Employee Benefits Information

Fiesta San Jacinto Holiday Update

This year, instead of observing the Fiesta San Jacinto holiday on April 24, civilian employees will receive Floating Holiday Leave that can be used as needed. April 24 will be a regular workday for City employees, and they are expected to report to work in the same manner they are reporting to work today, unless they have requested and received approval to take leave.

Note: Pre-K 4 SA Department employees follow a different holiday schedule and will be observing the Fiesta San Jacinto holiday on April 24. For questions about the holiday schedule for Pre-K 4 SA, contact the
Pre-K 4 SA Employee Relations Team.

• Fiesta San Jacinto Holiday FAQ (PDF)

CARES Act

The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act includes the following important changes to your health care benefits through Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Texas.

• COVID-19 screening and related office visits are covered at no cost to you or your covered dependents.
• Qualifying coronavirus preventive services (items, services, and immunizations intended to prevent or mitigate COVID-19), will be covered at no cost to you or your covered dependents.
• Virtual visits are covered at no cost, whether you reach your deductible, and regardless if the virtual visit services relate to COVID-19.
• You may use funds from your Health Savings Account (HSA) or Flexible Spending Account (FSA) to purchase over-the-counter drugs without a prescription, as well as menstrual care products.

If you have any questions, please contact Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Texas at 1.800.521.2227.

Additionally, the CARES Act also provides student loan relief.

• Payments for student loans are suspended under the Federal Family Education Loan and Direct Loan programs, without interest, through September 30, 2020.
• Collection efforts stop for those loans during that time, including garnishments and tax refund offsets.
• If you are participating in the City's Student Loan Payment Program, any payments made by the City on your behalf are tax-free through December 31, 2020.

ConsumerMedical COVID-19 Support Center

Through the ConsumerMedical COVID-19 Support Center, employees on the City's health plan have access to:

• the latest credible information on the virus,
• access to weekly webinars with an opportunity to ask questions of leading doctors,
• symptom checking and coping videos, and
• access to our clinical teams of nurses and physicians for more personalized support.

Access all of the COVID-19 Support Center services at no additional charge to you. For personalized support, feel free to contact ConsumerMedical at 1.888.361.3944.

Essential Worker Letter

If you are in need of an essential worker letter for the purposes of childcare services, please contact your department's Employee Relations Team for assistance.

Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA)

• Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) (PDF)
• Families First Coronavirus Response Act - City of San Antonio Summary (PDF)

Remote Work Guide

If you are new to remote work and need help getting started, be sure to check out the Remote Work Guide for assistance. It includes information on remote work basics, a frequently asked questions document, mapping to network drives, and much more. If you have any questions, contact the Information Technology Services Help Desk at 210.207.8888.

Return to Work Video

Return to Work Plan

Employee Spirit

Recognize a Co-Worker! Submit an enCORE Card

Remember, as part of the City's CORE Values Employee Recognition Program, you have the opportunity to recognize your fellow City employees with an enCORE card for a job well done and going above and beyond their normal job duties to embody our CORE Values: Teamwork, Integrity, Innovation, and Professionalism.

Stay Home. Work Safe. Check in

Through the CheckIn Campaign, you are challenged to reach out to five (5) other City employees each week by phone, email, text, Teams chat, or in person at your worksite. Be sure to ask them how they are doing and share ideas on how you are staying physically and mentally active during this time. Connecting with others is one way to manage our fears, anxieties, and uncertainties at this time. We are in this together!

Check in with five City of San Antonio employees each week.

• Call, email, text or visit five coworkers. Ask “how are you doing?” and share how you are doing. Share tips for staying healthy!
• Send a photo of you “checking in” to AskHR@sanantonio.gov
• Share the most up-to-date employee resources.

Stay Home. Work Safe. Check In.

Employee Spirit Message Templates & Signs

• 
  Sign: Thank You
• 
  Template: Thank You
• 
  Template: How I Work Safe
• 
  Template: How I'm SA Strong

Training & EDUCATION INFORMATION 

City Training Opportunities - The Human Resources Team is working with Alamo Colleges to bring some of our free, in-person City training classes to you in an online format. Check Moodle to find out which training sessions are available to you. Remember to get your supervisor’s permission before you sign yourself up for any of the City's training opportunities.

GED Prep - Through the SAISD Adult Education Program, you have access to FREE online GED classes. Click here to learn more.

Lynda.com - Bexar County residents have access to Lynda.com's library of on-demand training videos through Bexar County's all digital public library, BiblioTech—view the catalog and start learning today.

Office 365 - With your supervisor's permission, you can sign up for online Office 365 training through Moodle. In these training sessions, you will learn about the powerful tools available to you through Office 365, including how to upload, save, and share files; chat with your team; host virtual meetings; and more.

Toastmasters Club - If you are interested in improving your public speaking and communication skills, you might want to consider applying for the City's Toastmasters Club. Applications are being accepted from August 19 through September 2. Click here for more information or to apply.

Universal Class - One of the perks of having a San Antonio Public Library Card is Universal Class. Through Universal Class, you have access to more than 500 high-quality, online courses in 30 different subject areas to help you learn the skills needed to achieve your goals. This online tool features both self-paced and instructor-led learning opportunities, with professional trainers providing grading and feedback to track your learning progress. You can even earn a certificate documenting your Continuing Education Units, contact hours, and course completion. Examples of subject areas or courses available in Universal Class: GED Preparation, Office Skills, Running Effective Meetings, Interview Skills, Microsoft Project 2019, Punctuation & Grammar 101, Computer Skills, and more! 

Upgrade Advisor - If you are interested in continuing your education, be sure to contact the City's dedicated Upgrade Advisor to schedule a virtual appointment to discuss your options. Click here for more information about how the City's Upgrade Advisor can help you reach your educational goals.

• In August, our Upgrade Advisor will be providing virtual advising walk-in hours on Tuesday and Thursday. Learn more about this service here.    

wellness Resources

• Behavioral Health - Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas
• City Manager's 5K - Virtual Edition
• COSAWell Quarterly Newsletter (July) - Note: For the best viewing experience, access the newsletter using Google Chrome or Firefox
• COVID-19: Your Practical Guide to Wellbeing
• EAP Employee Newsletter (September) - Visit Employee Assistance Program page for more information
• EAP Supervisor Newsletter (September) - Visit Employee Assistance Program page for more information
• Exercises to Stay Active While Working at Home (or Not)
• News for You - Information resources courtesy of the Employee Assistance Program
• Tobacco Cessation - Use the Quit for Life App
• Wellness Webinar Recordings - Healthy Mind ToolKit: Boosting Your Mental Health  | Wellness Strategies During the COVID-19 Pandemic (password: #1Wellness) | Creating A Resilient Mindset