Dear employee:

These unprecedented times have challenged us in ways we never imagined. Throughout, you have demonstrated unfailing commitment to our community and personal and professional resilience in the face of massive change. You have proven time and again your expertise and dedication to public service, inspiring the country to follow your lead and inspiring me daily with your efforts.

We have a True North guiding vision to make King County a welcoming community where every person can thrive. Our value of Racial Justice is foundational and will guide us in all that we do. We are the sole provider of many services that are the bedrock of a healthy community. The restoration of services that had to be modified or curtailed during the emergency is a milestone in our recovery and a mark of the return of stability to our community.

This milestone requires that some employees return to the worksite. This is both a moment of celebration to have reached this milestone in our recovery, and a moment that may cause some fear and anxiety. The health, safety, and emotional security of our employees and customers is our highest priority. The purpose of this “Guidance for Workforce, Operations, and Customer Service Recovery” is to provide the information and resources you need to do your work more safely.

The guidance in this resource was developed based on:

• What we heard are your greatest concerns. We conducted a random sample survey of over 2,000 County employees and listening sessions with frontline workers and Affinity Groups. We heard about your fears and hopes for returning to the worksite, and developed this guidance to make your work safer, while allowing you to perform your essential work.
• The latest research on the most effective ways to stop the transmission of COVID-19. We consulted our own public health experts along with national leaders in disease transmission on guidelines that take into account the most up-to-date knowledge of stopping the spread of COVID-19.
• Best practices from around the world and across all industries. We learned from those who are slightly ahead of us in their recovery efforts about what works best and adapted it for our worksites.

This guide will be updated as we continue to listen, learn, and adapt to ensure that staff, the public, and volunteers can conduct business more safely.

Additionally, to complement this guide, some operations will require more specific safety measures.

Right now, our purpose as public servants is vastly meaningful and impactful. I am deeply grateful for your ongoing dedication to public service, and I am proud to be in this recovery effort with you.

Sending you my best, (virtually) –

Whitney Abrams,
Chief People Officer