MTAS Mustard for week ended 5-10-19

Hello MTAS,

It’s another spring day in Tennessee. I hope your allergies aren’t giving you too many troubles.

I have a few announcements to share with you. First, as a result of strong fiscal circumstances, the leadership team has decided to expand the agency’s customer support services by adding four new positions. They are:

• a public works/utility consultant for middle TN
• a third HR management consultant
• a marketing consultant/graphic designer to assist us internally with electronic publications, city bytes, training promotion, etc.
• a third IT administrator for internal purposes.

With the resignation of John Grubbs effective in early June, we decided to conduct one search for two HR positions. The search committee has been approved and consists of:

• Sharon Rollins, chair
• Rick Whitehead, hiring manager
• Richard Stokes
• Connie Etzkin – HR Director of Columbia
• Celeste Taylor – Public Entity Partners – Marketing, formerly an HR director

Next, please do not forget your Title VI training due to be completed June 30. You access it through your K@te account. Scott Gordy sent a reminder email earlier today so please refer to it for more specifics.

Also, another deadline looms, and that is June 19. This is the date to submit your nominations for IPS awards. If we do not nominate our colleagues, then it’s guaranteed they won’t win recognition for their deserved efforts. Here is the link to the nomination form: https://utk.questionpro.com/a/TakeSurvey?tt=O3szh4hCacg%3D. Please take the time to write a meaningful nomination.

Last week the diversity team hosted a great presentation led by Faye Williams of the EEOC. The topic was sexual harassment in the workplace. I learned so much history of how the subject came to be included in Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and how the courts have considered the topic through the years. The session was recorded and I encourage you to watch it (register through K@te, and the title is: “Current Employment Trends Related to Diversity and Discrimination.” If you see or experience sexual harassment on the job, the University encourages employees to report the conduct. Here is the UT policy and information on how to report an incident:
https://universitytennessee.policytech.com/dotNet/documents/?docid=115&public=true. Please know that this applies to all aspects of your job – in the field and in the office. Sexual harassment will not be tolerated.

On a lighter note, I want to wish happy birthday to Honna and Paige who both had birthdays last week. Here’s to another year ladies!

Bear with me, I have a little more to share. Attached are the statistical results of my 360° evaluation. I sincerely appreciate all who took the time to complete the survey. I read and absorbed the feedback and plan to make positive changes as a result. Thank you for the gift.

Finally, I will be taking vacation next week, out-of-state, so my next Mustard will be delayed until after Memorial Day. I know it’s still two weeks off, but I hope you have a fabulous holiday. As always, if you need me to respond to an email while I’m out, please put “URGENT” as the subject to the email. I’ll pay attention to those first and get back to you as quickly as I can.

Have a terrific day and week(s) ahead!
Margaret


              MN 360 survey results - 2019.pdf