Meet the OEC Team

By the Office of Ethics and Compliance

Feeling like something has been missing in your life? Well, we’re back!

Hot off the Press is September’s Know the Code! 

This month’s topic is Meet the OEC Team! The Office of Ethics and Compliance completed a business process reorganization (BPR) in April, and we are rolling out the changes to includes a new Ethics Hotline system and some new faces. 

Get to know OEC all over again and begin with meeting the OEC Team!

All Aboard the Live Well on Wheels

The Live Well on Wheels (Live WoW) is going on tour! The Live WoW is a mobile resource available to County employees and the public to bring diverse services to the community, on the go. County employees are invited to stop by two upcoming open houses.

You are invited to tour the Live WoW and learn more about the features available for use on Thursday, Oct. 5 from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the County Administration Center (in front of the CAC entrance facing Pacific Highway) or Thursday, Oct. 12, from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the County Operations Center (at the cul-de-sac off Overland Avenue).

Please share this invitation with your County networks.

If you have any questions, email Lilly Hart at Lilly.Hart@sdcounty.ca.gov.

See the flyer below.

Your View: Registering to Vote

The Registrar of Voters shared a few photos of the Voter Outreach Team during National Voter Registration Day, which was this week.

Share your photos! If you see a coworker getting the job done, a beautiful sunset over your office or a wonderful County program being offered—snap a pic and submit it. One image will be posted to InSite every week and may be shared on social media.

See more of Your View photos.

Rewind: Equity, Justice, Belonging, and Leadership Discussion Continued

Watch the Rewind video here.

Did you miss the Employee Resource Group Council’s “Fireside Chat” on equity, justice belonging and leadership on Sept. 19? You can now watch the virtual session on InSite.

The ERG Council’s Fireside Chats are quarterly sessions with County leadership on the secrets to their career success. This quarter, the African American Association of County Employees hosted a lively discussion with Chief Privacy Officer and ADA Title II Coordinator Todd Hood, FG3 Deputy Chief Administrative Officer and Chief Financial Officer Ebony Shelton, and Public Health Officer Dr. Wilma Wooten, MD, MPH.

Resources discussed in this session included:

Benefits Ambassadors Are Here to Help

Benefits Ambassadors are ready to help you with 2024 Open Enrollment! These benefit experts can help you review plan information and answer specific questions so that Open Enrollment is a breeze from Oct. 2 through Oct. 26.

Benefit Ambassadors can be reached by email or phone. If your department is not listed, please reach out to any ambassador in your group.

Visit the Open Enrollment webpage to learn what is new for 2024, FAQs and more.

Local Volunteer Opportunity

Many of you have heard about the Customs and Border Protection (CBP) street releases of asylum seeking migrants taking place throughout the county over the last several days. Lead organizations in the community have coordinated a response and are in need of volunteers and donations. Volunteers support with assistance with scheduling onward travel, contacting family members/sponsors, translation, identifying shelter needs, and others. Asylum seekers speak Spanish, French, Arabic, Farsi, Kurdish, Chinese and other languages.

If you are interested in this volunteer opportunity, more information is available below. 

County Employee Emergency Notification Test 

The County will conduct an emergency notification test at 12:30 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 28. The test is part of our Workplace Security Initiative and our ongoing commitment to your safety and the County’s preparedness for emergencies. The test also aligns with National Preparedness Month.

In the event of an emergency, the County may contact you by email, text, and phone to provide critical information and instructions. Notifications may include information or instructions to keep clear of an area or to shelter in place or to inform you about open/closed County facilities during times of disaster.

You do not need to sign up for these emergency alerts. However, to reach you during an emergency, it is imperative that we have accurate and up-to-date contact information for you in our system. 

To make sure your information is accurate, please review and update your contact information in Employee Self Service (also known as PeopleSoft Self Service). Up-to-date contact information is critical and can make a difference in a life-threatening situation.

Review and update your contact information:

  • Log into Employee Self Service.

  • Review “Personal Details” like home and/or mailing address, update phone numbers, update personal email.

  • Do not forget to SAVE your changes.

Need more help? Watch a tutorial on how to update your contact information: Update Phone Numbers.

Employee Self Service is Single-Sign-On and will automatically log you in if you are connected to the County network. If you have issues logging into PeopleSoft, please submit a Service Now request or contact the County IT Help Desk at 1-888-298-1222.

If you have issues connecting to the County network, please contact the appropriate Help Desk.

Help Desk Phone Numbers

  • County IT Help Desk: 1-888-298-1222

  • DA Help Desk: 619-531-4104

  • Sheriff Help Desk: 858-256-2100

For any questions, email Kat Anady at the Office of Emergency Services.

