Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
IN THIS ISSUE
Y O U R C I T Y . Y O U R N E W S . N O V E M B E R 2 0 1 5
TAKE5
Page 4Creation of Purchase Orders Streamlined
Page 5Well-Rounded Wellness
Page 2Upcoming Benefits Info Sessions
Page 2BUZZWORTHY
Page 4OUT ON THE TOWN
Page 5PERSONAL TOUCH WELLNESS
Page 6KUDOS
CONTENTS
TABL
E OF
ARCHIVES
NOV
OPEN ENROLLMENT IS NOV. 9 - 20DON’T MISS THE DEADLINE TO MAKE YOUR 2016 BENEFITS CHOICESOpen Enrollment starts Nov. 9, 2015 and ends Nov. 20, 2015 at 11:59 p.m., and this is your chance to make changes to your benefits without a “qualifying life event” such as marriage, the birth of a child, loss of other coverage, etc. Are you ready?
TAKE5 NOVEMBER 20152
DECEMBER
TRAI
NING Required Training
14 New Employee Orientation TMB 1444 8:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
15 Domestic Violence Policy Awareness (or online) TMB 1444 9 - 9:30 a.m.
Discrimination/Sexual Harassment Prevention TMB 1444 9:30 a.m. - Noon
Cultural Awareness TMB 1444 1 - 4:30 p.m.
17 TPU New Employee Orientation ABS B-1 8:30 - 11 a.m.
Records Management Basics (online only)
Computer Training1 Excel 2010 Level 1
TPU Computer Training Room 8:25 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
3 Outlook 2010 Level 1 TMB 1530 8:25 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
8 SharePoint Proficiency TMB 1530 8:30 a.m. - Noon
Word 2010 Level 2 TPU Computer Training Room 8:25 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
10 Excel 2010 Level 2 TMB 1530 8:25 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
General Training1 It’s Not What You Say, It’s How
You Say It – Essentials TMB 1444 8:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
2 Emotional Intelligence TPU ABS B-1 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
3 Conflict Management TMB 1444 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
7 Writing Minutes & Meeting Notes TMB 1444 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
10 Race: Power of an Illusion (General Government) Fleet Ops #118A 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.
UPCOMING BENEFITS INFO SESSIONS Want to switch your health or dental plan, add a dependent or get tax savings with a Flexible Spending Account? To help employees make informed decisions, the Benefits Office has been hosting info sessions. There are two more info sessions taking place on Nov. 4 in the Tacoma Municipal Building Council Chambers. There is an 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. session and a 2 - 4 p.m. session on that date. Can’t make those timeframes work? A recorded
presentation will be available on the Benefits website (under “Open Enrollment”) after that date.
EMPLOYEE ASSISTANCE DAYSBenefits Office staff can be reached during regular business hours in the Tacoma Municipal Building (Room 1420), by emailing [email protected] or calling (253) 573-2345. Additionally, there will be some Employee Assistance Days during Open Enrollment for those in need of support and access to a computer. If you do not have access to a computer or tablet, and you are unable to attend one of these scheduled Employee Assistance Days, consider using a computer at your local library or contact the Benefits Office for other accommodations.
Tacoma Public Utilities Computer Training Room (ABN Ground Floor)Nov. 12, 7 a.m. - 4 p.m. Nov. 18, 7 a.m. - 4 p.m.Nov. 20, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Tacoma Municipal Building Computer Training Room (Room 1530, 15th Floor)Nov. 10, 8a.m. - 4 p.m.Nov. 18, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.Nov. 20, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
HAVE TECHNICAL ISSUES WITH ESS?If you have trouble logging in to Employee Self Service (cityoftacoma.org/ESS), contact the IT Service Desk at [email protected] or (253) 591-2057 during regular business hours.
NEWSBUZZWORTHY...
...continued on page 3
TAKE5 NOVEMBER 20153
An Open Enrollment newsletter was mailed to employees at the end of October. If you haven’t received it by Nov. 4, please go to Employee Self Service (cityoftacoma.org/ESS) to make sure your mailing address is up-to-date. An electronic copy of this newsletter will also be available on the Benefits website (under “Open Enrollment”).
OPEN ENROLLMENT NEWSLETTER HIGHLIGHTSMake sure you understand the details on the health plan offerings for 2016. This includes the new high-deductible health plans (HDHPs) with a Health Saving Account (HSA) along with the annual deductible changes to the current Regence and Group Health traditional health plans. If you are interested in signing up for one of the new HDHPs, we recommend you review the additional materials available on the Benefits website (under “Plan Information”).
