Root, Root, Root for the Home Team

Updated on 4:23 p.m., Dec. 10, 2018: The Employee Wellness softball tournament has been rescheduled to Jan. 26 and 27.

Updated on 3:20 p.m., Nov. 20, 2018:  The Employee Wellness Intramural Softball Tournament scheduled for this weekend has been postponed due to rain.

Twenty-four teams will take the field in the Employee Wellness’ second Intramural Softball Tournament this weekend. Come out to the ballpark for a fun-filled day and to cheer on your co-workers.

The tournament, which promotes camaraderie, teamwork and fun physical activity, will take place at Sweetwater Lane County Park, 1312 Sweetwater Lane, Spring Valley, CA 91977. Games start at 10:30 a.m. on both Saturday and Sunday. The championship game will take place at approximately 4 p.m., Sunday.

Go, Team County!

Double Check Your W-4/DE 4 Tax Withholdings

Central Payroll Administration has an important year-end reminder for you—review your tax withholding allowances before the start of 2019. The W-4/DE 4 forms are used to calculate the federal and state income tax withholdings from your paycheck.

If your filing status (married/single) or number of withholding allowances has changed since your last W-4/DE 4 filing, or if you claimed exempt status on your last filing and are no longer eligible, you must submit an amended W-4/DE 4 within 10 days after the change occurs through PeopleSoft Employee Self-Service. Step by step instructions for Federal and for State.

If you are currently eligible for exempt status and wish to continue claiming exemption from withholding in 2019, you must resubmit your signed W-4/DE 4 card to Central Payroll between Jan. 1 and Feb. 15, 2019. If your card has not been received in Central Payroll before the deadline, your income tax withholding will be returned to your previous withholding status (or single with zero withholding allowances, if you have no previous withholding status).

If your filing status and allowances are unchanged, and if you are not claiming exemption from withholding, you do not need to submit a new W-4/DE 4.

If you have any questions about your W-4/DE 4 filing, please call Central Payroll at 858-694-2051 or refer to the W-4 instructions on the IRS website and the DE 4 instructions on the EDD website.

Please note that 2019 W-4/DE 4 forms are currently unavailable. The IRS anticipates releasing the updated forms before the end of the year. In the meanwhile, review your paystub and learn about your 2018 withholdings.

Get Your Tickets to the ERG Holiday Party

The deadline to get your tickets to the Employee Resource Groups 2018 Holiday Party is fast approaching. You have until 5 p.m., Monday, Dec. 3 to purchase tickets to this festive gathering. Get your tickets now.

County Meteorologist's Forecast

The Department of Public Works has its own meteorologist as part of its flood control staff. Here's Rand Allan's forecast for the coming days.

A strong winter storm is moving rapidly towards California. Rain in advance of the upper low is currently moving through Central California. Shower activity is expected to begin over San Diego late tonight, becoming likely by sunrise tomorrow. Rain will become heavy at times as the cold front moves through the county by noontime and continuing into the early afternoon. Heavy rain switches to showers after the frontal passage continuing into Friday morning with scattered showers continuing into Saturday morning, primarily in the mountains. Expected rain totals are 1” near the coast increasing to 2”-4” in the mountains with up to 5” on the southwest facing slopes, and ¼” in the deserts. Minor urban flooding and debris flows in recent Alpine burn area are possible with the frontal passage. There should be a dusting of snow at the highest elevations.

Right on the heels of tomorrow’s storm is a second much weaker, but colder, storm arriving Saturday afternoon and continuing into Sunday morning with snow levels lowering to near 5000’. No word yet on rain and snow amounts, but flooding is not expected with this storm.

Weather clears Sunday evening with fair skies through at least next Tuesday with the possibility of a stronger third storm hitting Southern California mid-week.

Uke Got This, BHS

Behavioral Health Services staff have found a harmonious way to refresh during lunch. A group of employees from different BHS programs have been meeting twice a week for ukulele jam sessions.

Rizza Rodriguez, an administrative analyst who plays with the group, is singing the praises of these informal get-togethers. Rodriguez said music has been shown to reduce stress, ease anxiety and improve memory. Plus, it is fun.

“Not only do we get to learn how to play the ukulele, we also get to take care of ourselves by introducing music in between work,” she said.

Watch them play a song or two.

Give Back on Giving Tuesday

Black Friday, Small Business Saturday and Cyber Monday have come and gone. Now it’s time to really get into the holiday spirit with Giving Tuesday, a day focused on charitable giving.

Please consider donating to the San Diego County Employees’ Charitable Organization (CECO) on this special day. CECO donates all the money it collects to community organizations and employees in need. This year alone, CECO awarded $167,990 in grants to 100 local nonprofit programs located throughout the San Diego region—all possible because of employee donations.

Here are three simple ways to give to CECO: become a biweekly contributor for as little as $2 per pay period or increase your current biweekly contribution by $1; make a one-time donation with cash, by check or PayPal Giving Fund; or make CECO your non-profit of choice when you shop at Amazon Smile.

Learn more about CECO.

County Parks Ranger ‘Visits’ Students Across the US

San Diego County Parks Ranger Kyle Icke was a special guest on a 30-minute online education program broadcast live to more than 400 elementary school students across the U.S. last week. The program, called “World of Work,” highlights careers in the science, technology, engineering and math fields, and is available to everyone wanting to bring a little bit of nature into the classroom.

The episode, created by Cajon Valley Union School District, will also be available for educators to share with students when it aligns with curriculum.

Let Ranger Kyle explain why “every day’s a vacation because I love my occupation” in this short preview video

PerkSpot Offers Black Friday Deals

County employees can find Black Friday deals on everything from toys to jewelry to electronics on PerkSpot.

Stuff your stockings with discounted movie tickets. Feast on 20 percent off chocolate treats from Ghirardelli and Godiva. Save a bundle on winter apparel. These sales will make you feel jolly!

PerkSpot offers benefits and discounts through more than 400 service providers and retailers. Go to SDCounty.PerkSpot.com and shop. If you are new, click on “Create an Account” to register.

Each month, one of the most popular PerkSpot deals will be highlighted on InSite.

A Grateful HEART

The East Public Health Center found a great way to team-build – build the team up!

During its November all-staff meeting, in the spirit of the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday, the office decided to do a team-building activity based on gratitude. They talked about how Thanksgiving is a holiday to celebrate everything we are thankful for, but how unfortunate it is that it only comes once a year. 

"Feeling appreciated at work is the most important thing to most employees," said Janet Lunsford, a senior office assistant. "So our gratitude for our team members needs to be stated much more often than annually."

After the discussion of continuous gratitude, the team passed around a basket that contained everyone’s name on pieces of both red- and orange-colored paper that had been cut out into leaves. Everyone was instructed to pick one orange and one red folded paper out of the basket. They went around the table and each team member got to tell the person’s whose name was on the orange paper what they appreciate about them – face to face.

"Everybody was so kind and sincere to each other and the experience was very moving," said Lunsford. 

After that, the team was asked to write a short thank-you note to the person whose name was on the red-colored paper they drew. The end result? A HEART wall for all to read and see.

"We are hoping that our staff realizes that each one of them plays an important role on our team and they are all valued by each other," said Lunsford. "We named this exercise ‘A Grateful HEART.'"

Why are you thankful for your colleagues? Tell us in the comments!