King County Affinity Group celebrates National LGBTQ+ History Month by highlighting activist Dede Oetomo
In honor of October being National LGBTQ+ History Month, the LGBTQ+ Affinity Group plans to celebrate a different individual every week.
This week, the group highlights Dede Oetomo, an Indonesian LGBTQ+ rights activist who founded both Lambda Indonesia and Gaya Nusantara, organizations that support LGBTQ+ individuals and their loved ones. Learn more about Oetomo and other LGBTQ+ individuals throughout history by visiting this calendar celebrating LGBTQ+ History.
If you are interested in getting connected to the LGBTQ+ community at King County, consider reaching out to the LGBTQ+ Affinity Group at LGBTQ@kingcounty.gov.
Learn more about King County Affinity groups at www.kingcounty.gov/AffinityGroups.
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PeopleSoft outage Friday, Oct. 7 at 3 p.m.
To allow for system maintenance, the PeopleSoft system will not be available starting on Friday, Oct. 7 at 3 p.m. and is scheduled to be back online by on Monday, Oct. 10 at 6:30 a.m.
During this planned outage, the Business Resource Center (BRC) will apply vendor updates and maintenance. Managers, timekeepers, and combo code users – enhancements are coming to fluid timesheet. Watch your inbox for an email detailing the upcoming enhancements.
The system will not be available for access by any County staff during this outage window. There will be a communication sent out to all County staff when the system becomes available.
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King County’s vaccine requirements remain in effect
King County’s vaccine mandate will continue for executive branch employees and is unaffected by Governor Inslee’s ending of all remaining COVID-19 emergency orders and the state of the emergency by October 31, 2022.
Consistent with current policy and practice, all executive branch employees are required to be fully vaccinated, unless they are otherwise accommodated. New hires continue to need to provide proof of full vaccination before their start date.
Also consistent with current policy and practice, all county contractors and volunteers, including volunteers serving on boards and commissions, are required to be fully vaccinated. This includes contractors and volunteers who:
- work in person at county properties or in county facilities, including indoor or outdoor worksites; or
- are required to interact with the public, regardless of frequency.
Though the state will be lifting its emergency declarations, the county’s vaccine mandate still applies under Executive Order ACO-8-27-EO (for county employees) and ACO-8-28-EO (for contractors and volunteers).
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Test of KCInform employee alert and warning system on Oct. 20
King County will conduct a test of KCInform, King County’s employee alert and warning system, on Thursday, Oct. 20 at 9 a.m. as part of the annual Great Washington ShakeOut drill to test earthquake preparedness.
KCInform is used to notify County employees of emergency situations, infrastructure disruptions, facility closures, changes in department business operations, and other critical impacts. Your King County desk phone and @kingcounty.gov email address are already in the KCInform system. However, please register your County provided cell phone (if applicable) and personal cell phone and email address to ensure you don’t miss important, time-sensitive messages. The service is free and your personal contact information is secure and protected.
If you are not currently registered with KCInform, please contact kcinform@kingcounty.gov to request your unique registration link. Visit the KCInform website to learn more.
And remember, at 10:20 a.m. on Oct. 20, Drop, Cover, and Hold On as if there were a major earthquake occurring at that very moment, and stay in this position for at least 60 seconds as part of the Great Washington ShakeOut drill.
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Supporting mental health and well-being through the 2022 Annual Giving Drive
As part of the 2022 Annual Giving Drive, we are highlighting nonprofits whose work supports organizations committed to mental health and well-being. These and hundreds of nonprofits are participating in this year’s Annual Giving Drive.
- National Alliance for Mental Illness (4112) – Provide advocacy, education, support and public awareness so that all individuals and families affected by mental illness can build better lives.
- HopeCentral (10087) – A nonprofit pediatric primary care clinic in South Seattle serving families of all income levels and families with special needs.
- Path with Art (9672) – Enables underserved adults in recovery from homelessness & other traumas equitable access to arts engagement as a bridge to community & a path to stability to regain their lives.
- American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (4141) – Dedicated to saving lives and bringing hope to those affected by suicide.
- 4 Tomorrow (10077) – A Latino & Youth focused organization serving East King County, we ensure our community’s overall well-being by providing culturally sensitive support & coordination.
You can go online or use a paper form by Friday, Nov. 18, to make a pledge to your favorite Employee Giving Program nonprofits by:
- Payroll donation: One-time, once–per-month, or twice-per-month.
- Time donation: Eligible vacation or comp time. See your department Lead Ambassador for details in your office.
- Check or credit card: Made out directly to the nonprofit.
- Volunteering: Up to three sick days per calendar year at a nonprofit in the EGP (for non-represented and employees whose union has approved this benefit, including those covered by the Master Labor Agreement).
For more information, contact your Employee Giving Program Ambassador, visit www.kingcounty.gov/giving, email EmployeeGiving@KingCounty.gov, call 206-263-9372, or attend an online Nonprofit Expo.
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School-to-Work program connects students with disabilities to employers
Since 2005, the King County School-to-Work program has been partnering with businesses to hire students with intellectual and developmental disabilities, both strengthening and diversifying their workforce. The effort brings together schools, state, and employment agencies to connect students with employment services while still in their high school transition programs.
