The second and final application period for the 2023 Coalition Labor Agreement Professional Development Scholarship Program opens May 8 – June 4, 2023. The Scholarship Program is a benefit offered as part of the 2022 – 2024 Coalition Labor Agreement and is only open to employees represented by one of the unions in the Coalition.

Applicants should familiarize themselves with the revised supplemental questions, rating criteria, and Individual Development Plan, which is highly recommended but not required. Scholarship award recipients who did not receive the full $3,000 from the January/February 2023 period may reapply to receive the remaining difference this period to pay for additional training.

The Scholarship Program is part of the County’s commitment to Investing in YOU, and is designed to assist eligible employees with their professional development by providing financial assistance towards obtaining training, certificates, degrees, licenses, and certifications.

As part of King County’s commitment to employee wellness, Balanced You observes Financial Literacy month. Financial wellness is a key component to overall wellness. This week, we are highlighting retirement resources. Planning for retirement can feel overwhelming, but there are classes available that offer the information you need. If you are planning for retirement, consider attending the classes below.

Road to Retirement

Are you planning to retire in the next six months? If so, join your Retirement Team for this informative two-hour class. We’ll discuss procedures and forms, medical coverage options, and your pension—so you’ll be on a smooth road toward a happy retirement.

Register for an upcoming class.

Your PERS Pension

Are you reaching retirement age? Do you want to learn more about your pension through the Washington State Department of Retirement Systems (DRS) and your options as a King County employee?

Join us for a virtual seminar featuring guest speaker Jim Mendoza from DRS, who will discuss your pension and other options at retirement.

Register for an upcoming class.

Deferred Compensation

If you are a benefits-eligible employee, you can choose to participate in King County’s 457(b) Deferred Compensation Plan to assist in your long-term retirement planning. You can elect either pre-tax or after-tax (Roth) contributions in an array of investment choices from T. Rowe Price. Learn more about the King County Deferred Compensation Plan or attend a retirement information session.

King County employees are invited to participate in Identity-Based Affinity Spaces to engage and provide information and ideas on how King County can enhance its workplace culture, increase equity in workforce practices, and ensure inclusion and belonging for all employees.   

King County is particularly interested in hearing from on-site, customer-facing, and shift employees. Sign up for an Identity-Based Affinity Space by April 21 using the opt-in form.  

The Identity-Based Affinity Spaces are different from the King County Affinity Groups. They have been created specifically for the refresh project and assure employees they can gather face-to-face in groups with a shared identity and speak openly. 

Participating employees will be paid for their time (see FAQ for more details). 

Employees will be asked to share what’s working, what’s not working, and what can be improved surrounding the following topics:  

• Increasing equity in the workplace  
• Professional development, coaching and mentorship  
• Promotional opportunities (including interviews and onboarding)  

• Leadership being proactive and accountable in creating an equitable and racially just workplace 
• Meaningful access to leadership  
• Inclusion and belonging  
• Access to employee benefits  
• Creating a workplace free of discrimination and harassment (If you have a specific concern about your experience as a County employee, please see the anti-harassment policy for information about reporting those concerns.)  

Follow the Equity and Social Justice Strategic Plan Refresh on Sharepoint.  

In recognition of contributions to all aspects of society by Americans of Arab descent and Arab immigrants, including science, business, culture, and social services, King County Executive Dow Constantine has proclaimed April 2023 to be Arab American Heritage Month.

“I encourage all residents to honor the contribution of Arab Amercians to our county, state, and nation,” the Executive stated. Read the full prolcamation below.

King County will not conduct an Employee Engagement Survey in 2023. The annual survey usually occurs in March of each year. However, due to staffing challenges the survey will not take place this year.

Listening to employees and actively addressing their concerns and desired outcomes is key to building a welcoming, supportive, and inclusive workplace culture, and we will seek other opportunities to engage with employees. The Equity and Social Justice Strategic Plan Refresh project and the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Benefits Review project offers multiple touchpoints for employee perspectives and feedback. And departments and divisions have their own mechanisms for inviting and responding to specific issues in their areas.

In lieu of a survey this year, the new engagement survey team will take a fresh look at the survey and adapt it to our current needs, recognizing that much has changed recently. They will also evaluate options for a survey vendor and develop standard practices for future surveys, so that new survey team members can onboard rapidly.

Meanwhile, we will continue to work the action plans we developed based on the results of the 2022 Employee Engagement Survey.

We look forward to listening and acting on your feedback in the 2024 Employee Engagement Survey.