Our Voices (Spring/Summer 2022)

Mike’s

Welcome message

In the last year, HR has undergone significant changes to the way we do business, but we remain focused on providing and enhancing our services. Prior to the pandemic, HR was undergoing a year long transformation that included an organizational restructure, systems upgrade, and adjusting to meet the growing needs of the County of Riverside’s 40+ departments.

We have made great strides through reimagining the role that HR plays within an organization that employs upwards to 22,000 employees. From benefits to recruiting, we have done a thorough inventory of what our customers needed and how we could properly address their needs to be better. I look forward to working with you all and serving our community.

Michael Bowers Interim Human Resources Director

Michael Bowers, Interim Human Resources Director, oversees the full gamut of HR functions, from general liability, talent management, benefits, payroll, employee and labor relations, learning and organizational development and overseeing a County run health plan. In his previous role, Mr. Bowers lead multiple divisions within Human Resources which include Disability Access &

Leave Management, Occupational Health, Risk Management, Safety, Workers’ Compensation, Employee Assistance Services, and Exclusive Care. Mr. Bowers has been with the County for 23 years and has held multiple positions within Human Resources as well as Riverside County Regional Medical Center.

DIRECTOR OF DIVISIONS:

Exclusive Care, IDR, Occupational Health, Risk Management, Safety Office, Workers’ Compensation Disability Access & Leave Mgmt.

Class & Compensation, Employee Relations, Employee Services, Labor Relations, Records Management

HR Business Partners, Law Enforcement Assessment, Learning & Organization Development, Pre Employment/Backgrounds  Recruitment Operations, RUHS Compliance, Temporary Assignment Program

Communications & Media, HR Business Systems, HR Project & Process Management, HR Reporting & Analytics

Accounting, Benefits, Budgets, Commuter Services, Culture of Health, GSS/ISF Rates, Procurement, Retirement

Michael Bowers Interim HR Director

Steven Espinoza Assistant HR Director

Brande Hune Assistant HR Director

Mylene Daniels Deputy HR Director

Megan Gomez Deputy HR Director

TECH Corner

Noticed something new in your inbox? Microsoft Viva is an employee experience platform that brings together communications, knowledge, learning, resources, and insights in the flow of work.

What are VIVA Personal Insights daily briefings?

• Microsoft Viva Insights helps you identify opportunities to build better work habits with personalized insights created just for you. As a part of the Office 365 service, you will receive a daily Briefing email message from Microsoft Viva containing a summary of emails, meetings, and documents you can already access. The briefing email is a personalized brief with important information, including Outstanding commitments, requests, and follow-ups to and from team members Documents related to today’s meetings that you might want to review beforehand Suggested focus time you can schedule to help get independent work done. The information in these messages is only visible to you.

Who can see my VIVA daily briefing emails?

• Your daily briefing emails are personal and private, sent only to your RIVCO.org email address. In addition, daily briefing emails do not include any identifiable information about you or others. The Insights are based solely on existing information within your RIVCO.org mailbox and calendar. NOTE: Data never leaves your RIVCO.org mailbox.

Does Microsoft collect my information?

• The VIVA daily briefing email does not allow Microsoft to collect or store information.  Instead, it presents the information already existing within your RIVCO.org email account.

How do I unsubscribe from Daily Briefing emails?

• To unsubscribe from Daily Briefing email messages from Microsoft Viva, go to “Unsubscribe” in the lower part of the email itself (Step 1). You will be redirected to another page (Sign-in with your RIVCO.org credentials), answer the question, and click Submit (Step 2).

How May I Provide Feedback or Ask Questions?

• Please contact the RCIT help desk at (951) 955-9900

If you Unsubscribe, you can always subscribe again here.

STEP 2

If you Unsubscribe, you can always subscribe again here.

Where Can I Learn More?

To learn more, please visit this site: https://docs. microsoft.com/en-us/viva/ insights/personal/briefing/ be-faqs

NEW Hires

Let us all give a big, warm welcome to these new hires!

We are thrilled to have you join our Human Resources team!

