Kenneth L. Hermon, Jr., Fulton County’s Chief Human Resources Officer, wishes to advise all Fulton County employees that all services provided by the HR Department will continue to be provided electronically or by phone. Out of an abundance of concern for your health and the health and well-being of all HR employees, he asks that you do not physically visit the office.

“I am happy to report that my entire operation is fully functional electronically and by phone”, Hermon says. “Whether you need access to your personnel file, file a grievance or you need to register and participate in a training course, please email or call my staff.  We are available and prepared to deliver all of your HR needs.”

For your convenience, click here for a directory of all HR team members. For assistance with learning to whom you should speak to sort a particular concern, please contact Telka Christian at 404-613-0922 or [email protected].

COVID-19 testing will be available to Fulton County employees on Monday, June 29 and Wednesday, July 1 from 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. at 130 Peachtree St SW, Atlanta GA 30303.

Fulton County Government received high honors from the National Association of Counties (NACo) in 2020. The accolades for Fulton County Departments of Information Technology and Human Resources acknowledge the efforts by the County to demonstrate significant improvements to upgrading and modernizing the services provided to County residents.

“Congratulations to the Fulton County staffers for once again standing out among their peers nationally,” says Fulton County District 4 Commissioner Natalie Hall. “These honors point to the spirit of innovation among team members focused on making County operations much more efficient.”

Three of the honors went to the Department of Human Resources for programs targeting efforts to both retain highly skilled talent and to manage overall staff performance. The County’s peers nationwide cited the Incremental Compensation Strategy (ICS) as a successful effort to both address compensation of accomplished senior staff using a more comprehensive method than traditional Cost of Living Adjustments as the program also attempted to improve employee morale, engagement and enhance Fulton’s ability to attract and retain top talent. 

The HR Department was also lauded for the recent implementation of the Success Factors program which seeks to standardize performance management throughout the county The program, implemented this year, allows Department Heads to develop and communicate goals aligned with the County’s Strategic Priorities and support the achievement of departmental Key Performance Indicators (KPIs).

Human Resources efforts also include the NACo Award-winning “5 Star Customer Care Program”. The educational and career enhancement effort implemented by the Department’s Learning and Development team endeavors tom improve customer service training for all County agencies. The program has measurable results of cost savings of $1,050,000 for continued delivery, enhanced employee productivity, improved customer service with an issue resolution rate of 97%, and created better interdepartmental cooperation among 40 entities. 

Finally, the Fulton County Department of Information Technology was honored for its Center for Excellence. This effort attempts to acquire highly skilled talent who could serve as resources for County staff, within multiple departments, to assist in providing more efficient services – all within budget. To maintain business relevance in a fiercely competitive and rapidly changing digital age, Fulton County IT replaced its traditional approach to staffing to be competitive in its search for qualified talent. 

Fulton County Board of Commissioners and the County Manager are very happy to welcome the Fulton Family back to work in County facilities. 

 

Workplace safety, always a top priority, has taken on a new meaning with the arrival of COVID-19. As a result, we are looking to do as much as possible to safeguard staffers and customers by providing guidance on how we operate.

 

Returning to Work in Fulton County – A Safety Training Course   is an integral and mandatory component of our reopening plan. All employees are required to view this course, prior to their scheduled return to County facilities.  This training course lays out the policies and procedures that will be enforced at facilities.

 

Please remember, in order to receive credit for participating in the webinar, employees must complete the following survey  after  they’ve participated in the webinar

Video Link: https://youtu.be/-hQKsTGiJWg

Additional Resources: Employee COVID-19 Reopening Guidance webpage.

New safety measures at Fulton County facilities underway include:

Fulton County employees may enter the Government Center facility through the Peachtree Street entrance near Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive or the Pryor Street entrance. Please do not enter through the Public Safety Building entrance.

1.      What steps are being taken by Fulton County to ensure the safety of employees as they return to work?

Fulton County has purchased personal protective equipment (PPE), including face coverings and hand sanitizer, as well as modified its sanitization procedures. Additionally, the County has implemented recommendations made by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in its “ Interim Guidance for Businesses and Employers to Plan and Respond to Coronavirus Disease 2019".

2.      I have been directed to report back to work, but I still have childcare issues. What options are available to me if I am unable to telework?

