THE GEM OF THE VALLEY - #Kingsburg |
| |
Kingsburg is committed to leadership that inspires, professionalism that ensures excellence in service, and partnership that fosters community collaboration. | |
Here is the latest news and updates for our employees. | |
|
Public Service & Organizational Improvement
Award Recognition
| |
We are delighted to announce the recipients of the Public Service Award, Marsha Alves, and the Organizational Improvement Award, Mayumi Ploszaj.
Marsha Alves, Account Clerk II, is an excellent addition to our team. She is always ready to go above and beyond with her work, and her positive attitude makes her a great team player. Marsha is known for providing outstanding customer service and is always ready to lend a helping hand.
Mayumi Ploszaj, the Police Administrative Assistant, handles the Prop 56 Tobacco Tax Grant paperwork. This grant funds one police officer to prevent, intervene, regulate, and enforce tobacco and vaping in schools and local retail businesses. While completing her quarterly reports, she realized that the City must bill the state for the total cost of police officers. Mayumi worked closely with her contact at the California Department of Justice to add the total cost of a police officer and recover the expenses over a three-year fiscal cycle. This effort led to a cost recovery of $49,770.
We want to thank Marsha and Mayumi for their dedication and hard work in making Kingsburg a better community. Congratulations on your well-deserved awards!
| |
Employee 457(b) Account Update | |
To ensure the City maintains the best employee voluntary retirement benefits, CalPERS 457(b) and Empower 457(b) accounts will be transferred to MissionSquare Retirement in June.
If you are contributing to one of these accounts or have made contributions while working for the City of Kingsburg, you should have received a letter notifying you of this change. You do not need to take any action for this transition to occur. All account balances will automatically be transferred to Mission Square Retirement. Your payroll deductions will be automatically updated to go to Mission Square. Contribution amounts will remain the same unless you complete new contribution forms.
Employees will be unable to make changes to their accounts beginning June 17, 2024, through July 2, 2024. Once the transition is complete, MissionSquare Retirement will notify employee account holders. All employee account holders' savings will be transferred automatically into similar funds with MissionSquare.
To get the most out of your plan, attend the upcoming online webinar on Thursday, May 30, 2024, at 12:00pm (PST). To join the webinar, use Microsoft Teams and meeting ID 249 688 454 256, and passcode LZgzTB. Employees are invited to watch this webinar in person at the Kingsburg Police Department. Snacks will be provided.
You can also schedule an educational meeting with your Retirement Plans Specialist, Isaiah Carter at (202)253-0411.
Learn about the Power of Compound Interest: Calculations and Examples.
| |
5 Tips for Combating Unfair Charges | |
It's not uncommon to occasionally find a questionable transaction on your credit card or bank card statement or even a medical billing error. Find out the best ways to handle unfair charges or bills using these tips:
Keep good records
Track your spending, including receipts, emails, and invoices, and read merchants' contractual language (fine print) to understand their terms. For example, be sure you know how much your bills are and when your free trials and promotional rates end. Also, when will your subscriptions renew? You should be clear on what medical services should be covered by your insurance in case there's a charge you need to dispute.
Act promptly
Typically, you have about 60 days from the time you receive your statement or bill to dispute a charge. Try to address the issue immediately by calling, emailing, or writing a letter to the company.
Contact your vendor
Many retail credit cards offer an interest-free promotion known as "deferred interest." If you're late with a payment or still have a balance when the promotion ends, the card issuer will charge interest retroactively on your purchases.
For the complete article and other financial resources, visit MissionSquare.
| |
Insurance Information Sessions | |
Please join our Insurance Consultant, Kylee Henderson, at an informational insurance session.
The first session was held on Wednesday, May 22, 2024, at 9:00am in the Council Chambers.
The second session will be held on Tuesday, May 28, 2024, at 5:00pm at the Kingsburg Police Department Training room.
If you were unable to attend a meeting, or have additional questions, you can schedule a one-on-one meeting with Kylee at 805-720-8227. She can also be contacted to help with any insurance issues you may be experiencing.
