Final Reminder--Timesheets Christmas Week

This is your final reminder that timesheets not turned in on time over the Christmas break will not be included in your January 10th pay check. Angela will be working over the break to process your timesheets--all regular deadlines apply.

The Civitan Center will be closed December 23rd through January 3rd. There will be no payroll services during the week of the Christmas holiday.

Pay days through the holidays will be:

December 13th  (two weeks pay)
December 20th  (one week pay)
January 10th  (three weeks pay)

However, be advised that all Waiver paperwork is due as usual every Monday morning through the holiday break. Even though the Center will be closed, Waiver paperwork will be collected by the 10 am deadline. (This is 9 am for Group Home staff.) It will be especially critical that your paperwork is turned in on time on Monday, December 23rd and Monday, December 30th in order to get a full three weeks' pay on January 10th.  If you miss the deadline (or your paperwork is held for errors), your next pay day will not be until January 24th. This would be a full month without a pay check if you are late or turn in paperwork with missing signatures or other errors.  Please don't risk this!

For Community Waiver staff who typically drop off timesheets at the Civitan Shoppe in Bryant, please drop off your paperwork in the drop box at the Center in Benton.  Angela will be collecting paperwork by 10 am on Dec. 23rd and Dec. 30th. You may also fax or email your paperwork but remember that the 10 am deadline applies--no exceptions.

Group Home staff--your regular 9 am deadlines will also be enforced by Elaine. Paperwork received after the deadline will not be processed until the January 24th pay day.

Be on time, be accurate, be thorough, and we will all be a little merrier this holiday season.  

Group Home Appreciation Dinner--Dec. 13th

Darrell will be serving an Appreciation Dinner at the Group Home for residents and staff on Friday evening, Dec. 13th at 6 pm. Come enjoy dinner on Darrell and wrap up 2013 with food and fellowship.

Waiver Christmas Party Dec. 16th

Please note:  This event has been rescheduled for Monday, December 16th

Inclement Weather Policy

The Safety Committee met earlier today and they requested that a memo go out to remind everyone of how we operate in the event of inclement weather.  Please read this email closely so that you will A) know what to expect and B) be able to communicate appropriately with families.

In the event that the Civitan Center must close early, Mariessa or Leah will alert the Team Leaders first.  Team Leaders will then inform each member of their departments.  PLEASE do not send us emails or call us with “did you know” information.  Replying to 15 phone calls or text messages will only distract us from taking care of the business at hand.  We will be watching the situation closely and Dixie will also be in contact with local school district transportation departments as well as the Saline County Road Department regarding traveling conditions.  If we do close early, your Supervisor may need your assistance in contacting family members.    When placing these calls, make sure that you document the following:

1)      Who was contacted (including any disconnected numbers, recordings, voice mails, etc.)

2)      What arrangements are being made for the clients (if they are being picked up note WHO will be picking up, what TIME we can expect them, etc. OR if they need to ride the bus)

3)      Confirm a good contact number in case of emergency.

We will need to make contact with every family before buses leave to make sure that someone will be there to receive the clients when they are dropped off at home.  If there is a parent you cannot reach, ask your Supervisor for further instructions.  For clients who are going to be picked up, follow the same sign out procedure that we use on a daily basis. 

Dixie will contact SCAT to ask them to begin sending their buses.  Keep in mind that most of the buses run different routes throughout the day, so they may not arrive all at once.  Buses may be loaded as they arrive.  However, remember that our policy states that no bus will leave until we are CERTAIN that contact has been made with each family.  I can’t stress enough the importance of making sure that someone will be home to receive the clients on their arrival. 

Additionally, Leigha will be informed of when to notify local TV and / or radio stations. 

Now then, in case this all happens overnight please watch local tv stations.  We will close if Benton Public Schools close.  We will make every attempt to get our name listed will school closures but we will follow the action of Benton Schools.  However, please remember that each bus driver has the sole responsibility for making the decision regarding the safety of their individual routes.  We all know there can be a world of difference in weather and road conditions from Tull or Traskwood to Pulaski County.  If we have to close Team Leaders will be notified and information will be posted on our Facebook page.

Hope you find this information helpful. Above all else, please remember that when we stay calm, our clients and families will stay calm.