A thought for the day…
"The world as we have created it is a process of our thinking. It cannot be changed without changing our thinking."
– Albert Einstein (1879–1955) German-born theoretical physicist
 IN THIS ISSUE
Notes from Mary Bogie
Regional Administrator
It’s hard for me to believe that last week marked 18 months since we abruptly shifted operations to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. Even more surprising is that we’re still unsure how the virus will continue to emerge as we move into fall.
We know you’re anxious. We know you’re tired. We know you’re struggling with the realities at work, at home, and in our communities.
We remain committed as a leadership team to creating a safe and healthy work environment for employees, whether you’re driving a bus, managing a sewer construction project, or processing payroll from a computer in your home. Our dynamic environment makes this a challenge, but we’re committed to doing our best and balancing all needs and concerns.
We’re hopeful that soon we can begin to transition toward more regular operations. I hesitate to say “normal,” because I don’t think we know yet what our new normal is.
But it’s clear we need to continue being vigilant in our response, and we need to remain focused on establishing a reasonable timeline for resuming more regular operations beyond our onsite transit and wastewater operations and support functions.
As we ease toward that transition, I wanted to provide you some rationale for our approach and also emphasize and clarify some important guidance.
COVID-19 Leave
Early in the pandemic, we were so grateful to provide paid COVID-19 leave in accordance with the federal coronavirus law. When that law expired at the end of 2020, the State of Minnesota and other public entities ended their paid leave related to COVID-19, but we decided to extend it, through the summer, when we knew vaccines would be widely available for many populations.
As it was intended as a temporary backstop to uncertainty of vaccine availability, eligibility for our COVID-19 leave ended last Friday. We know it may seem too soon, given the lingering presence of the Delta variant and no approved vaccine for children under 12, but we remain committed to supporting our staff and addressing those concerns by ensuring a safe workplace. We will continue to monitor trends among our staff and manage situations within our current benefit offerings.
We also heard union leaders who recently expressed concern about the impact this has on onsite employees, who have less flexibility in day-to-day scheduling than teleworking employees might. We are looking into flexibility within our bargaining agreements to address the situations as needs arise.
Vaccination and testing
As we recently announced, we are following the State of Minnesota’s lead and requiring vaccination for our employees, beginning Oct. 11. If you are not vaccinated, you will need to be tested for COVID-19 weekly if your job requires you to be onsite.
Our first concern is making sure the workplace is healthy and safe. We’re also following this guidance because we feel strongly about the role we play in limiting the spread of COVID-19. It’s still a persistent risk in our communities and we know that vaccination may not always prevent infection, but it absolutely reduces the impact of this deadly virus and is our best defense against COVID-19.
We’ve included some additional information about vaccination and testing processes below. Thank you for your feedback and concerns as the incident command teams work through the logistics and managerial guidance.
We know many of you are concerned about the vaccine for various reasons. It’s important for you to know that weekly testing is a way for you to continue weighing the concerns you have about the vaccine, especially if you have negative experiences with vaccination or health care. But we ask you to seriously consider getting the vaccine, especially with the sobering numbers about the severity of the Delta variant. If you are able to get the vaccine, you help keep friends, neighbors, and co-workers who aren’t able to be vaccinated safe – including children under 12.
Thank you for considering this important choice.
As the COVID-19 virus continues to be prevalent in our communities, we will remain vigilant in providing safe and healthy work environments. This is especially important for our onsite employees who interact with the public daily.
It’s not an exaggeration to say that as colleagues, we bond in ways that transcend our workplaces. We celebrate the joys of life together. We mourn losses. We work through adversity. We cheer each other’s accomplishments. As leaders, we carry the responsibility of your safety and health. Know we make these decisions while trying to balance all these considerations, but also as you make your own choices recognize how important you are to your co-workers, families, and communities.
Thank you and be well.
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The Incident Command team has updated guidance for timing on returning teleworking employees to the office.
Divisions and departments should establish a timeline of returning employees back to the office in a way that meets their critical business needs. Your first priority is to establish any telework agreements as soon as possible in anticipation of formally returning teleworking staff to the office. There may be equipment and space needs to consider, and the more time the telework transition team has to accommodate those needs, the better.
Review these updated guidelines on timing:
- Work groups may bring teleworking employees back onsite now to address emerging business needs, especially for just a day or two. Staff do not need a telework agreement in place for temporary, short-term assignments onsite.
- Work groups may implement the timeline for returning to the office at any time between Nov. 1 and Jan. 3 to respond to critical business needs.
