Prevention Pays: Earn $100 Wellness Incentive

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stethoscope on a tablet

In our recent benefits open enrollment, many of you elected the voluntary critical illness coverage. One of the benefits of this plan is that you are eligible for a $100 incentive when you complete a wellness screening. This also includes dependents covered under the plan. For example, if you included your spouse or domestic partner and children on the plan, they are also eligible for this benefit.

This wellness screening bonus is in addition to the biometric wellness screening through the Employee Wellness Incentive offered to all County employees.

There are many different health screenings that entitle you to the $100 incentive. Some examples include a blood test for triglycerides, colonoscopy, mammogram and many more.

The process to earn your $100 incentive from Allstate Benefits, our critical illness coverage provider, is simple.

  1. Complete a wellness screening. Note: Biometric screenings completed for the County sponsored Employee Wellness Incentive Program qualify as an eligible wellness check.

  2. Submitting a claim form online is the easiest and quickest way to submit a claim for your $100. You can also submit the form by mail. Be sure to have your itemized bill or medical record documenting the listed treatment or testing provided. In Section 1 of the form, use Coverage Number V8728.

  3. Keep your eyes open for a check in your mailbox. If you’d prefer direct deposit payment, complete and submit a direct deposit form.

  4. Tip: bookmark the claim form. Policyholders and their covered dependents are eligible for this benefit one time per calendar year.

You can get status updates on their website. Payment typically takes only a few days to process.

For questions about claims, contact Allstate Benefits Claim Support at 800-348-4489. For additional information about critical illness coverage, contact Benefits at 888-550-2203.

See the flyer.

Rewind: Vice Chair Vargas Talks Ethics

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If you missed the Office of Ethics and Compliance’s Ethics Awareness Month Speakers Series featuring Board of Supervisors Vice Chair Nora Vargas on Monday, you can watch the virtual event online. It was recorded. Vargas spoke candidly about ethics and earning the public’s trust through fair and honest behavior. Watch now!

Doing the right thing is everyone’s business. Participate in upcoming Ethics Awareness Month events including talks with Supervisor Terra Lawson-Remer and Chair Nathan Fletcher. Find more information on InSite.

For more information, email oec@sdcounty.ca.gov or call 619-531-5174. In addition, you can visit OEC’s InSite page.

Know the Code: Ethical Decision Making

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Logo of the series

Know the Code is a monthly series highlighting different sections of the County of San Diego Code of Ethics. 

By the Office of Ethics and Compliance

Every public servant, elected, appointed, or hired, enters into an agreement with the people: that as a public servant they will act ethically and seek to promote the public interest in the work that they do. An ethical awareness of the duty to act in the public interest will promote fairness and justice and advance the common good. The County is committed to excellence and high ethical standards. The County depends on employees to act with integrity every day. 

Making good ethical decisions requires the ability to recognize when there may be an ethical component to be addressed and then using a practiced method to explore and weigh the potential ethical aspects of a decision. Having a method for ethical decision-making is essential. When practiced regularly, the method becomes so familiar that we work through it automatically without consulting the specific steps. The County uses the Markkula Center ethical decision making model in its ethics trainings. 

You can put ethical decision making into action by using the abbreviated Ethical Action Test. Our reputation as a County, personally and collectively, is formed by our actions and performance.  When in doubt – Ask!  Does this pass the Ethical Action Test? 

ethical action test: is it the right thing to do graphic

March is Ethics Month! 

Want to know more about ethics and compliance at the County of San Diego? Ask your Department Ethics & Compliance Ambassador, the Office of Ethics and Compliance, and participate in some Ethics Month activities throughout the month of March. 

Check out the OEC webpage on InSite for information about upcoming Ethics & Compliance Program events, training, and resources including monthly “Know the Code” articles and micro-training videos. 

If you have questions about Ethics & Compliance training or how to access the training and other Ethics & Compliance resources, please contact the OEC team at oec@sdcounty.ca.gov, 619-531-5174.  HHSA staff may also contact the dedicated HHSA Agency Compliance team at compliance.hhsa@sdcounty.ca.gov, 619-338-2807. 

