Featured Headlines
Showing gratitude to our employee audience
Top 22 accomplishments of 2022
Eligible PERS 2 members can switch to PERS 3 in January
King County’s vaccine requirements remain in effect
News
Tech Tip: Practice good IT “hygiene” – restart your computer regularly
Did you know your computer’s operating system is updated several times a year? This update happens behind the scenes, but requires you to restart your computer. This restart can take several minutes. Your computer may offer to reschedule this required restart until later, but will only allow you to postpone once or twice – you can’t delay the update forever! Most updates include important features such as new virus protections that are critical for the safety of King County’s systems. Please practice good IT “hygiene” and restart your computer regularly! Be sure… Read More
DES plays key role in severe weather response
Cross-posted from Executive Services Express The Department of Executive Services (DES) regularly helps King County stay operational during severe weather, as safely as possible. During the severe cold and ice that hit in late December, DES agencies, including the Office of Emergency Management and Facilities Management Division, helped senior county leaders make a rare decision: close county buildings and suspend most services for a day. Read more.
Honoring the legacy of Judge Patricia H. Clark
Judge Patricia H. Clark was a strong advocate for youth involved in the justice system. As a commissioner for King County Superior Court, Judge Clark handled many cases involving at-risk youth and children in need of services, also known as ARY and CHINS cases. In 1998, she joined the Superior Court bench, where she continued to serve until her retirement in 2013. During her tenure, Judge Clark left her mark on Juvenile Court, including stints as chief juvenile judge and chief advocate. As mentioned in a 2019 story by Superior Court: “[Clark]… Read More
Executive Constantine announces $52 million in funding for open space preservation projects
Multiple projects throughout King County will receive a combined $52 million in open space preservation funding after a plan proposed by Executive Constantine has been approved by the King County Council. The money will fund 36 projects that will increase access to greenspace and parks in underserved communities, acquire land for habitat restoration, protect tree canopy, and strengthen the local food system. Read more.
Attend an upcoming mindfulness class
Balanced You partners with Mindfulness Northwest to offer free mindfulness classes and workshops to King County employees. Register for an upcoming class below or view the full schedule here.
Groundbreaking on new trail bridge across the White River
A new 572-foot-long weathered steel bridge will cross the White River, connecting completed segments of the Foothills Trail at the King-Pierce county line. The project will connect residents, business districts, and civic centers to a 22-mile trail that offers scenic views of Mount Rainier. Read more.
WeightWatchers February Heart Health Month
Join WeightWatchers through King County for as low as $9.75 per month on select plans — 50% off the retail price! Become a WeightWatchers member by Feb. 28 and get a free WW Bluetooth® body weight scale that auto-syncs your weight in the WW app. Learn more at WW.com/KingCounty. Then get your scale at WW.com/freescale.
Animal Control Officer Shepherd recognized in The Seattle Times
Cross-posted from Executive Services Express It’s not every day members of the public take the time to thank employees for their good work. Someone did recently, recognizing Animal Control Officer Dominique Shepherd for helping with an aggressive dog. Someone wrote to the Times’ Rant and Rave column: “RAVE to Bruce at King County Parks and Officer Shepherd from Regional Animal Services of King County who quickly responded to an aggressive dog issue. Many people who are affected appreciate their dedication and efficiency.”
View your W-2 form online
Your 2022 W-2 form is now available in PeopleSoft to view and print. ADP will mail a paper copy of your W-2 form by the Jan. 31 IRS deadline to the address you had listed in PeopleSoft on Dec. 31, 2022. To view or print your W-2, log in to PeopleSoft, choose the Payroll tile, then go to “View W-2/W-2c Forms.” You can also access W-2 forms from any device by registering at the ADP website using these instructions: Access W-2s through ADP. Your Form 1095-C—Employer-Provided Health Insurance Offer and Coverage—will also be sent to your… Read More
Is your internet unreliable? Help improve our nation’s broadband investments
The Federal Communications Commission recently published a new National Broadband Map, which attempts to show where internet service is and is not available for every location in the country. The map will guide how the Federal government spends $42.45 billion to expand high-speed internet access across the nation and it’s important to get it right. You can look up your address to make sure the map is accurate in terms of internet service availability and speed for your home or business. If you spot a problem with the map, you can submit a formal challenge… Read More
IE web browser is no longer supported – please use Edge
Microsoft is disabling their Internet Explorer (IE) web browser in favor of Edge. Going forward, any links you click will automatically open in Edge rather than IE. You can manually open Microsoft Edge by searching your Windows start menu in the lower left corner of your screen. For easier access, you can add the Edge browser to your task bar (the bottom ribbon on your screen) by simply right clicking on the Edge icon and selecting the “pin to taskbar” option. The Edge browser is expected to work with nearly all websites;… Read More
Make tax season less taxing with My Secure Advantage
For many of us, filing your taxes can cause anxiety. Using your financial wellness benefit, My Secure Advantage (MSA), there are several ways to take the stress out of this tax season: Consult an MSA tax specialist – Have tax-related questions? Talk with an MSA Money Coach to get answers and talk through your options. Call 1-888-724-2326 to schedule an appointment. King County employees get 90 days of free money coaching every year. Assisted tax prep – Taxes can be confusing and time-consuming, so why not have a tax professional handle your tax prep for… Read More
Reminder: Leave donation programs revised
King County recently replaced the employee donated leave programs with two similar programs that better comply with IRS tax requirements: The Employee-to-Employee Medical Leave Donation Program allows you to donate your accrued leave directly to another employee. The Emergency Medical Leave Fund makes permanent the emergency leave fund started during the pandemic and allows you to donate accrued leave and request donations from a central fund. Read more.
