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In this Issue
The internship program team has been working on preparing for the 2022 year. Keep in mind these important dates:
- Internship requests accepted: Oct. 18 through Nov. 2
- Internship request approval process: Nov. 2 through Nov. 26
- Internship posting period: Feb. 1 through Feb. 28
These dates are subject to change.
Hiring managers can submit requests for 2022 summer internships online through the Internships MetNet site before Nov. 2.
This year we’ll only have one posting period for all our college-level internship programs. We’ll begin our outreach efforts in October to colleges to let them know that our tentative posting period will start Feb. 1.
Request approval process
Internship approvals for each division will be done a bit differently, as well. The internship team will gather all requests and submit them through their respective division approval process (see approval process chart flows for each division on the internships MetNet site). All internship requests will have a workflow and will let you know if the internship has been approved or denied via email.
New pilot program: Ability Internship
Using the same process detailed above, hiring managers also have the opportunity to request an Ability Internship, a pilot program launching this summer. This 12-week program is designed to increase Met Council internship and employment opportunities for people with disabilities and create a stronger connection with talent around our region.
Please email Luis.Martinez@metc.state.mn.us or Bethany.Schultz@metc.state.mn.us if you have any questions.
The Met Council’s employee recognition event is coming up on Nov. 15, and leadership is seeking nominations for the new Equity and Inclusion Award to recognize staff members who in the past 12 months proactively furthered the Met Council’s commitment to eliminate regional inequities through innovative initiatives.
Examples of equity initiatives include:
- Removing barriers to Met Council contract and procurement opportunities for businesses and individuals who have been historically underrepresented
- Increasing the integrity of equity efforts by ensuring public transparency for and participation of those most impacted by our actions
- Redefining equity measures and using resulting data to identify current racial or accessibility-related disparities in the Met Council’s regionally delivered services and investments
- Special efforts to increase diversity and inclusion within the Met Council’s staff positions
Individual awardees and projects will be selected based on the equity criteria: reduction of bias, engagement, collective problem solving, adaptive inclusion, data driven, and transformative impact.
Use this nomination form to nominate Met Council staff or team members from any division.
Nominations will be accepted through Nov. 3 and evaluated by the Office of Equal Opportunity leadership team.
As a reminder, be sure to ask your employees to complete their Year-end Feedback Form, which is due by Oct. 31 as part of the annual performance evaluation timeline:
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Establish performance goals, first quarter
- May check-in, second quarter
- August check-in, third quarter
- Employee completes Year-end Feedback Form, due Oct. 31
- Manager rates employee’s performance, submits to manager, due Nov. 13
- Manager’s manager approves ratings, due Nov. 20
- Manager and employee meet to review final rating, due Dec. 6
For employees completing the Year-end Feedback Form:
For managers completing the performance evaluation:
- Block off time on your calendar for performance evaluation work and tasks.
- Solicit feedback from employees’ customers to gain a broad perspective of performance.
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Review the level-specific and core competencies on MetNet for each of your staff.
Head to the Talent Hub page on MetNet to access Perform.
As manager of remote team members, your job is to nurture, guide, and support, which is a challenge in the hybrid environment. LOD is offering a virtual, instructor-led class designed to improve supervisors’ skills in leading hybrid staff and conducting meetings in a remote environment.
Still Remote: Supervising & Staying Connected with Your Virtual Teams will be offered Friday, Nov. 12, via Webex from 9:00 to 11:30 a.m. A similar training for employees will be offered in early December.
At the end of this workshop, participants will be able to:
- Identify ways to manage off-site employees’ results, not their day-to-day activities.
- Utilize communication channels that support productivity, accountability, and connection.
- Facilitate meetings that engage and direct staff.
To enroll:
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Go to Learn.
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If you have a Council-issued email address, go to the Talent Hub page on MetNet and click Learn. Then click "Employee with an email address."
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If you do not, go to https://metc.sumtotal.host, click the "Employee without an email address" button, and sign in with your Learn username and password.
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Click the library book icon at the top of the page, locate “A-Learning Institute,” and click the arrow pointing to the right.
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Click “LOD Classes Open for Registration.”
