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In this Issue
Do you know how to prevent and respond to violent
situations at work?
The Met Council is committed to providing a safe and secure environment for employees, customers, and members of the public who interact with Council employees or enter our facilities. Our procedure on Workplace Violence Prevention and Incident Response outlines the expectations of employees and the response protocols.
A violent situation can be anything from threats to homicide. It's any situation where a person is threatened, abused, intimidated, or assaulted. Life-threatening events include death, intentional injury, displays or threats of weapons, or fights resulting in physical injury.
What should I do if I'm in a violent situation?
If the situation wasn't life-threatening, report it to your manager. If you're not comfortable
reporting it to your manager, report it to anyone in the management chain. They will assess
the situation and take appropriate action.
If you're involved in a life-threatening event, call 911 (or 444 if at the Metro Plant). Then, notify front desk personnel/security that 911 has been called and report the incident to a member of the Threat Management Team or a manager.
What actions are prohibited at work?
Acts of violence and any action that endangers or is likely to endanger the safety of an
employee or customer is prohibited. This includes:
- Threats
- Use of force
- Intimidation
- Harassment
- Stalking
Contact a member of the Threat Management Team any time you feel that you're in a
threatening situation. They can provide consultation for plans of action and liaison with outside resources.
If you see someone with a weapon or find a weapon, immediately report it to a manager, a
member of the Threat Management Team, or another person in authority.
Visit the Threat Management page on MetNet for more violence prevention information,
including how to contact the team.
Remember: A safe workplace is everyone's responsibility. Help is here for you when you need it.
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The Employee Resource Center (ERC) is working to respond to a high volume of COVID-19 Leave requests and FMLA requests. Human Resources has added temporary additions to the ERC staff, and we are working with our partners in Metro Transit and Environmental Services to quickly approve the use of Emergency Sick Pay for vaccine-related absences.
As a reminder, employees may use a maximum of 24 hours of 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 time available. Employees may not use COVID-19 Leave to get a vaccine.
Please follow these instructions for requesting COVID-19 Leave and FMLA. Note: The COVID-19 Leave Request Form has been revised to include instructions for vaccine-related requests.
Vaccine-related requests for COVID-19 Leave:
- Metro Transit managers and supervisors are asked to send COVID-19 leave requests for vaccine-related absences to John Cook at John.Cook@metrotransit.org.
- Environmental Services managers should use this link to request vaccine-related leave only: COVID-19 Leave (ESP) Request for Vaccine Reaction.
- Staff in other divisions should submit the COVID-19 Leave Request Form for vaccine-related absences to the ERC for processing at EmployeeResourceCenter@metc.state.mn.us.
- When filling out section 1A of the form for vaccine-related requests, you are not required to identify your symptoms.
COVID-19 Leave requests not related to the vaccine:
- Managers, please submit the COVID-19 Leave Request Form to the ERC for processing.
- Please note the form has changed to include a place for vaccine-related needs on line 1A.
The time code for COVID-19 Leave is released to the manager after the leave request is received and approved.
FMLA leave requests:
- Managers, please submit a Request for Leave Form to the ERC for any employee requesting Family Medical Leave (FML).
- Employees should provide 30 days advance notice of a foreseeable need whenever possible to ensure the ERC can respond timely.
Thank you for your support and patience as we work to address the expanded volume of leave requests.
Employees have a common response when asked how they became successful in their careers – professional growth through a mentoring relationship.
The Met Council’s MentoringWorks program matches employees (mentees) with more experienced employees (mentors). The 2021 virtual program offers quarterly starts that last six months. During that time, mentees develop personalized goals and implement strategies to achieve those goals while recognizing and cultivating their strengths.
Although applications for mentees and mentors are accepted any time during the year, we invite you to submit your application by May 10 to be considered for the second group. This group starts May 20 with a virtual introductory session from 10:00 to 11:30 a.m., during which mentees and mentors meet, learn about the program, and receive resources for a successful experience.
Visit the MentoringWorks page on MetNet. Click on Be a Mentor or Be a Mentee to apply.
As the internship orientation day approaches, the Met Council is getting ready to welcome more than 45 interns from around the Twin Cities. We are excited to welcome our new talent starting on Tuesday, June 1. Orientation will be on Thursday, June 3, and will cover all general knowledge of the Met Council, divisions, and more.
If you have any questions about the internship program, please contact Luis Martinez.
It’s been said one of the constants in life is change. We’ve experienced significant changes in the past year especially and will no doubt encounter more.
In the Management Certificate class Leading Change you will learn effective strategies to plan and lead small- to large-scale changes. This instructor-led class will be held June 16 from 9:00 to 11:30 a.m. Just a few seats left so enroll now.
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Go to Learn
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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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Although spring is here, there are still some chilly days in the forecast! Warm up with a cheesy cauliflower soup recipe from Omada™.
Omada is an innovative, online health program that surrounds you with everything you need to manage your heart health, gain energy, and improve your overall health, all with a simple app. We’ll match you with a health coach you can message anytime, anywhere.
See if you’re eligible for the Omada program at www.omadahealth.com/metcouncil.
For more details on the program visit MetNet.
Health equity in the workplace
Throughout 2021 Fit For Life will highlight advocates of health equity around the Met Council. Health equity means different things to different people and we will see this as we share stories of those equity-minded individuals in our organization.
Connie Isler, Metro Transit Bus Safety Specialist at South Garage, is featured in this month's story.
Q: What does health equity mean to you?
A: Health equity is not only about having the ability to be or stay healthy but having access to things that may improve health in the physical, emotional, and mental sense but also health in the workplace. It’s important to have a work life that supports health – if a person is stressed at work it will bleed into life outside of work.
Q: Being a safety specialist, I’m sure you see how health and stress affect performance. Tell me more about how you support health equity in your role.
A: Part of my job is to investigate accidents and train operators. I see training as the first opportunity to address health and to ensure operators understand what resources are available to them to support their health and well-being that will in turn support the work they do and keep them and our customers safe. Training and connecting operators with resources is one way to provide access to things they may not have had the ability to utilize in the past.
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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