Inclusive All People Restrooms coming to Chinook and King Street Center
After many years of employee advocacy, King County is expanding the number of inclusive restrooms. Transgender and gender expansive employees have highlighted the need to create more inclusive restroom access where employees do not need to choose between gender-specific restrooms.
To advance this effort, the county will update sets of restrooms on the 5th and 12th floors of the Chinook Building and the northeast set of restrooms on the 3rd floor of the King Street Center to All People Restrooms. In this first phase, the Facilities Management Division (FMD) will install privacy strips in the stalls, post new signage indicating what types of fixtures can be found in the restroom, and make urinals temporarily unavailable. FMD began the work this week and it should be completed by the end of the year.
The 2023/24 FMD budget includes funding to further renovate the All People Restrooms by replacing current stalls with compartments that provide more privacy.
Employees who work in Chinook and King Street Center will automatically be given access to the floors with All People Restrooms. There will continue to be gender-specific restrooms on the other floors of the building that employees can use if they prefer.
King County’s True North is to be a welcoming community where all people have the opportunity to thrive. This vision naturally includes our employees. One of the ways we are realizing our True North in the workplace is by creating inclusive, respectful, and easy access to restrooms for people of all genders, people with disabilities, and anyone whose bathroom access is simplified by not having to choose a gender-specific restroom.
You can check out the FAQs and additional information here.
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New resources help managers and teams navigate project work
The Project Management Team (PMT) in the Office of Performance, Strategy and Budget has developed a set of tools, templates, and processes to guide project managers across King County in navigating project work.
Whether you are a designated project manager or someone who manages projects from time to time, these resources will support you and your team through your project work:
- A 13-minute video introduces the Project Management Team’s standard work and provides an overview of the required minimum standards for PMT-assigned projects.
- These tools and templates help project teams plan and implement their projects.
- To build specific project management skills, the PMT recommends these trainings.
The Project Management Team maintains a complete library of resources to assist project managers and teams. Developing and maintaining project management standards supports the county’s goal of becoming the Best-Run Government.
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Focus on Financial Goals in 2023
Whether you are building a budget, planning for a large purchase or thinking about retirement, My Secure Advantage (MSA) has money coaches available to help you and your family. King County employees get 90 days of money coaching every year. Read more on the Balanced You blog.
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King Street Center information session recordings available
Nearly 550 King County employees recently joined information sessions about upcoming changes at King Street Center and across the downtown campus.
For those who were not able to attend, or attendees who want to review the information shared, you can now access the recorded sessions and related materials.
- Recording of Session 1
- Recording of Session 2
- Slide deck
- Audience Q&A, including follow-up on questions that weren’t answered live
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Drew Thompson, finalist for the Clean Tech Alliance Energy Leadership JEDI Award
Cross-posted from Clean Water Stories
Drew Thompson, Resource Recovery Project Manager for King County Wastewater Treatment Division, was recently a finalist for the 2022 Energy Leadership JEDI (Justice, Equity, Diversity & Inclusion) Award.
The award, given by the Clean Tech Alliance, recognizes those who perform outstanding work to make the energy sector more equitable, support climate justice and diversity in the sector, and foster an inclusive ecosystem. Read more.
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Christine Oh named new Director of Risk Management
Christine Oh has been selected as the new director of the Office of Risk Management Services (ORMS) in the Department of Executive Services (DES). She begins her new position on Dec. 24.
“Christine has the experience, professionalism and management skills to lead the Office of Risk Management Services into the future,” said Caroline Whalen, Director of DES. “She brings both continuity and a new perspective to the county’s nationally recognized program.”
Christine has been serving as Interim Director for ORMS since Jennifer Hills took a new position as Deputy Chief Operating Officer in September.
“I am looking forward on working with departments in the county on risk assessment, maximizing opportunities while implementing the risk appetite statement,” said Christine.
Christine joined King County in 2003 as a Senior Tort Investigator. In 2008 she became the Deputy Risk Manager, primarily overseeing the claims section and then also the financial section of the office.
She has a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Pittsburg State University. In her spare time she cheers on the Seahawks, loves to travel, and spend time with family.
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Coast Salish Ways: Cultural practices woven across generations
Fellow King County colleagues Annie Kirk and Bryon Davis show us the importance of place and connection to culture, land and water as being essential to how they move through this world.
A practice not done simply for one’s own, or families benefit but also an honoring, reclaiming, and living of cultural practices on behalf of future generations and the continuation of life in balance. With this video we can see the importance of storytelling, language learning, practicing traditional arts and crafts, and canoe journey serving as a bridge for the spirit to connect with both ancestors and community while preserving birthright inheritances for future generations.
This is part of a video series by the Native American Leadership Council. Watch the previous video, “Indigenizing leadership, advocacy, and education.”
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King County and Chief Seattle Club announce first residents moving into new Health Through Housing building in Pioneer Square
King County Executive Dow Constantine announced the latest opening for Health Through Housing: Salmonberry Lofts, a newly constructed building providing 76 units of permanent supportive housing in Pioneer Square.
The building will welcome the first residents later this month and is being operated by Chief Seattle Club, an organization with a local footprint in the Pioneer Square neighborhood. Read more.
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Leave donation programs updated for 2023
Beginning Jan. 1, 2023, King County’s donated leave programs are being replaced by two similar programs that better comply with IRS tax requirements. This includes the employee-to-employee donation program and the Emergency Leave Donation Fund started during COVID-19 pandemic.
Donating leave
Employee-to-Employee Medical Donated Leave Program: You can donate leave to another employee as follows: Any amount of your accrued vacation time and up to 25 hours of your sick leave per year, as long as you have 100 hours or more of sick leave remaining.
Emergency Medical Leave Fund: You can donate up to 80 hours of accrued vacation and 25 hours of accrued sick leave each calendar year. Donations go to a leave bank and will be distributed to recipients with a qualifying reason.
Receiving leave
- Donated leave must be used for a qualifying FMLA/KCFML reason, such as a serious health condition for yourself or an eligible family member, or to bond with a new child. These family and medical reasons are specified under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) and the King County Family and Medical Leave (KCFML) benefit.
- Request for hours from the Emergency Medical Leave Fund go through the Department of Human Resources and are capped at 80 hours annually (prorated to reflect the employee’s normal work week) and are distributed on a first come, first served basis.
- You can only use donated leave after you have exhausted all of your own accrued leaves.
- Donated time must first be used for a prolonged absence (three or more consecutive days) and then can be used intermittently.
- Donations from the Emergency Medical Leave Fund must be used within 60 calendar days or the donated hours will be returned to the fund.
If you have donated leave balances
- If you have remaining donated leave hours from the current employee-to-employee program, the balance will be moved to your new Employee-to-Employee Medical Donated Leave Program bank on Jan. 7, 2023.
More information
- More details can be found in the FAQ.
- New program forms and procedures will be posted on the Taking leave webpage by Jan. 1.
- If you have questions, contact the Benefits Team 206-684-1556 or KC Benefits
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Compassion fatigue and burnout: What they are and how to recover
The ongoing pandemic and seasonal illnesses, stressful end-of-year work assignments, additional holiday activities – these and other factors can lead to compassion fatigue and burnout.
Understanding the cause of compassion fatigue and burnout is essential in protecting yourself from these common conditions. There are numerous techniques and tips for how to prevent this from happening to you. Read more.
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