Next month, PHL and PNE will join our City of Philadelphia colleagues in welcoming remote workers back to the office environment. This is a significant milestone for a number of reasons, not the least of which is because I’m excited to see many of you who I haven’t seen in months! I’m sure many of you are looking forward to being reunited with your colleagues.

I understand that the return to the office environment may create feelings of uncertainty for employees who have worked from home for the past year. I want to reassure you that our incredible ReWork team has done a masterful job of preparing employee workspaces to be safe and orderly. A quick list of their accomplishments includes:

• Finalizing a Return to Work plan that will be shared soon
• Investing in an air purification system for employee workspaces
• Posting guidance throughout employee common areas
• Creation of an onsite scheduling system to avoid overcrowding
• Mask wearing encouragement through the #MaskUpPHL campaign

My sincerest hope is that all employees come to work feeling good about their work environments. For those who haven’t been back in awhile, please take some time before your first full onsite work day to visit the office and prepare your workspace. Now is a perfect time to redecorate and reacclimate. While you’re at it, I hope you’ll pop over and say hello to some of the familiar faces onsite, including me. I look forward to welcoming you back to the airport.

Chellie

Celebrating Juneteenth: Elevating History, Moment of Solidarity and More

The Division of Aviation’s own Roland Arrington, in collaboration with the Racial Equity Advisory Council (REAC), are honored to lead PHL’s observation of the Juneteenth holiday. Efforts include a coordinated moment of solidarity, multimedia content elevating Juneteenth’s history and significance, a ramp tower lighting from 6/13-6/20 and more. Additional details will be shared soon via [email protected]. 

REAC Shows Appreciation for Frontline Staff 

REAC provided more than 500 snack bags for Division of Aviation’s Facilities and Maintenance crews. The bags, packed by REAC members, were a thank you to the employees that have worked throughout the COVID-19 pandemic to “ensure that PHL remains a world-class global gateway of choice.”  

May Staff Promotions

Congratulations to the following Division of Aviation employees promoted in the month of January: 

• Angel White - Airport Operations Officer

Chief of Staff  Sheila Trueheart Retires

Division of Aviation Chief of Staff Sheila Trueheart will retire on Friday, June 4. Sheila joined the airport’s Accounts Payable team in 1987 as a Clerk Typist 1. Aside from a few brief years with Licenses & Inspections, Sheila spent the majority of her 34-year career with the Division of Aviation, much of that as an accountant and a budget officer.  In her most recent role as Chief of Staff, Sheila was responsible for supporting the executive team in meeting PHL goals and objectives by leading a number of successful initiatives, including the mission critical Re-designing the Employee Work Experience (Re-Work) Program.

We wish Sheila the best in her retirement. 

HR Updates

To sign up tp receive notification of employee updates directly to your phone, email [email protected] with your email and/or cell phone number.  

Extending AL Days for City Employees 

The City will be allowing all City employees to roll over any remaining FY21 AL Days as of June 30  to September 30th.  Employees will be required to utilize their FY21 AL Day balance by September 30, 2021. 

Juneteenth! 

Juneteenth is a recognized City holiday. Because it falls on Saturday, June 19, 2021, civil service employees will receive Holiday Comp. Exempt employees will receive an AL Day which must be used by September 30, 2021. 

Special Compensation for Vaccinated Employees 

In a continuing effort to promote the need for all employees to receive the COVID-19 vaccination and recognize those that have been vaccinated, employees can now receive special compensation time.   

Vaccination Card in OnePhilly: 

• A new form function “Provide Proof of Vaccination” has been created in COP Employee Self Service. This will allow employees to enter their vaccination information.  
• If vaccinated, an image of the employee's Proof of Vaccination card will be stored in the OnePhilly system as a document of record. The document type, “COVID Vaccination” will be selected to enter the vaccination information. 

Click this link for instructions: Uploading vaccine card in OnePhilly. 

Division of Aviation Early Retirement Program: Forty-Five Day Review Period 

What’s Next: Employees who have opted into the Early Retirement Program will receive their severance agreements during the first week of June. Eligible employees may change their benefit choice and/or opt out during this time. Retirement/separation dates may be changed with supervisory approval. 

Individual retirement meetings will be scheduled with HR on your last day to sign your paperwork and return equipment. 

We encourage employees to utilize all available resources whether personal advisors or City administrators. One-on-one meetings with Division of Aviation HR staff are available by request to review your severance agreement. Benefit options can be discussed directly with the Board of Pensions, Deferred Compensation and Benefits.  Their contact information is listed below. 

Division of Aviation HR:

[email protected] ATTN: Early Retirement Program or leave a message for a return call at 215-863-3947. 

