Celebrate National Nonprofit Day with CECO

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Pledge to celebrate National Nonprofit Day on Aug. 17. Donate to San Diego County Employees Charitable Organization (CECO), the County’s very own nonprofit that supports other nonprofits and is 100% operated by fellow employees who volunteer their time to the organization's mission.

Since forming in 1956, CECO has given nearly $7 million back to San Diego County. Contributions from employees and retirees to CECO are awarded to local charitable organizations each year and employees in crisis. Earlier this year, CECO distributed $138,520 in grants to 86 local nonprofit programs and assistance. Charitable organizations receiving grants included Alzheimer's San Diego, Coastal Roots Farm, License to Freedom, MANA de San Diego, San Diego Civic Youth Ballet and the Urban Corps of San Diego County.

Pledge to celebrate National Nonprofit Day all year! Sign up to make bi-weekly payroll contributions of $2 or more.

Other ways to support CECO are to make a one-time contribution through PayPal or contact CECO directly; and by shopping AmazonSmile where a portion of your purchase will be donated to CECO. (AmazonSmile functions the same as Amazon, but the online retailer donates 0.5 percent of the product price of eligible purchases to a charity of your choice.)

For more about CECO, please visit sdceco.org.

Get Curious About the Work of OEC

Office of Ethics and Compliance staff in February 2020

Office of Ethics and Compliance staff in February 2020

Each day we find ourselves eager to connect and learn more about one another, what drives us and how the work we do may influence one another. Our curiosity may lead to benefits like opportunities for reflection, discovery and learning through shared experiences.

In an interview with the Office of Ethics and Compliance (OEC), Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Division Human Resources Services Manager Taryell Simmons sat down with the department staff to give us a peek into how this group uses their expertise and unique perspective to balance policy, law and human belief around the topics of privacy, ethics, compliance and diversity.

Get curious about the work of OEC that is vital to upholding equity throughout the County and serves as a neutral space for us all. Read more in this Q&A article in the D&I Digest.

Don’t Miss Social Security, Medicare Lunch and Learns

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Save the dates! The Department of Human Resources is hosting two virtual presentations to help you plan for retirement. Experts from Social Security and Medicare will discuss eligibility, enrollment and benefits.

Medicare Session

Wednesday, Aug. 25

Noon – 1 p.m.

Event Link

Social Security Session

Wednesday, Aug. 18

Noon – 1 p.m.

Event Link

For more information, contact the Department of Human Resources Employee Benefits Division at 888-550-2203 or DHRBenefits.FGG@sdcounty.ca.gov.

Ride Transit for Free in September with PRONTO

Gas prices are going up. But you can ride transit for free in September – and beyond!

San Diego’s Metropolitan Transportation System (MTS) is letting everyone ride their trolleys and buses for free — for the entire month of September — by getting their new PRONTO card.

MTS is replacing its old Compass payment system with the new PRONTO payment system, which offers easier ways to pay and greater accessibility. MTS will no longer accept Compass fare products as of Oct. 1. Prices to ride transit will remain the same.

To ride for free in September, riders must get the PRONTO card, preferably before Sept. 1, or download the app. People are expected to be able to start downloading the PRONTO app in mid-to-late August at Apple’s App Store or at the Google Play Store.

Try it out and consider making transit a part of your life if you haven’t already! The County supports transit and reducing carbon emissions by reimbursing employees for all or part of their transit costs, from daily fares to monthly passes.

People can arrange to get a PRONTO card by visiting the MTS Transit Store from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, or by picking one up at one of numerous PRONTO events MTS is holding this month at its centers (see the events list here).

People can also request a PRONTO card be mailed to them by:

·       Calling the PRONTO Support Center at 619-595-5636

·       Completing the online application form (this option is only available for adult PRONTO cards).

To learn all about the PRONTO system, what it does and how it works, visit MTS’ PRONTO card webpage.

 

You Have the Right to Remain Silent  

What are Miranda rights and why do I care? The San Diego Public Defender Community Outreach Team will present “Know Your Rights” on Aug. 20. The event hosted by the African American Association of County Employees (AAACE) and the Emerging Workforce Association (EWA) employee resource groups will be held virtually.  

The team will cover basic rights such as the right to remain silent, the right from unreasonable search and seizure, and the right to advocate for change. They will also discuss police encounters and the rights of those with a criminal history.  

The virtual presentation aims to help educate our friends, family and community about their rights and how to stand their ground in a safe environment for all. 

Please join this free educational webinar: 

  • Date: Friday, Aug. 20 

  • Time: noon - 1 p.m. 

  • Meeting Link: On Teams 

Employees to Receive Hazard, Telework Payment

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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.

CAO Message: New Masking Recommendation

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.