Safety video: Walkpools = safety in numbers
Our first priority is your safety and security at work, and we are continuing to partner with law enforcement, community, and other governments to ensure a safer, more welcoming environment in and around our facilities.
Here’s another tip to help you stay safe. Walkpooling is a buddy-up initiative that helps employees travel safely by walking to and from work with a buddy. Walkpools are an option if you walk long distances, walk early in the morning or late in the evening, or have to navigate transit stations.
Walkpools give you safety in numbers, a boost in your daily step count, and can lead to new and stronger friendships with your walkpool buddies. Check out our video, or visit the Employee Transportation Program website for more information. Watch for additional videos with safety tips this year.
For more information on employee safety programs and resources, check out the Future of Work Personal Safety at Work intranet page (employees only) and www.kingcounty.gov/employeesafety.
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King County Affinity Group celebrates National LGBTQ+ History Month by highlighting author Alok Vaid-Menon
For the last week of National LGBTQ+ History Month, the LGBTQ+ Affinity Group wants to celebrate artist Alok Vaid-Menon. Vaid-Menon is an internationally renowned gender-nonconforming writer and performance artist that uses their platform to advance LGBTQ+ advocacy and understanding. Learn more about Vaid-Menon 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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Roads Maintenance Section collects nearly two tons of donations in inaugural food drive
Cross-posted from King County Local Services
King County Roads Maintenance Section is known for some heavy lifting. Last month they added thousands of pounds of donated food to the list of hefty things they haul in unincorporated King County.
This heartfelt act of teamwork and compassion benefits local nonprofit Food Lifeline whose mission is to end hunger in Western Washington. Read more.
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Why data is important to King County
Data is a powerful tool that can improve government services and grow equity in our communities. But how we collect and use data is vital to safeguarding people’s privacy.
In their bi-annual meeting on Oct. 14, the King County Strategic Advisory Council (SAC) voted to endorse the countywide strategy to build up data governance policies and prioritize data investments.
Watch this video message from King County leadership discussing why data is important, and what we’re doing to protect it.
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Don’t count us out campaign
Cross-posted from Public Health Insider
The shame and stigma of living with substance use disorder (SUD) have prevented many people from getting the help and support they need.
To help reduce the stigma around those experiencing SUD, including alcohol use disorder, Public Health—Seattle & King County and the Department of Community and Human Services (DCHS) collaborated to launch a new health education campaign. Read more.
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New leave donation programs begin in 2023
King County allows you to donate your accrued vacation and sick leave to another employee who is in need. New leave donation programs will begin on Jan. 1, 2023*. The current employee-to-employee leave donation program will be updated to comply with IRS requirements and the emergency leave fund started during the pandemic will be converted to a permanent emergency medical leave fund.
Key information
- Leave donated under the new programs may only be used for FMLA/KCFML qualifying reasons, 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.
- Donated time may only be used after you have exhausted all of your own accrued leave.
- Leave donations must be used for a prolonged absence (three or more consecutive days) at the beginning, but then can be used intermittently.
- Employees will no longer accrue sick or vacation leave while on donated leave.
Existing donated leave balances can be used under the current rules through the end of 2022. If you have unused donated leave on Jan. 7, 2023, the balance will be moved to a new donated leave bank for you and the new rules will apply to it.
More information
- Details about these programs can be found in the FAQ.
- For general information about leaves, go to the Taking leave webpage and see the Employee Leave Guide.
- New forms will be posted online by the end of 2022.
*Although implementation for non-represented employees is pending Council action, these program changes are expected to begin for all employees on Jan. 1, 2023.
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King County Sheriff’s Office represents at youth community events
by Chief Shawn Ledford and Manny Apostol, KCSO Communications Specialist
Recently, the King County Sheriff’s Office (KCSO) outreach team made appearances at two simultaneous youth community events.
The Consejo’s Youth Empowerment Conference held at Renton High School was an opportunity for local students to attend workshops to uplift and empower them. Many of the students stopped by the KCSO table to learn more about the U-Visa/T-Visa program and language access. U and T Visa Manager Zoraida Arias engaged with students in Spanish so many of the attendees opted to ask questions in their native language. The KCSO representatives also shared their experiences in law enforcement and potential career opportunities with the Sheriff’s Office.
Happening at the same time was the Youth and Law Forum at the Tukwila Community Center. This event offered youth of all ages the opportunity to learn more about law enforcement and the judicial process. There were K9 and robot demonstrations, as well as KCSO’s Bearcat. Law enforcement agencies, law schools, and community resource organizations met and spoke with attendees and answered questions.
A special shout-out to those from the Sheriff’s Office who participated: Metro Detective Mike Ramirez, Metro Deputy James “JT” Taylor, PCT 4/Skyway CSO Vickie Cariello, TAC30 Deputy Chase McEvilly, Zoraida Arias, and Community Engagement Liaison Manny Apostol for their work in these events.
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Open Enrollment is live!
