THE LOOP - April 14: Are You Using VPN?; City Offers Certain Employees Help with Child Care Needs; Performing Arts Center Employees Sew Face Masks for Fellow Employees; Grant Funding Opportunities Available Due to COVID-19

TheLoop

The Loop is sent on Tuesday and Thursday each week, informing employees when articles have been published on Corecon or our public site. Special editions can be sent out other days as needed.



VPN

Using VPN Enables Same Experience as Working at Your Desk

With so many of us teleworking, it’s a good time to talk about using a virtual private network (VPN) which re-creates the same experience as if you were at your desk or other City site. It’s sometimes referred to as a “tunnel,” which is a good way to think about accessing the City network safely and securely. All computers deployed by our IT department have Cisco AnyConnect VPN installed in them. You’ll need VPN for viewing Corecon, which has crucial information to employees, and other remote work.

How Do I Find and Launch VPN?

To find the VPN client, use the search box in the lower left corner of your screen and type “AnyConnect.” The results display the VPN icon and “Cisco AnyConnect Secure Mobility Client.” Click to open the VPN client and then click “Connect.” After the log in screen pops up, enter your COR user name and password (make sure the “Group” field shows “Any-web”). Agree to the acceptable use policy and you are on the City network.

Mobile Devices

If your mobile device is enrolled in Mobile Device Management (MDM) you can access our secure network through the MDM “web” icon, which delivers you to Corecon and then access to PeopleSoft. If you have a City-issued phone or receive a stipend, your phone should be enrolled in MDM. Look for the “Web” app icon on your phone to access Corecon from your enrolled mobile device.

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Day Camp

City Offers Certain Employees Help with Child Care Needs

If you’re directly supporting the City of Raleigh’s COVID-19 response (for example, you’re an emergency responder) and need a place for your children to stay during workdays, you could consider the City’s new Families First day camp. It is a no-cost program for school-age children (K-8th grade or 14 years old).

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facemask

Performing Arts Center Employees Sew Face Masks for Fellow Employees

What do Duke Performing Arts Center employees do when shows are temporarily on hold? They sew face masks for other City employees, of course!

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Grants

Grant Funding Opportunities Available Due to COVID-19

More grant funding opportunities are becoming available due to COVID-19. Before you apply for a grant, please remember the City has a process for review.

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Virgin pulse logo

Adjusting to a new normal? Virgin Pulse is Here to Help

The City of Raleigh has a new wellness vendor: Virgin Pulse. If you have not done so, please create your account. 

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mailroom

COR Mail Service During COVID-19 Response: April 9 Update

In accordance with CDC, NCDHHS, and State recommendations, the vendor that picks up and processes our mail will be closed on Tuesdays and Thursdays until further notice. What does that mean for you?

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cc

Families First Coronavirus Response Act

As we continue to work through the COVID-19 crisis, it is important to share information about the Families First Coronavirus Response Act and how it impacts you as an employee. The Act is a new federal law that requires employers to provide certain employer-paid leave for employees who can’t work or telework due to COVID-19.

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virus

COVID-19 Latest Updates and Info

As the COVID-19 situation evolves, the City continues to share important information. Read more for the latest message from the City Manager.

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teams

Microsoft Teams – Chat, Collaborate, and More!

The Microsoft Teams application is rolling out across the enterprise. City of Raleigh Information Technology staff, along with key early adopter departments, piloted the Microsoft Teams application for the past few weeks. In light of overwhelmingly positive feedback and increased demand for remote collaboration due to COVID-19, City leadership authorized the expedited rollout of the Microsoft Teams application to all employees.

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Springboard

New Uniform Contract Springboard Promotions, Inc.

The Procurement Division is excited to announce that there is a new supplier for uniforms and apparel. Springboard Promotions, Inc. was awarded the bid to provide uniforms and apparel to the City. The contract is for all uniforms and apparel except personal protection equipment.

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new colleagues

Welcome to Our New Colleagues

Our "Employee Announcements" page is up to date and we have several new members listed. Visit the page and welcome our newest team members. Retirement announcements can be made on this page as well. A form is available under the "contact information" tab.

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Reminders

Civic Federal Credit Union Donates Hand Sanitizer Bottles to Solid Waste Workers

The IT Satisfaction Survey’s Been Extended – More Gift Cards Available!

EAP Program Available During COVID-19 

New Audit Report: Bike Share Program

A Message From IT: Cybercriminals Love a Crisis

PeopleSoft Announcements Panel: Check for Updates on Current Known Issues

New ePerformance Tool Ready for Use

City Updates FMLA Policy

Resources...

City Has A New Pharmacy Plan Vendor

Raleigh City Council Meeting Schedule

Office 365 Tips: Making Documents Accessible To Everyone

Tips and Tricks for Successful Council Agenda Submission

New ServiceNow Catalog for Ordering New Computers

Audit Office and Integrity Line

Questions About Office 365? We Have Answers!

New Branded PowerPoint Template for Staff Use is Available!

Think that Email Is Suspicious? Here Is How We Will Let You Know


Submitting Content for The Loop and/or Corecon

To submit content, visit support.raleighnc.gov. The portal is named "Corecon and The LoopContent Add/Change." 

The submittal deadline is NOON on the day before you'd like it to appear. This deadline exists for several reasons - it takes time to locate and edit images, write and/or edit content, upload articles to CORECON, and organize The Loop. For this reason, requests submitted after the deadline will not appear in the next edition.

In general, new articles will appear on Corecon for 30 days. In The Loop, articles will first appear at the top, then move to the "News and Reminders" section until their dates have passed. Time-sensitive information will re-appear at the top as the date approaches.

Photos and/or images are encouraged and should be in .jpg format sized 600 x 450 (4:3 ratio). Pixlr is a great website for editing and resizing photos.