This past year the Learning & Development (L&D) team in the Department of Human Resources worked hard to continue building out the portfolio of educational opportunities to serve the different needs, interests, and goals of the King County workforce. Over the course of 2023 the L&D team hosted 53 workshops with a total of 1,864 attendees.

In addition to spending a large portion of the year facilitating workshops, two new workshops were launched (Leading for Well-being, Building High Trust Cultures), as well as a beta of the new Leader Learning Labs, and a pilot of the first workshop of the new Cultivating Equity series, ERSJ Fundamentals: A Journey Through Socialization (which replaces the former ERSJ Fundamentals course). L&D expresses their thanks to all who helped pilot and beta test the curriculum.

We are Racially Just

Another huge highlight from 2023 was the development and launch of the We Are Racially Just: Our King County Values at Work eLearning course, which made a resounding statement about King County’s collective commitment to fostering a racially just workplace. Each department has taken the call seriously, with the majority achieving over a 90% compliance by the end of 2023. Some departments have far more non-computer users, who have been provided an extended deadline until September 30, 2024, to complete the course. This inclusive approach ensures that every King County employee has the opportunity to engage with the valuable content.

The success of this eLearning course goes beyond mere compliance; it has sparked engaging conversations throughout our organization. The genuine interest and positive feedback from those who have taken this eLearning course underscores the importance of the We are Racially Just value in King County’s True North and Values. 

Credits for certifications

For HR professionals, all of the L&D workshops are now eligible for SHRM (Society for Human Resource Management) Professional Development Credits (PDC).

If you’re an employee who needs continuing education credits for a certification, please reach out to L&D to see about getting workshops certified for your program. 

Executive’s Best-Run Government nominations

You may have noticed how participating in one of our leadership or equity, racial, and social justice trainings has played a role in an individual’s or team’s exceptional contributions to King County in 2023. If so, you can recognize them by submitting a nomination for the Executive’s Best-Run Government Innovation or Leadership Excellence Award. Click here for more information.

Looking to 2024

The L&D team will be working on launching several new workshops and learning opportunities throughout 2024, including the chance for smaller, more in-depth conversations on leadership and ERSJ topics. Employees are invited to check out the current list of offerings in the Course Catalog through the NEOGOV dashboard and sign up for a workshop.

You can contact the L&D team with questions, feedback, or any suggestions at kctraining@kingcounty.gov.