Open Enrollment starts today and ends Nov. 15. To ensure you are selecting the right benefits for you and your family for 2023, learn about your choices and see what’s changing next year, including:
- A new second dental plan choice—Cigna Dental HMO—for those in the Regular and Transit ATU 587 employee benefit groups. For details, see the Dental Plan Summary and go to the Cigna website for King County employees.
- A new fourth network choice—Virginia Mason Franciscan Health—in the KingCare Select medical plan. Go to Virginia Mason Franciscan Health to learn more.
- A one-time opportunity during Open Enrollment this year to enroll or increase your current supplemental life insurance coverage amount if you are in the Regular or the Transit ATU 587 Full-time Full-benefits groups. For more information, see the Securian Life Insurance Flyer and the Supplemental Life FAQ.
Learn more
- Go to the Open Enrollment website
- Attend an in-person Benefits Fair
- Register for an online Open Enrollment information session
- Watch the Open Enrollment Overview video
All set?
When you’re ready, login to PeopleSoft and select the Open Enrollment tile. Make your changes, review your Preview Statement, then use the Submit Enrollment button.
If you don’t participate in Open Enrollment…
- The Benefit Access Fee associated with the KingCare PPO medical plan will be automatically applied if you cover your spouse or domestic partner. If you qualify for an exemption, you must confirm this each year during Open Enrollment.
- You will not be enrolled in a Flexible Spending Account. Health Care and Dependent Day CareFSAs save you money by reducing your taxable income. You must re-enroll every year during Open Enrollment.
- Your other benefit choices will remain the same for next year.
Need assistance?
The Benefits office is open for in-person service!
Benefits, Payroll and Retirement Operations
Chinook Building, 2nd Floor
401 Fifth Avenue, Seattle, WA 98104
206-684-1556 or KC Benefits
9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday
Closed on Veterans Day: Nov. 11
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Cigna Dental HMO offers second dental plan choice this Open Enrollment
If you’re in the ATU 587 or Regular Employee benefits groups, you’ll have a choice this Open Enrollment for your 2023 dental plan. The new Cigna Dental HMO plan covers the same dental services as the Delta Dental plan, but has some important differences to consider.
What you pay for services
The Cigna Dental HMO plan has no deductible and no annual benefit maximum, which means there is no limit to the dollar amount the plan will pay for dental services.
You pay a copay for all services, which is a fixed out-of-pocket amount, instead of a percentage. Preventive care services like oral exams and cleanings are free, copays for fillings range from $0 – $55, and porcelain crowns are $100. See the dental plan summary for a comparison with Delta Dental out-of-pocket costs.
Enhanced orthodontia coverage
Members in the Cigna Dental HMO plan pay one copay for two years of orthodontia coverage–$2,049 for kids under age 19 and $2,553 for adults. If your orthodontia treatment extends beyond two years, you pay a prorated monthly amount.
You choose your primary dentist
With a dental HMO plan, you choose your primary dentist, who provides most of your dental care and refers you to specialists, like orthodontists or periodontists, when needed. Each member of your family can choose a different dentist and you can change your dentist at any time. Be aware that you must see your primary dentist, or the specialist your dentist refers you to, for services to be covered.
Check the Cigna Dental Care Access Plus Provider Directory to see which providers are available in your area. In addition to dentists by location, the provider directory includes languages spoken, photos, patient reviews, years of experience, and whether there have been any disciplinary actions from the State Department of Health. You also can call Cigna’s plan shopper helpline at 800-564-642 for help locating a dentist.
Is this plan right for you?
Where to get more information
- Attend a benefit fair—Cigna representatives and King County Benefits staff will be there
- Sign up for an online information session
- Visit the Open Enrollment website
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Security Tips – Watch Out For Smishing!
What it is: Many companies, products, and services have started offering text message alerts to keep you up to date. Scammers are aware of these alerts and they’re taking advantage of unsuspecting individuals. They send a text with dangerous links, or prompt you to respond with personal information by posing as your bank, an online account, or other service–to name a few examples. This Short Message Service (SMS) or text-based phishing scam is called Smishing, and the bad guys have taken a liking to it.
How it works: The following are only a couple of examples. The bad guys are constantly coming up with new ways to “smish” you:
- Use this link: Scammers pose as a familiar company or service and send shocking alerts such as–“Your account has been locked due to multiple failed logins.”–accompanied by a link to supposedly resolve the issue. Smishing links can contain malware that instantly installs if you made the mistaking of clicking. This malware can contain keystroke-logging software or permit access to your applications and files–making it easy to steal your identity or hold your files for ransom.
- Call this phone number: Smishing attacks often try to persuade you into calling a number by telling you there’s been an issue with your account or that suspicious activity has been detected. A scammer will be ready to take your call and persuade you into providing personal information or making a payment.
Think before you tap!
- Remember that government agencies, banks, or any other legitimate business will never request sensitive information over a text message.
- Take your time. Much like email phishing, texting scammers will often use the social engineering tactic of creating a false sense of urgency in their message.
- Never click on any links or call any phone numbers in unexpected texts. Contact the company directly if you’d like to verify the text message.
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