- Departments must notify teleworking employees 30 days in advance of requiring them to return formally to onsite work. If those employees will be teleworking into the future, their telework agreements must be completed 30 days ahead of the required return to the office.
Remember that starting Oct. 11, Met Council employees reporting to work onsite – including teleworkers who are returning to the office – must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 or get weekly COVID-19 tests and test negative.
Keep in mind, as you’re finalizing telework agreements, that anyone who works fewer than six days onsite during a pay period may no longer have a dedicated workspace and would need to use a shared space when working onsite.
Public meetings and visitors
Met Council Chair Charlie Zelle, along with the Incident Command team, will be assessing in the coming weeks whether to continue conducting our public meetings virtually past Oct. 31, and when it will be the right time to open facilities to the public.
More information
Find more information on workspaces, equipment, and technology support on the Telework Transition FAQ page on MetNet. Review the Telework Procedure for guidance on teleworking in this new hybrid work environment, including employee and supervisor expectations, equipment, data and security, and more.
If you have questions or concerns about the telework transition, contact your supervisor or division representative on the Incident Command team, review the Telework Transition FAQ page, or share it through the online COVID-19 form.
Attention general managers, directors, managers, and supervisors
Register by Sept. 30 for the Met Council’s 2021 management conference: Leadership Forum on Racial Equity!
Once again, the Leadership Forum will be centered around one topic. For the first time, though, it will be held entirely virtually. The event will be hosted on Microsoft Teams, and conference materials and session information will be organized in a SharePoint site for attendees to follow along and download resources.
The Leadership Forum is required for all general managers, directors, managers, and supervisors. During registration, you must choose from one of four conference dates:
Wednesday, Oct. 6, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Thursday, Oct. 7, noon to 5 p.m.
Tuesday, Oct. 12, noon to 5 p.m.
Thursday, Oct. 14, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.
If you cannot attend, you must get your division director’s approval to miss the training.
For more information, email LeadershipForum@metc.state.mn.us.
Register today: Take the survey and enroll in Learn
The registration deadline is Sept. 30, but make sure to register soon! Dates will fill up so enroll now to ensure you get the date you prefer. Please follow these steps to register:
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Complete the pre-registration survey. You will be asked four quick questions about your understanding of racial equity.
- Enroll for your chosen date in Learn. Follow the step-by-step instructions on MetNet for locating and registering for the course in Learn.
Before the conference: Complete the pre-conference assignments
This week, managers and supervisors will receive an email with the first of two assignments that need to be completed before the conference. These tasks will help managers reorient themselves to the racial equity trainings they participated in earlier this year and will have them visualize their equity journey through a journey map exercise. Keep an eye on your inbox for details!
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The Met Council’s Climate Action Plan team launched the second phase of its work in September. In this phase, the team will engage with consultants and staff to do a gap analysis of where we are now – as gleaned in earlier interviews with staff – and where we want to be in three to five years in terms of:
- Reducing greenhouse gas emissions
- Adapting to climate change impacts
- Becoming more resilient as climate change intensifies
In late August, the Met Council awarded a contract to Buro Happold to assist us to create an agencywide Climate Action Plan. The firm has extensive experience in helping local governments, regions, and other organizations across the U.S. to create climate action and resilience plans. They will partner with four Twin Cities area subcontractors on the plan.
Learn more about the Climate Action Plan on MetNet, including an updated project timeline, shown here.
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The Met Council is continuing to expand the functionality of Microsoft Teams to help our organization be successful as we transition to a long-term hybrid workplace, with a mix of onsite, hybrid, and remote employees.
Here are some updates and reminders on Teams features:
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Softphones rolling out by work unit: Starting this month, the Met Council is moving away from physical desk phones and migrating to “softphones” through Microsoft Teams for most office workers. Learn more on MetNet.
- Currently Teams can be used to place internal calls to other Teams users within the Met Council. With this new functionality, employees using Teams will be able to call any phone number, receive phone calls, manage contacts, and manage voicemail – all within Teams.
- Trainings are available through October, or you can watch a recording of a past session.
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Audio conferencing is available: Audio conferencing adds a local phone number for attendees – internal or external to the Met Council – to call into a Teams meeting from a telephone. Learn more on MetNet.
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Hybrid workplace trainings continue: Learn more about Teams and related Microsoft apps in this series of trainings on working in a hybrid workplace. More sessions will be added to the calendar, and recordings are available for past sessions. Find session dates, descriptions, and links on MetNet.
