Employee News

Posted on December 13, 2020 by Lilia Cabello Drain

Hope and Joy Campaign: December 16 Coffee Connection

As part of the Hope and Joy Campaign, the Balanced You team is hosting a series of virtual zoom sessions, called “Coffee Connections”, to provide spaces for employees to connect over fun topics and events. The second Coffee Connection’s theme is “Quarantine Holiday Celebrations” Join us then to share the unique way you and your family will celebrate the holidays this year.

It will be held on December 16, from 10-10:30 a.m. Click here to Register.

You can check out other upcoming Coffee Connections on the Balanced You Blog here.

Posted on December 13, 2020 by Lilia Cabello Drain

Strategic Interviewing Tips and Techniques, December 17

This two-hour virtual workshop will provide you with strategies and tips to help you to do your best during the interview. Learning objectives include:

How to prepare for a virtual job interview
The interview structure and types of questions you will be asked
The STAR-LA method and how to use it to provide organized and complete responses

General tips and strategies

This workshop will take place Thursday, Dec. 17 from 1–3 p.m. Register here.

For additional online workshops offered by King County Career Support Services (CSS), visit their Eventbrite page. For more information about CSS visit www.kingcounty.gov/CSS.

Posted on December 12, 2020 by Lilia Cabello Drain

Road to Retirement session offered December 15

Are you planning to retire in the next six months? If so, join your Retirement Team for this informative 90-minute online class on Tuesday, Dec. 15, from 1–2:30 p.m.

We’ll discuss procedures and forms, medical coverage options, and pension plans—so you’ll be on a smooth road toward a happy retirement.

Please register for Road to Retirement at Eventbrite. Sessions for 2021 are also listed, so chose a class that works best for your schedule. After you register, you will receive an email with a Zoom link for the class you selected.

To learn more before the class, go the Retirement page and read the Retirement Guide. For more information, contact KC Orientations or Carmen Johnson, retirement navigator. Please note, attendance is strictly voluntary, on your own time, and non-work related.

Posted on December 12, 2020 by Lilia Cabello Drain

Ensuring a Disability Perspective in State Policy, online webinar

The webinar on “Ensuring a Disability Perspective in State Policy,” hosted by the Council of State Governments (CSG) and the State Exchange on Employment and Disability, is available for viewing. The webinar, which was held as part of the CSG 2020 National Conference, features discussions on how states can include individuals with disabilities in broader policymaking, including a disability perspective in commissions on transportation, the future of work, and other state initiatives. It was the final episode in an ADA30 series produced by CSG that explored the origin and legacy of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

Register here to watch “Ensuring a Disability Perspective in State Policy” webinar and visit the ADA30 series archive.

Posted on December 12, 2020 by Lilia Cabello Drain

COVID-19 Accessible Materials for People with Disabilities webinar series, December 16, January and February 2021

The Georgia Tech Center for Inclusive Design and Innovation presents the COVID-19 Accessible Materials for People with Disabilities webinar series. The following dates and topics are available for employees to register for:

Wednesday, Dec. 16, from 11 a.m. to noon. Register here for “A Closer Look: Mental Health and Resilience within the Disability Community During COVID-19” – explore the mental health and resilience of people with disabilities during the COVID-19 pandemic and ways service providers can access relevant resources
Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2021 from 11 a.m. to noon. Register here for “Making Social Media Accessible for People with Disabilities”
Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2021 from 11 a.m. to noon. Register here for “A Closer Look: Guidance for Business and Employers Considering the Needs of People with Disabilities during COVID-19”

For more information, visit the Georgia Tech Center for Inclusive Design COVID-19 Accessible Resources website.

Posted on December 11, 2020 by Lilia Cabello Drain

Employees may not relocate out of Washington while working remotely

Many King County employees are telecommuting through July 5, 2021, as we continue our efforts to slow the spread of COVID-19. Telecommuting employees may not relocate out of Washington state. Employees may work at a location outside of the home, provided the location is within a reasonable distance to the employee’s primary county worksite. Our policy continues to be that employees need to obtain prior approval if they want to temporarily work outside of their normal work/home area. Unless travel has been preapproved, employees are expected to remain close enough to physically report to work, if necessary.

Working outside of Washington involves many challenges, including different states’ taxation and employment laws. Moreover, it is important that – as a public employer – we continue to support and contribute to the vibrancy of communities within King County and across the state. You can find more details about the County’s policy in the Temporary COVID-19 Personnel Policy.

If you have additional questions, please contact your department’s HR Manager.

Posted on December 11, 2020 by Lilia Cabello Drain

STAR-LA Interview Practice and Feedback, December 15 and January 12

This 60-minute, virtual, small group workshop is designed to provide mock interview practice and feedback using the STAR-LA method as taught by King County Career Support Services. This workshop is ideal for participants who have attended the Strategic Interviewing Tips and Techniques workshop and/or have reviewed the STAR-LA method found on the Career Support Services website.

This workshop will take place Thursday Dec. 15 from noon to 1 p.m., and Jan. 12 from 12:30–1:30 p.m. Register here.

For additional online workshops offered by King County Career Support Services (CSS), visit their Eventbrite page. For more information about CSS visit www.kingcounty.gov/CSS.

Posted on December 11, 2020 by Lilia Cabello Drain

Creating Effective Application Materials online workshop, December 14 and January 13

This one-hour virtual workshop will provide you tips and strategies on how to make your application materials stand out. Learning objectives include:

Understanding the purpose of the job application, resume, cover letter and supplemental questions and how to make each of them more effective
Deciding what to include in your resume and the best format to showcase your qualifications
How to write a cover letter tailored to the specific position
Identifying and showcasing your accomplishments

This workshop will take place Monday, Dec. 14 and Jan. 13 from 1-3 p.m. Register here.

For additional online workshops offered by King County Career Support Services (CSS), visit their Eventbrite page. For more information about CSS visit www.kingcounty.gov/CSS.

Posted on December 11, 2020 by Lilia Cabello Drain

Testing and traveling during the holiday season

Crossposted from Public Health Insider

The holiday season has arrived as COVID-19 continues to spread throughout our communities. Two major ways to help protect our communities is by limiting our travel and testing for the coronavirus.

We’re sharing some of the questions we’ve been fielding about testing and traveling to help with your decisions to have a safer holiday season.