New Re-Work Committee Survey Open October 1-15

At the time of the Re-Work Committee's initial survey, the focus was to gain employees' feedback to determine:

1. Guidelines for employees continued work during the pandemic 
2. The necessary equipment for those working from home  
3. The necessary PPE to ensure a safe environment for those returning to work 
4. Any scheduling, commuting and specific hardships 

As a result: 

1. Policies were formulated with consideration to health screenings, physical distancing, cleaning protocols, vehicle usage and shared workspaces 
2. Communication avenues were created to convey and distribute updates, policies, and resources regularly (i.e. Thursdays with HR)   
3. Meetings were conducted with division heads to determine the specific needs for their units   
4. Staggered and rotating shifts were implemented based on operational needs  
5. Break rooms were closed for dining and meeting room capacity was reduced to regulate physical distancing  
6. Masks, hand sanitizer, plexiglass shields and signage/decals were purchased and distributed for employee safety   
7. Equipment was provided to those working offsite  

The focus of this month’s survey is to follow-up with employees so that the committee can understand what is working and what else may be needed as the Division of Aviation continues to work through the pandemic and upcoming season.  

Thank you in advance for taking a few moments to give your feedback. Be well and stay safe! 

SURVEY LINK: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/BTD2LLD 

HR Updates

"We Can Beat This Together! Raising Breast Cancer Awareness" 

Join the Division of Aviation's virtual breast cancer awareness conference on October 22 from 12-2 p.m. Learn about early detection, hear from PHL’s survivor panel and celebrate survivors. Register at PHL University to receive the link to join the conference.  Let's raise awareness and find ways to join the fight against breast cancer. 

OnePhilly Self-Service Pointers 

You have access to find so many things in OnePhilly's Employee Self Service. Here is something to try this month: How to calculate your total compensation. 

Pension Life to Date (LTD) Balances are now available to view on your online paystubs. LTD displays an employee’s balance of total pension contributions made to date. 

If you have any questions about the online pay slip, contact your Departmental HR representative. Log on to OnePhilly Employee Self Service (ESS) to view your pay slip. 

2020 City Administered Health Plan Employees

October Deadline Approaching: Wellness Points Waivers

Due to COVID-19, a few healthy actions are not feasible for wellness 2020. Therefore, the following activities have been WAIVED: 

1. Biometrics healthy action  
2. Dental/vision activities  

CAP employees and covered spouses are still required to complete the HRA. CAP employees only must complete one additional healthy action to receive the $500 credit.   

The deadline to complete your wellness activities is Saturday, October 31.  

Login to or register your wellness account at www.MyActiveHealth.com/city.  For assistance, call 1-866-795-2970.   

Coming in November: Open Enrollment

Open enrollment for CAP employees will take place November 6-20.  Postcards with information on enrollment and how to prepare will be mailed to employees at their address listed in Oracle.   

Open enrollment will be conducted via Employee Self-Service- please make sure you  can  access ESS.  To check your mailing address on record, login to OnePhilly and review your personal information.  To update your personal information, click here.  For login assistance to OnePhilly, please contact  [email protected].    

As always, the staffing team will be available to assist with open enrollment via Microsoft Teams and pre-scheduled onsite appointments.   

Flex Spending Account Deadline Extended Through December

Dependent Care - Unused balances from 2019 will remain in your account until December 31, 2020.  Employees may submit eligible expenses to WageWorks for reimbursement until that date.  There will be no “carry over” provision to the next year (in 2021) of unused balances remaining (from 2020). 

Health Care – remaining “carry over” balances, up to $500, were transferred to employees’ 2020 HCFSAs in June.  Remaining 2019 balances more than $500 remain in employees' 2019 HCFSA.  Both balances are available for reimbursement of eligible 2019 expenses.  Expenses submitted for reimbursement more than the balance remaining in employee’s 2019 HCFSA account are eligible for reimbursement.   

Employees must contact WageWorks customer support at 1-877-924-3967 to request transfer from 2020 HCFSA. 

Questions or comments related to CAP Benefits may be sent to [email protected] or [email protected]. 

September Staff Promotions

Congratulations to the following Division of Aviation employees on their recent promotions:

• Imani Philips – Airport Assistant Operations Officer
• Shamaya Jones - Custodial Worker 2
• Joia Ingram – Airport Communications Operator 2
• Vincenta Corbin – Airport Communications Operator 2

Mask-UP PHL Update

Have you been pinned? Over the past month, PHL’s Guest Experience Team has handed out approximately 500 #MaskUpPHL buttons to Division of Aviation and airport partner employees caught in the act of wearing their face masks properly.

Director of Guest Experience Leah Douglas has been joined by American Airlines, United, Frontier and MarketPlace representatives on walks throughout the terminals to present special Rocky, Gritty, Swoop and Phillie Phanatic buttons to staff members following the City’s face mask mandate and protecting passengers, coworkers and themselves by wearing face masks. Be sure to have your mask on, covering your mouth and nose so that you can receive a #MaskUpPHL button, too. 

