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Lt. Gov./ Commissioner
Carol Molnau
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The wait is over. The state Legislature passed Mn/DOT’s biennial budget last night and the governor will sign the bill today. As I told you on Monday, this budget is based on existing revenue levels but unfortunately does not include the entire increase in transportation financing sought by the administration this session.
The Legislature did pass the cornerstone of the governor’s plan, a constitutional amendment dedicating motor vehicle sales tax to transportation, which will be on the ballot in 2006. This administration will continue to seek additional funding for transportation during another special session if there is one, or during the 2006 legislative session.
In the meantime, we are back in business and can continue the important work we do for the citizens of Minnesota.
Once again I want to thank you for your patience during this arduous process and for the hard work you do for this agency and the state.
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“All layoff notices previously sent to employees during the shutdown are now rescinded,” said Theresa Johnson, staffing manager, Office of Human Resource Operations.
Most Mn/DOT employees received letters or phone calls earlier this week notifying them of their layoff options. The notices were sent because there would have been no funds to pay employees until a budget agreement was reached.
Johnson said employees were officially notified by e-mail today, July 14, about the layoffs being rescinded. The Department of Employee Relations, she said, will also notify unions that represent Mn/DOT employees about the budget settlement and its effects.
DOER is currently resolving issues such as vacation accrual, seniority and other issues related to the partial shutdown and will post the information on its Web page, Johnson said.
Kevin Gray, Finance and Administration Division director, said Mn/DOT will finalize its spending plan within the next week, which will enable the department to return to its normal budgeting practices.
Gray said, for example, that work by consultants suspended during the shutdown will now resume.
For more information:
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The recent partial government shutdown that sent 3,800 Mn/DOT employees home for eight days may be over, but its power over employee morale still lingers.
“Mn/DOT employees have been through several stressful events during the last four years, including the 9/11 tragedy, a strike and layoffs,” said DeLorah Curry, Mn/DOT organizational/leadership consultant, Office of Workforce Development. “Although stress affects people differently, I think it’s safe to say most of us may have been operating below our normal level during the last few weeks as we prepared for, and then experienced, a partial shutdown of our agency.
“The important thing to remember is that we may be powerless over situations or events, but we are not powerless over our reactions to them,” she said.
Common long-term effects of stress can include sleeping difficulties, chronic fatigue, loss of concentration, irritability, physical complaints or withdrawal, Curry said. To minimize these effects, people can take a number of common-sense actions, including:
- Managing the way you look at world
- Altering your environment, such as being with people who are supportive of you or who tend to have a positive outlook
- Getting physical exercise
- Eating properly
- Getting adequate rest and relaxation
- Fostering good social support
“Although stress can shatter our sense of equilibrium, by taking care of ourselves physically and emotionally, we have the ability to regain the balance in our lives, to become more resilient to the outside factors over which we have no control,” she said.
Employees also have the option to seek out such resources as the State Employee Assistance Program (651/296-0765 or 1/800-657-3719), or tapping into their health care providers and other personal resources.
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