by Whitney Abrams, Chief People Officer Marking one year This week marks one year since the first cases of COVID-19 were identified in King County. I want to acknowledge what a challenging, stressful, and exhausting year this has been. The COVID-19 pandemic together with the public health crisis of racism have had—and continue to have—a profound impact on you, your families, and our community.    I am grateful for the many ways you have taken care of yourself and of one another during this past year. Together, our sustained strength, courage, and resilience has enabled us to provide exceptional service to the people of King County. Together, we’re helping to slow the spread of… Read More

The 2021 Employee Engagement Survey will take place from March 8-26, and it is your opportunity to let County leaders what is going well and where we need to improve. The last 12 months have been very challenging and it’s more important than ever to hear how you are doing. Employees who participated in previous surveys have helped us make King County a better place to work and a more effective service provider for our residents.  The survey — which can be taken on your work computer or a mobile device —… Read More

King County employees set a new record for dollars raised and number of participants in the 2020 Employee Giving Program Annual Giving Drive, pledging almost $2.4M to nonprofit organizations. In the last 12 months when most of the news has leaned toward the negative, the Annual Giving Drive has given us some positive numbers to be proud of: $2,392,295 raised 20% over 2019 dollars 614 new participants In 2020, the Annual Giving Drive ran from Oct. 5 to Nov. 20 under the theme Care. Connect. Act. Even though the Annual Giving Drive… Read More

King County’s Employee Engagement Survey is back in 2021, and there are a few changes that we want to share. Every year, the County’s Employee Engagement team recommends improvements to the data and survey process. Many of these improvement ideas come directly from employees. Their feedback helps us improve the employee experience and data quality, and to provide better analysis. Here’s what is changing in 2021: All employees will take the survey electronically, saving 80 reams of paper – or roughly five trees each year. There is a new belonging index. There… Read More

The caseworkers who used to oversee the operation in the King County Courthouse aren’t idle – far from it. They’re busier than ever. Work Education Release and the Community Work Program closed down this year, after a long pandemic pause. But the number of people on Electronic Home Detention shot up over that time. It all spells huge changes for the Community Corrections Division (CCD). Like many countermeasures against COVID19, these appear to be here for the long term. “Everyone has had to rethink things, and we’re no exception here,” said John… Read More

One of the key issues that came out of last October’s Disability Awareness Month was how and when to disclose a disability for both King County job applicants and employees with disabilities. Applying for jobs and maintaining positions can be stressful for anyone, but for a person with a disability–whether visible or invisible–there are added layers of complexity. Should you disclose? When should you ask for accommodations…during the hiring process or after? Disclosure of a disability is a very personal decision. Whether or not you choose to disclose, it’s important to be… Read More

Data breaches are becoming more and more common these days. You hear about them in the news all the time. So you might be wondering: what exactly is a data breach? A data breach is when secure information is taken from a trusted environment without permission. The bad guys can use this information to steal your identity, hack into your online accounts, or use the information for targeted phishing attacks to gather even more information about you. However, just because the data was exposed does not necessarily mean it’s already being used… Read More

As a symbol, King County’s logo remains a powerful daily visual reminder for what Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s legacy stands for — past and present — and the values of racial justice and advocacy for fair and equal treatment of people of all races, that he represents for our community and government. “During the less than 13 years of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s leadership of the modern American Civil Rights Movement, from December 1955 until April 4, 1968, African Americans achieved more genuine progress toward racial equality in America than the previous 350 years had produced…. Read More

Last year, many employees were victims of unemployment fraud, which has resulted in some employees receiving 1099-G forms showing reported income from Washington State Employment Security Department. If you have received a 1099-G from the State of Washington and already reported the fraud, please follow the instructions provided at ESDWAGOV – Tax info for fraud victims.   If you are just learning that you may have been a victim of unemployment fraud because you received a 1099-G, please also take the following steps: 1. Step One – Contact ESD Complete a fraud report… Read More

