Even the best storytellers find tales of transition challenging. As storytellers we often relay just the facts. We present ourselves as safe, dull and unremarkable. Learn how to successful tell your story in this Harvard Business Review article.
The COVID-19 pandemic presented the County and our workforce with unprecedented new challenges, and you not only rose to them but exceeded expectations, whether you were on the front lines of the response or working from home to support vital services for the public. You kept the County going while often taking on new roles, learning new ways to work remotely and facing the disruptions of daily life brought on by the pandemic.
In recognition of these efforts and your dedication during the pandemic, the Board of Supervisors approved a one-time payment for hazard pay or teleworking that will be paid on August 20. There are three designated categories:
Category A ($2,500): Employees working directly with COVID-19 positive individuals or persons under investigation.
Category B ($1,500): Employees engaged with the public, clients, or coworkers while reporting to work.
Category C ($750): Employees who teleworked.
Eligibility requirements to receive the payment are:
Must have worked a minimum of 1,040 hours (part-time 520 hours) between March 2020 and May 2021.
Must have been employed as a regular County employee on October 19, 2020, or earlier.
Must be a regular County employee with paid time on July 30, 2021, to receive the payment on August 20.
Must have worked at least 50% of paid work hours under the conditions described in a category.
Temporary employees are not eligible.
If you have questions, please contact your Departmental Human Resources Officer or your employee representative association or union.
The collective efforts of every employee helped the County support the public and provide critical information and services throughout the pandemic. Our organization is stronger and more resilient as we turn toward the work ahead of us.
Message from Helen Robbins-Meyer, Chief Administrative Officer:
I expect you’ve heard the County is following the CDC in recommending that everyone now wear a face covering in indoor public settings. Everyone – even if you’re fully vaccinated for COVID-19.
Our local case numbers have shot up in recent weeks, and hospitalizations are climbing as well. Research shows the Delta variant of the virus is more easily spread, and that’s expected to drive numbers up even further.
We’re trying to put the brakes on this trend. Masks are effective, and I’ll stress that this is a recommendation, not a mandate in most of our work settings. However, there are some areas where masks were already required due to the nature of work performed and that requirement continues.
You may have also seen this week that the state will require its workers to show proof of vaccination or go through regular testing. Self-attestation of vaccination will not be sufficient. We will be implementing similar requirements for our County workforce before August 9. Details are being worked out so look for more on that soon.
While masks can be a big help, I can’t emphasize enough that getting vaccinated is the real key to getting us fully reopened safely and back to enjoying all the things we love to do in San Diego! We are now in the midst of a pandemic of the unvaccinated.
I appreciate everyone taking the steps needed to protect our community’s health. Stay strong, stay well.
“The goal is not to treat everyone the same, but to treat everyone fairly.” Learn more about equity, equality and targeted universalism in this lunchtime listen. Listen to the podcast.
If you are feeling anxious, stressed or overwhelmed about the changes the COVID-19 pandemic has had on your work and personal life, help is available.
Our County’s Employee Assistance Program can help you navigate “the new normal.” Take advantage of the confidential counseling and referral services our EAP provides, which are quick and easy to access. The services will help you deal with life challenges. Professionally trained staff are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week to offer a broad range of services, including managing stress, finding work-life balance, parenting and eldercare issues, and wellness benefits.
Take care of your mental well-being.
Both in-office and video-based counseling sessions are available to you and your family at no cost and they are confidential. (Please note: Sheriff’s Department sworn staff have access to their EAP provider by contacting The Counseling Team International at 800-222-9691.)
Here’s how to make an EAP counseling session appointment:
Call the EAP’s toll free number at 888-777-6665.
A representative will tell you more about therapy options, including video visits on your personal computer, smartphone or tablet using LiveHealth Online.
If video visits are right for you, the EAP representative will give you details about how to schedule a visit, as well as a special coupon code that is entered online that allows all visits to be provided at no cost.
You can select a therapist that’s right for you by reviewing the therapist’s background and qualifications before selecting a convenient appointment time.
You will receive a confirmation email once you have scheduled a visit.
The EAP video visit will last about 45 minutes and the therapist can set up future visits if needed.
For free and confidential assistance, call EAP at 888-777-6665 or visit EAPcosd.
See the flyer below.
The County’s Learning Management System (LMS) has a fresh new look and enhanced functionality. A website update went live on July 26.
In addition to the new design, the LMS has enhanced navigation including quick links, intuitive menus and a search feature. The homepage also has one-click access to frequently used features making it easier than ever to help you find trainings!
