COVID-19-Weekly-Employee-Update_05_22_20
Join the Virtual Employee Forum*
Tuesday, May 26 at 2 p.m., the 3rd Virtual Employee Forum will be held through Microsoft Teams.
Please join City Manager Todd Hileman, Human Resources Director Tiffany Thomson, Fire Chief Kenneth
Hedges, Police Chief Frank Dixon, and other members of the City of Denton leadership team as they
discuss the City’s COVID-19 response and plans for the future.
A new question submission feature is now available! In advance of the forum, you now have the option
to submit questions that you’d like leadership to address. If you choose to submit questions in advance
you may do so anonymously. If you prefer to ask questions during the forum, you are welcome to do so
as well.
If you are unable to participate in the live forum, you can watch the recorded version, which will be
posted on the Hub. Past virtual employee forums and Q&A’s are also available on the HUB.
Submit your questions in advance by clicking here.
Click here to join the meeting.
You will need your City of Denton email address and network password to attend the meeting.
* In preparation of avoiding any network/bandwidth issues during the Virtual Employee Forum, please
disconnect from the VPN first if you will be remotely connected watching the forum. Contact Tech
Services if you need assistance or have any questions.
City Facility Reopening Strategy Update
CMO is wrapping up meetings with departments and working on the strategy for reopening City
facilities. Reviews of department reopening plans, including guidelines for staffing, safety/PPE,
sanitation, and opening timelines, will be completed this week. The resulting reopening strategy will be
discussed at the May 29 City Council Meeting.
State COVID-19 Response Updates
On Monday, May 18, 2020, Governor Greg Abbott issued an Executive Order to announce the second
phase of the ongoing plan to open additional businesses and activities in Texas.
What's opening in Phase 2?
Executive Order GA 23 expands openings for child care services, bars, youth camps, some professional
sports, and other businesses.
Monday, May 18
Child care centers, massage
and personal-care, beauty
services, and youth clubs
were allowed to reopen.
Office buildings may open
for 10 employees or 25% of
their workforce, provided
social distancing is enforced.
Friday, May 22
Restaurants may open for
50% occupancy, excluding
staff, bars, wine tasting
rooms, and breweries may
open for 25% capacity.
These restrictions do not apply to outdoor seating as long as social distancing is enforced. Other
businesses that can reopen include bowling alleys, bingo halls, simulcasting, skating rinks, rodeo and
equestrian events, zoos, aquariums, and natural caverns.
Sunday, May 31
Youth sports camps and programs such as Little League, day and overnight youth camps, and
professional sports with in-person spectators will be able to open.
Monday, June 1
School districts will have the option to provide summer classes as long as they follow social distancing
and other health protocols.
Visit gov.texas.gov/opentexas for more information and a complete checklist of businesses and activities
reopening in Texas.
Visit the COVID-19 Business Guidelines page here for more information.
Human Resources Information System Update
Last August, Human Resources (HR), announced that we would be implementing a new Human
Resources Information System (HRIS), Oracle HCM Cloud. This system was meant to replace several of
our different HR systems, including NEOGOV, Cornerstone, and WorkTerra.
The plan was to implement the new system in phases, starting with the Taleo Applicant Tracking System,
which replaced NEOGOV in September 2019. As was previously communicated in December 2019, it was
discovered that Taleo did not sufficiently meet the organization’s needs and during the past several
months, HR has been assessing the viability to implement the remaining modules. Unfortunately, the
current situation created by the COVID-19 pandemic has made the implementation of Oracle HCM
unfeasible at this time. As a matter of fiscal responsibility and to respond to employee feedback, we
have canceled our contract with Oracle and will be returning to our existing systems.
This means that beginning June 1, 2020, we will once again be using NEOGOV to submit requisitions,
post jobs, screen applicants, and hire candidates. Also, WorkTerra will continue to be utilized for
Benefits Open Enrollment.
We appreciate the feedback employees have provided to HR. Please stay tuned for additional
information regarding other HR systems.
If you have questions or would like to see additional information included in the next
COVID-19 employee update, email COVID19HR@cityofdenton.com.