Employee Newsletter via voce brevi | (L.) road noise short
Feb 2016
Welcome to the first edition of via voce brevi,
Calendar
Via’s revamped employee newsletter. The brevi edition is a shortened version and will appear on the alternating months to the full via voce newsletter. Both editions of via voce are available in digital format for everyone who has a Via email address and in print format for employees who do not.
Maggie Burrall, VPT Driver
2/25 VPT Drivers Meeting 2/25 Driver Retention Committee (FS) 3/1 HOP Drivers Meeting 3/10 Chili Cook-Off 3/15 ADA Drivers Meeting (FS) 3/16 Driver Retention Meeting (FS) 3/17 CNR Drivers Meeting 3/18 Driver Appreciation Day 3/21 Free Tax Preparation AARP 3/21-25 Audit (Exec. Conf.) 3/23 Board Meeting 3/24 Driver Retention Committee (FS) 3/25 Safety Committee 3/29 HOP Drivers Meeting 3/30 VPT Drivers Meeting 4/15 Accident Response Training Toastmasters every Friday Time: 12pm - 1pm
Employee Spotlight Tony Price | Musician and CNR Driver
at Denver Broncos’ parties, The Soiled Dove, weddings, corporate events, and private parties.
Tony’s wife, Sethe, is also a member of the Gospel singing was a band and just released her first solo CD, way of life for Tony and A Girl Named Sethe. Tony and Sethe have his two sisters while two children, ages one and two. The band growing up in Atlanta, rehearses in the family’s basement and the Georgia. The young trio kids have already picked up the groove and regularly performed in church on Sundays love to dance to the band’s music. and the kids all turned into Tony has been a CNR performers in one way or driver for almost three another. Tony leveraged his years and drives in years of gospel singing with the Federal Heights his naturally soulful voice neighborhood. Via was into a professional career his “company of choice” Upcoming Events: soulschooollive.com with his 10 person band, when he was looking for Soul School. “I love to a new challenge and way sing,” says Tony. to help others. His advice to other drivers is One of the most popular reflective of his optimistic attitude —“Stay bands in Colorado, Soul positive, focus on the job. Share your ideas School is known for tight for improvement. Be a participant in every harmonies, non-stop part of your life and enjoy everything that energy on stage, and you do. Your life is what you make of it.” unique choreography. Soul We’re hoping to enjoy Soul School at Via’s School covers all genres of music, including next holiday party. Golden Oldies, Beach, Motown, Country, Jazz, Rock Funk, Rhythm and Blues and Contemporary choices. They’ve performed
Training Spot
Life Insurance Beneficiary Form The recent death of a valued Via employee highlighted how a simple failure to complete a form left a grieving family without needed financial resources. Via provides a minimum $10,000 life insurance death benefit for eligible employees. To receive the benefit, the beneficiary form must be filled out with the necessary information. Otherwise the life insurance benefit can be forfeited or significantly reduced. Please check with HR to see if you have filled out or updated your beneficiary form properly.
As the weather gets a little warmer we see more pedestrians, motorcycles and bicycles out and about. Be more alert to them and always yield the right of way to the more Editorial Committee vulnerable traffic. Chris Baker, VPT Remember that state Trish (Gaskins) Best, CNR law requires 3 feet of Violet Rubi, ADA Craig Christopher, HR/TRN space between our Esther Concha, COMM vehicle and bicycles Mary Cobb, COMM when passing.
Safety 1st Lessons Learned:
Helpful hints from experienced drivers
Assume all passengers will want or need the lift. Position your bus where the steps and the lift can be used without repositioning the bus. Repositioning the bus takes more time. Contributed by Rick Isbell, Access-a-Ride driver since November 2005
HR Corner
All passengers have the right to request the lift on any trip. Prior notice is not required. Set the tone for your bus: Greet your passengers with a smile and a positive attitude. Talk to your passenger while you are getting them situated and comfortable. More times than not it will create a much better trip.
Health Benefit Sign-up for Access-a-Ride Union Employees Just a reminder that the paperwork deadline for health benefits for ADA employees covered by the collective bargaining agreement is March 15 for an April 1 start date. You may make health coverage changes or enroll for the first time during this period. If you have questions, please contact Sharon Navitsky at x 1049. Walking Challenge starts mid-April Greetings Walkers! We are gearing up for our 5th annual Walking Challenge. This year’s event will go for 6 weeks and begins in mid- April. This year, we will be ordering the FitBit HR Charge tracker. It’s loaded with tons of new features and once again, Via will be offering these at a discounted price of $45.00 to employees who participate in the Walking Challenge. Start thinking about signing up for this very fun fitness activity!!
In memoriam Marcie Wayland, Access-a-Ride driver, lost her battle with cancer on Feb. 10, 2016. Many of us donated time to help her financially for the last several weeks. Marcie started with Via in Jan. 2014 as a transfer from Global Transportation. She was 52 years old and had two daughters, Brandy and Amber, and recently had become a grandmother. Marcie’s sister, Kathy, said that Marcie loved her work at Via. She loved to help people less fortunate than her. Kathy also shared that Marcie so appreciated that so many Via employees had donated time to help her. A memorial service will be held on Sat., Feb. 27 at 4 p.m. Berkeley United Methodist Church, 5200 W. 43rd Denver. In lieu of flowers please donate to American Cancer Society | cancer.org or Susan G. Komen | info-komen.org in honor of Marcie.
March 18 Driver Appreciation Day Stay tuned for upcoming events. Free Tax Preparation Assistance for Via Employees on Monday, March 21st AARP Tax Aide volunteers will be offering free tax preparation services for up to 36 Via employees (and their spouses if filing jointly) on Monday, March 21 from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. in the Board Room at 63rd Street. All Tax Aide volunteer counselors are trained and certified by the IRS to prepare taxes. Please make an appointment to have your taxes prepared by calling the Via front desk at 303-447-2848 ext. 1000. Taxpayers must be present while their tax return is prepared. Most returns will take about 90 minutes. There are several documents you must bring for your session, including your 2014 tax return. When you schedule your appointment, please ask for a list of all the documents you are required to bring.
Via weather closure policies If Via officially closes because of weather conditions, the following options are available to employees to make up missed time: 1. Time can be made up within that workweek, with supervisor’s approval. 2. If available, vacation, sick, floating holiday time can be used. 3. Non-exempt Employees may take a day without pay, even if accrued time is available.
If Via has not officially closed: 1. Lost time cannot be made up. 2. Employees who do not report to work must elect to use a vacation day, floating holiday, or a day without pay if no accrued time is available.
Please make sure you fill out your time sheets appropriately. Thank You