Make the most of your King County benefits
Whitney Abrams, Chief People Officer, King County Executive Office
Open Enrollment for next year’s benefits is Nov. 1-15, so now is the time to review your benefit options for 2021.
Make sure you get the most out of your robust King County employee benefits package by learning what’s offered during Open Enrollment and how you can make changes:
- Check out the new online enrollment tool: This year, we’re using an updated PeopleSoft tool featuring a new look and feel and a mobile-friendly interface – making it easier for you to complete Open Enrollment using a smartphone or tablet. For details and step-by-step instructions, watch the video Completing Open Enrollment with PeopleSoft or read the Open Enrollment PeopleSoft Guide.
- Attend a virtual information session: Get a good understanding of your 2021 benefit changes, learn more about the updated Open Enrollment tool, and get your questions answered at live information sessions hosted by the Benefits Team. This event is offered on a variety of days and times to accommodate your schedule. Register here: Open Enrollment information session.
- Watch an Open Enrollment overview video: If you can’t attend an information session, the Open Enrollment Overview video covers similar information.
- Go to the Open Enrollment website: A wealth of information and tools, including 2021 benefit changes, medical plan comparisons, and information about Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs) and Benefit Access Fees, can be found at Kingcounty.gov/Open-Enrollment
- Complete Open Enrollment Nov. 1–15: You can log in to PeopleSoft from your work computer or personal device: kingcounty.gov/mybenefits. If you choose not to participate, you will not be enrolled in FSAs for next year; and if you cover a spouse/domestic partner, the Benefit Access Fee linked to your medical plan will be applied. Other benefits will remain the same.
For additional information, contact the King County Benefits Team at 206-684-1556 or by email at KC.Benefits@kingcounty.gov.
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Supporting children and youth through the 2020 Annual Giving Drive
This week, we are highlighting nonprofits whose work supports children and youth. These and hundreds of nonprofits are participating in this year’s Annual Giving Drive.
- Children’s Home Society of Washington (9244): A voice for children since 1896, we stand as the premier service provider to ensure the safety, security and success of Washington state’s children.
- Children’s Hunger Fund (2871): Our mission is to deliver hope to suffering children by equipping local churches for gospel-centered mercy ministry.
- Children’s Institute for Learning Differences (9280): Once-failing students learn to regulate themselves, develop relationships, and be learners with CHILD’s life-changing interventions, so they achieve success at school and in life.
Find out the many ways that you can take action in support of the participating nonprofits who are doing great work in our community and around the world. Make a donation, make a difference, and help make a long-lasting change.
From now to Nov. 20, you can go online or use a paper form to make a pledge to your favorite Employee Giving Program nonprofits by:
- Payroll donation: One-time, once–per-month, or twice-per-month.
- Time donation: Eligible vacation or comp time. See your department Lead Ambassador for details in your office.
- Check or credit card: Made out directly to the nonprofit.
- Volunteering: Up to three sick days per calendar year at a nonprofit in the EGP (for non-represented and employees whose union has approved this benefit, including those covered by the Master Labor Agreement).
For more information, contact your Employee Giving Program Ambassador, visit www.kingcounty.gov/giving, email EmployeeGiving@KingCounty.gov or call 206-263-9405.
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King County e-procurement is live
King County’s new e-procurement system is now live, and will streamline the procurement process and enhance engagement with suppliers. Procurement and Payables (P&P) is dedicated to supporting each employee as they learn the new system. Here are a few of the resources prepared:
- To assist agency staff, the agency website has been enhanced to provide details and answer questions. For help, please visit the agency website to collect more information and find user guides to assist with the new system. Questions can also be emailed to Procurement.Web@kingcounty.gov
- In preparation to support the supplier community, P&P has created a supplier specific landing page designed to answer all questions. If a supplier reaches out for assistance, direct them to the supplier website and highlight the supplier resources on the website.
New Concur travel and expense system coming next
This project also includes the implementation of a new state-of-the-art travel and expense (T&E) system as well. The T&E system is scheduled to launch on Dec. 7. In preparation for this fast approaching launch date, P&P will be providing regular updates and training content. Look for updates from P&P coming soon.
Thank you to the PTM Project Team
Thank you to all the staff in P&P and the Business Resource Center, along with agency representatives, who helped complete this portion of the PTM Project. Your hard work and dedication helped create the future for procurement activities for both internal and external stakeholders.
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Featured Job: IT Lifecycle Scheduling, Reporting and Asset Coordinator
Salary: $52,781.87 – $66,904.24 Annually
Location: Seattle, WA
Job Type: Career Service, Full Time, 40 hrs/week
Department: KCIT – Information Technology
Job Number: 2020-12360
Division: Ops and Infrastructure
Closing: 11/9/2020 11:59 PM Pacific
Learn more about this position or view all available positions.
