A thought for the day …
"Life is trying things to see if they work."
– Ray Bradbury (1920–2012), American author and screenwriter
In the spirit of continuous improvement and as part of our work every day to improve internal communications, why not try something new?
Here's a one-time teaser of what a digest version of The Wire could look like – something we might find during our Councilwide internal communications audit would be a more effective format for employees. (Read more about this audit project in the column linked below!)
We'll be back to the full Wire for the next issue, but we invite you to share your reaction and let us know your thoughts about this digest.
What do you think? Complete this quick survey!
Guest notes from Terri Dresen
Communications Director
Lately, I’ve been reflecting a lot on my first few weeks here at the Met Council. I started in the “before times,” in January 2020. Little did I know that one of the first things we’d be working on was implementing a pandemic-related communications framework. But as I’m reflecting, I recognize the opportunity that experience provided to really go deep on understanding our employee-related communications and the key information you all needed.
This fall, we will start building on that experience with an in-depth audit into all of our organizational communications, both internal and external.
Read the full column on MetNet.
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Required training coming soon for updated Respectful Workplace Procedure. Recently, Human Resources updated the Respectful Workplace Procedure to improve how employees interact and treat each other. As a result, employees will be required to complete updated civility and respect training by the end of 2022; more information will be shared in upcoming newsletters. Read more about these changes on MetNet.
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Employee recognition event Oct. 17. After going virtual during the pandemic, our annual Councilwide employee recognition event will be back in person this year at the University of St. Thomas and, due to capacity, will host only award winners. Invited staff will be honored for years of service, equity and inclusion achievements, and division-specific awards and recognitions. Invitations are being mailed to employees' homes this week.
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Charitable Giving Campaign Oct. 24 through Nov. 11. During the Met Council’s annual Charitable Giving Campaign, employees will be encouraged to sign up to have a portion of each paycheck directed to an eligible charity of their choice. The campaign also includes fundraising events, silent auctions, drawings, and more. Watch for more details in October!
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MentoringWorks info session Sept. 29. Join a virtual information session next week to learn about the next MentoringWorks Program, which kicks off in January 2023. Get details on the program and learn how you can leverage it to achieve your career objectives. Find more details and a link to join on MetNet.
- Vaccines at the Met Council:
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COVID-19 bivalent boosters coming to Well@Work Oct. 3. The booster is available to those age 12 years and older who have completed the primary vaccination series. COVID-19 vaccines and boosters are available by appointment on Mondays and Thursdays at both clinics. You can start scheduling appointments for the bivalent booster now.
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Flu shots now available at Well@Work clinics. The clinics have the regular flu vaccine as well as the high-dose flu vaccine for those age 65 years and older. To make an appointment, follow the instructions on the Well@Work page on MetNet.
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Flu shot clinics happening now into October. Flu shot clinics are being held at Met Council sites for a few more weeks. Review the 2022 flu shot clinic schedule (PDF). Employees do not need to get an appointment; simply stop by during the scheduled time to get your flu shot.
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New hours start Oct. 1 for Well@Work clinics. These changes are based on utilization of the clinics. Please note the new hours for both clinics: 7:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday; and 9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday and Thursday.
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Police Chief posting now open. The hiring process for the next Metro Transit Police Chief is underway. Applications will be accepted through Oct. 16. Review the posting flyer (PDF).
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Metro Transit launches micro. Residents in North Minneapolis can now catch a ride when and where they need it using Metro Transit micro, a new on-demand rideshare program that costs the same as riding a local bus. The program is a microtransit pilot funded for one year. Learn more at MetroTransit.org/micro.
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Blue Line Extension community workshops. The Blue Line Extension project office is exploring multiple route options in Minneapolis. In-person and virtual community workshops are being held in September to review the options, answer questions, and gather feedback. View upcoming dates, times, and locations or provide your feedback by Sept. 30 in an online survey at BlueLineExt.org.
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COVID-19 vaccination and testing. COVID-19 vaccines and boosters are available through community sites, the Well@Work clinics, and health care providers. Testing is accessible through community sites, health care providers, and at-home rapid test kits. Review a list of vaccination and testing resources on MetNet.
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Teleworking resources. If you are teleworking full- or part-time, get answers to your teleworking and hybrid workplace questions – including details on computer equipment, hotel cubes, and tips for managers and employees – on the Teleworking Hub. Email ServiceDesk@metc.state.mn.us for assistance with technical challenges.
Quick roundup of upcoming events and important dates:
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September – October = flu shot clinics at many Met Council facilities; check the clinic schedule (PDF)
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Sept. 21 = Benefits webinar on retirement planning; Outlook calendar invites were sent last week
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Sept. 29 = MentoringWorks info session (details above)
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Oct. 3 = bivalent boosters available by appointment at both Well@Work clinics; learn more in HR Connect
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Oct. 17 = annual employee recognition event; this year's event is in person and invite-only for award winners (details above)
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Oct. 24 – Nov. 11 = annual Charitable Giving Campaign (more details to come)
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Oct. 31 – Nov. 18 = Open Enrollment period (more details to come)
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Nov. 18 = applications due for the 2023 MentoringWorks Program, which kicks off in January
Remember you can always check the Councilwide calendar on MetNet for internal programming and events, as well as Met Council and committee meetings, pay days, and holidays.
Once there, you can also find quick links to other internal calendars on MetNet for program-specific events and trainings, like equity events, Fit For Life wellness events, and Microsoft trainings.
Most recent issues of the Met Council's other internal newsletters:
Employee feedback forms:
Philip Pizza
Pronouns: he/him/his
Systems Engineer 4
Information Services
Primary duties
I will be providing guidance and direction for the Infrastructure team’s overall environment, procedures, and systems. I will also be collaborating with other teams to assist with the integration and planning of systems.
Started
June 27
How does it feel to start a new job when many employees are working from home?
I have embraced the change and believe it brings many benefits. Working remote has provided greater flexibility and an improved sense of my work-life balance.
Hometown
White Bear Lake, MN
Current residence
Lakeville, MN
Family
My family includes my wife, Anastasiya, our 3-year-old son, Anton, and our cat, Senya.
Education
Finance and information systems (double major), University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire
Experience
When I first started my career, I had a passion for programming and networking. With the analytical skills I developed, that passion changed into a desire to improve business processes to enrich people and organizations. I have completed projects, delivered strategic initiatives, and improved processes for businesses big and small. I played a key advisory role in planning information technology strategic goals and leading change.
Other interests
Traveling, movies, running, and trying new food
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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.
If you've read – or, let's be real, skimmed – through this entire email, please take a couple minutes to tell us what you think about this one-time digest version of The Wire!
When we conduct our internal communications audit (read more in the column linked above), we might find something like this works better for employees to get the information they need and the content they want. Gathering some quick thoughts on this digest test will give us some preliminary feedback to analyze as we begin the audit.
Complete this quick survey to tell us what you think about this digest.
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