King County Executive Dow Constantine has proclaimed February 2021 to be Black History Month in King County. “King County acknowledges the long history of forced enslavement, and institutional and structural racism toward African Americans in the U.S. and its generational impacts, and has committed itself to make progress on Equity and Social Justice, reflecting its commitment to racially just policies and practices that create opportunities for all people to thrive,“ Executive Constantine said in his Proclamation. “The scientific, technological, economic, political, and cultural innovations by Black Americans and African Americans have been essential… Read More

COVID-19 infection rates remain high In our region and we need to be vigilant in our efforts to slow the spread of the virus and make our workplaces safer for employees and the people we serve. Many King County employees remain under the Executive’s mandatory telework order through July 5, 2021, where their work and operations allow for it, and heightened safety measures and protocols have been instituted for those delivering in-person services. The county also continues to restrict employee access to its facilities and has extended the pause on employees accessing… Read More

Snow is expected in our region this week, so now is a great time to ensure you are prepared for an emergency or inclement weather at home or work.   Stay informed: Make sure you’re getting the latest King County information at work and at home in the event of inclement weather. Sign up for KCInform, King County’s employee alert and warning system. KCInform is used to reach County employees during an emergency with timely information about infrastructure disruptions, facility impacts, changes in your department’s business operations, and other critical impacts. Your King County desk… Read More

King County was recently awarded the Pro Patria award by the U.S. Department of Defense’s Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) program. Three King County supervisors were also personally recognized by ESGR for their support of their employees who serve in the National Guard and Reserve. During the special online presentation hosted by the Veteran and Military Affinity Group, Teia Tuifua, a supervisor with the Facilities Management Division of the Department of Executive Services, was presented an ESGR Patriot Award. He was nominated for the award by Ryan Nelson, a… Read More

Originally posted in a District Court News Release of Jan. 27, 2021 After serving as a pro tem judge in numerous municipal courts in King and Pierce counties, Judge Fa’amomoi (“Moi”) Masaniai will join the King County District Court bench in February. The King County Council appointed Judge Masaniai at its January 26, 2021, meeting to fill a judicial vacancy in the court’s Southwest District. Active in the Puget Sound Region’s Pacific Islander Community, Judge Masaniai is believed to be the first judge of Samoan heritage to serve on the bench of… Read More

New legislation provides relief to employees who may not have been able to use all of their Flexible Spending Account (FSA) funds during the pandemic. The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 COVID-19 relief bill signed into law on Dec. 27, 2020, allows a temporary change to FSAs to help employees avoid losing funds. If you have a Health Care or Dependent Day Care FSA, any unused funds in your FSA account from last year will be rolled over and available for use this year. The rollover of funds from 2020 to 2021 will happen automatically… Read More

King County has been awarded the U.S. Department of Defense’s Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) Pro Patria Award for the support it provides to its employees serving in the Guard and Reserve. Pro Patria means ‘for one’s country’, and the ESGR Pro Patria Award is presented annually by each ESGR State Committee. This award recognizes the leadership and practices of an organization that have demonstrated the greatest support to Guard and Reserve employees, including adopting personnel policies that make it easier for them to serve. King County Executive Dow… Read More

As LINK prepares to expand in the city of Seattle, the company is offering essential workers who qualify a $50 credit for free scooter rides. Workers in the health care, education, public transit, janitorial and food services industries can apply for the one-time credit by submitting proof of employment and attaching a photo of their work badge, identification card or pay stub — with personal information hidden. LINK will approve or reject each person’s request within one week. Sign up here. For information about employee transportation benefits, visit the Employee Transportation Program (ETP)… Read More

King County is building on what it has learned about working remotely and serving customers during a pandemic to reimagine its workspaces, physical and carbon footprint, and service delivery models in a post-pandemic environment. “COVID-19 forced many changes on the way we work but it has also given us the opportunity to rethink the way we work,” Chief People Officer Whitney Abrams said. “We want to take this opportunity to look at how we deliver services, the way we work, and what we can do differently to better serve our region, our… Read More