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Defensive driving class offered at District 3

Employee Safety will present a defensive driving course that leads to certification (or recertification) for ITD drivers. Employees who operate state vehicles are required to take a defensive driving class every three years.

This class will be Feb. 4 from 8 a.m. to noon in the District 3 conference room at the Chinden Boulevard location.

ITD employees interested in participating should complete an ITD-0733 Nomination for In-service Training form and send it to Human Resource Development. For more information, contact Michelle Rowland at 334-8570.

State health insurance information on the web

Pam Ahrens, director of the Idaho Department of Administration, recently presented information about state employee health insurance to the Change in Employee Compensation Legislative Committee.

Her presentation included the following:

  • State Employee Benefit Overview
  • Benefit Focus Health Insurance Survey, a report on comments and recommendations from state employees in response to the informal health insurance survey, and
  • Other related benefit information (fact sheets and handouts) that were provided at the meeting.

To view the information in Ahrens’ report, go to the state employee portal at the following web link: http://www2.state.id.us/empportal/index.htm

Solicitation not sanctioned by ITD

ITD’s Human Resource Services was informed this week of unauthorized insurance solicitations and warns employees to be wary in responding. Apparently, an insurance salesman named Jay Hites (spelling may differ) has been contacting employees and implying he has state approval to offer insurance as part of a retirement plan.

No such authority has been given, says Mary Harker, the transportation department’s HRS manager.

“I have not given this man permission to contact employees, and his insurance plan has not been sanctioned by the state,” she said this week.

She asks employees to get the solicitor’s telephone number and contact information and forward it to her so she can take appropriate action.

Anyone with questions about the solicitation should contact Harker at 334-8010.

Want a winter break? Watch the Stampede

ITD employees who live in the Treasure Valley and are tired of the winter exposure can take a break by heading indoors and catching a professional basketball game.

The Idaho Stampede, the state’s only professional basketball team, offers state employees tickets at a discounted rate as a way of saying thanks “for their dedication and hard work in keeping the great state of Idaho running smoothly.”

The State Employee Night is planned for Saturday, Feb. 7 when the Stampede plays The Great Lake Storm at 7:10 p.m. Doors open at 6 p.m. Halftime entertainment will feature an extreme and exciting BMX professional bike stunt show called “Perfection on Wheels.”

Discounted tickets can be purchased by calling (208) 388-4667 (HOOP).

EEO conference scheduled in Idaho Falls Tuesday, Wednesday

The bi-annual Equal Employment Opportunity conference is scheduled Jan. 27-28 in Idaho Falls at the Red Lion Hotel. ITD's District 6 staff will serve as hosts.

The first day of the conference provides training in identifying and preventing discrimination in employment and gives updates on legal developments in EEO laws. It also will help employees understand the changing culture of discrimination in employment.

The second day concentrates on EEO issues in construction contracting and ensuring compliance. It also will review the resources available for assistance. Professional speakers who are considered experts in their fields will be brought in both days.