Message from the Director
What is our policy? This is a question I hear often. So this month, I am taking a minute to reflect on policies published by the Department of Human Resource Management. I like to respond to the question by stating that DHRM policies are designed to be guard rails in which to operate. DHRM policies are written to cover agencies that vary in size, complexity and services delivered. Those differences can have an impact on how a policy may be applied within an agency. Agencies need to ensure their internal operating procedures and practices are up to date and continuously communicated to current and incoming employees. DHRM is continuing to update policies due to changes resulting from the Cardinal Human Capital Management System and refreshing many that are simply dated.
Lastly, a brief mention about the Great Resignation. As an employer, we continue to compete with other employers for the talent needed to deliver services. Don’t forget that each agency has access to exit survey data that should help HR and your leadership teams gain insight into why employees are leaving their positions. This information, combined with knowledge as to why employees stay, should help you build your strategy for recruiting, engaging and retaining the talent you need for success. Access to opportunities (learning new skills, job growth and development) continues to be a key item for keeping talent.
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Workforce Management
Standards of Conduct Policy 1.60 Revised
We thank a variety of state agencies for providing comments and suggestions that have enhanced the revision and updating of the Standards of Conduct (SOC) policy. The revised policy is effective March 7, 2022. While all changes in verbiage and nuance are too innumerable to list, a few highlights may be found here.
Happy Procurement Month!
In March, we acknowledge all state professionals who make a difference in procurement efficiency and effectiveness. This month gives us the opportunity to help educate elected officials, administrators, taxpayers, staff, and vendors about the procurement process and the admirable work our members perform every day. If you are a buyer or requisitioner, you should obtain the Virginia Contracting Associate (VCA) certificate. If you are an agency designated contract administrator (CA), you should obtain the Virginia Contract Administration and Risk Management (VCARM) certificate as well.
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Let’s Get Excited About Employment Outreach!
The Department of Human Resource Management has partnered with agencies and connected with organizations over the past few months to boost proactive employment engagement. This includes:
- Collaboration with The Virginia Employment Commission and The Department of Veteran Affairs to establish an All State Job Fair two times per year (spring and fall).
- Monthly meetings of the Recruiting Network Action Team, an inter-agency team formed to share new promotional strategies for Commonwealth jobs, to explore different approaches to marketing jobs to candidates, outreach efforts and collaborate on ways to move forward with recruiting in the Commonwealth.
- Updating the recruiting information on our websites, www.dhrm.virginia.gov and Jobs.Virginia.gov. Please check out the new Veteran Hiring banner on the home page.
Plans are underway for a Recruiting Symposium for all agencies to discuss recruiting trends, best practices, assertively promoting state employment, and other topics. If you are interested and have discussion topics, please reach out to Allen Blair.
Reminder: Requests to Fill Vacant Positions
The April 2020 requirement that Executive Branch Agencies request approval from their Cabinet Secretaries to fill vacant positions was part of a directive to reduce expenditures due to unbudgeted costs associated with the Commonwealth’s response to COVID-19. This requirement was lifted on October 26, 2020 and is no longer in effect. There is no need to send such requests to your current Cabinet Secretary, unless your Cabinet Secretary has so directed.
Be Sure to Submit Your Agency Workforce Plans
DHRM continues to review agency workforce plans submitted last fall in preparation for the 2022 development and submission period. Workforce planning becomes increasingly more meaningful when assessing trends over time to formulate future strategies, so if your agency has not already done so, do not forget to submit your plan as soon as possible to dhrm.wfp@dhrm.virginia.gov.
Engagement
Virginia Women Veterans Week Begins March 20
Celebrate the contributions of Virginia women veterans from March 20-26! A number of events, including a pinning ceremony, women veteran forum and hybrid mixed media workshop, will be held during Women's History Month in March. Also save the date for the Virginia Women Veterans Summit in June. More information and a list of events are here. Support our veterans!
Rewards
Ready for Health and Flexible Benefits Open Enrollment?
The Open Enrollment period of May 2-16, 2022 will be here very shortly! Be sure your office is prepared. This year, there will be two ways to make Open Enrollment elections for health benefits and Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs). Some elections will be made through Cardinal and others will be made through the Benefits Eligibility System (BES). Therefore, it is extremely important that agency and employee contact information be up to date to ensure that the most accurate materials and instructions are received. The State Health Benefits Program is also helping employees, non-Medicare eligible retirees and/or their spouses in the COVA Care and COVA HealthAware plans earn Premium Rewards. To begin earning rewards July 1, participants must complete and submit a health assessment during the Open Enrollment period.
CommonHealth and Kaiser Permanente Present Wellness Webinars
CommonHealth and Kaiser are partnering to offer three webinars to all employees this month. The topics fit in with CommonHealth's current topic, Reset to Resilient, and employees can register to attend one, two or all three webinars. Make time for your own health and sign up.
Comings and Goings...
Office of Workforce Engagement: Farewell to Vilma Alejandro, who joined the DHRM team in November 2018. A champion of change and forward movement, Vilma has been a role model in flexibility, adapting to new challenges, new people, new programs and expanding responsibilities in a short period of time. Vilma leads from the heart with a passion for social responsibility at both the corporate and personal level. Please join us in wishing Vilma all the best as she makes a move to start a new chapter in her life story. During this period of transition, Aubrey Chigwada, Director of the Office of Workers' Compensation, will serve as O.W.E. Acting Director.
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Felix Johnson has joined DHRM as a CommonHealth Wellness Consultant Supervisor in O.W.E. His goal will be to create a supportive wellness culture and environment across state government that supports the key dimensions of wellness for all levels of state employees. A Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES®) with years of experience in coaching health behavior change and providing wellness consulting, Felix received his Master of Public Health in Health Promotion from Liberty University. He has over 20 years of team supervision and leadership experience, holding a bachelor of arts in Leadership and Management from the University of Mary Washington, a teaching license from the Virginia Board of Education, and a massage therapy license from the Virginia Board of Nursing. Welcome, Felix!
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We say goodbye to Mike King, former CommonHealth Wellness Consultant Supervisor. Mike is seeking other opportunities and enjoying outdoor recreation in Colorado! While at DHRM, Mike oversaw health and wellness services in the Piedmont, Eastern and a portion of the Northern and Central regions. We offer him our best wishes on his new career journey. |
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Information Technology: Please welcome Alvin Ndikefor as a DHRM Database Administrator. An IT professional who has worked at both large and small scale government agencies, he recently served as a Database Application Server Engineer for the State of Maryland. Alvin’s experience includes database management, database performance tuning, IT policy development and IT technical support. In addition to his work, Alvin enjoys golfing, hiking and learning. |
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