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The following highlights provide a summary of important information you need to know related to the Met Council’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The newest and most complete information is available in the COVID-19 update emailed to all staff every other week on Thursdays.
Read the most recent bulletin (Sept. 16), which includes:
- The Vaccine and Testing Requirement Procedure is now available and includes details on the weekly testing process. Answers to frequently asked questions will be available this week on MetNet. Managers and supervisors are invited to attend tomorrow's Ask HR session on the topic. The recording of yesterday's session will be posted and available to watch later this week.
- The form for submitting proof of vaccination is now available in Employee Self Service.
- The new Docket mobile app provides easy access to immunization records.
- Reminder: The Met Council's COVID-19 Leave Policy expired on Sept. 17.
- The federal mask mandate for public transit has been extended into January.
- Reminder: The Face Coverings Procedure is in effect. All employees who are inside Met Council facilities must wear a face covering, regardless of vaccination status.
- The Telework Agreement Form is now available on MetNet. Teleworking staff should check the Telework Transition FAQ page on MetNet for information on technology, workspaces, planning, and more.
Tools to help you find vaccine appointments:
COVID-19 testing:
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 Project Manager Development Program applications due Sept. 30
If you like to manage people, workflows, costs, and supplies but don’t like limiting yourself to a particular field, the Project Manager Development Program (PMDP) may be the key to satisfying those needs! Our new virtual curriculum provides the foundational skills you need to excel in project management, including topics like project planning, resource management, stakeholder analysis, quality control, risk management, and more.
Employees interested in nomination to this 12-month professional development certificate program are encouraged to review the application information and nomination forms on the new PMDP MetNet site and talk with their manager. One-year equivalent supervision experience is granted upon completion of the program.
Completed application/nomination documents are due no later than 4:00 p.m. on Sept. 30. Following a review of applications, one program cohort will be selected with the start in mid-October.
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Flu shot clinics onsite this month
Getting your seasonal flu shot is especially important this fall during the COVID-19 pandemic. This month, we’re offering flu shot clinics at many Met Council sites. Review the flu shot schedule (PDF) for clinics available through Sept. 30.
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Onsite employees do not need to schedule an appointment; simply stop by during the scheduled time to get your flu shot. Wearing a mask is required at these flu shot clinics, and a mask will be provided if you don’t have one.
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Employees who are teleworking should not drive to a site for these flu shot clinics. Instead, employees not working onsite can schedule a flu shot appointment at either of the Well@Work clinics, or through their regular clinic or convenience clinics, where flu shots are free to anyone enrolled in a medical plan.
Please contact Benefits@metc.state.mn.us if you have any questions.
Lindsey Duthoy
Pronouns: she/her/hers
Payroll Manager
Finance
Primary duties
I will be overseeing the payroll process and assisting in projects that have a direct impact on payroll.
Started
Aug. 16
How does it feel to start a new job when many employees are working from home?
It has felt a bit overwhelming, but everyone at the Council has been amazing and a pleasure to get to know. This experience has been much better than anticipated due to how awesome everyone is!
Hometown
Blaine
Current residence
Eagan
Family
I have been married 16 years with two children (ages 15 and 14). We have two wonderful dogs and a bossy kitty!
Education
I graduated summa cum laude from Rasmussen College with a bachelor’s degree in business.
Experience
I have over 10 years of payroll experience, most recently at Jack Link’s. I have worked with multi-state payroll, payroll taxes, account reconciliations, and benefits.
Other interests
I love the outdoors and enjoy hiking and camping. Our family travels frequently, and we love the opportunity to explore new places. I also love photography, movies, live music, and running.
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 A sign of hope after the storm
Earlier this month, Acting Deputy Director of Bus Operations Amina Wolf was leaving for the day when she saw this vibrant rainbow overhead. "To see this huge indescribably beautiful and majestic double rainbow shining over the Heywood campus and ending in the middle of downtown Minneapolis felt like hope for greater days here in the Twin Cities," said Amina. "As if Minneapolis was the pot of gold."
Looking for your cool photo!
Do you have photos to share? The Wire is always looking for the next cool photo from staff, from a close-up in your flower garden, to scenic vistas up north, to exotic travel adventures, or more artful fare like reflections and silhouettes. The only criteria is that it's a cool photo! Just email the editor at the address below.
The Wire is published every two weeks for employees of the Met Council. Everyone is invited to submit comments and story ideas. Contact the editor at TheWire@metc.state.mn.us.
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