rationale
- Maintaining reliable evidence and records
- Preparing the agency record for third-party review
- Identifying common case-file weaknesses

#### Employee Relations Portfolio Governance

- Establishing agencywide standards for case quality
- Promoting consistent penalty practices across offices and components
- Reviewing trends, comparators, and recurring case risks
- Using quality-control reviews to strengthen employee relations practices
- Advising leadership on systemic risks and corrective actions

## Pricing

**Tuition:** $1049