MGEC had so many agenda items for the May 1st Meet and Confer with the DOT that we had to schedule a second meeting! The topics covered in both meeting included an update on the student loan reimbursement program (which has gone “live” at the agency), whether the agency has the staff it needs to do its work, and communications from frustrated members who have their Grad 2-to-Senior Engineer reallocations held up by the employer with no explanation. With respect to the student loan reimbursement program, a communication went out from MDH on May 28th announcing the application period is now ... Read More >>
Activity/Organization updates
Don’t Forget to Submit Your Scholarship & Award Applications!
Friendly reminder to submit your MGEC scholarship applications for the Family Member Scholarships and the Connie Minetor Memorial Scholarship. Applications must be received by MGEC no later than 5:00 pm on June 30, 2024. Winners will be decided by the MGEC Membership Committee in July with announcement in August. MGEC, at their discretion, may award up to $4,000 each calendar year for scholarships, distributed amongst any number of qualified applicants for the Family Member and Connie Minetor Memorial Scholarships. For the MGEC Family Member Scholarship, MGEC will now accept applications ... Read More >>
Hidden Medical Charges – Don’t be Afraid to Ask
The physical exam is an essential part of any doctor's visit. Surprisingly, though, there are no absolutes in a routine physical. A good doctor may be thorough or brief, but they will spend time listening to your concerns and providing counseling for your particular complaints and risk factors. (WebMD - https://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/annual-physical-examinations) Have you ever gone in for a medical office visit expecting that there wouldn’t be a charge because it was a “preventative” appointment, such as your annual physical, but then been charged for the meeting? It’s become ... Read More >>
MDH Converts FLSA Status of Grad 2s
The Minnesota Department of Health changed the Fair Labor Standards Act status of approximately 14 MGEC-represented employees from “exempt” to “non-exempt”, effective the pay period beginning May 8th. This change allows affected employees more rights under federal law about how their time is compensated and is part of a larger effort at the agency that has resulted in changed FLSA statuses for over 100 employees. For non-exempt employees, all hours that are spent in service of the employer are strictly compensable hours. If hours are worked, they need to be recorded in time sheets – and ... Read More >>
MGEC Lunch Series is Underway
Even with our best efforts to engage with our membership to bring updates and listen to concerns using technology, there is no substitute for in-person engagement. In that spirit, MGEC is continuing its road tour of visiting work sites around the state to bring updates to our membership. More importantly, we are also travelling to listen to members’ concerns and deliver solutions. Maplewood Materials Lab On April 16th, we provided lunch and discussion at the Maplewood Materials Testing facility. With approximately 35 MGEC members in attendance, MGEC staff updated the membership about ... Read More >>
Renewing Your Professional License
In Minnesota renewals for the Professional Engineer and Land Surveyor licenses are due June 30, 2024. Somethings to keep in mind. Your state employer regularly checks public records to make sure your license is current. It seems like every two years someone fails to ensure that their renewal was completed and MGEC is made aware of subsequent discipline the state (as an employer) takes against that employee. Between the additional cost of renewing your professional license late and the cost of lost pay due to suspension, the cost of failing to confirm your license renewal is ... Read More >>