These plans are not right for everyone, and some are not eligible to enroll in these plans due to the IRS requirements for establishing an HSA. Make sure you review these resources before making your decision for 2016. The HSA administrator, HealthEquity, is available to help with any of your questions during Open Enrollment. Customer representatives can be reached 24-7, 365 days a year at their toll-free number, (866) 346-5800.
If you are enrolled in the Section 125 Flexible Spending Account (Health FSA) this year and want to sign up for one of the new HDHPs next year, your account must be spent down to a zero balance – with claims already processed by the FSA administrator, Trusteed Plan Services – by Dec. 31, 2015. If the account has a balance on Dec. 31, 2015, you will not receive contributions to your HSA until April 2016. Learn more, so you don’t miss these contributions next year.
Last Spring, Employee Self Service (ESS) was updated, and some additional enhancements have been made to ESS for Open Enrollment. Familiarize yourself with the new look and feel of ESS before Open Enrollment to ensure your changes during Open Enrollment are correctly saved and submitted.
Interested in converting from sick leave and vacation plans to personal time off (PTO)? Now is the time to do that. Details are available in the Open Enrollment Newsletter.
NEWSBUZZWORTHY...
Occasionally, training schedules are revised. For the latest information, please view the Human Resources Department’s intranet site.
DECEMBER TRAINING SCHEDULE continued from page 2
CITY OF TACOMA JOBSFor the latest City of Tacoma job postings, and to submit an application, visit cityoftacoma.org/jobs. Occasionally, closing dates are revised. For additional assistance, call (253) 591-5400, Ext. 1.
14 HR Process Training – Project Positions & Project Employees TPU Auditorium 1 - 2:30 p.m.
Management Training8 EDPR for Managers
TMB 1444 8:30 a.m. - Noon
16 SMF 400 – Work Schedule/Leave/Compensation TMB 1444 8:30 a.m. - Noon
Safety Training 8 Basic First Aid/CPR
TPU Auditorium 8 a.m. - 4 p.m.
16 Basic First Aid/CPR TPU Auditorium 8 a.m. - 4 p.m.
continued on next page...
TAKE5 NOVEMBER 20154
NEWSBUZZWORTHY...
Reminder: Always, be sure to select a vendor number that starts with “1” when you create a purchase order.There are still multiple listings for many vendors, as current settings require each vendor address to have a unique vendor number in SAP. That will be changing soon, when the Information Technology makes its needed updates. Soon, you’ll find that:
• Vendors will display in a hierarchical structure with one primary vendor number that will be used for all purchase orders, contracts and invoices.
• An alternate vendor number will be used to store different payment or ordering addresses and will be linked to the primary vendor number. The creation of future vendor records will also be standardized to ensure that this “fresh new start” stays clean.
Should you encounter any issues with finding the appropriate vendor number to use, now or in the future, please contact Laurel Campbell at [email protected] or (253) 502-8431, any Accounts Payable staff member, or your assigned buyer for assistance.
OUT ON THE TOWN
TACO
MA
DOM
E
SAVE THE DATE: COME TO FIRST NIGHT IN DOWNTOWN TACOMA FOR NEW YEAR’S EVEFirst Night Tacoma-Pierce County is right around the corner. It’s a family-friendly, arts-centered, alcohol free celebration of New Year’s Eve that takes place throughout the downtown Tacoma theater district. The theme for this coming year is built around the Year of the Ram. Featured activities will play with various aspects of the theme, utilizing artists from the community. Visit firstnighttacoma.org for details.
Check out the special events calendar for more information on other upcoming events around Tacoma.
NOTHING TO CHANGE OR UPDATE DURING OPEN ENROLLMENT?If you are not making any changes to your benefits choices, and you do not want to sign up for the Section 125 Flexible Spending Account (Health FSA) for health expenses, or dependent care for child care and elder care expenses, you don’t have to do anything during Open Enrollment. The plans you are enrolled in today will stay the same in 2016.
However, if you haven’t been in Employee Self Service (ESS) for a while, we recommend you go in and check the accuracy of your personal information, address, life insurance beneficiaries, benefit plans, and whether or not your dependents are enrolled in the proper plans. Remember, Open Enrollment is the one time of year that you don’t have to experience a qualifying life event change to add or remove a dependent, or change a plan option. Don’t miss this opportunity to take care of a potential issue and make changes to your benefits without a “qualifying life event” such as marriage, the birth of a child, loss of other coverage, etc.