The mission of the Office of Ethics and Compliance (OEC) is to assist in fulfilling the County’s commitment to the highest standards of ethics and compliance. 

Workshop: Applying for County Jobs

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CSDFEA logo

Learn the County’s job application process and tips on how to fill out a County application form.

The County of San Diego Filipino-American Employee’s Association will be hosting a virtual Interview Workshop on Thursday, March 17, from 5:30 to 7 p.m.

Click here for more details or to register for the workshop. Online details will be sent out to registrants before the event date.

Please note that limited registration is available and that there is a $5 fee for non-members. For membership information, visit CSDFEA on InSite.

See the flyer below.

How Does your Unconscious Mind Filter and Process Info?

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We all have blind spots when it comes to bias. And we all can learn how to become more aware of them.

Blind Spots: An Unconscious Bias Training is a new course required for all employees. The D&I Executive Council and the Department of Human Resources rolled out the interactive series of videos and follow-up questions created by PricewaterhouseCoopers, number three on Diversity Inc’s top 50 companies list.

Over 5,000 County employees have completed the e-learning course in the Learning Management System. The engaging videos in the training introduce us to important concepts about how our unconscious mind filters and processes information. These videos are followed by interactive learning activities for employees to reflect on what they’ve learned. Here are what some of your fellow employees have been saying after completing the course:

quotes from employees that have taken the training

The training is assigned to all employees via our LMS and will take 20 to 30 minutes to complete. You can find it on your LMS Timeline now!

Key terms sliding onto screen

CAO Message: Our Thanks and the Gift of Time

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Happy Employee Appreciation Day graphic

Message from Chief Administrative Officer Helen Robbins-Meyer

Happy Employee Appreciation Day!

Every day, I feel deeply appreciative for all you do. The County has a program that allows for individual employees to be recognized throughout the year for special accomplishments or sacrifices they have made. Certificates of appreciation, gift cards, a recognition lunch, perhaps a director’s check, or a memento to display – these are small ways to say thank you.   

This year, as we celebrate Employee Appreciation Day, we’d like to do something for all employees, since each of you has gone above and beyond in meeting the extraordinary challenges of the pandemic. We’d like to give you the gift of time!  

We are providing eight hours of recognition leave to every County employee. We hope you’ll enjoy the time to do something special just for yourself. Whether you choose to go somewhere with a family member or friend, or have a peaceful day on your own, it’s a day we offer to say thank you! The additional leave may be taken during the upcoming fiscal year, starting July 1, 2022 through June 30, 2023.    

But wait, there’s more!  

I’m excited to announce that, also to recognize you, the County has received 500 tickets to the Boots in the Park concert coming to our own Waterfront Park on April 2! The headliner is Blake Shelton. We’ll randomly select 250 County employees to receive two tickets for some fun. Sure be cool if you win! More details of that drawing will come next week.  

And if you miss out this time, you’ll have another chance. Boots in the Park is coming back in September, and we’ll randomly give away another 500 tickets for that concert.  

All this is being done in accordance with County policy and procedures. I’m glad we’re able to offer these expressions of thanks for your dedication during these exceptionally trying times.

We’re in public service because we want to make a difference in people’s lives. Every single day, I see the positive impact we are making, and I know it’s the result of all of your individual efforts. I hope every time we recount our successes at the County, you feel seen through your work.

Whenever I talk about what we have achieved, I’m talking about what each one of you has achieved. Take it personally! The tremendous challenges we tackle, the vast array of services we provide – they’re only possible because of the contributions each of you makes. I see that. I see that we are moving forward because you are moving us. I see that the County has been flexible and resilient because you have been. I thank you.

Having that awareness makes me all the more grateful for everything you do, especially these last couple years. You’ve gone through personal difficulties as the pandemic upended everyone’s lives. Many of you have seen changes to your daily work as our Board lays out ambitious new directions for us. There’s a lot going on in the world, and in each of your worlds, that you carry with you as you focus on serving our residents. I see that, and I appreciate it.

