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In this Issue
Beginning next Monday, March 22, the Occupational Health unit of Human Resources is pleased to launch training sessions for managers about the new Disability Management and Accommodation Procedure. These sessions will provide important information about effectively working with employees around disability and reasonable accommodation.
The new Disability Management and Reasonable Accommodation policy and procedure are available in Policy Central:
Managers, please attend the one-hour training session you received an invitation for in Outlook. If you have not received an invitation for your division, or need to attend at a different time, please participate in one of these drop-in sessions:
Please email HR-OccHealth@metc.state.mn.us with questions.
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Journal entries are a tool in the Perform system for employees and managers to document, share, and collect performance-related information (e.g., a customer email touting the great work of the employee) throughout the year. Journal entries help managers develop an employee’s performance evaluation throughout the year and help employees document and review information that can be added to their year-end check-in form.
Journal entries save managers and employees time since they don't need to search back through emails, documents, or notes when preparing for performance discussions and reviews. You can also tag goals and competencies, so you can easily retrieve content related to them.
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Employees may want to create journal entries about feedback from customers, completing job-related activities, and earning a certificate of completion.
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Managers may want to create journal entries about observations of the employee demonstrating competencies, topics addressed in discussions, and feedback on the employee’s performance.
A best practice for managers is to set aside time weekly to create journal entries about relevant information related to employees. For employees, a best practice is to create a journal entry at least monthly to track progress on goals and developing competencies.
To learn more about journal entries and check-ins, access the following:
Managers, what have you and your team committed to improving in 2021? Do you have a plan and process in place to make your improvements happen? Leading and Supporting Continuous Improvement is a class designed to help you make progress a reality in enhancing your business processes. We explore the roles, various responsibilities, and your part in coaching employees towards successful improvement projects. The model – Plan, Do, Study, Act (PDSA) – is examined and applied towards your improvement goals.
This virtual, instructor-led class will be held May 5 from 9:00 to 11:30 a.m. To enroll:
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Log into Learn.
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Go to the Talent Hub page in MetNet and click on Learn.
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MTPD: Go to the MTPD MetNet site and click on Learn. Log in using your five-digit employee ID and your Learn password.
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Click the library book icon at the top of the page and scroll down to “A-Learning Institute” and click the arrow pointing to the right.
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Scroll to “LOD Classes Open for Registration.”
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Locate the class and register.
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To help prevent misuse of the Met Council’s COVID-19 Leave Policy, here are some reminders for employees and managers on how this leave can and cannot be used related to school closures and the COVID-19 vaccine.
School or daycare closures:
- Expanded School Leave (ESL) is available to employees who are unable to work or telework because they are caring for their own child whose school or place of care has been closed or whose childcare provider is unavailable due to COVID-19 precautions (and the employee is unable to telework).
- ESL may not be used for days on which the school or childcare provider is closed for reasons other than COVID-19. This includes, but is not limited to, holiday breaks (including spring break), in-service days, and other reasons not related to COVID-19.
- ESL is unavailable for employees who have opted for distance learning when in-person learning is available. Leave may be used when an employee’s child is on a school-imposed hybrid schedule on the days when the child is distance learning.
COVID-19 vaccine:
- Employees may use COVID-19 leave if they have a reaction to the vaccine and need to take time off, but only if they have Emergency Sick Pay (ESP) time available.
- Employees were given a bank of 80 hours of ESP to use from April 4, 2020, to present.
- To use this leave, the employee would talk with their manager and complete a COVID-19 leave request form and send it to the Employee Resource Center as soon as possible.
- Employees with side effects from the vaccine may use a combined maximum of three days of ESP to recuperate. For example, if an employee has symptoms after the first dose and uses two days of ESP, if they have symptoms after the second dose, they are allowed only one day of ESP.
- Employees may not use COVID-19 leave to get a vaccine.
- This is a similar situation to when an employee gets a flu shot, preventative test, or cancer screen. Employees are required to do this on their own time.
- If an employee is contacted to get a vaccine on short notice, they should talk with their manager.
Note: The vaccine is safe and effective. Many people report mild side effects, and some people have none. If additional leave is necessary employees would use accrued annual or sick leave. Severe reactions are very rare. For more information, review the CDC’s information on possible side effects.
For full information on the policy, review the COVID-19 Leave Policy (updated Jan. 1, 2021) on MetNet.
As you know, you can upload a personal photo to your Microsoft 365 profile. To do this, you must follow these guidelines:
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Photo must be of you.
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Your face should take up at least 60% of the frame.
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Look forward and have both eyes open.
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Wear professional attire.
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Use a plain white or off-white background.
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Do not use filters.
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Photo must not be digitally enhanced or altered to change appearance.
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Photo must be in JPEG file format (preferably 240 kilobytes or less).
Follow these instructions to change your profile photo in Microsoft Teams.
Please note that the digital image/photograph you choose to upload to Microsoft 365 is private personnel data and you are not legally required to provide your digital image/photograph for this purpose. Your digital image/photograph may be used across all Microsoft 365 applications and viewable by all users of Microsoft 365. Your digital image/photograph may be released to other persons or entities as required or allowed by state or federal law.
Humility, vulnerability, and your well-being
Humility may not be the first thing you think of when you hear wellness, but you’ll be surprised to learn it is more deeply tied to our individual and collective well-being than you may think. Kelly Morrell, Commuter Programs Specialist for Metro Transit, shared her own knowledge and experience on this subject recently at the Advancing Women in Transit (AWT) symposium and Fit For Life reached out to learn more.
In Kelly’s presentation, she explains that humility is more about the ability to learn and be open to ideas. It’s not being timid, but teachable. At the root of humility is self-care. It is an act of self-care to say, "I don’t know," "I can’t take that on," and "I’m going to learn from others when I don’t have the answers." Humility in action at the community or organizational level creates a culture of human-centered well-being.
Humility drove Kelly and others to create this Employee Resource Group as a space to ask questions, get support, and connect with like-minded individuals in the workplace. AWT provides a place to humbly come to say, "This is an area I need help with," and feel supported by the members.
Wellness Around the Council is a monthly HR Connect series from the Fit For Life team that features initiatives, groups, and individuals who are exhibiting their well-est selves at work, and beyond – from fitness to healthy eating to mental health. If you’d like more information, contact HealthPartners on-site Health Coach Ashley.Starr@metc.state.mn.us.
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