Board of Pensions:

[email protected] ATTN: Airport Early Retirement Program 

Nationwide (Deferred Compensation): 

Candice McCloud (Offers Early hours), [email protected] 

James Stretch (Offers Evening hours), [email protected] 

Jason Salmon, [email protected]  

Benefits: 

Leontyne Freeman, Pension Program Administrator, [email protected]

Sheron McLean, Deferrals, [email protected] 

Stephanie Hill, Employees/Retirees - Last name begins with A-L, [email protected] 

Teresa Smith, Employees/Retirees - Last name begins with M-Z, [email protected]  

NEW Nationwide Investors Workshop - Two-Part Series  

Young Investors (Day One): June 29, 2021, 1:00 PM  

Workshop Description: Unique considerations for younger members of deferred comp and how to engage with your retirement goals. 

Investing 101 (Day Two): June 30, 2021, 1:00 PM  

Workshop Description: An overview of the basic building blocks of investing including investment concepts involved with Deferred Comp. 

Sexual Harassment Training Onsite Classes 

Training & Development successfully hosted our first socially distanced, onsite training labs in May.  Thanks to all who attended.  

Division of Aviation employees are required to complete this mandatory training by September 30, 2021.   

In accordance with the City’s Home Rule Charter (Article IV, 4-300), Sexual Harassment training for all staff is mandatory. Educating staff is vital to the City’s commitment to safe, inclusive and harassment-free workspaces.  

Eighteen sessions are scheduled throughout June. Employees must arrive on time; compliance with the training includes being present for the allotted timeframe. 

Click here to read the City’s Sexual Harassment Prevention Policy. 

Employee Parking Program Update

Please note the following changes to the employee free garage parking program.

• All employees that work in Terminals A, B and C must park in the upper levels of Garage A (above Short Term).
• All employees that work in Terminals D, E and F must park in the upper levels of Garage E/F.
• Employees should park in the top levels of the respective garage first, filling up the roof levels first and then filling in on progressively lower levels from there. This will help to decrease time spent looking for both employees and passengers. It will also leave space on lower levels to accommodate our customers.

The parking process remains the same:

• Pull into Garage A or E/F and pull a ticket
• Park on the top levels of the garage (above Short Term)
• Write your SIDA badge number and sign your name on the garage ticket (employees without SIDA badges must include their company name and employee ID number)
• Exit through staffed gates only
• Show employee badge and ticket when exiting through the staffed gate.

Have a Safety Concern?  Report it! 

We want to hear from you!  All airport employees, regardless of position or level in the organization, are encouraged to report safety concerns at https://www.phl.org/SMS/report-hazard or via phone at x7233 (xSAFE) from any airport telephone. Reports are confidential and can be anonymous unless you choose to provide contact information. It is important to know that when we share information in SMS, we do so with the intention of learning and improving our practices, not finding fault in one another.   

For any questions or additional information regarding the SMS, please contact the SMS team at [email protected]. Feel free to visit our website www.phl.org/sms to learn more. We look forward to working with you to improve safety at PHL. 

IT Tips and Reminders  

Colonial Pipeline Hack a Stark Reminder to Remain Vigilant in a Digital World  

By now, most of us have heard about the Colonial Pipeline ransomware attack that left the company crippled for a week and stoked fears of gas shortages along the eastern United States. This attack may be one of the few ransomware instances that trickled into broader attention, but ransomware has been a prevalent threat for quite some time.

While the official details of how ransomware made its way into Colonial Pipeline's network still aren't clear as of the time of this writing, the attack has turned national attention towards the issues surrounding cybersecurity. If nothing else, we should all use this as a reminder of the digital threats we face each day in both our personal and professional lives. This may be a highly publicized case, but the truth is organizations and individuals grapple with these issues nearly every day. There is no company too big or small to be attacked, even individuals on their home computers can fall victim to the same attacks global companies face. 

How Can You Prevent Ransomware 

Cyber security defense can be thought of as a group effort, requiring a chain of technology, processes and policy, and people to be successful. Technology and processes and policies are an important aspect, but often overlooked is the importance of people. As a vital link in this defensive chain, here are some best practices you can follow to help prevent cyber-attacks both at home and at the office: 

•  Be cautious of emails from unknown senders. Names can be spoofed, so always check the email address of the person sending you the email. 
• Never click links you do not trust, even from a trusted sender. Email accounts can be compromised, meaning an attacker can send you a malicious link from a trusted person's email account. Hover over links to reveal the destination before clicking. 
• Never open an email attachments that you weren't expecting. Attackers will try to leverage your curiosity by sending fake financial documents or documents claiming to have confidential information about another employee. 
• Choose passwords that are at least 8 characters long, containing a mixture of upper and lowercase letters, numbers, and special characters for any accounts you have. 
• Never reuse passwords across multiple accounts. Passwords are breached and publicly leaked often, and reusing passwords can lead to multiple accounts being compromised from a single breach. 
• Be mindful of what information you make publicly available on social media. This information can be, and often is, used to increase the chances of successful attack. 
• Always trust your gut instinct. If something doesn't look right, feel right, or sound right, it probably isn't right. 
• Report suspicious work emails by using the Phish Alert button or by forwarding them directly to [email protected]. 