Alma Luna Carrillo

HR - EMPLOYEE SERVICES

Amanda Duarte

HR - RECRUITING

Anay Sanchez

Breanna Munoz

HR - RECRUITING WORKERS COMPENSATION

Brett Quarles

HR - CLASS & COMPENSATION

Brianna Ogunsemi Dorsey

HR - EMPLOYEE RELATIONS

Christopher Recinos

HR - RECRUITING

Dianna Geiger

HR - BENEFITS

Esteven Sanchez

HR CONTRACT - ES BHV HEALTH WORKERS COMPENSATION

Gabriela Inda

German Lira

HR CONTRACT - ES BHV HEALTH

Heidi Newson

HR - RECRUITING

Humberto Ortega

HR - RECRUITING

Jessica Chavez

HR CONTRACT - ES RUHS

Jesus Berrelleza Jr

HUMAN RESOURCES

Jocelyn Cervantes

LIABILITY INSURANCE

Johanna Puga

MALPRACTICE INSURANCE

John Flores

SAFETY LOSS CONTROL

Kyle Jankay

HR - ONBOARDING & EVENTS

Lauryn Davis

HR CONTRACT - SAFETY -RUHS

Leanne Burke

HR - ASSESSMEMT & BACKGROUND WORKERS COMPENSATION

Lidia Maya

Pattana Vongdara

HR-BUSINESS SYSTEMS SOLUTIONS

Ronald Candelaria

LIABILITY INSURANCE

Samuel Rosales

HR - LEARNING & ORGDEV

Saralynne Griffin

HR CONTRACT-SAFETY-BHV HEALTH

Steven Espinoza

Tania Sanchez

HR - EXECUTIVE WORKERS COMPENSATION

Teresa Jackson

OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH & WELLNESS

Tiffany Ho

EXCLUSIVE PROVIDER OPTION

Yvonne Riggs

HR - EMPLOYEE RELATIONS

Time to REWIND

Here is the 411 on major events and celebrations that took place during the Spring and Summer of 2022.

APRIL 2022 | ESP MONTH

We celebrated the County of Riverside’s Educational Support Program month! The Educational Support Program (ESP) provides County of Riverside employees with an array of services to assist in reaching their educational and career goals. During the month of April, we celebrate the County’s Educational Support Program, educate on the services it provides, and highlight current and past participants of the program.

JUNE 2022 | NEW INTERIM HR DIRECTOR

Here is the introduction from County Executive Officer, Jeffrey Van Wagenen announcing Mike Bowers as our interim Human Resources Director, “Effective immediately, Mike Bowers will be the Interim Director of Human Resources. It is expected that he will be serving in this capacity through the end of FY 2022/23.

I know that we have a dedicated staff of professionals working in Human Resources that is committed to the collective success of County departments by providing exceptional results and customer service. I am certain that with Mike’s support of you and your colleagues, we will build on the department’s past accomplishments and deliver on a number of the priority projects on our to-do list.”

JUNE 2022 | RIVERSIDE COUNTY DAY AT THE ANGELS STADIUM

On June 11th, hundreds of Riverside County employees watched an intense game between the Anaheim Angels and New York Mets. If you ask me, my favorite part of the game was how much employees saved on tickets! If you didn’t know, we’ve partnered up with the Anaheim Angels to provide discounted games for our employees, as well as their family and friends. Stay tuned for upcoming Employee Discounts to include Riverside County Days at the Anaheim Angels stadium.

JULY 2022 - NATIONAL INTERN MONTH

The County of Riverside is proud to offer an Internship Program that offers the opportunity to remain competitive in the job market while learning the various departments and opportunities that are available within the County. To honor County Interns and thank them for making the County’s Internship Program possible, the County of Riverside celebrated and highlighted former and current County Interns by sharing their testimonials throughout the entire month of July. Here are a few Intern testimonials that we shared.

Division Highlight:

Temporary Assignment Program (TAP)

Tell us a bit about the work your team does and how it impacts the Human Resources department.

• The Temporary Assignment Program (TAP) is an innovative and award-winning program run by the County’s Human Resources Department (HR) and functions similar to a temporary employment agency in the private sector. TAP is operated by HR staff, to hire and manage temporary personnel who can be placed on temporary assignments throughout the County, to meet staffing needs.

• The Mass Recruiting Team is responsible for large scale recruitments, such as the Accounting Assistants, Administrative Services Assistants, and Office Assistants. Instead of applicants applying for the same position for multiple departments, Mass recruiting simplifies the process by allowing applicants to apply to one job posting and be referred to multiple departments if qualified.

• The Pre-Employment Team is responsible for managing the pre-boarding and onboarding process for candidates who have accepted a position with the County of Riverside. The pre-boarding process consists of conducting the livescan and arranging for Occupational Health to conduct the pre-employment physical for these candidates.

• We also are responsible for facilitating the onboarding process for most candidates and this consists of providing candidates with the necessary forms for them to complete to be hired and entered into our system.

• The pre-employment team can have from 500 to over 1000 active transactions at any given time but our team of dedicated professionals can handle it all! The pre-employment team is the last stop for candidates who are eager to start their career with the County of Riverside and because of that, we are dedicated to make this process seamless. The pre-employment team is in close and constant communication with these candidates, their recruiters and hiring managers to ensure everyone is abreast of where we are in the pre-employment process.

What does a normal day at the TAP office look like for your team?

• Employees wake up and hit the ground running!

