As our Annual Giving Drive winds down, you can still make a difference through the Employee Giving Program. Giving Tuesday is a global day of giving powered by social media and collaboration. For just one day, we have reopened the online pledging system for payroll donations. To join the movement, give now.

More than 500 past contributors have yet to renew payroll for 2020. Renewal is easy — but not automatic. Renew now.

If you’ve already pledged — thank you for your generosity!

On Giving Tuesday and all year, we work with hundreds of nonprofits to make our community and world healthier, stronger and more vibrant.

Thank you for all you do, and for allowing the Annual Giving Drive to be so successful. This year we have raised over $2 million for organizations that make a substantial difference in our community. We look forward to continuing this impact through Giving Tuesday.

Learn more at www.kingcounty.gov/giving, and read about employee giving at the KC Employees news blog. For questions or more information, contact EmployeeGiving@kingcounty.gov.

• Mindfulness and Emotional Resilience – Online – This 2-session workshop introduces techniques specifically designed to enhance participants’ ability to be aware of and respond to difficult emotional situations with both mindfulness and compassion, a combination which cultivates emotional resilience. This training takes place on Dec. 10 and 17, from 9:00am to 11:00am each day. The training is free and space is limited. Register here. 
• Communication and Problem Solving Skills – Online – Join instructor Lenny Borer for this two-day training. He will address communication and problem-solving skills with the public and with co-workers. This two-day class covers skills for effective listening, speaking, dealing with conflicts, and dealing with defensive behavior. This training is $65 and space is limited. It takes place on Tuesday and Wednesday, Dec. 8 and 9, both days from 1-4:30 p.m. Register here. 

Please visit our King County Eventbrite page website for more opportunities. For more information, contact the Learning and Development Team at KCTraining@kingcounty.gov or visit Learning and Development at www.kingcounty.gov/learning. 

Access to the PeopleSoft system is now restored for all users.

Thank you for your patience.

Some employees are experiencing difficulties accessing the PeopleSoft system.

We are working with our support partners to restore service and will send an update when the system is available again for all users. Thank you for your patience.

Drop boxes are a low-tech solution that fell out of favor in the internet age. But the Facilities Management Division (FMD) resurrected these relics from the past to serve customers safely while King County buildings remain closed due to COVID-19. In spring 2020, FMD installed nine new drop boxes in collaboration with Treasury, Records and Licensing, Assessments, and Metro. The boxes typically average 100-150 parcels per week, and that number skyrockets up to 350 parcels a week during tax season.  

“Yes, people still conduct transactions via the internet; however, there were no means for people who do not have access to computers to conduct business with the county,” Chris Stenger, FMD building Operations Manager said. “[Drop boxes] keep employees working and provide a means to keep the revenue flow going.”

The Department of Assessments is one agency that has adopted drop boxes to help its customers do business with the County. Before the pandemic, dozens of daily visitors submitted critical documents at the department’s customer service counter. When the world changed in early March, the Assessor’s office reacted quickly to the new reality.

“It was immediately clear to us that we needed to find ways to protect our staff, while still serving the public,” John Wilson, Assessor said.  “The use of a document drop box has been one of our most valuable customer service tools.” 

Customers can use the drop box to submit applications for a property tax exemption and a wide variety of other documents such as building plans. Department staff check the box every day.

“There was no pandemic playbook for us to consult, so we had to innovate on the fly,” Wilson said.  “The world didn’t completely stop due to COVID; much of our business needed to continue. I am proud of the steps our team took, and the document drop box has been a huge success.”

Most agency-specific boxes are checked daily by department staff and by FMD to ensure all parcels are delivered quickly. Drop boxes are located at:

 “Overall, this re-introduction of drop boxes is a great story on how no matter how many modern conveniences we have; there may be a time when we as a society may need to rely on a simple practice from the past to get us through hard times,” Stenger from FMD said. 

Hi! My name is Maxwell and I am available for adoption. I was brought in by my previous owner on March 3, 2020 because they were moving. I lived in a home with another other cat. My previous owner described me as shy, but loving. I was nominated as the Pet of the Week on 10/19/2020. This means that my adoption fee has been waived. However, please note that a pet license is a requirement and therefore a fee may be applied. This helps my safe return home should I become lost, and comes with additional benefits such as Vacation Pet Alert, Free Ride Home and more (visit our pet licensing page for more info)! 

My personality color is RED. I am a spirited cat with a fun-loving personality! I may be sensitive to handling, so I would do best in a home with a cat savvy family who knows when to give me some space. I am an adventure kitty who would love to go on walks with a harness outside to get enrichment! 

Read more and view all available pets at www.kingcounty.gov/adoptapet. Have you or someone you know adopted a pet from RASKC? Let us know. We’d love to tell your story. 

Read more and view all available pets at www.kingcounty.gov/adoptapet. Have you or someone you know adopted a pet from RASKC? Let us know. We’d love to tell your story.