Preparing your pet for post-pandemic life
Cross-posted from Tails from RASKC
Pets are a big part of many peoples’ lives. While some families have had cats or dogs for years, others took advantage of the extended time at home during the COVID-19 pandemic to adopt a new furry friend. However, as pandemic restrictions ease and more people return to work and other activities outside the home, the newfound time alone can be stressful for our pets.
Here are a few tips adapted from the American Veterinary Medical Association and Dr. Patricia B. McConnell, a certified animal behaviorist, to help ease the transition to the “next normal.”
As a reminder, pets are not allowed in King County buildings. Service animals and Therapeutic Assistance animals are allowed as long as owners comply with the policy found here.
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2022 Employee survey participation continues to grow
The 2022 Employee Survey, open until Friday, March 25, continues to gain responses, with some divisions already over 50 percent. View the participation rates data here on the survey website to find out how your department is doing.
The survey is a great opportunity to let County leaders what is going well and where we need to improve. Remember that changes happen from your suggestions.
The survey — which can be taken on your work computer or a mobile device — will take no more than 15 minutes and can be done during work time. Your responses are 100% anonymous and cannot be traced back to you. The survey is available in English, Spanish, Vietnamese, Chinese, Amharic and Somali.
All employees are eligible for the employee survey, except the following:
- Employees in Superior Court, District Court, and Prosecuting Attorney’s Office
- Employees who are interns or short term temporary (STT)
- Employees who have not worked at the county for at least 3 months prior to the survey period (for 2022, employees must have started before December 7, 2021 to be eligible).
For FAQs and more information about the survey visit www.kingcounty.gov/employeesurvey.
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Seattle Symphony 2022-2023 season discounts available
King County employees can receive 15 percent off most Seattle Symphony concerts this upcoming season by using discount code OVATION22.
- March 17 at 7:30 p.m. and March 19 at 8 p.m: Tchaikovsky Symphony No. 5
- March 20 at 4 p.m: Celebrate Asia
- March 31, April 2 and 3: Mahler Symphony No. 6
Your promo code will give you 15 percent off these concerts. To order tickets visit www.seattlesymphony.org and enter the promo code OVATION22 prior to selecting seats, order by phone at 206-215-4747 or 1-866-833-4747 and give the operator the promo code or purchase tickets in person at the Benaroya Hall Box Office located at the corner of Third Avenue and Union Street, Monday through Friday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday 1 to 6 p.m.
See all available discounts on the Employee Discount webpage.
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Employees should apply now for monthly parking through August
Monthly parking via payroll deduction will be subsidized at 50% for the months of April through August in both downtown garages. Employees who wish to participate will need to submit a parking application (found on this page) to fmdpo@kingcounty.gov. There is a spot on the Parking Application form to list a department POETA. Normally this line is only used for agency-paid parking, but it will need to be filled out on all applications for subsidized parking. Check with your supervisor or manager to get the POETA for your workgroup. Those who have already submitted monthly parking applications will need to re-submit them with the required POETA information.
Subsidized parking is scheduled to end on Sept. 2, so monthly parking via payroll deduction will only last through August. To continue to have monthly parking fees paid via payroll deduction after that, you will need to submit a new application for monthly parking in late summer. A reminder will be sent by FMD in early August.
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Doc Maynard crew receives national recognition for saving capsized boaters
Cross-posted from The Captain’s Blog
Last August, the crew of the King County Water Taxi Doc Maynard saw people in the water just off Duwamish Head and acted quickly to rescue them after their sailboat had capsized.
The actions of Doc Maynard Capt. Brad Johnson and deckhands GW Rogers and Jay White received national recognition from the Passenger Vessel Association, who presented the organization’s Capt. Elizabeth Gedney Passenger Vessel Safety Award. Click here to read the full story.
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“Dream big. Never stop trying and learning.”
by Manny Apostol, King County Sheriff’s Office
Patti Cole-Tindall, interim King County Sheriff, recently spoke to the graduating class of TRAC, which stands for Trades Related Apprenticeship Coaching. This program is a 16-week state-registered pre-apprentice opportunity that prepares incarcerated women for entry into an apprenticeship with the building trades industry.
Students shared heartfelt stories of their struggles and inspirations during the virtual graduation. One recent graduate told the audience as to why the program was so important to her: “If you want something you’ve never had before, you need to do something you’ve never done before.”
Sheriff Cole-Tindall offered words of advice to those who completed the program: “You have accomplished a great deal by being part of the TRAC program. You have an opportunity to be successful and make a difference in the world. Dream big. Never stop trying and learning. Embrace your failures, and know you can make different choices.”
As TRAC has many successful graduates working and thriving in our communities, this program illustrates the importance of partnership in enhancing public safety by positively impacting the lives of those incarcerated.