Information Security News

October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month!

Do your part, #BECYBERSMART

Now in its 17^th year, National Cybersecurity Awareness Month continues to raise awareness about the importance of cybersecurity. PHL remains committed to providing all associates with the training and resources that are crucial to keeping our information systems and networks secure. As threats evolve and grow in complexity and creativity (yes, the bad guys are extremely creative), we must ensure that all associates have the cyber skills necessary to spot and report suspicious activity. Cybersecurity truly is a group effort and every associate’s responsibility!

As Information Security kicks off Cybersecurity Month at the airport, be on the lookout for training and some fun games delivered virtually.   

Password Creation Tips

Use a long passphrase. You should consider using the longest password or passphrase permissible. For example, you can use a passphrase such as a news headline or even the title of the last book you read. Then add in some punctuation and capitalization.

Don’t make passwords easy to guess. Do not include personal information in your password, such as your name or pets’ names. This information is often easy to find on social media, making it easier for cybercriminals to hack your accounts.

Avoid using common words in your passwords. Substitute letters with numbers and punctuation marks or symbols. For example, @ can replace the letter “A” and an exclamation point (!) can replace the letters “I” or “L.”

Get creative. Use phonetic replacements, such as “PH” instead of “F” or make deliberate, but obvious misspellings, such as “enjin” instead of “engine.”

Keep your passwords on the down low. Don’t tell anyone your passwords and watch for attackers trying to trick you into revealing your passwords through email or calls. Every time you share or reuse a password, it chips away at your security by opening more avenues in which it could be misused or stolen.

Unique account, unique password. Having different passwords for various accounts helps prevent cyber criminals from gaining access to these accounts and protect you in the event of a breach. It’s important to mix things up— find easy-to remember ways to customize your standard password for different sites.

Before You Vote, Be Informed

We are a month away from Election Day! To register to vote in Pennsylvania, you must have been a United States citizen for at least 30 days before Election Day, be a resident of Pennsylvania (and your election district) for at least 30 days before Election Day, and be at least 18 years old on Election Day.

The last day to register to vote in Pennsylvania is October 19. Mail-in and absentee ballot applications must be received by 5 p.m.  on October 27.

This year, every Pennsylvania voter is allowed to vote by mail. Below are answers to some of the most frequent questions:

• Am I registered to vote? https://www.pavoterservices.pa.gov/Pages/VoterRegistrationApplication.aspx
• How do I register to vote? https://www.pavoterservices.pa.gov/Pages/VoterRegistrationApplication.aspx This form will also allow you to update your address, name, or political party.
• How do I apply to vote by mail? https://www.votespa.com/Voting-in-PA/Pages/Mail-and-Absentee-Ballot.aspx
• How can I check my vote by mail status? https://www.pavoterservices.pa.gov/Pages/BallotTracking.aspx
• For more information, including the new voting system, your polling place, and to view a sample ballot, visit the Office of the Philadelphia City Commissioners webpage (https://www.philadelphiavotes.com/).

Additionally, the City of Philadelphia’s Board of Ethics issued a political activity resource guide and social media guide for city employees and officers. If you have any questions as to which political activity rules apply to you, you can attend a training session hosted by the Board of Ethics.

Fall Schedule Additions at PHL

Those ready to travel and looking for a fall or winter vacation have a lot to look forward to at PHL.

Transatlantic travel has also returned to PHL. Qatar Airways is flying between PHL and Doha three times a week and British Airways has two trips between Philadelphia and London-Heathrow.

PHL Food and Shops Update

You Got This, Eagles!

E-A-G-L-E-S! The Birds might have gotten off to a slow start, but that is not stopping us from rooting for our hometown team! Remember, you get $3 off your Grab order the day after an Eagles win with the code EAGLESWIN. The Grab app is available at the App Store and on Google Play. For more information, visit www.getgrab.com. 

‘Grab’ Some Auntie Anne’s

Good news for pretzel fans! Whether craving something sweet or salty, devotees of Auntie Anne’s in Terminal B will now be able to order their favorite treats through the Grab app.

Minute Suites Wants You to Relax With a Special Offer

If your self-care routine includes taking time to relax, know that Minute Suites, located between Terminals B and A-East, is offering airport employees a $10/hour special through October 31.

Reminder: October SEPTA Pass Purchase Instructions

Travelex has permanently closed all its U.S. locations. To assist airport employees that purchased their monthly SEPTA transpasses and trailpasses at the Travelex location in the A/B Connector, PHL and SEPTA have been working on a temporary solution that will allow airport employees to buy passes without disruption.

Through Monday, October 5, SEPTA staff will be selling October passes at the former Travelex location in the A/B Connector. Hours of operation will be 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Monday through Friday only. Anyone purchasing a SEPTA pass must have a valid airport ID and pay by cash.

This arrangement is for October SEPTA passes only. Details for November and beyond are currently being developed and will be announced as soon as they are finalized.