I know my colleagues in County leadership share my feelings. We have a short video that highlights just a few of the ways your work benefits the lives of San Diegans. On the same page, you’ll find messages from many of your departments or units. We see your efforts, and I hope you’ll feel our gratitude as we wish each of you a Happy Employee Appreciation Day!  

Happy Employee Appreciation Day to the County Team

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Happy Employee Appreciation Day! It’s the day we take the appreciation we feel all yearlong and make a point of saying it extra loud.

Everything we set out to do for our residents you make possible through your hard work. You’ve kept our customers at the center of our efforts, even in these challenging and rapidly changing times. Thank you!

With much gratitude, here are some videos, photos and notes from across the County. Keep checking back for new additions!

Thank you for Maria Pacheco
Thank you for LeShay Shaw

Message from LeShay Shaw, Revenue & Recovery Director, Office of Revenue and Recovery

CTO crew wearing holiday sweaters

Susan Green, Chief Information Officer, gave a shout out to the CTO Team.

A thank you message to the Housing & Community Development Services team

Thank you from Romina Morris
Thank you from Rick Cacha to Office of Revenue and Recovery
Thank you from Taylor Herron
Thank you from Joan, Damien and Rissa in OFP

Message from Dr. Liz Hernandez, director, Public Health Services

Thank you from Brian Ruehle
Photo of the PDS Team with thanks from Dahvia Lynch

Message from Dahvia Lynch, director, Planning and Development Services

Celebrating DCSS on Employee Appreciation Day 2022!

Thank you from Audrey Radi
Thank you from Diana Eid-Chammas

Note from Diana Eid-Chammas, Manager, Auditor and Controller

Message from Dr. Ankita Kadakia, deputy public health officer, Public Health Services

Thank you from Norma Del Angel
Thank you from Juan Chavez

Message from Juan Chavez, Senior Revenue and Recovery Officer, Victim Services

Shout out from Ebony Shelton and Joan Bracci to the Finance & General Government Group Executive Office.

A message to the Clerk of the Board team

A message from Andrew Potter, clerk of the Board of Supervisors

Shout out from Bernadette Javate, Manager, Auditor & Controller, Central Payroll Administration

Team photo of the Office of Strategy and Innovation with thanks from Carey Riccitelli

Message from Carey Riccitelli, Director and Craig Sturak, Chief of Agency Operations Office of Strategy and Innovation.

A thank you video to all the Self-Sufficiency Services staff

Thank you from Esther Yorba

“JC Gonzalez, thanks for all that you do! It does not go unnoticed.”
—Esther Yorba, Section Chief – Collections Division ,Office of Revenue and Recovery

Thank you from Scott Christman
Thank you from Esther Yorba

“Norma Del Angel, I appreciate all your hard work and your dedication.” 
—Esther Yorba, Section Chief – Collections Division ,Office of Revenue and Recovery

Thank you messages for the Planning & Development Services team

Thank you from Esther Yorba

“Catherine Castro Zepeda, Esmeralda Lua Pulido, Patrick Vargas, Julio Manjarrez, Russel Mascardo-Magdaluyo, and Anja Foster.”
—Esther Yorba, Section Chief – Collections Division ,Office of Revenue and Recovery

Thank you from Jerrilyn T. Malana

Super Thank you Message from Jerrilyn T. Malana, Chief Deputy District Attorney

SDCERA gathered for a lunch on Wednesday

SDCERA celebrated their employees on Wednesday with an Employee Recognition Lunch.
”We recognize SDCERA for their excellence in serving our active and retired members. Thank you for all you do!”

Thank you from Yuo-Sheng Wu

Shout out from Yuo-Sheng Wu, Senior DHRO to the DPW HR Team

Thank you to the A&C PRGA team

Shout out to the A&C PRGA team for Employee Appreciation Day from Babette, Annabelle, Michele, and Darissa