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Locate the class and register.
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Trade Time for Fitness is a health and wellness program that allows you to trade in your annual leave hours to receive up to $2,000 (gross) per payroll year in reimbursements for eligible health- and wellness-related expenses, and now includes eligible home office furniture.
This temporary exception to include home office furniture will be in effect until official notice is given – likely through the COVID-19 pandemic, while some employees must work from home.
Eligible purchases are limited to home office furniture items. Examples include:
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Office desks
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Sit/stand desks
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Office chairs
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Task/desk lighting
Computer equipment, keyboards, monitors, docking stations, mouse pads, and similar Council-provided items are not eligible for reimbursement. These items are brought home from work offices and requested through the ITR process with Information Services.
To learn more about the program, review FAQs, and access the online claim form, visit the Trade Time for Fitness MetNet page.
All 2021 claims must be received by Dec. 1 to be processed in time to be paid out in 2021. Purchases made in 2021 cannot be processed in 2022.
If you are unable to access the Trade Time for Fitness MetNet page or would like to verify eligibility of an item, please email FitForLife@metc.state.mn.us.
Beginning Jan. 1, Total Administrative Services Corporation (TASC) will be managing the Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) for the Met Council. This means your health care, dependent care, and parking flex accounts will be managed on a new debit card and in a new system – no longer through HealthPartners.
With the new debit card from TASC for FSAs, the big change is that the new card will not be for the HRA health plan. So, if you have an HRA and a debit card through HealthPartners, hang on to that card; that will continue to be your HRA card going forward.
Important things to know about the new TASC cards:
- Card lock option – If you lose your card, you can lock the card until you can locate it, thereby protecting the funds attached to the card.
- Card decline protection – This prevents that awkward moment when the pharmacist tells you your card doesn’t have enough funds. This works much like overdraft protection; however, you will need to log into your TASC account and set this up.
- MyCash account – In the past, if you submitted a claim to get reimbursed, your money would arrive by check or direct deposit. With TASC, your money can be deposited into a MyCash account, which is attached to your TASC card and can be used however you wish.
Managing these accounts and new features can all be done via the TASC the mobile app. The mobile app has picture to pay, which allows you to take a picture of your eligible receipts and submit for reimbursement. There is also a receipt repository to store your receipts and other documents you may need to submit for verification of an item.
Read these flyers for more information on what to expect with TASC:
This is just a highlight of what is coming. More details will be shared in December after Open Enrollment is complete.
And remember to make your FSA elections – either elect or decline each of these accounts – during Open Enrollment next month. You are not automatically re-enrolled. If you do not make an election, you will not have an FSA next year.
Open Enrollment will run Nov. 1 through Nov. 19. Head to the Open Enrollment page on MetNet to learn more about the plans and online enrollment process.
Self-exams can often be the first time you notice changes in your breast. Read this fact sheet from Susan G. Komen (PDF) to learn what to do next if you find a lump or change.
Reminder: Annual screening mammograms are offered again this year at two of our Met Council locations to assist with detection. Mammo a-go-go is a convenient, and safe, way to get your screening taken care of. This year, the Mammo a-go-go truck (PDF) will be available at the following locations:
Heywood
Tuesday, Nov. 2, 7:00 to 10:00 a.m.
Truck will be parked by door 16 (bus pull-in door) across from TCC
Metro Plant
Thursday, Nov. 4, 9:00 to 11:00 a.m.
Truck will be parked in the West Parking Lot
Call 952-993-3700 to schedule your screening and tell the scheduler if you'd like to make an appointment at the Metro Plant or Heywood. Email Shelby.Olson@metc.state.mn.us with questions.
Onsite mobile mammography is available for Met Council employees and free if covered by insurance. Bring your insurance card with you to your appointment. Masks are required during your screening appointment.
Also, join us for our final special presentation around breast cancer awareness with the African American Breast Cancer Alliance with breast cancer survivor stories on Tuesday, Oct. 26, 11:00 a.m. to noon. Email FitForLife@metc.state.mn.us for an invitation to this event.
Show your pink pride this month by emailing FitForLife@metc.state.mn.us examples of your celebration!
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