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Updated mask requirements for employees now in effect
New mask requirements for Executive branch employees came into effect March 12, with masks now optional for most employees with some important exceptions.
Masks are now optional in all settings, including public-facing spaces, except on public transportation and in congregate settings and health care facilities, such as detention facilities and public health clinics, where masks will continue to be required.
Employees who work in the following settings are still required to wear face masks due to the nature of their work and to comply with state and federal guidelines:
- Public transportation
- Correctional facilities
- Health care settings
- Long-term care facilities.
Employees still have the option to wear face masks, even when they are not required. King County supports and encourages any employee who chooses to wear a face mask at work if it makes them more comfortable.
Superior Court and District Court will continue requiring masking in court rooms and in areas where work is done with members of the public. In all other areas, masking is encouraged for Superior Court employees but not required. District Court will continue to require that all District Court employees wear masks in all areas while at work.
Please see the Temporary COVID-19 Personnel Policy for more information.
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Sheriff’s Office team effort shuts down fentanyl trafficking organization
Over the past several months, the King County Sheriff’s Office Precinct 4 Special Emphasis Team (SET) has been conducting a long-term conspiracy investigation involving a fentanyl trafficking organization. This case is a great example of seamless collaboration to keep our communities safe.
The work originated in Burien and it spanned throughout the King County region. On March 2, 2022, the investigation took action when the Precinct 4 SET conducted an operation involving a series of warrants. They received assistance from several other teams in the region inlcuding the SeaTac SET, Shoreline SET, KCSO INTEL, SeaTac Criminal Intelligence Division (CID), Shoreline CID and Patrol, along with the Precinct 3 K9 unit and the Communication Center. This operation was a huge success, recovering drugs with a street value of over three-quarters of $1 million:
- 71,680 fentanyl pills seized (street value = $716,000)
- 1.5 pounds of heroin seized (street value= $60,000)
- $5750 cash seized
- 1 vehicle seized
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Disability awareness resources, recorded trainings from 2021, and planning ahead for 2022
National Disability Employment Awareness Month is celebrated every October by King County to honor the many contributions made by people with disabilities, and how these individuals strengthen our workforce, our communities, and our country.
This past year, the Disability Awareness Committee organized a wide series of articles and events to highlight these contributions, including:
Universal Design for Meetings, Events and Trainings: This event was hosted by the King County Department of Human Resources and featured Blayne Amson, City of Bellevue Americans with Disabilities Act and Title VI Program Administrator. Amson discussed his work applying the principles of Universal Design to meetings, trainings, and events. Blayne is a powerchair user, holds a Masters in Disability Studies, and has over 15 years of experience helping the non-disabled adopt an anti-ableist lens in the work they do. View the event online here.
Disability Awareness Month Employee Panel: This panel, titled “So I disclosed my disability, what’s next?”, featured employees with disabilities who shared their personal experiences of disability disclosure, perspective from a supervisor’s understanding, alongside a Disability Service representative who shared resources available to support employees with disabilities and the process of navigating accommodations. View the panel online here and learn more about the panel here.
Considering Accessibility on Capital Improvement Projects: This webinar featured King County’s Wastewater Treatment Division discussing how to better consider accessibility in projects to support project teams and our communities, a major priority as King County carries out major capital projects to build roads, stormwater and wastewater utilities, transportation facilities and more. View the webinar online here.
To get involved with organizing events and programs that celebrate the anniversary of the passing of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, better known as the ADA, every year in July, and National Disability Employment Awareness Month in October, please contact Christina Davidson at Christina.Davidson@kingcounty.gov.
Additional King County Disability services, resources, and contact information
As employees of King County, our True North guides the work we do and the services we provide, “Making King County a welcoming community where every person can thrive.”
As an employer, King County offers the same commitment to those who bring that mission to life. Guided by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and our pledge to equity and social justice, King County provides an array of services and support for employees with disabilities.
Click here to see the full list of resources.
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County leaders wants to hear from you through the 2022 Employee Survey
King County leaders want to hear from you about what is going well and where we need to improve. The 2022 Employee Engagement Survey is your opportunity to speak up, be heard, and make a difference.
The survey is available in six languages this year: English, Spanish, Vietnamese, Chinese (traditional and simplified), Amharic, and Somali.
King County Executive Dow Constantine, King County Council Chair Claudia Balducci, Assessor John Wilson, Elections Director Julie Wise, and Interim King County Sheriff Patti Cole-Tindall shared why participating in the Employee Engagement Survey is so important in the short video below.
Watch the video and click here to learn more. For additional information visit www.kingcounty.gov/employeesurvey.
Employee News 