Good afternoon Team Carlsbad,
Since my last update, we’ve had three additional employees test positive for COVID-19, for a running total of 10. With these cases there have been no workplace exposures. Many thanks to each of you for doing your part to stay safe and healthy by working remotely if you can, keeping your distance from others not in your household and wearing a face covering while out in public.
Library to offer computer hours
Starting next Tuesday computers at all three city library locations will be available on select days for public use. We’re so happy to finally be able to offer this service – one of the few we just couldn’t do virtually or outside.
In addition to the new computer hours, Cultural Arts will open a new exhibit at the William D. Cannon Art Gallery at the Dove Library complex starting Oct. 6. Attendance will be first come, first served and staff will monitor capacity and physical distancing between people not from the same household. 30-minute gallery visits are suggested.
Kudos to our Library & Cultural Arts Department staff, who will be overseeing these in-person experiences again for our community. I know they were missed by many!
Diversity survey closes Friday
If you haven’t already, please take 3-5 minutes to provide your feedback in the city’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion survey, which is open until tomorrow, Sept. 25.
The survey is managed solely by The Centre for Organization Effectiveness, which is collecting responses and analyzing the results. We appreciate your candid feedback and learning more about your perspectives and experiences. If you have any trouble completing the survey please reach out directly to Jena Ellithorpe with The Centre for Organization Effectiveness at jellithorpe@tcfoe.com.
Last chance to be counted
Are you counted? The last day to fill out the 2020 Census form is Sept. 30, and we all deserve and need to be counted. Your response helps to direct billions of dollars in federal funds to local communities for schools, roads and other public services. It’s quick, easy, safe and confidential. Fill out the 2020 Census here.
Cybersecurity – Don’t be fooled
There is a scam for just about everything now. From identity theft for unemployment benefits to money scams for COVID-19 testing or popular shopping stores, scammers are desperate to get your personal information.
Scammers use fake emails or texts to get you to share valuable personal information — like account numbers, Social Security numbers, or your login IDs and passwords. They use your information to steal your money, your identity or both. They also use phishing emails to get access to your computer or network. If you click on a link, they can install ransomware or other programs that can lock you out of your data.
One recent scam is a text message claiming it’s from Costco or Amazon, saying it will be providing its customers some sort of stimulus check, package or other freebies. This message contains a malicious link and is a scam. Do NOT click on this type of unsolicited link and do NOT provide personal information in unsolicited emails/texts. Always think before you click and make cybersecurity a priority in your everyday actions.
Wellness workshops
For the rest of September and throughout October, I encourage you to take advantage of these free learning and wellness opportunities provided by the city and use them as an opportunity to stay connected with your team or other co-workers.
One idea is to invite a co-worker to participate with you and have a follow-up discussion about what you learned. Connectivity during this time is still key, and a connected team makes a stronger team.
Upcoming webinars:
Will You Have Enough Income in Retirement? Sept. 29, noon
The Science of Accomplishment, Sept. 30, 11 a.m.
Basic Excel Training (4-part training), Oct. 6, 7, 13, 14, 9 a.m.
Intermediate Word Training (4-part training), Oct. 6, 7, 13, 14, 2:30 p.m.
Strategies for Improving Productivity and Resilience, Oct 14, 11 a.m.
Find all your learning and wellness opportunities, including previous updates on the staff page.
We are in month six of our COVID-19 response and still counting. I continue to be amazed at our team’s excellent quality and quantity of work being done while we work from both our homes and city offices. Thank you for your resilience and flexibility.
We officially entered the fall season earlier this week (although another heat wave is forecasted for this weekend and through next week, raising the potential for wildfire danger). Whether you are team Pumpkin Spice or team Apple Cider, don’t forget about all the other good ways to stay healthy, too. Eat nutritious foods and get in all your vitamins, sleep well and exercise often. Pair that with all the public health guidelines, together we can slow the spread of COVID-19 in our communities.