The Asian Pacific Alliance of County Employees is hosting an interview prep workshop with Admin Analysts Gerardo Gurrola, Jr. and Jude Stephen on Thursday, Aug. 5. The virtual event will be held from 5:30 to 7 p.m. on Microsoft Teams.
Join the webinar through the link or call in (audio only) 619-343-2539; 254660879#.
Targeted Universalism: Creates a universal goal and targets strategies based on where and how people are situated in structures and culture to close any gaps.
While the term and concept of “targeted universalism” may be new to you – the idea of setting goals with the lens of equity and belonging is not. Understand and embrace the power of targeted universalism. Learn more in this short article.
Message from Helen Robbins-Meyer, Chief Administrative Officer:
The County has never stood still, and we’ve always modified our operations to keep up with evolving needs. But the pace and scope of those changes have really stepped up in the last year. They’ve been the result of initiatives by our Board, state legislation, and internal visions to improve our structure.
You’ve probably heard of a few of these along the way, but there are so many, I thought it would be good to do a high-level review of what’s different. Some of these moves have been in place a bit, others are getting settled, while others still are just underway with the start of the new fiscal year. Let’s dive in:
The Health and Human Services Agency is undergoing a large revision to better address two priority challenges for the region: equity and homelessness. The agency is establishing a Department of Homeless Solutions and Equitable Communities, led by a Community Operations Officer. That will have separate offices for each of those areas, an Office of Homeless Solutions and an Office of Equitable Communities, as well as include the existing Office of Strategy and Innovation. The functions of the Integrative Services department will be absorbed by this new structure.
We’re establishing an Office of Immigrant and Refugee Affairs within HHSA. San Diego is home to many immigrants and is one of the top regions in the country for refugee resettlement. The office will help ensure these individuals and families are connected to important information and resources they need.
Among the most high-profile steps we’ve take in response to calls to address structural racism was creating the Office of Equity and Racial Justice. It reports directly to the CAO. The office will work with the community on eliminating systemic bias within the County and making sure we are serving our residents equitably.
Our Department of Environmental Health has been reconfigured and renamed to Environmental Health and Quality. This reflects the broad variety of programs that fall under the department.
In March this year, the Air Pollution Control District became an agency separate from the County, and our full Board of Supervisors no longer acts as its board of directors. While we will continue to provide the district with a variety of support services, but you’ll no longer find it as part of our structure.
The Citizens’ Law Enforcement Review Board moved from the Public Safety Group to Finance and General Government Group. This was the earliest of all the changes laid out here, taking place last year. This positioning gives it distance from the departments for which it provides oversight.
The County Fire Authority was renamed the San Diego County Fire Protection District at the start of the year. That formalizes a long process of unifying and professionalizing fire protection services throughout the County’s unincorporated area.
As of July 1, Emergency Medical Services moved from HHSA to the Public Safety Group under County Fire. This will better integrate the functions of fire and medical response.
We’re just getting off the ground in establishing an Office of Evaluation, Performance and Analytics. We started down this path a few years ago with our Data and Performance Analytics Unit, but this new office greatly expands the vision and resources for this work. The team will rigorously measure the effectiveness of our operations, with a particular emphasis on County priorities and guiding future spending.
The newly authorized Office of Labor Standards and Enforcement is in its early stages of development and will be part of FG3. This office will be a hub for workers questions and connections to resources, assist workers and employers in navigating the complicated labor laws, undertake analysis to identify opportunities to advance fair and safe workplaces in the region, and develop enforcement strategies.
Also in the early stages is an Office of Environmental and Climate Justice, part of the Land Use and Environment Group. This office will work with the community to improve public health, with special focus on ensuring no communities are disproportionately affected by pollution or climate change.
Whew! And that’s just some of the high-profile stuff. There’s lots of shifting beyond that.
You may know, especially if you were following our recently approved budget closely, that we are adding hundreds of positions to our workforce. Some to cover roles in the new offices I described above, many to bolster our efforts in existing areas. The help is welcome, but bringing lots of new personnel on board will also be part of the challenge and excitement of the transformation we are now immersed in.
The County is such an enormous and diverse operation that it’s hard to keep track of all the moving pieces at any time. I hope laying out these changes keeps you up to speed on the big picture of how we are reorienting to meet the current needs and expectations of the entire San Diego community.
The San Diego County LGBTQ&A Employee Resource Group and County leaders raised a Pride Progress flag at the County Administration Center Friday. The flag celebrates diversity and inclusion.
“The raising of the pride progress flag sends a powerful message to the hundreds of LGBTQ and allied County employees, and the larger community. We thank County leadership and the Board of Supervisors for this visibility and look forward to continued partnership as we work to advance equity for employees and clients in the region,” said LGBTQ&A ERG Chair Benjamin Parmentier.
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