Women in trades: Ivy Schmitz
Crossposted from the Metro Layover Employee Newsletter
Meet Ivy Schmitz. She works as a Utility Laborer in our Transit Facilities Division (TFD). Ivy is one of the 6.2% percent of women who make up the female workforce in the transit trades industry. This industry has traditionally been viewed as a male-dominated field, with women facing educational and training barriers, an unwelcoming workplace culture and environment, and lack of awareness and exposure to the possibility of employment in the trades.
Ivy first joined Metro as a Maintenance Crew member in South Facilities and then moved to North Facilities, where she started her new position as a Utility Laborer and obtained her Commercial Driver License (CDL). Studying for her CDL meant and coming into work an hour before her shift and spending breaks and lunches learning and reviewing material, but Ivy said it’s her proudest accomplishment at Metro so far.
Now that she has her CDL, Ivy flies solo during the workday as she travels to various sites around the city to power wash and clean some of Metro’s 1,837 bus shelters. All that power washing results in more than just a clean bus shelter for Metro’s customers. “Your hands will get sore, so it’s like a nice workout for your arms,” said Ivy.
When asked about her least favorite part of the job she said, “Constantly getting dirty, because when I detail a lot of dirt hits me. Big time. My lead was laughing the first time I walked in, head to toe just covered in mud.”
While working closely in proximity to transit riders and the public can sometimes be intimidating, Ivy shared the scariest encounter she’s had so far wasn’t with a person, but something a little smaller.
“I’ve never been mugged, but I almost got attacked by a racoon. I came out of the bathroom after cleaning it and saw something running [through the bushes]. I’m like, please be a cat! And it comes around the tree, and I was like that’s NOT a cat!”
Luckily, Ivy was able escape this close encounter without any issues.
Thank you for all you do to help move Metro forward, Ivy!
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Employees being contacted by firm purporting to represent King County retirement and financial plans
Recently, several employees have reported being contacted by a representative of Equitable financial services, stating that they represent King County employee retirement plans and attempting to get the employees to provide their personal financial information.
Equitable does not represent any King County retirement or financial programs and is not a provider of any King County retirement or financial plans.
Keep in mind, representatives for King County retirement and financial plans will not call you unsolicited. For security purposes it is recommended that you not give out any personal information to anyone you did not first contact.
You can find more information about King County retirement and financial plans and services here:
Should you be concerned about a possible scam or illegal action, please report the incident to Benefits, Payroll and Retirement Operations at KC.Benefits@KingCounty.gov or 206-684-1556.
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Administrative Professional Partners benefits employees
Since 2016, the Administrative Professionals Development and Recognition Program has forged pathways for the development and recognition of administrative professionals.
Meg Chambers, an administrative professional with the Department of Public Health, says, “The Administrative Professionals Program has made a huge influence on my career at King County. I have had the opportunity to work with other admin professionals to have a diverse set of experiences and perspectives, which has both helped me professionally as another admin professional and provided me with a support network of people who are doing similar work to me.”
Watch this video to learn more about how the program has helped Meg and how becoming an Administrative Professional Partner can boost your career.
If you are interested in becoming an Administrative Professional Partner or have questions, visit the website or email administrativeprofessionals@kingcounty.gov.
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Mad scientist in the woods? Or, just another day at Vashon Treatment Plant
Crossposted from Clean Water Stories
Blink and you’d probably miss the driveway into Vashon Treatment Plant. Everything about this plant is pint-sized, a much scaled-down version of the massive clean water facilities servicing the mainland.
Despite the solitude, a lot happens in this quiet, serene spot in the woods where all the wastewater going down the drains of more than 1,000 people on the island ends up.
Elizabeth Corliss has been at the helm of Vashon Treatment Plant for four years now. Everyone calls her Lizzy. She grew up on Vashon and never knew the treatment plant was there until she joined King County’s Wastewater Treatment Division (WTD). “I tell people what I do, and they’re like, ‘What, we have that?’” Read more.
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King County invests $30 million to strengthen behavioral health workforce and increase access to services
King County Executive Dow Constantine announced an investment of $30 million in partnership with the five managed care organizations of the innovative King County Integrated Care Network, resulting in a 15 percent Medicaid rate increase to help stabilize the behavioral health system in the region. Investing in the behavioral health workforce is a key component of the Crisis Care Centers initiative and is central to King County’s efforts in addressing a crumbling behavioral health system and increasing access to services and treatment.
