Apply Now for Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF)

October 31, 2023October 31, 2023 Christy Nealey

Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) is a federal program that forgives student loan debt for borrowers who work for a government organization or a non-profit employer such as teachers, firefighters, nurses, members of the military, and other public service workers. The PSLF program forgives the remaining balance on your Direct Loans, after you have made the equivalent of 120 qualifying monthly payments or while working full-time for an eligible employer. Whether or not you have made 120 payments, you should still complete the PSLF form annually to obtain credit. As a Henrico County employee, it may include you!

To apply and be considered for PSLF, you only need to submit a PSLF form. The easiest way to do this is by using the PSLF Help tool at https://studentaid.gov/pslf/. Follow the link and log in if you already have an account or create a new account. Prepare and sign your PSLF form digitally by following all the steps, and with the last step, request certification and electronic signature from your employer by entering the Human Resources General Government contact email address [email protected].

If you have any questions or need any additional help, please get in touch with Patricia Witmer, HR Business Supervisor, at 804-501-5078 or [email protected].

How’s it Growing? Join Henrico CASA and Henrico Firefighters for a Fuzzy Fundraiser

October 31, 2023October 31, 2023 Christy Nealey

Henrico CASA has teamed up with Henrico Firefighters for the Mustaches for Kids (M4K) fundraiser, an annual mustache-growing event in November that benefits kids throughout Central Virginia. All county employees are invited to participate in the fun by joining Henrico CASA and Henrico Firefighters as members of team Henrico Heroes.

And here’s a furry fact: Mustaches are optional.

“It’s true,” said Jeannine Panzera, Executive Director of Henrico CASA. “Just like firefighters and police officers and administrators and educators all have different superpowers — we can all grow different mustaches for a good cause.”

So let’s get creative, Henrico. Grow your best real or faux mustache. It can be distinguished or droopy, sculpted or shaggy, bushy or pencil-thin. What matters the most is that you enjoy yourself and have a good time supporting a good cause.

“Our mission at Henrico CASA is to advocate for vulnerable children and ensure that they can thrive in their homes,” Panzera said. “We’re thankful to the firefighters who are supporting M4K and Henrico CASA and want everyone who gets involved to have a great time.”

Bill Boger, a longtime Henrico Firefighter and President of the International Association of Firefighters Local 1568, agreed. “The Mustaches for Kids campaign resonates with firefighters,” he said, citing the IAFF’s 2022 participation. “We had 26 members combine to raise $13,000 for M4K last year. This year, we hope to exceed that, and we invite all county emergency responders, county employees and their friends and families to join us on team ‘Henrico Heroes’.”

Panzera said that Henrico CASA and Henrico firefighters had separate teams during the 2022 campaign and decided this year to combine their efforts with a goal to grow a team of 75 Henrico Heroes and raise $50,000.

Henrico Fire Chief Jackson Baynard applauded the partnership. “Service is at the heart of everything we do in the fire service,” he said. “And the connection between mustaches and firefighters is a fun aspect of our culture. A fundraiser that combines those two things and that also supports great organizations like Henrico CASA is a natural fit.”

Are you up for the challenge? We know you are! After all — With a Great ‘Stache Comes Great Responsibility! So, grow your stache and raise some cash with us. REGISTER as a Henrico Heroes team member and sport a mustache this November or DONATE in honor of your favorite Henrico Hero.

7 Tips to Meet the Early Timecard Deadlines

October 31, 2023October 31, 2023 Christy Nealey

Did you know that four of the next six timecard deadlines are early? Below are some other important reminders to help you and your employees get your timecard in on time this upcoming holiday season.

Remember that timecard deadlines are for all timecards to be submitted and approved for HR. We suggest that departments set earlier internal deadlines.
Non-exempt employees should record their regularly scheduled hours on the early submission dates. For example, employees who typically work 8 hours on Thursday and Friday should record 8 hours for those days before submitting their timecards for approval.
Supervisors must review each timecard before approving. Please ensure that your direct reports have entered their time as regular hours, even if the total number of hours will exceed 40 hours for the week.
Supervisors must confirm that employees actually worked the hours recorded in advance. Any changes can be made as a correction on the retro timecard or as a payroll adjustment.
Timekeepers should advise supervisors with scheduled time off to set a vacation rule in Oracle, designating an alternate approver in their absence. For more information, please see the vacation rule guide.
Timekeepers must designate a backup for scheduled time off.
No timecards should be in ‘Not Started’ status on the deadline date. Timekeepers should utilize the timecard dashboards before the due date.

Departmental timekeepers should be the first point of contact for questions about recording time. Please consult the Policies and Procedures on the HR Employee Portal for more information.

