HUMAN RESOURCES
NEWSLETTER
DECEMBER 2021
SUBMIT YOUR PHOTO & WIN! Submit a photo to be featured in the monthly newsletter. Each month, the person whose photo is selected for the front cover will win a $25 gift card! SUBMIT TO SUBMITNEWS.ADAMSPG.COM. Lake Geneva, Cloud Peak Wilderness Bighorn National Forest, WY
AskHR!
Have a question, but don’t know whom to ask? The Human Resources staff is listening! You can always send an email to Ask HR if you have questions or concerns. Emails will be kept confidential and, if we print your question in the APG newsletter, we will not use your name. Questions may be emailed to AskHR@adamspg.com or sent interoffice to your regional HR representative.
DON’T KNOW WHOM TO CALL? CONTACT HUMAN RESOURCES. DEB BROOKS
HR Manager – APG West dbrooks@skagitpublishing.com 360.416.2187
GWEN DAVIS
HR Manager - East gdavis@apgenc.com 252.366.8139
STEPHANIE LUEBKE
HR Generalist, APG Central sluebke@apgenc.com 608.755.8360
HUMAN RESOURCES WE ARE ENCOURAGING
ALL ASSOCIATES TO USE THEIR PTO Many have built up their PTO and we will be selectively approving PTO over the holiday season to ensure we have a full staff to operate our newspapers at all sites. Consider a long weekend with a Friday/Monday combination. You are allowed to carry over 80 hours into the new year so please schedule your PTO soon so you can receive the time off you ask for now as later it may be restricted depending on how many Associates ask for the same days off. (COVERS VACATION/SICK LEAVE) We know how hard you work and recognize the importance of providing you with time for rest and relaxation. View PTO Policies online at: hr.adamspg.com/handbook
PHARMACY BENEFITS
EXPRESS SCRIPTS
REMINDER! BEGINNING JANUARY 1, 2022: PHARMACY BENEFITS THROUGH EXPRESS SCRIPTS • YOU WILL HAVE NEW, SEPARATE, ID CARDS FOR MEDICAL
AND PHARMACY BENEFITS - You will receive 1 card from BCBS (this should only be used for medical care) and you will receive a separate ID card from Express Scripts (this can only be used for prescription drugs) • YOUR 2021 BCBS ID CARD will no longer be valid after December 31, 2021 • ADDITIONAL INFORMATION is available in the Virtual Benefits Fair and in your Open Enrollment Guide • YOU CAN CONTACT EXPRESS SCRIPTS NOW to confirm if your current medication brands will be covered, and look for network pharmacies (www.express-scripts.com/adamspublishing; or call at 800-294-8962) • If you will need to RENEW A PRESCRIPTION on or around January 1, consider doing it prior to year-end. Also - When you receive your ID card, you will receive instructions for registering on the website or app to access your plan information. BE SURE TO DO THIS RIGHT AWAY!
NOVEMBER MOVIE NIGHT CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR NOVEMBER WINNER KATHLEEN SHAMP DISTRIBUTION MANAGER FOR WEST REGION
MOVIE NIGHT
The Questions Were: In “Blind Side,” What famous painting does the Thanksgiving scene resemble when Leigh Anne sets the turkey on the table??
NOW PLAYING: BLIND SIDE
The Answers Were: Norman Rockwell Thanksgiving 2
SAFETY
PREVENTING FALLS SAFETY TIPS ON ICE AND SNOW WITH SNOW AND ICE COMES SLIPS AND FALLS. It is important to take precautions to ensure your safety. Following are several tips to help prevent falling while walking on the ice. SELECT PROPER FOOTWEAR. No single shoe sole material is perfect under all conditions, however, footwear with rubber or neoprene composite soles provides better traction on ice and snow than leather or plastic. WALK CONSCIOUSLY. Be alert to the possibility that you could quickly slip on an unseen patch of ice. Avoid the temptation to run to catch a bus or beat traffic when crossing a street. You can test your travel path by sliding your shoe or boot on it to see if it is slick. WALK CAUTIOUSLY. Your arms help keep you balanced, so keep hands out of pockets and avoid carrying heavy loads that may cause you to become off balance.
WALK “SMALL.” Avoid an erect, marching posture. Look to see ahead of where you step. When you step on icy areas, take short, shuffling steps, curl your toes under and walk as flatfooted as possible. Spread your feet our slightly like a penguin. Walking like a penguin on ice increases your center of gravity. MANY INJURIES OCCUR WHEN ENTERING OR EXITING A VEHICLE. Be particularly careful and hold onto your vehicle to help support yourself. REMOVE SNOW IMMEDIATELY before it becomes packed down and turns to ice. Pay special attention to steps, sidewalks and parking lots by applying ice melt. This is the best way to prevent the formation of ice patches.
The most common injuries due to winter slips and falls are neck and back strain and broken wrist, elbow or hand. While falling, it is instinctive to try and catch yourself, which is why so many patients we see have landed on their hand incorrectly, causing the wrist, hand or elbow to break. If you experience an injury while falling, or develop pain that persists after falling, it is important to see a doctor to determine the type of injury and its severity. If you feel yourself starting to fall, try to avoid landing on your knees, wrists or back. Try to fall on a fleshy part of your body, such as your side. If you are able to relax your muscles when you fall, you may injure yourself less. As a reminder, all fall incidents occurring at work or off site on company business must be immediately reported to your supervisor for incident notification to the Safety department, even if you feel you are uninjured.
MOVIE NIGHT NOW PLAYING: THE HOLIDAY
For your chance to be the lucky winner of an APG Swag and Movie Bag, answer the trivia question below correctly:
IN “FIELD OF DREAMS,” WHO IS IRIS’S OLDER BROTHER /AMANDA’S LOVE INTEREST? All answers should be submitted to AskHR@adamspg.com. The winner will be drawn on Wednesday, December 15, 2021. 3
MOVIE NIGHT
MOVIE NIGHT NOW PLAYING: THE HOLIDAY
For your chance to be one of two lucky winners of an APG Swag and Movie Bag:
FIRST CHANCE TO WIN:
SEARCH THE NEWSLETTER AND TELL US WHO WON THE MOVIE TRIVIA QUESTION IN MAY FOR A CHANCE TO WIN THE MAY MOVIE.
SECOND CHANCE TO WIN:
SEARCH THE NEWSLETTER FOR THIS MONTH’S MOVIE TRIVIA QUESTION AND SEND US THE ANSWER. *Contents of winner’s prize pack may vary.
All answers should be submitted to AskHR@adamspg.com. The winner will be drawn on Wednesday, December 15, 2021.
DO YOU HAVE A BRIGHT IDEA FOR OUR COMPANY NEWSLETTER?
WE WOULD LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU!
Submissions are due on the 10TH OF EACH MONTH at submitnews.adamspg.com. Submission guidelines: provide photo and story, include photo credit and names of people in the photos, original content only (no copyrighted material).
*Please note, there is limited space in the newsletter and not everything will be printed.