InTouch - Sorrow and Solidarity in the Face of Tragedy

Flags at County facilities are flying at half staff in remembrance of the victims of the Las Vegas attack.

Our hearts are heavy as we watch and read about the horrific attack in Las Vegas. The anguish we feel will only sharpen as stories about individual victims come to light. We mourn with the people of Las Vegas and Clark County, and we stand with all the first responders and emergency workers.

With so many victims, I expect some will be friends or relatives of County employees. I offer my sympathies to anyone touched directly. Many of us have ties of some kind to Las Vegas, or have visited those exact locations. The personal connections and familiarity intensify the sense of shock. 

Whether you know someone who was there, or you’ve just found the incident upsetting, please remember our Employee Assistance Program has counselors available. The service is free and confidential.

A reminder also about the need for vigilance wherever you are. You can review steps and resources on our Employee Security page.

These nightmarish events can darken anyone’s mood and make it difficult to get through the day. Most people’s first instinct in a tragedy is to want to help. May you find some solace in our work as public servants. Please take care of each other and take care of yourself.    

Open Enrollment Now Underway

Open Enrollment is here! It is time to select your benefits for the 2018 plan year.

This year, Open Enrollment is required. You must participate in order to keep your current elections, enroll in a new plan or make changes to your coverage. Even employees wishing to waive medical coverage must complete the medical waiver election in eBenefits. In other words, all employees must make their elections by Thursday, Oct. 26.

Visit the 2018 Open Enrollment Benefits information webpage from your work or home computer for a comprehensive review of the benefits program. Learn more about what's changing and what's staying the same. Be sure to review the Open Enrollment guide. Plus, there’s instructions on how to log in, enroll and submit your elections on eBenefits.

Have an Open Enrollment question? Seek the answers in one of the self-serve web-based trainings or ask a  Benefits Ambassador from your group. Not sure which group you are in? Check this handy organizational chart.

Enroll Now!

Employee is Smitten with Kittens

Darin and his wife saw a call for employees to be foster parents to kittens on InSite. They fell such in love that they've since fostered more than a dozen kittens - dubbed tweenies -  for our animal care facilities. In fact, they love it so much, they wanted to share their experience with some of the kittens they had this summer. Tweenie season typically starts in the late spring. Darin and his wife just finished fostering their last batch of cuties. Here's their experience - and awwww-worthy photos, of course.

My wife and I are both county employees. One day, we noticed the cute image of four kittens posted on InSite’s homepage. The following day, we signed up to be “tweenie” foster parents. Since that day, our family has fostered 13 tweenies. Each one was an adorable, furry ball of cuteness!

What is a tweenie? A tweenie is a kitten under two pounds. Once they weigh more than that, they get put up for adoption. They were quickly adopted through the San Diego County Animal Shelter. With our two teenage boys home for the summer, the tweenies received constant attention. The smallest tweenies we fostered were a litter of four, weighing about five ounces each. All four of them would fit in one hand.

At the end of a work day, coming home to cute, playful tweenies, that run to you to greet you, and demand to be held, makes every day a better day. Tweenies brought peace and happiness to our home, and they will do the same for you. If you can give the amount of attention these little ones require, please become a foster parent. We plan on being foster parents every summer.

-Darin and Laura Hinesly

Enter the County’s Lip Sync Battle

Read our lips: you should participate in this year’s Lip Sync Battle! The annual showdown is looking for creative contestants to compete in the contest next month. Both solo acts and groups are invited to enter.

Lip Sync Battle contenders will take center stage at the Halloween festival at the County Operations Center on Oct. 31.

The Rules

In the first round, each entrant will perform one song. The top two challengers with the loudest crowd applause will advance to the second and final round. Contestants will be judged on their lip sync skills, creativity and stage presence.

How to Enter

To enter, send an email with the following: the names, titles and departments of everyone on your team, and the titles of two songs you’d perform. Contestants will be selected on a first come, first served basis. Finalists will be announced on InSite on Monday, Oct. 23.

Don’t Miss the Big Bash

The Lip Sync Battle is just one of the Halloween happenings planned for Oct. 31. The County’s annual festival at the County Operations Center will be back this year with a “Monster Ball” prom theme. In addition, the ever popular costume contest will be open to all County employees—so get your costume in order! Keep your eyes peeled to InSite for all the frighteningly fun details leading up the witching hour on Halloween. 

Live Well and Score Discounted Padres Tickets

Photo Credit: San Diego Padres

Come out to cheer on the County’s newest Live Well San Diego partner—the San Diego Padres!