“Our motto is jobs by June,” said coordinator Richard Wilson, “and the program is designed to assist students to find paid employment before leaving school.”
Currently, the School-to-Work program is serving its 18th cohort of students. Throughout the years, they’ve placed students in a wide range of positions in industries ranging from restaurant to retail, and healthcare to sports facilities.
Part of the Equity Equation
Throughout the pandemic, the School-to-Work program maintained student enrollment and engagement even as schools began serving students remotely and businesses were not hiring. To meet the challenge, like most organizations the program moved more online. It hosted sessions, developed videos, ramped up translations, and offered interpretation designed to connect students to employment services. Once connected, agencies providing those services developed innovative ways of supporting students while socially distanced and with remote technology. This combined effort allowed for ongoing student engagement and services throughout the entire year.
“We are working hard to address service disparities that many students face,” Wilson said. “School-to-Work has translated its materials into 18 languages, offers interpretation at all meetings, and has invited communities using over 30 languages to this year’s sessions.” Information about these sessions can be found on the School-to-Work website, along with short orientation videos about the program and preparing for life after high school.
By keeping students connected to services, participants in the program were able to obtain work during difficult times, and others not yet employed are ready to enter the workforce as the job market’s demand has increased. “We’re looking forward to a successful year,” Wilson added.
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Indigenous Peoples’ Day is Monday, Oct. 10
Starting this year, King County government will observe Indigenous Peoples’ Day as a new annual paid holiday on the second Monday in October, which falls on Oct. 10 in 2022.
This new holiday provides an opportunity for us to deepen our knowledge about our nation’s history and the institutionalized practices and policies that continue to harm Indigenous people today. It will also help us further our understanding of Indigenous heritage and culture, and the many ongoing contributions of Indigenous people in our region. Look for opportunities to learn more about the heritage and contributions of Indigenous people this month and into November.
All offices will reopen Tuesday, Oct. 11. On Oct. 10, most Metro Transit buses will operate on Sunday schedules. If you have questions about your holiday schedule, please speak to your supervisor.
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Celebrating Disability Employment Awareness Month
by Dow Constantine, King County Executive
King County Executive
Each October, King County celebrates National Disability Employment Awareness Month and the many contributions that people with disabilities make to our community.
The theme of this year’s celebration is “Disability: Part of the Equity Equation,” and it highlights the importance of people with disabilities to a diverse, inclusive, and thriving American workforce. Every person must have the opportunity to fulfill their potential and fully participate in everything that our region has to offer. Every person must have the opportunity to share their unique abilities. That’s how we will all succeed.
However, we still have a long way to go to create true equity in employment for everyone. Just 37% of people with disabilities aged 16 to 64 are employed compared to 75% of those without disabilities. These statistics unfortunately have not changed much since the Americans with Disabilities Act was passed in 1990. We are making progress though, particularly in this region. The disability employment rate in Washington State is 40%; in King County it is 46%, much higher than the national average, though still far lower than it needs to be.
At King County, we continue to do take actions to reduce the barriers that people with disabilities face when seeking employment and in all areas of their lives. The County offers many programs and services that support people with disabilities and build a more inclusive workforce and community, from specialized access to public transit to Accessible Voting Centers with audio or large print ballots and other assistive devices. I encourage you to look at all the services you provide to see if there is a way to make them more accessible and more equitable.
In our own workforce, our Supported Employment Program is helping employees with developmental and intellectual disabilities find and maintain employment opportunities in King County government. Our Disability Services Program helps employees with disabilities access accommodations and resources so they can continue their important work for our community, sometimes in new or adjusted roles.
Our newest Employee Affinity group, King County Disability Equity Network (KCDEN), launched in January 2022. The group serves employees and the broader disability community by providing fellowship, support, and co-creation of equitable policies and programs. Meetings are the second Tuesday of every month. For more information, contact disabilityequity@kingcounty.gov or visit King County’s Affinity Groups webpage.
By working together and seeking out opportunities to ensure access and equity for all, we can further break down barriers and truly make this community one where every person can thrive.
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Seattle Symphony $29 sale ends Oct. 1
King County employees are being offered a special price of $29 tickets for Pops Series Orchestra level seats on the Main Floor.
Prices are good through Oct. 1. View upcoming performances and purchase tickets at www.seattlesymphony.org/concerttickets. Enter the sale code 29GKSale.
- Latin Fire: Oct. 14 and 16
- Holiday Pops: Dec. 9 and 10
- Gene Kelly: A Life in Music: March 17 thru 19
- The Linda Rondstadt Songbook: June 9 thru 11
See all available King County employee discounts on the Employee Discount webpage.
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Understanding and supporting people with substance abuse disorder
Public Health – Seattle and King County has a training resource hub for understanding and supporting people with substance use disorders (addiction). The site contains short videos, recorded webinars, clinical guidelines, and educational materials. There are also links to order supplies for programs, and a toolkit for providing naloxone (Narcan) training to your team, clients, or the public. Read more.
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