The Latest From PHL's Newsroom

At the Airport:

Momma Bird Makes Special Delivery  

When a momma-to-be bird needed a place to make a special delivery, she made a landing at Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) - on one of the Division of Aviation’s Chevy Bolt electric cars. 

Philadelphia’s “Safer at Home” COVID-19 Guidelines are Changing What that Means for PHL Guests  

Increased vaccination rates and decreased COVID-19 cases mean the City of Philadelphia can relax the “Safer at Home” restrictions put in place in March 2020.  

Where Can I Wait for my Arriving Passenger? A Brief History of the Cell Phone Lot   

Instead of waiting on the shoulder of highway ramps and roads leading up to Philadelphia International Airport (PHL)—something that is unsafe and could result in a $41 fine from Philadelphia Police--drivers meeting arriving guests at the airport can take advantage of the airport’s free cell phone waiting lot, located just minutes away from all PHL baggage claims. The lot features an arrivals board so that drivers can see when their guests’ planes have landed, along with two vending machines to purchase water and soft drinks, a trash can and recycling bin.   

Summer 2021 Travel: What to Know When Flying Through PHL  

Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) is anticipating the summer 2021 travel season to be its busiest since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.   

First-Ever LifeWTR Lounge Opens Up at PHL   

The new LifeWTR Lounge - the first of its kind anywhere - is now open at Philadelphia International Airport (PHL), providing airport guests with a space to recharge with beverages, snacks and exclusive artistic content. 

Capital Development:  

PHL Program Underway to Replace Older Explosive Detection System Machines  

Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) has embarked on a program to replace older Explosive Detection System (EDS) machines -- the equipment that scans passengers' checked baggage prior to it being loaded onto an aircraft--  with newer, more efficient equipment. The existing CTX9400 EDS machines will be replaced with CTX-9800 SEIOs as part of the Terminal D-E Checked Baggage Inspection System (CBIS) Recapitalization project. 

Airline News:

National Travel and Tourism Week: Explore Options from PHL  

Philadelphia International Airport’s (PHL) airline partners offer nonstop service to more than 130 domestic and international destinations. For National Travel and Tourism Week, here is a look at recently added and upcoming new additions and returning routes to the PHL roster.   

PHL and American Airlines Discuss COVID-19 Recovery and Future Planning at Air Service Development Town Hall  

Representatives from Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) and American Airlines held a joint virtual town hall for airport and Greater Philadelphia region stakeholders on May 12 to discuss the 2021 summer schedule, new flights, industry updates, recovery rates and planning strategies for 2021 and beyond.  

Operations & Security:

PHL & U.S. Customs and Border Protection: Working Together to Keep Cargo Moving  

Shipping and receiving cargo happens at Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) 24 hours a day, every day of the year. In 2020, more than 623,000 tons of freight and airmail was handled at PHL. The airport relies on U.S. Customs and Border Protection to process shipments quickly and thoroughly to keep mail and vital items such as medical supplies and pharmaceuticals moving across the country and around the world.   

PHL is Upgrading Video Surveillance System  

Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) is engaged in a project to upgrade its video surveillance system, replacing the conventional CCTV system with an enhanced digital IP (Internet Protocol) one. The work is being done in phases at an estimated cost of $100 million. 

Checkpoint: Know What You Can’t Bring In Your Carry-On Through Security  

There is no better time than now to remind people that before you come to the airport you need to know what you can and cannot put in your carry-on and checked baggage. You do not want to be THAT PERSON who shows up at the security checkpoint with a prohibited item in your carry-on bag. 

Shopping & Dining:  

PHL Food & Shops Preparing for Busy Summer with Job Fair  

Summer 2021 will look much different than summer 2020 at Philadelphia International Airport (PHL). Increased flight activity and the public’s renewed interest traveling by plane to vacation destinations mean PHL’s terminals will be the most active they have been in over a year. PHL Food & Shops merchants are preparing for the busy summer season by holding a job fair at the Philadelphia Airport Marriott with more than 30 businesses on May 25, from 10 a.m. -1 p.m.   

People at PHL:

Airport Pam is Someone Everyone Should Know  

PHL Announces Kate Sullivan as Deputy Director of Strategic Partnerships 

Upcoming Community Events

Looking for something to do in your neighborhood?  Here are some upcoming events hosted by our community partners: 

• Fox Chase Shredding Event: Saturday, June 5, 9 a.m.-12 p.m., 432 Rhawn Street (behind American Heritage)
• 8th Police District Advisory Council Summer Water Ice Kickoff, Friday, June 11, 6-7:30 p.m., 3100 Red Lion Road
• Recycling Bucket Giveaway: Saturday, June 19, 9 a.m.-12 p.m., Fraternal Order of Police Lodge #5, 11630 Caroline Road