 

Administrative leave will continue to be available to employees for COVID-19 related absences through June 15, 2020. After June 15, 2020, employees can use leave under the Emergency Paid Sick Leave Act (“EPSLA”), which provides up to 80 hours of paid leave (which will not be deducted from an employee’s accrued leave banks) to an employee who is unable to work (or telecommute) for COVID-19 related reasons. In addition, the Emergency Family and Medical Leave Expansion Act (“FMLA+”) amends the FMLA to provide paid leave to an employee who is unable to work (or telework) due to a need to care for the employee’s son or daughter (under 18 years of age) if the child’s elementary or secondary school or place of care has been closed, or the childcare provider is unavailable, because of COVID-19.

3.      Can I refuse to be tested for COVID-19? 

Yes, however, Fulton County remains committed to maintaining a safe and healthy work environment for its employees. You, therefore, will not be permitted to enter the workplace until you have taken the test and received your test results, and it has been determined that your presence in the workplace will not pose a direct threat to the health and safety of others. Any employee who refuses to take the test will not be permitted to report to work or to utilize accrued leave to cover his/her absence. Without an approved accommodation, the employee will placed in a leave without pay status for up to five business days. At the end of this period, the employee may face disciplinary action, up to and including dismissal for job abandonment, in accordance with applicable Fulton County policies and procedures.

4.      I have an underlying medical condition that prevents me from being able to wear a face covering. Will I be excused from the requirement to wear a face covering while at work?

If you are unable to comply with any of the safety measures that are being implemented by Fulton County due to a disability or your personal religious beliefs, you may contact the Fulton County Department of Diversity and Civil Rights Compliance (DCRC) at (404) 612-7305 for information regarding requesting an accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) or Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (“Title VII).

5.      My job functions are suitable for telecommuting and I have the necessary equipment and resources to do so. Will I still be required to report to the office?

 

Consistent with the Telecommuting Policy and Procedure (335-16), each department head has the authority and discretion to approve or deny requests to telecommute based on operational need and other objective criteria including proven ability to perform, high job knowledge, ability to establish clear objectives, flexibility, ability to work independently, and dependability. 

6.      What should I do if I test positive for COVID-19?

First, you should immediately contact your department’s HR Liaison to request emergency paid sick leave under the EPSLA. You will be required to complete an Emergency Paid Sick Leave Act Request Form along with supporting documentation. You should then contact the County’s third party FMLA vendor, Sedgwick, at 888-436-9530 or via the company’s employee portal at timeoff.sedgwick.com , to determine your eligibility and qualification for leave under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA). 

7.      Will the results of my COVID-19 test be disclosed to Fulton County?

Be advised that, in accordance with the Health Information Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), positive test results will be provided confidentially to the Georgia Department of Public Health, and the fact that you have taken the test, but not the result of your test, will be provided to Fulton County. If you do test positive and need that information forwarded to HR for absence reporting purposes, you will need to provide the Board of Health with a separate written authorization to release your test results to Fulton County.

These frequently asked questions (FAQs) , which supersede and replace the guidance previously issued on April 10, 2020, are applicable to all departments that report directly to the Fulton County Manager.  View FAQs

The Freshments Markets located at the Pryor Street Government Center, the Justice Center Tower, and the Juvenile Justice Center are back open with some precautions to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Join UGA Extension Fulton County, Fulton County Library System and Fulton County Wellness Committee for their 4th wellness webinar. You will learn the many factors that influence your perception and taste of food.

Tune in Thursday, August 20 at 6:30 p.m. Email [email protected] to register.

The Employee Assistance Program has provided information and tips on various topics to help employees as they deal with the COVID-19 pandemic. Click on the links below to read the articles:

Don't forget to join the Fulton County Employee Facebook Group. This is a closed group managed by the Department of External Affairs specifically for Fulton County employees.

You can find the group on Facebook by copying and pasting this link https://www.facebook.com/groups/259798841696258 or

searching for "Fulton County Employee."

Employees who wish to join this group will be asked to provide their name, department, and work email. Each employee will be authenticated using the Outlook Directory before being given access to the group.

Cyber security awareness training for all users of Fulton County computer systems will be made available until December 15, 2020. This training is provided through a partnership with Knowbe4.

With growing health concerns related to Coronavirus (COVID-19), cybercriminals are sending out scores of phishing emails with sensational subject lines aimed at getting victims to click before they think.

Fulton County Information Technology's goal is to equip Fulton County employees with the knowledge needed to keep cybercriminals at bay and help protect the county’s network and computer systems.

All employees will receive an email with a link to take the online course. If you've taken the course before, your login information will be the same. Instructions for new users will be provided in the email.

Need More Info? Have Questions? Contact [email protected] or the helpdesk at 404-612-7334.