County employees can buy discounted tickets to the Padres Wednesday, Sept. 20 game against the Arizona Diamondbacks. First pitch is at 6:10 p.m., right after a special pre-game ceremony where Supervisor Ron Roberts and HHSA Director Nick Macchione will recognize the Padres as an official member of the Live Well San Diego team.

Tickets are $15 for upper infield and $22 for field level.

Purchase your discounted tickets now with password COUNTYNIGHT17. To purchase groups of 10 or more, please contact Jenna Sain at jsain@padres.com.

Open Enrollment Is Coming!

Open Enrollment starts Oct. 2, but you don’t need to wait to learn about benefits changes for 2018—get started today.

Review what is new and what is staying the same at the Department of Human Resources’ Benefits webpage. You’ll be able to access this information from your work and home computers. Plus, Open Enrollments Information Sessions will be held at several County worksites.

If you have any questions leading up to or during the enrollment period of Oct. 2 to 26, you can reach out to your Open Enrollment Benefits Ambassador. Questions can be directed to an ambassador from your group. Not sure which group you are in, we got you covered—check this handy organizational chart.

Free Flu Shots for County Employees

Seasonal flu vaccinations will be available to all County employees starting Sept. 19. All employees are encouraged to take advantage of this free benefit.

Flu shots will be available at 20 County worksites around the region. No appointment is necessary, but employees will need to show their County ID badge.

While it may seem early to think about your annual flu shot, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends getting the vaccination as soon as it’s available. Getting vaccinated before the start of the flu season gives the body a chance to build up immunity to the virus before it begins spreading in the community.  If you have concerns about the flu shot, please see this story from the County Immunization Program debunking common flu shot myths.

Find the full schedule on the Department of Human Resources’ Employee Benefits Division page.

Additional Tips to Stay Healthy

In addition to getting vaccinated, people should also do the following to avoid getting sick:

• Wash hands thoroughly and often (How long is thoroughly? Watch!)

• Use hand sanitizers

• Stay away from sick people

• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth

• Clean commonly touched surfaces

• If you are sick, stay home and avoid contact with others

‘Face of DHR’ Retiring

If you've started working for the County in the past 20 years, there's a good chance you've met Human Resources Assistant Jeanne Peoples. She’s been at the front desk of the Department of Human Resources helping hopefuls with applications and candidates with background checks since 1997. She’s that friendly face that welcomed you into the County.

HR Analyst Lisa McAvoy-Grover said Peoples originally came in to interview for another position, but the Department of Human Resources recognized she would be great working with both the public and employees.

The hiring manager was “so impressed with her demeanor and people skills,” said McAvoy-Grover. “She was assigned to the front counter and has thrived there ever since then.”

It’s even in her name. Peoples is a people person. Known as the “customer service queen,” she’s won countless customer service awards and accolades over the past two decades.

Read more about Peoples’ experience over the years in this earlier profile.

County Remembers 9/11

Flags are flying at half-staff at all County facilities today in tribute to first responders and all those who lost their lives on Sept. 11, 2001. 

HHSA Employees' School Supply Drive Adds Up for Needy Children

Some of the school supplies donated by HHSA employees at the North Central Family Resource Center/Public Health Center.

The numbers add up in a big way. And just in time for the start of school.

HHSA employees at the Family Resource Center and Public Health Center on Ruffin Road, along with the East and North Central Regions’ Community Health Engagement Team, had a very successful school supply drive for students at Walker Elementary School in Mira Mesa.

The employees collected 43 backpacks, 62 notebooks, 39 boxes of crayons, 24 boxes of pencils, 77 glue sticks and 15 boxes of pens, among many more items.

“We couldn’t have asked for a more generous gathering of supplies that helped the children who were in need,” said Nancy Gubany, a human services specialist who organized the drive with Monica Gillespie. “The school called to thank us and let us know that all the backpacks had been distributed and all the donations were much appreciated.”

Gubany and Gillespie are the HEART Jr. ambassadors for the Family Resource Center/Public Health Center. Jr. ambassadors promote positivity in the workplace, encourage coworkers to take customer service trainings and acknowledge staff that provide exceptional customer service.

Walker Elementary serves approximately 500 transitional kindergarten through fifth grade students.

Walker Elementary serves approximately 500 transitional kindergarten through fifth grade students.

Walker Elementary serves approximately 500 transitional kindergarten through fifth grade students.

Nancy Gubany, left, and Monica Gillespie are Jr. HEART ambassadors and organized the school supply drive.