Just think of the employees in this office as road runners or someone on a treadmill moving lightning fast and rarely slowing down to rest. Recruiters are recruiting, applicants are coming in to take a picture for their badge, or Livescan. Staff are on the phone scheduling appointments and answering inquiries. Applicants are getting interviewed and completing paperwork. Hiring managers are asking questions and staff are juggling lots of other job duties and responsibilities. Although it’s hectic, the staff thrive in this environment are grateful to be a part of such a dynamic team!

What advice would you provide to someone wanting to join your team?

• Don’t be afraid to ask questions. Try to live by the golden rule. Treat people how you want to be treated. If you want a fast-paced environment, then TAP is where it is at! If you are the type of person who likes to multi-task this is the job for you. Every day is different. Staff often state, “If I can survive TAP, I can survive anywhere.” As Dory from Finding Nemo would say…just keep swimming! Be ready to rock and roll.

If you and your team had a theme song, what would it be and why?

• Happy (by Pharrell), because people think of HR as being serious and no room for fun, but really, we’re just one big happy team. We are not boring, we have a lot of fun, and we sing it to the world as often as we can.

Can you share any funny stories about your team or perhaps any team rituals/jokes?

• As a team we like to bond with our bi-weekly Coffee Klatch meetings, we celebrate each other and our successes with the Spring Fling and End of Summer Bash, Holiday Parties (white elephant rules), we recognize our staff for kudos or compliments by sharing our wins that we get from departments, candidates, and the public. We’ve also created a Slack page to connect with one another on a personal level.

• We’re also hiring, so if you or someone you know would like to work with a fun loving, versatile team, then keep your eye out for our positions! We’d love to welcome you to the team.

Want more tunes?

Be sure to check out the HR Playlist on Spotify! Click here or scan

CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO ‘HAPPY’

2022 NACo Award Winner: Human Resources Data Portal

The new HR Data Portal is a business intelligence tool that enables authorized County of Riverside users to view predefined reports or create custom reports from several HR managed enterprise platforms.

Stay Cool for the Summer

Are you looking for something refreshing and exciting to do this summer?

Worry no more, we got you covered with a few activities and places you can visit at employee discounted pricing. Here are a few of our recommendations.

Big Bear Ziplining Adventure

On this exciting adventure, you will be flying through the forest at 35 miles per hour on nine zipline runs that gradually become faster, longer, and higher off the ground. How exciting does this sound?! To access this discount, visit Ticketsatwork.com

Disneyland Resort

Are you ready for a whimsical and magical day at the happiest place on Earth? Whether you are going solo or with friends, you can save over 30% on a wide variety of Disneyland day pass tickets. If you would like to access this discount, you can visit Ticketsatwork.com.

Six Flags Hurricane Harbor

Right next to Six Flags Magic Mountain is a 25-acre tropical water park with more than 23 slides and attractions such as Tornado, a six-story funnel slide. Are you brave enough to explore all these attractions? To access this discount, you can visit Ticketsatwork.com.

Aquarium of the Pacific

Who wants to go see some cute, cuddly sea otters and jump on the jellyfish? Okay, maybe not jumping on the jellyfish but seeing them up close is cool, too. You can have a fun and informational trip to our very own aquarium of the pacific, and you can save as much as $10 on your next visit. To access this discount, you can visit Aquarium of the Pacific

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All employees and their household members will have access to Anthem EAP services

Anthem EAP offers increased access to provider locations near you.

Whether you’re struggling to find child care, plan for retirement, financial or legal assistance, or cope with addiction, Anthem EAP

24/7, 365 days a year - Unlimited access to telephonic guidance, consultation, referral and support services.

Up to 6 counseling sessions face-to-face, by phone, or virtually via LiveHealth Online, per incident - at no cost to

myStrength app - stress, anxiety, sleep management self-help tool.

Access Talkspace online at talkspace.com/CountyofRiverside and enter RIVCO

Get the support you need at (833) 954-1067

Access EAP online at AnthemEAP.com and enter PRISM

All employees and dependents 13+ will have access to Talkspace resources. Talkspace is message-based therapy conducted through a proprietary app. Message a dedicated therapist, as often as you wish, anytime, 5 days a week with same-day response.

■ Convenient, Stigma Free, No Appointments

■ Quick Match with your Licensed Therapist, 1:1 Relationship

■ Start Same Day, Anytime, Anywhere

■ Text, Audio, Video Messages

■ Unlimited Messaging Therapy,

Introduction

Get to Know Steven Espinoza

• My name is Steven Espinoza. I’m a proud father of two wonderful daughters. They are 22 and 24 years old. My oldest daughter graduated from UC Irvine and is working and living in West L.A.. My youngest will be graduating from the University of Hawaii after she completes a study abroad program in Italy. Yes, my girls get to live in Brentwood, Hawaii, and Italy while I’m here in good ol’ Riverside, but my MBTI assessment results show that I am an ENTP, which means that I am perfectly OK with that.