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Reminder: Fall and winter mindfulness classes available
Balanced You continues to partner with Mindfulness Northwest to offer free mindfulness classes and workshops to King County employees, via both employee-specific and community classes. In alignment with social distancing recommendations, all in-person classes have temporarily shifted to online platforms. For the fall and winter, we have expanded our mindfulness class menu to include classes for employees involved in the COVID-19 response, classes for parents, classes for mindful eating, classes for emotional resilience, and more.
A sample of upcoming classes include:
- Mindful Morning for King County Employees, Saturday, Nov. 14, from 9 a.m.- 1 p.m. Register here.
- Mindful Eating, Tuesday, Nov. 10 and 17, from 1-3 p.m. Register here.
For the full mindfulness schedule and all registration links, visit this Balanced You blog post.
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Welcome to Open Enrollment!
Open Enrollment starts today
Take a fresh look at your benefits
Make the most of your robust King County employee benefits package by making informed decisions for next year during Open Enrollment, Nov. 1 – 15.
Learn more
Use the following resources to learn more, and ensure you are selecting the right benefit options for you and your family:
- See what’s changing next year.
- Register for a live Open Enrollment information session.
- Watch the Open Enrollment Overview
- Find out about the updated PeopleSoft Open Enrollment tool: Watch the Completing Open Enrollment with PeopleSoft video or read the Open Enrollment PeopleSoft Guide.
- Go to the Open Enrollment website.
Your choices
- Evaluate your medical plan options using the Plan Comparison Charts and other resources on the Medical plans Consider whether one of the lower-cost plans—Kaiser’s SmartCare or KingCare Select—makes sense for you.
- Review the Benefit Access Fee associated with your medical plan if you cover a spouse or domestic partner. If you qualify for an exemption, you must confirm this each year during Open Enrollment. The Kaiser SmartCare medical plan has no Benefit Access Fees.
- Consider enrolling in a Flexible Spending Account—Health Care and Dependent Day Care FSAs save you money by reducing your taxable income. You must re-enroll every year during Open Enrollment.
- Add or drop family members from coverage.
- Give to the Employee Giving Program during the Annual Giving Drive. Pledges do not rollover—you must submit your pledge each year.
All Set?
When you’re ready, login to PeopleSoft Nov. 1 – 15, and select the new 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 your medical plan and benefit group will be automatically applied if you cover your spouse or eligible domestic partner.
- You will not be enrolled in a Flexible Spending Account.
- Your other benefit choices will remain the same for next year.
Need assistance or have questions?
Benefits, Payroll and Retirement Operations
206-684-1556 or KC Benefits
9 a.m. – 4 p.m., Monday – Friday (closed Veterans Day, Nov. 11)
Extended Hours: 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 1 & Sunday, Nov. 15
Due to COVID-19, the Benefits office is closed for walk-in service.
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Featured Job: Criminal Information Processing Technician
Salary: $25.68 – $32.57 Hourly
Location: Seattle, WA
Job Type: Regular, Full time, 35 hrs/week
Department: KCSC – Superior Court
Job Number: 2020-12329
Division: Court Ops Support Services
Closing: 11/3/2020 11:59 PM Pacific
Learn more about this position or view all available positions.
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Employees need for Balanced You Well-being Advisory Committees
Do you have ideas on how King County can better support the well-being of you and your colleagues? In response to employee surveys and listening sessions, Balanced You, is developing two new well-being advisory committees: one for telecommuters and one for essential employees working onsite. Anyone interested is invited to apply. Visit this Balanced You blogpost for more information.
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Metro’s “Gold Tire” ceremony celebrates retirement of fleet’s diesel only coaches
Crossposted from Metro Matters
After 21 years of service to the residents of King County, King County Metro is celebrating the “retirement” of the last diesel-only coaches in its fleet, continuing the agency’s commitment to a zero-emission future.
After the first “1100” model coaches joined Metro in 1999, the fleet had 1,100 diesel-only coaches. Today, that number is zero. All Metro coaches are now either fully-hybrid (diesel-electric) or zero-emission coaches (electric trolleys and battery-electric coaches). Metro proudly joins only a handful of large transit agencies in the U.S. that have a fleet that does not include fully-diesel coaches.
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When staying home isn’t safe: Domestic violence in King County during a pandemic
Crossposted from Public Health Insider
The Governor’s Stay Home Order, business closures and other strategies helped slow the spread of COVID-19. Unfortunately, the social isolation and stress resulting from these efforts, combined with less access to external supports, may be increasing the occurrence of family violence.
Using data from emergency department visits, the legal system and the National Domestic Violence Hotline, Public Health – Seattle & King County released a new report comparing 2020 domestic violence patterns to the prior year. Within the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, people continue to seek out domestic violence services.
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