From professional chef to heavy-duty field mechanic: A ride-along with Brian Becker
Crossposted from the DES Express Brian Becker spent the first 16 years of his career as a professional chef. Now he’s got nearly that much experience as a mechanic. Becker sees many similarities between the two careers. Plus, his dad was a mechanic and he grew up tinkering with cars, so it seemed like a natural transition. Becker has been a heavy-duty mechanic at Fleet Services for about four years, and is one of six field mechanics there. His job is to service all sorts of vehicles and equipment at the wastewater… Read More
Nominations are now open for the Executive’s Performance Excellence Awards
The Executive’s Performance Excellence Awards recognize individual employees and workgroups whose innovations and improvements are delivering excellence for our customers, our organization, and our region. This year, the awards will honor Executive branch employees and teams for their exceptional contributions in leadership, innovation, and Lean maturity in the past 12 months. There are three award categories: Innovation Awards: People, Cost, Service, Equity and Social Justice, Climate and Environmental Stewardship Leadership Excellence Awards: People Leader, Individual Contributor, Fred Jarrett Award Road to Excellence Awards: Divisions that achieve Stabilization Level or higher on all categories of the Lean Maturity… Read More
Reminder: Leave donation programs revised
King County recently replaced the employee donated leave programs with two similar programs that better comply with IRS tax requirements: The Employee-to-Employee Medical Leave Donation Program allows you to donate your accrued leave directly to another employee. The Emergency Medical Leave Fund makes permanent the emergency leave fund started during the pandemic and allows you to donate accrued leave and request donations from a central fund. Donating leave Employee-to-Employee Medical Donated Leave Program: You can donate leave to another comprehensive leave-eligible employee as follows: Any amount of your accrued vacation time and… Read More
Bus fleet update: Manufacturer replacement parts allow repairs to continue
Crossposted from Metro Matters With guidance and replacement parts supplied by bus manufacturer New Flyer, King County Metro has repaired and restored dozens of buses that were sidelined in December when a steering issue was identified. We appreciate the patience and support of riders as we focus on addressing this safety issue. Read more.
Leesa Manion sworn in as King County prosecuting attorney
Crossposted from The Seattle Times Prosecuting violent crimes and sexual assaults, providing culturally responsive victim services, and intervening in the lives of young people, especially those most at risk of becoming victims or perpetrators of gun violence, are among the priorities incoming King County Prosecutor Leesa Manion touched on before taking her oath of office Monday, Jan. 9, 2023. She called her swearing-in ceremony before a packed courtroom in the King County Courthouse “a celebration,” saying that being the first woman and the first person of color to hold the office was… Read More
King County partnering with community-based organizations to create a 40,000-square-foot food hub, better connecting local farmers to hunger relief organizations
King County is partnering with Food Lifeline to convert their 40,000-square-foot warehouse into the new South Seattle Community Food hub, providing much-needed shared space for storing, packing, and distributing fresh produce and goods to people and families experiencing hunger. Read more in the official press release.
Employee Assistance Program
There are many mental health resources at your fingertips as a King County employee, including the Employee Assistance Program (EAP). EAP is a confidential counseling service for work-related issues. EAP can help with: Workplace stress Counseling and coaching for work-related issues Conflict with coworkers Supervisor Support Call 206-263-8733 to make an appointment. For more information email HRDEAP@kingcounty.gov.
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