National Career Development Month: Take Charge of Your Career

October 31, 2023October 31, 2023 Christy Nealey

Have you thought about your career lately? Well, now is the time! November is National Career Development Month, so whether you’re currently working on your career goals or it’s been a while since you reviewed your resume, now is the perfect time to focus on your career path and aspirations.

Career development for people at all stages of their professional journeys is the purpose of National Career Development Month. It’s a reminder of the importance of taking charge of your own career and professional growth to increase your job satisfaction and fulfillment. Henrico County supports this mission through our HR Career Resources Program, where you can find tools, resources, and personalized guidance to help you along your career journey.

There are many ways to invest in your career development. If you need ideas or inspiration to get started, here are some examples:

Self-reflection: Set some time aside to reflect on your current job and what you want to achieve in your career. Some questions you might ask yourself include:
- Am I happy with my current role?
- Do I already have a career path in mind or am I struggling with direction?
- What are my interests?
- What kinds of tasks and projects do I love doing? How can I fit them into my career?

Career coaching and assessments: If you’re not sure which career is the best choice for you, there are assessments that can help you match your skills and interests with a variety of jobs. Many qualified career counselors or coaches can administer and interpret these assessments to help you discover your ideal job fit.

Researching different jobs and careers: Another way to find the job or field that interests you is to do some research to get a better understanding of the knowledge and skills that are needed. Reviewing job descriptions, classifications, or postings will provide specific information, and websites like O*Net OnLine allow you to research careers using criteria like interest, abilities, and work values.

Informational interviewing: One of the best ways to find out what an occupation is really like is to have a conversation with someone who does the job. This is known as an informational interview, and it’s a great opportunity to get a more realistic idea about the job or career and what key skills and abilities are needed. You can view our informational interviewing video to learn more about how to conduct one.

Creating a career plan: Once you have decided on the job or career you want to pursue, devise an action plan to identify your goals and outline steps to reach them. Include short and long-term goals, action items, deadlines, and support/resources (people, finances, organizations, etc.) in your plan. Check with your department to see if they have their own career development plans or equivalent resources for employees, or use the Individual Learning Plan created by the Human Resources Department.

Discuss your career plan with your supervisor. While they can help you chart a course toward your goals, it’s up to you to start the conversation and make things happen.

Getting the skills/training/education you need: Identify the gaps between your current skills and those needed for the job you want. Then, determine what you need to do to acquire them. Can you learn these skills on the job? In a single class, such as Excel? Through more formal training and/or education? Through volunteer or other outside activities? OLTD offers a variety of learning opportunities and videos that can help you learn new skills. For leadership skill development, consider joining Leadership Henrico (LH)or the Emerging Leaders Certification Program (ELCP).

An excellent way to grow your skills on the job is to ask for stretch assignments. These are projects or tasks that are just beyond your current skill level or experience. If this isn’t an option, you may be able to do so in a volunteer position you hold in a civic organization in your community, giving you an opportunity to gain or practice key skills and helping organizations fill vital roles. For more ideas around on-the-job skill development, check out this Upskilling video.

If you need more formal training, like a certification or degree, check with your department to see if they offer specific classes or programs to help you fulfill this requirement. Henrico County also offers tuition reimbursement and education leave, so check with your department on what’s available to you.

Building and keeping your network strong: Maintaining good relationships and building new ones is critical to career success. Your network should include contacts internal to your organization as well as outside it. Attend work and organization functions, OLTD classes or join programs such as LH or ELCP to build your internal network. Externally, reach out to former colleagues, join professional associations, and get active on professional online networks like LinkedIn.

Updating your resume and/or your LinkedIn profile: Don’t wait until you apply for a job to create or update your resume or LinkedIn profile. Update them regularly so they reflect your current role and accomplishments. If you need resume assistance, our HR Career Coaches can review your resume and provide recommendations. You can also get tips from our resume videos in the Career Development section of our HR YouTube page as well as find helpful articles and videos on our Career Development Resources page.

Brushing up on your interviewing skills: Many of us would agree that interviewing is stressful. Make sure you’re prepared to make a great impression on your interviewer by preparing and practicing ahead of time. That might mean preparing behavioral examples for potential interview questions, or practicing answering your prepared responses to interview questions with a friend, mentor, or career coach. Our Career Resources Program offers individualized interview preparation assistance as well as videos in the Career Development section of our HR YouTube page to help you prepare. You can also find helpful resources on our Career Development Resources page.

Taking charge of your career development has many benefits, including boosting your confidence, increasing your satisfaction with your career, and enhancing your value to an organization. Take advantage of National Career Development Month and the many resources Henrico has to offer to take your career to the next level.