CREATION OF PURCHASE ORDERS STREAMLINED, MADE SIMPLERThe Finance Department’s Procurement and Payables Division has been busy making improvements! The vendor master list has been trimmed down by 12,797 vendors, or nearly 60 percent of the old list, so it will be much easier to find the vendor you’re looking for the next time you create a purchase order.
All vendor records that haven’t been used since Jan. 1, 2013 have been deactivated, and you’ll see a “DNU” (for Do Not Use) in front of deactivated vendor names. If a vendor that you still need has been deactivated, contact Laurel Campbell at [email protected] or (253) 502-8431.
TAKE5 NOVEMBER 20155
BE WELLHEALTH + WELLNESSWELL-ROUNDED WELLNESSWhen most people think of wellness, they think of physical and emotional health, but there’s more that can impact your overall well-being.
Social: Have positive relationships with friends, coworkers and family. Enjoy spending time with others – whether talking or doing something together.
Financial: Understand that money can’t buy happiness and have enough money for your needs and wants without going into debt.
Occupational: Enjoy your job, and make sure you keep a work-life balance.
Intellectual: Open your mind to new ideas, experiences and lifelong learning to keep life interesting.
Physical: Choose a healthful lifestyle that includes eating right and exercising while avoiding bad habits so you have energy and body to live life to its fullest!
Emotional: Understand yourself and your feelings – both good and bad – and find healthful ways to deal with life’s ups and downs.
Spiritual: Have peace in your life, know your purpose, and make sure what you do truly matches what you believe.
Learn more in the latest issue of the Tacoma Employee Wellness Program Newsletter, HealthVine!
PERSONAL TOUCH
PERS
ONAL EMPLOYEES APPROVED
FOR DONATED LEAVETerry Davis Environmental Services
Paul Lee Environmental Services
Michael Shawn Madison Environmental Services
Sheri Hayes Finance
Angelique Kerin-Tate Finance
Nina Oliver-Jones Information Technology
Jeffrey Gallagher Public Works
John Lawrence Tacoma Fire Department
Louis Delicino Tacoma Public Utilities
Julie Dillard Tacoma Public Utilities
Anita James Tacoma Public Utilities
Earl Kahawaii Tacoma Public Utilities
Carol Matthews Tacoma Public Utilities
Kristina Reed Tacoma Public Utilities
Jon Roberts Tacoma Public Utilities
Hollie Coates-Seamster Tacoma Public Utilities
If you wish to donate leave, please contact your timekeeper or Human Resources, (253) 591-5400, for a Sick Leave/Paid Time Off Donation Form.
TAKE5 NOVEMBER 20156
WAY TO GO!KUDOS
Would you like to see the great things your
department is doing highlighted in Take5? Have workplace tips, kudos, fun
stories and more that you’d like to share with your fellow employees? Submit content for the December 2015 issue of Take5 by Nov. 13 at
10 a.m. to [email protected]. If you have general comments, questions or suggestions about Take5, contact Maria Lee in the Media
and Communications Office at [email protected] or
(253) 591-2054.
WE
WANT T
O HEAR FROM YOU!
THE LATEST CYBER SECURITY NEWSLETTERshows you how to spot and avoid malware and other cyber security risks. It is available online here.
ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES STAFF HELP MAKE STUDIO TOURS DURING TACOMA ARTS MONTH A SUCCESSKudos to Kristy Beardemphl, and to the Environmental Services Department, for working to minimize the potentially negative impact some street work could have had on one of the studio tour stops during Tacoma Arts Month. “I was very impressed by their willingness to coordinate and proactively serve our citizens,” said Arts Administrator Amy McBride.
SANDWICH BAR TO RAISE FUNDS FOR AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION RAISES $475Kudos to everyone who supported the Human Resources Department in their fundraising efforts for the American Heart Association. You helped raise $475 during the sandwich bar event.
CUSTOMERS APPRECIATIVE OF SUPPORT FROM FINANCE EMPLOYEEKudos to Financial Assistant Desiree Bessette. “Dez” is a relatively new hire to the City of Tacoma and her customers say she has proven herself to be a valuable asset. One of her many tasks is keeping track of purchases. “She handles her responsibilities with professionalism and a smile. I am proud to say I work with Desiree,” said Jon Torgerson in Environmental Services’ Solid Waste Division.
