About The County of Monterey Employee Wellness Program
Published on December 20, 2016. Last modified on November 06, 2024
MISSION
Promote work environments, policies, and programs that preserve the health of employees and promote their ability to excel at their jobs while honoring the importance of family and community.
PURPOSE OF THE PROGRAM
- Increase employees’ knowledge about health, prevention, and management of chronic diseases
- Encourage employees’ involvement in their own health decisions
- Encourage employees’ adoption of healthy habits and
- Facilitate recommendations for organizational change that promote a safe and healthy work environment
GOALS
- Improve employee health and well-being
- Increase presenteeism
- Improve performance and productivity
- Increase employee morale and job satisfaction
- Reduce health care costs
HISTORY OF THE EMPLOYEE WELLNESS PROGRAM
In 1985, Monterey County, through the leadership of the Board of Supervisors, established a partnership between management, labor, and employees to address the problems of employees’ health and safety. This partnership resulted in the adoption of Wellness Program. The Health Department was chosen to develop and coordinate the Health Promotion Partnership, because of their expertise in implementing risk reduction programs.
To encourage participation, the Board of Supervisors and management approved 12 hours of annual release time for employees to attend Wellness-sponsored programs and activities. Participation is voluntary and is offered as an employee benefit. Personnel Policies & Practices Resolution Manual
Assessor-Clerk-Recorder - 168 West Alisal Street, Salinas | Open
Civil Rights Office - 1441 Schilling Place, Salinas | Natalie Alfaro Frazier
County Administrative Office - 168 W. Alisal Street, 3rd Floor, Salinas | Nicholas M. Pasculli
Child Support Services - 752 La Guardia Street, Salinas | Jasmin Rascon
District Attorney's Office - 168 West Alisal Street, Salinas |Open
Elections -1441 Schilling Place, Salinas | Jessica Cedillo
Health - 1270 Natividad Road, Salinas | Vicente Lara
Health - 1270 Natividad Road, Salinas | Vilma Andari (Chair)
Health - Environmental Services - 1270 Natividad Road, Salinas | Gabriela Guzman
Human Resources - 168 West Alisal Street, Salinas | Arturo Roque & Catherine Crusade
Information Technology Department - 1590 Moffett St, Salinas | Teresa Meister & Dolores Lopez
Library - 188 Seaside Circle, Marina | Alison Day
LGBTQ+ Professional Employee Resource Group - LGBTQ-ERG@countyofmonterey.gov | Sara Sturtevant
Natividad Medical Center - 1441 Constitution Blvd | Sara Sturtevant
Resource Management Agency - 1441 Schilling Place, Salinas | Dina Northcutt
Social Services - 730 La Guardia Street, Salinas | Beatriz Bernal
Employee Wellbeing and Work-Life Balance Resources Paid Leave FAQ
Did you know that County of Monterey employees are eligible to receive up to 12 hours of release time per calendar year for attending County sponsored classes/programs to include Health Promotion Partnership (Employee Wellness Program) sponsored programming and Employee Benefit events? You may also use these hours for wellness activities offered through CalPERS to reduce an employee’s medical insurance deductible.
Q: Do all employees have Employee Wellbeing and Work-Life Resource Leave hours?
A: All permanent and seasonal employees are eligible to receive up to 12 hours per calendar year. These hours are separate from any other leave accruals offered by the County.
Q: Can I use my Employee Wellbeing and Work-Life Resource Leave hours during my probationary period?
A: Yes. Probationary employees may be able to use the hours during regularly scheduled work hours in accordance with their department’s workplace leave request procedure and receive supervisor approval before participating in any County sponsored classes/programs.
Q: What can I use my hours for?
A: The Employee Wellbeing and Work-Life Resources Paid Leave can only be used to attend County-sponsored classes/programs to include, but are not limited to the Health Promotion Partnership (Employee Wellness Program) and Employee Benefit events. The hours may also be used for wellness activities offered through CalPERS to reduce an employee’s medical insurance deductible. You can view the amendment to the Personnel Policies and Practices Resolution (PPPR) by clicking here.
Employees may be able to use the paid leave during regularly scheduled work hours in accordance with their department’s workplace leave request procedure and receive supervisor approval before participating in County sponsored programs.
Q: How do I use my hours to attend County sponsored classes/programs?
A: Approval of release time to use your Employee Wellbeing and Work-life Balance hours is at the discretion of your supervisor. Therefore, you must get your supervisor’s approval before attending County sponsored classes/programs. After receiving approval, you must register/sign up for the event you are interested in attending (if required).
County sponsored classes/programs include:
- Online or onsite well-being workshops
- Wellbeats Wellness virtual classes and programs
- Employee vaccine clinics
- Biometric health screenings
- Physicals offered by Natividad Medical Center
- Benefits fairs and events
- Wellness activities offered through CalPERS
Note: The Employee Wellbeing and Work-life Balance hours cannot be used to attend personal medical appointments, community events, or utilize the Schilling Place Fitness Center.
Q: Does travel time to a wellness event count as part of my hours?
A: No. The hours are intended to be utilized for attending the County sponsored class/program time.
Q: How do I track my hours?
A: The Employee Wellbeing and Work-life Balance hours are available in Employee Self Service (ESS). To use these hours, please use code UWWLR on your timesheet. At the beginning of each calendar year, starting with 2023, employees are eligible to receive up to 12 hours available to them in accordance with the PPPR provision - A.50 Employee Wellbeing and Work-Life Resources Paid Leave.
Q: How do I code my hours on my timecard?
A: Use code UWWLR on your timesheet.
Q: Do you have additional questions?
A: If you have any questions regarding the amended PPPR provision, please contact your assigned department Human Resources Analyst. If you have questions regarding the Employee Wellness Program please email healthpromotion@co.monterey.ca.us
For more information about, County Wide Wellness Policies, please click here.
The Employee Wellness program supports policies that help to build a healthier workforce. For those that are interested in learning more about the policies that help to promote County-wide wellbeing, we have listed relevant policies here.
Health Promotion Paid Leave | Wellbeing and work-life resource paid leave
Interested employees should complete an application. To apply, Click Here.