Where did you work before this position?

• I was working previously for the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority where I served as Deputy Executive Officer in Employee and Labor Relations. I’ve been working in the field of Employee and Labor Relations for the past 27 years. I started as a Union Organizer working for the United Farm Workers Union and the Service Employees International Union before moving into Employee and Labor Relations serving public agencies. The public agencies I worked with are the Alameda Health System (formerly known as the Alameda County Medical Center), the City of Riverside, the City of Pasadena, and the LACMTA (Metro).

What do you do during your free time?

• I love to read. The current book I’m reading is the Definitive Book on Body Language. The next book I’m going to read is a leadership book recommended by Jeff Van Wagener at the last County Quarterly Leadership Meeting. I also love to play golf. I golf all the courses in the area, but my home course is Cresta Verde in Corona where I am in the Men’s Club and where the lovely golf course owner/operator just happens to be my fiancé. I’m also currently watching around 7 shows, like Mind Hunter, Stranger Things (because of my daughters), and Obi Wan Kenobi to name a few.

What is something you are proud of?

• I’m most proud of my daughters. The happiest moments of my life were when they were born and the second happiest was when they got accepted to college. I’ve been enjoying my free time ever since. Professionally, I am the proud recipient of awards from the California League of Cities and the California Public Employer Labor Relations Association for achievements in California public sector labor relations. I also served on the Board of Directors as Treasurer for the Public Employer Labor Relations Association of California; and served as a Board Member for the Public Transit Labor Exchange.

What is your favorite food?

• I like all kinds of food from all over the world and I’m willing to try anything, but my favorite food is the food I’m having with family and friends. Everyone seems to be so busy these days and time is just flying by, but when we all make the time to get together it’s a reminder to me of why we’re all here in the first place - to spend and enjoy life with loved ones.

Assistant HR Director

Statistics SOCIAL MEDIA

Are you following us on social media yet? If not, you totally should. We post lots of great content on new career opportunities, benefits, and more! Check out some of our most popular videos down below!

Facebook: 15.6k

TikTok: 29.3k

LinkedIn: 20.5k

Instagram: 3.7k

Twitter: 2.8k LIKES

Support Our Locals:

Meraki’s Plant Shop - 3521 Main St, Riverside, CA 92501

One can never have too many plants, so if you are here to fuel your plant obsession, then Meraki’s is the place to go. The second you step foot into their store, the air quality is at a totally different level.

• Their Backstory: Two former Riverside City College students took advantage of its vast catalog and affordability, consequently becoming successful entrepreneurs who built an oasis in the heart of Downtown Riverside.

• The latest addition to downtown’s growing number of small businesses, Meraki Plants is a femaleowned indoor plant nursery that showcases thousands of lush and unique variations from jungle plants to succulents.

Coffee Court Bistro - 3607 Tenth St, Riverside, CA 92501

• If you are ever craving a chicken chipotle wrap with green tortilla, I highly recommend coming to this quaint bistro shop. The food there is immaculate, and their homemade lemonade is so refreshing! If you ever need a pick-me-up, this shop will have all your needs and more. Not to mention that Coffee Court Bistro is only a five-minute walk from the CAC building, so this is the ideal spot for a quick lunch.

Molino’s Coffee - 3660 Mission Inn Avenue, Riverside, CA 92501

There is nothing better than sitting inside a café with a latte in hand while adoring the Mission Inn that sits across the street.

• Their Backstory: Originated in Cuba. Molino’s is an espresso coffee shop serving the best Cuban coffee in town.

• Elio Jimenez Gonzalez was originally from Havana, Cuba, where he owned a cafe called Molinos. In the 1960s, he migrated to the U.S. with his family and years later he was able to bring back Molinos by opening a market in the San Fernando Valley.

• Elio’s son Robert and his wife Irene decided to bring the family business name to the Inland Empire and keep that root story alive through their coffee shop. They currently have two locations, one in Downtown Riverside and the other in Downtown Redlands. “Espresso Yourself”

SHOW Us!

Alright, we saved the best for last. Who wants to see a page dedicated to the animal companions of our employees?

Bon Bon the Bunny of the Del Toro household

Charlie the Beagle of the Mizell Household

Simba the Orange Tabby Cat of the Ayala Household

Arthur the German Shephard of the Gonzales Household

May you be proud of the work you have done, the person you are, and the difference you have made.

Stacey Brock

Jody Frey

Veronica Garcia

Carol Ochoa

Edward Ramirez

Deana Stahl

Luis Villasenor

Dana Webb

Lisa Webbs

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