Geary County commissioners praise employee training day, confirm open enrollment and staff events

Commissioners at the Geary County Commission meeting on Oct. 16 reviewed a recently held employee training day, confirmed the county's open-enrollment schedule and described upcoming staff events.

The training day, held Friday before the meeting, centered on employee health and stress management. Commissioners said the sessions drew positive feedback from staff and included multiple short presentations on self-care, breathing techniques and chair yoga. Crystal Malphus, the county human-resources director, is on vacation and a staff member attending for her relayed details about the program.

Commissioners said attendees praised the event and that presenters ranged from a therapist who discussed burnout and breathing techniques to local fitness presenters. One commissioner said the sessions showed employees “we care about them” and noted that some support-role staff — for example in the treasurer’s office — face particular job-related stress.

County officials also described community and business support for the training day. Donations cited by meeting participants included breakfast and lunch items from local businesses, and gift-card contributions from Navy Federal Credit Union and Foot Locker.

Open enrollment for county employee benefits was confirmed to begin the coming Monday and run through the 30th of the month. County staff said benefits representatives will be on-site at the Emergency Management building — likely beginning around 10 a.m. — to meet with employees and that staff must log into the employee navigator system to record their enrollment choices (including affirmative opt-ins or declines). Commissioners emphasized that employees should complete the active enrollment even if they do not want changes.

Commissioners also discussed internal, employee-driven events: an end-of-year food drive, a chili cook-off and a Halloween costume contest. The group said the consensus was to make the chili cook-off a non‑fundraising, community-building event this year rather than charge an entry fee. Commissioners were asked to serve as judges for the Halloween contest on the Friday of Halloween.

Meeting participants encouraged employees to use the county’s employee assistance program (EAP), noting it is free and confidential. The EAP was singled out as a resource county staff can access for mental‑health or stress‑management support.

Less consequential logistical notes were raised at the meeting: several commissioners thanked event organizers, discussed distribution of gift acknowledgements, and confirmed a follow-up employee task‑force meeting on Nov. 12.

County staff and commissioners framed the training day as an operational, internal initiative meant to support workforce well‑being and engagement; no formal policy changes or funding actions were proposed during the discussion.