The 15 percent Medicaid rate increase is applicable to all Medicaid behavioral health providers and services within the King County Integrated Care Network (KCICN), and will go into effect this month, applying retroactive to January 1, 2023. The 2023 rate increase applies to all Medicaid and state funded programs, and programs where Medicaid is a part of the overall funding source. The state’s budget also invests in a 15 percent Medicaid rate increase in 2024. Read more in the official press release.
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EvergreenHealth may be out-of-network starting Sept. 1, 2023
If you are a member of the Regence KingCare PPO medical plan, and you see medical providers who are part of the EvergreenHealth network, please note the following information about their contract with Regence BlueShield.
Leaders from Regence and EvergreenHealth are currently in extended contract negotiations. Both organizations are working to reach an agreement before their current contract ends Sept. 1. Here is what you need to know:
- Most provider-health plan contract negotiations are resolved with no service disruptions and no provider network changes.
- If an agreement between EvergreenHealth and Regence is not reached by Sept. 1, services received on or after this date by EvergreenHealth providers will be considered out-of-network and will be paid at a lower benefit level, except for emergency care at Evergreen general hospitals in Kirkland and Monroe, which would be paid at the in-network level.
- Most employees pay 40% for out-of-network services after the deductible and copays are met, until you reach the out-of-pocket limit. For details about your medical benefits, go to www.kingcounty.gov/Plan-Details.
- You can receive care from EvergreenHealth through Aug. 31, and services will be paid at the in-network rate.
- No action is needed by you at this time. Additional information will be shared as it becomes available.
- Regence recently mailed a letter to members who use EvergreenHealth providers to inform them of the situation and identify potential alternative providers, should the parties not reach agreement by Aug. 31.
If you have questions or want help finding a different provider, please call Regence BlueShield at 800-376-7926 from 5 a.m. to 8 p.m. PST, Monday—Friday, and 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. PST on Saturday. You can also contact the King County Benefits team at 206-684-1556 or email KC Benefits.
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New requirement to report lump sum payments to the Division of Child Support
According to House Bill 1262, additional income reporting requirements became effective for Washington employers on July 23, 2023. Employers are now required to report lump sum payments of $500 or more to the Washington State Division of Child Support (DCS) before the lump sum is paid to the employee.
This requirement applies to only those employees with a current WA Income Withholding Order that includes a payment for past-due child support.
The reporting requirement applies to lump sum payments of $500 or more includes, but is not limited to: Retro pay, cash out of accruals such as vacation, sick or comp time; bonuses; commissions; retroactive pay; moving and relocation incentive payments; safety awards; settlement pay; and workers’ compensation for lump sum wages owed. Excluded are recurring payments of regular earnings, overtime pay, recurring premium pay, and reimbursements for expenses.
King County must report the lump sum payment to DCS and they will direct King County regarding how much to withhold for child support.
For more information, contact the Washington State Division of Child Support or visit their website at www.dshs.wa.gov/child-support.
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Pacific Northwest Admin Awards Nominations Close Aug. 9
The third annual Pacific Northwest Admin Awards nomination period ends Aug. 9. Admin Awards is a nationally recognized public celebration of administrative excellence reserved for extraordinary Administrative Professionals. Click this link to submit a nomination.
The nomination form includes the option of submitting nominations for the nine individual award categories and one company award category. Finalists and awardees will be announced during the Admin Awards Gala in September. Visit the Admin Awards website for more information.
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Recognizing Metro’s Operators of the Month, May – June 2023
Crossposted from Metro Matters
They are fitness enthusiasts and bicycle and motorcycle fans. Some always wanted to be behind the wheel, others came because they enjoy serving the public and getting people where they need to go. They are our “rolling ambassadors,” the kind, courteous and helpful smile that greets you every day when you ride with us.
They represent over 150 years of driving experience. The operators who drive your bus are as unique as you, and all of them love driving and giving back to their community.
Meet your Operators of the Month for May and June 2023. Read more.
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CHOMP!, King County’s local food celebration, returns to Marymoor Park with tasty food, live music, sustainable workshops, and free family activities
CHOMP!, King County’s celebration of local food and sustainable living, returns Aug. 19 to Marymoor Park in Redmond with live music from Blind Boys of Alabama, plus a full day’s worth of free, fun activities for all ages.
Activities will start at 10 a.m. and include a farmers market, local food vendors, tree climbing, NW Kung Fu lion dance, petting zoo, a fix-it fair, and scavenger hunt. Bring your gardening questions for Washington State University Master Gardener volunteers or make your own seed balls to take home. Read more in the full press release.
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