We received feedback during the Wednesday, May 22, 2024 meeting regarding Aetna/EBA&M use. Aetna offers in-network and out-of-network pricing. Employees can see providers in and out of network using their Aetna card. Employees can only use the EBA&M card for providers that are in-network. We apologize for any confusion this may have caused you. Log-in to the member portal to find in-network providers.
Some have received substantiation letters to verify whether a service is an approved Aetna (in-network) service. You may submit your EOB to substantiate the service. Out-of-network services/expenses are the responsibility of the employee.
| |
|
Halcyon EAP has now been rebranded as Simple EAP. Halcyon Behavioral is now Simple Behavioral, and Halcyon Health & Wellness is now Simple Wellbeing. Over the next few weeks, Simple EAP (Halcyon EAP) will roll out a new website and updated materials.
Employees who have visited the EAP member portal and registered email accounts will receive an email notification about the name changes to their specific programs. Employees will continue to receive the same level of customer service and care. The current triage and customer service phone numbers will all remain unchanged.
Call Simple EAP at 1-888-425-4800 or schedule an appointment online for employee assistance and wellbeing services. All full-time employees can access the EAP 24/7 using the code CSJVRMA to claim acceptance and log in (when asked for the company name).
Contact your supervisor or Christina Windover if you need assistance accessing the EAP.
| |
City Holiday Schedule & Payroll Updates | |
Please note the Memorial Day holiday will be observed by administrative offices on Monday, May 27. Timesheets are due to payroll by Tuesday 9am to ensure adequate processing time. Please check with your supervisor for any modified timesheet deadlines.
W-2s and pay stubs are available online.
Important Payroll Resources:
Contact Kristin Hernandez for payroll questions and Christina Windover for human resources questions.
To locate Personal Information Change forms and employee leave documents, visit the employee NeoGov portal.
| |
|
Your mental health is more than how you feel on any given day. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), mental health includes your emotional, physical and psychological wellbeing and can determine how you think, feel and act.
Understanding what mental health is and why it is important can help you build better relationships, improve productivity and boost your overall satisfaction with life. To start learning, watch the short flash course, “Mental Health First Aid Basics,” and then explore the answers to common mental health-related questions below.
- Why is mental health important? When you’re not feeling your best, completing everyday tasks and achieving your goals can be challenging. Caring for your mental health is just as vital as caring for your physical health, but stigma often prevents individuals from seeking support. When you focus on boosting your mental and emotional wellbeing, you can better cope with life’s stressors.
- What causes a mental health concern? There’s no one reason why you might experience a mental health concern. Biological factors, your physical health, how you were raised, relationships, challenging events and other life circumstances can all contribute to your mental state. Your mental health can also change over time due to exposure to a traumatic event or a combination of concurrent stressors that make life’s challenges exceed your coping abilities.
- What are examples of mental health conditions? Mental illnesses can range from prolonged sadness to hallucinations. The most common mental health conditions are depression and anxiety, while others include eating disorders, substance use disorders and bipolar disorder. To be diagnosed with one of these conditions, a mental health professional typically uses a handbook of symptoms called the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th edition (DSM-5).
- What are the symptoms to be aware of? Trying to tell the difference between usual emotions and behaviors and what might be signs of more serious emotional health concerns isn’t always easy. Each illness has its own set of symptoms, but some common signs of mental illness in adults and adolescents can include the following: excessive worrying or fear, extreme shifts in mood, changes in sleep habits, constantly feeling tired or low energy and the inability to carry out daily activities due to your emotional state.
- What are possible treatments? If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health concern, various treatments are available. Reaching out for support is an excellent first step. Speaking with a mental health professional can help you see positive change and find a treatment plan that works for you. This can often include support groups, medication and introducing healthy coping tools such as self-care.
Call Simple EAP at 1-888-425-4800 or schedule an appointment online for employee assistance and well-being services. All full-time employees can access the EAP 24/7 using the code CSJVRMA for claim acceptance and to log in (when asked for the company name).
Contact your supervisor or Christina Windover if you need assistance accessing the EAP.
| |
How to manage your time more effectively (according to machines) | | | | |