PHL Employee Parking Program Update

Free garage parking for all airport employees will continur until capacity demands return. Employees will receive 30 days' notice prior to the end of the free garage parking program. Employees are encouraged to take advantage of the program.

To enter the garage, employees will continue to pull a ticket and proceed to the upper levels of the garages. Employees are not permitted to park in short-term parking (ground level of the garages). Employees who park in short-term locations will be charged the approrpiate shorter-term parking rates.

While there is no limit on how long employees can park in th garage, employees who anticipate a stay of 24 hours or more are encouraged to park in the employee parlking lot.

The Latest from PHL's Online Newsroom:

Airlines:

Ready to Fly? American Airlines’ Fall and Winter Schedule at PHL Offers Direct Flights to Vacation Destinations

Good news for travelers ready to fly this fall and winter! In the upcoming months, American Airlines will add popular warm weather destinations to its Philadelphia roster, like Aruba, Montego Bay, Punta Cana, Palm Springs, and Bermuda, among others. Find out the rest of the destinations.

Qatar Airways Returns to PHL – What Passengers Should Expect

September 16 marked the resumption of international service from Philadelphia, with Qatar Airways taking off from PHL to Doha. Much has changed since the airline made its last flight from PHL in March. What can passengers expect? 

In the Community:

B.PHL Innovation Fest Panel Recap: “Innovation Amid Crisis: Moving PA Forward”

Philadelphians don’t quit and neither do PHL CEO Chellie Cameron, SEPTA General Manager Leslie Richards and Pennsylvania Department of Transportation Secretary Yassmin Gramian, the three women in charge of keeping the city and state (literally!) moving. Read what they had to say about how the transportation industry has changed amid COVID-19 and what the future might look like as part of the “Innovation Amid Crisis: Moving PA Forward” panel, moderated by PHL Chief Administrative Officer Soledad Alfaro.

Operations & Security:

Temporary Closure of Terminal A-East Facilities

As part of its ongoing effort to right-size operations according to passenger demand, effective September 15, PHL temporarily discontinued operations in non-secure portions of Terminal A-East. Please take notice of the areas that will remain accessible to passengers and employees throughout the closure.

PHL Adds Electrostatic Spraying to its Daily Cleaning Regimen

PHL added a new weapon in its virus-fighting arsenal: the Clorox Total 360 System, which uses electrostatic technology to disinfect surfaces in less time and more comprehensively than traditional cleaning methods. This system is being used daily in restrooms, hold rooms, Division of Aviation administrative office areas, pantries, break rooms, conference rooms, bag claim areas, elevators and checkpoints. Learn more.

TSA Installs State-of-the-Art Checkpoint Scanners at PHL

In order to enhance their screening process, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) installed five new state-of-the-art advanced technology computed tomography checkpoint scanners at PHL. The scanners provide 3-D imaging that allows officers to better determine whether an item inside a carry-on bag is a possible security threat. Read more.

Capital Development:

COVID-19’s Disproportionate Impact on Women and Racial Minority Groups

“It’s important to recognize that the COVID-19 pandemic isn’t affecting us all equally. Women and women of color are being disproportionately affected in basically every arena except for mortality rates. Building back with inclusive responses must be the focus for all of us,” said Api Appulingam, Deputy Director of Aviation, Capital Development, during the 2020 Northeast Chapter – American Association of Airport Executives Virtual Conference. Read more.

PHL Rehabilitates East Airfield’s Aging Pavements

PHL has been actively restoring various pavement areas on the east side of the airport to improve the serviceability of the pavement and eliminate structural deficiencies, including the South Apron and Taxiway D South.

Philadelphia International Airport Receives $18 Million to Rehabilitate Critical Infrastructure

PHL received an $18 million Airport Improvement Program (AIP) grant from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to reconstruct Taxiway K and rehabilitate Runway 17-35, along with improvements to runway lighting.

Sustainability:

Philadelphia International Airport Receives $1 Million Grant to Reduce Emissions

PHL was awarded a $1 million Voluntary Airport Low Emission Program (VALE) grant from the Federal Aviation Administration to install 13 Electric Ground Support Equipment Charging Stations in Terminal E and Cargo City. Likewise, United Airlines received $319,987 as part of the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection’s Driving PA Forward grant program to improve air quality and reduce emissions from mobile sources. Learn more.

People at PHL:

We continue to shine a spotlight on the amazing work our employees do every day. This month we highlight Shaqunna Duncan, Acting Budget Officer. Find out what are her responsibilities and duties at PHL, as well as what is her favorite restaurant at the airport.

Read the rest of our stories in our newsroom.

Help Us Spread the Word

We know there are good stories to be told. Do you know of any PHL employees who have gone out of their way to help someone in need or make someone smile during this difficult time? Help us spread the word of the good things happening at PHL. Send your examples to [email protected]. We’ll choose some of the best stories to promote in articles in the PHL online newsroom and employee newsletter and in social media posts.