Calling All Female Paddlers!

APACE logo

The Asian Pacific Alliance of County Employees will be participating in the 12th Annual San Diego International Dragon Boat Race at Mission Bay Park on Saturday, Sept. 30. And they are looking for more paddlers! No experience is necessary.

APACE will compete in the mixed corporate division. The team will consist of 16 paddlers, plus two alternates (with minimum of eight females).

Please email apace@sdcounty.ca.gov by Tuesday, Sept. 26 if interested in registering with APACE’s team or if you have any questions. 

Check out APACE’s photos from 2019’s race!

 Other Important Info

  • Fee: $35 for paddlers (members) & $40 for non-member

  • Sept. 29: practice day (TBD, but we’ll try to sign up for time slot after work hours)

  • Sept. 30: compete in two 250-meters race (please be there for both)

10 Indoor Plants to Brighten Up Your Workspace

Fall is right around the corner and some of you may need a little pick me up to brighten up your workspace.

Here are some plant tips below from the County’s Master Gardener experts to help perk up your workspace during National Indoor Plant Week, which runs from Sept. 18 – 24.

Remember, plants do best in natural light and fresh air, but here are some inexpensive plants that have been shown to clean the air and thrive indoors.

Now, it’s your turn to help us grow our gallery of indoor plants. Share a photo from your workspace! A gallery of your photos will be posted below.

 Master Gardener Office Plant Tips:

  • All-things H2O: NEVER let a plant sit in water. Always have a drainage hole in the container to avoid overwatering. Plants should be watered one time per week. Moisture meters can be purchased for about $6-$10 and can help you decide if your plant is thirsty or not. And remember, water only! No dumping soda or coffee into your plants.

  • Don’t over-fertilize: You need to follow your plant’s label carefully to ensure the plant doesn’t get burned by the fertilizer. There are many online articles that can offer up recommendations for fertilizer.

  • Scrub them down: Wash down the leaves periodically to rid the plants of dust and dead leaves.

  • Let there be light: The fluorescent lights in an office should provide enough light for these plants but, if possible, set the plant near a window.

  • Regulating temps: Air conditioning and heat can be drying to plants, especially the flowers, so make sure your plant is not placed directly in front of a vent.

  • Check for pests: Check your plant carefully every week and note any changes — webs, sticky substances, ants and insects. If the problem cannot be easily groomed off the plant, it may be best to replace the plant.

The Master Gardener program is overseen by the UC Cooperative Extension, which staffs the County’s Farm and Home Advisor Department. If you have questions about your office plant, please feel free to contact the Master Gardener hotline at 858-822-6910.

🌱 of Kim Patrick, Private Development Inspection, DPW

Green plant in pot

🌱 of Nessyl Torres, Senior Treasurer-Tax Collector Specialist

Green plant in pink pot

🌱 of Riza Morante, Office Assistant, HHSA

Plants against wall

🌱 of Kellen Hopp, Graduate Student Worker, HHSA

3 green plants in pots

🌱 of Boutros Chihwaro, CAC Project Manager

🌱 of Karlyle Laraya, Supervising Office Assistant, Registrar of Voters Office

Indoor plant

🌱 of Ava Gaughen, Administrative Analyst I, HHSA

Indoor Plants

🌱 of José A. Álvarez, Language Services Manager, CCO

Indoor Plant

🌱 of Jennifer Hart, Senior Probation Officer

Indoor Plant

🌱 of Maria Zepeda, Office Support Specialist, HHSA

Indoor plant

🌱 of Milo Loftin, County Communications Office

🌱 of Brittney Smith, Social Work Supervisor, AIS

🌱 of Shauni Lyles, County Communications Office

Green plant in yellow pot

🌱 of Wendy Cota, Records Clerk, Probation Department

Green plant in white pot

🌱 of Analilia Ortega, Administrative Secretary II, HHSA

Green plant in vase

🌱 of Horner Tan, Sr. Accountant, DPW

🌱 of Benzon Barbin, LSA II, HHSA

Indoor plants

🌱 of Detra Williams, Manager, Treasurer-Tax Collector's Office

Indoor Plant

🌱 of Diane Padilla, OSS, Dept. of Purchasing and Contracting

Indoor plant

🌱 of Annette Carpenter, MSW, Protective Services Worker

Indoor Plant

🌱 of Maria Zepeda, Office Support Specialist, HHSA

🌱 of Michelle Baesas, Sr. Real Property Agent, DGS

🌱 of Brittney Smith, Social Work Supervisor, AIS

🌱 Of Anita Darling, Community Health Division, DEHQ