Training Spotlight for October 20
- Decision Making through North Seattle College – Online – Expand your decision-making skills by identifying problem-solving styles. Find creative solutions in decision-making and build the ability to search for and find facts that relate to the situation and put them together in ways that work. Learn to tap into the knowledge of others to help expand available options. This workshop will give you better problem-solving steps and tools to make decisions. This class is tomorrow, Oct. 21, from 1-4 p.m. The fee is $89.00 and space is limited. Register here
- Mentorship Lunch and Learn – Online – Would you like to have a mentor, someone who can help you grow professionally? Do you want to strengthen your coaching skills? As a Mentee, you will have a trusted advisor who can help you navigate complex situations, and as a Mentor, you can uncover new or forgotten skills and build influence. This Lunch and Learn is free and the next session is on Oct. 22 from noon to 1 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.
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Look for Open Enrollment information in your mailbox
It’s in the mail
Look for Open Enrollment information
Check your home mailbox for important benefits and Open Enrollment information mailed recently to the address you have listed in PeopleSoft. Open Enrollment takes place Nov. 1 – 15 and you can start preparing now.
What’s changing?
- New online enrollment tool: This year, we’ll be using an updated PeopleSoft tool featuring a new look and feel and a mobile-friendly interface—making it easier to complete Open Enrollment using your smart phone or tablet. For details, step-by-step instructions, and screenshots, watch the Completing Open Enrollment with PeopleSoft video and read the Open Enrollment PeopleSoft Guide.
- Benefit changes: Several benefit changes become effective Jan. 1, 2021. See 2021 Key Benefit Changes or watch the Open Enrollment Overview video to see what’s changing for your benefit group.
Learn more at a virtual information session
Get a head start on understanding your 2021 benefit changes, learn more about the updated Open Enrollment tool, and get your questions answered at a live information session hosted by your Benefits Team. This event will be held on a variety of days and times to accommodate your schedule.
Register for an information session
Why participate in Open Enrollment?
- Enroll in a Flexible Spending Account—Health Care and Dependent Day Care FSAs reduce your taxable income—saving you money. You must re-enroll every year during Open Enrollment. The Health Care FSA maximum contribution for 2021 is $2,750.
- Select the appropriate Benefit Access Fee—or exemption. If you cover a spouse or domestic partner on your medical plan, a Benefit Access Fee may be automatically applied, depending on your benefit group and the plan you choose. If you qualify for an exemption, you must confirm this each year during Open Enrollment. If no action is taken during Open Enrollment and you later determine that you qualified for an exemption, fees already deducted will not be refunded.
- Change medical plans—Use the Plan Comparison Charts and other resources on the Medical plans page to consider whether Kaiser SmartCare or KingCare Select (Regence) makes sense for your family. These plans will likely save you money, with lower deductibles, copays, and Benefit Access Fees. The KingCare (Regence) plan is also still available.
- Give—Contribute to your favorite nonprofit in the Employee Giving Program during the Annual Giving Drive. Pledges must be renewed each year. Your donations to the nonprofits you selected do not automatically roll over.
What if you don’t participate in Open Enrollment?
- You will remain enrolled in your current medical plan.
- The Benefit Access Fee associated with your medical plan and benefit group will be automatically applied if you cover your spouse or domestic partner.
- You will not be enrolled in a Flexible Spending Account.
- Your other benefit choices will remain the same for next year.
More Open Enrollment and benefits information
Benefits, Payroll and Retirement Operations 206-684-1556 or KC Benefits
9 a.m. – 4 p.m., Monday – Friday (closed Veterans Day, Nov. 11)
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Benefits office is closed for walk-in service.
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Featured Job: End the HIV Epidemic (EHE) Program Manager (Project/Program Manager IV)
Salary: $100,134.11 – $126,926.18 Annually
Location: Seattle, WA
Job Type: Career Service, Full Time, 40 hrs/week
Department: DPH – Public Health
Job Number: 2020NH12265
Division: Prevention
Closing: 10/26/2020 11:59 PM Pacific
Learn more about this position or view all available positions.
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Training Spotlight for October 15
- Introduction to Mindful Self-Compassion – Online – Mindful Self-Compassion combines the skills of mindfulness and self-compassion, providing a powerful tool for emotional resilience. This class is being offered through Balanced You and is free. To view available opportunities and register, please follow this link. Register here.
More opportunities are available on our King County Eventbrite page. For more information, contact the Learning and Development Team at KCTraining@kingcounty.gov or visit Learning and Development at www.kingcounty.gov/learning.
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Learn how to boost your retirement savings
You and your spouse or significant other are invited to learn more about saving for retirement with the King County Deferred Compensation Plan.
Several webinars are coming up Oct. 20, and 21, Nov. 2, and Dec. 4, including the following. See details and registration.
- Social Security Simplified
- Retirement Ready
- Savings Strategies
- Creating and Balancing a Budget
- Financial Wellness
- Women and Retirement
If you would like to meet individually with a retirement specialist who can help you review your retirement goals, schedule a virtual check-in.
For more information about Deferred Compensation Plan education, go to the Deferred Compensation web page. If you have any questions, please contact KC Deferred Comp.
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A Conversation on the Impacts of the Pandemic While Living with a Disability, October 29
The Disability Awareness Committee, Balanced You, and the Employee Assistance Program (EAP) are hosting a panel featuring employees with disabilities who will share their experiences and stories living through this pandemic. Resources to support employees with disabilities will also be shared during this panel discussion. All King County employees are welcome to join.
- Thursday, Oct. 29, from 10-11:30 a.m. Register here.
If you have questions about this opportunity, please email JaChristensen@kingcounty.gov.
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Love your King County employee benefits?
Want to help spread the word about the great employee benefits King County provides? The Benefits Team is looking for employees who utilize and love their employee benefits. If this is you—and you’d like to find out even more and help your coworkers learn about their benefit choices during Open Enrollment, Nov. 1–15, let us know!
Later this month, you will be provided with virtual training and materials, so that you can encourage participation in Open Enrollment, answer questions, and offer support to the people you work with.
Participation is strictly voluntary, on your own time, and non-work related. For more information, contact the Benefits Team at 206-684-1556 or KC Benefits.
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Facilities Management Division staff tackle big challenges
It takes a team to manage the challenges that 2020 has brought to King County and the world. The need for cleaning has increased incredibly from both COVID-19 and protests associated with racial injustice. Repeatedly, downtown county buildings have been tagged with graffiti. Facilities Management Division (FMD) employees have all stepped up, from trades workers to custodians, Utility workers and security officers, to name a few.
“I am just so proud of all the work FMD employees put in each and every day for this county,” said Aaron Bert, Deputy Director of Operations for FMD.
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Building a Future that Works celebration, October 20
The U.S. Department of Labor will host a virtual celebration of the 75th annual National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM) and the 30th anniversary of the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act. The event will explore the crucial role of accessible technology in this year’s NDEAM theme of “Increasing Access and Opportunity” for people with disabilities, and the Labor Department’s work to ensure that emerging technologies are accessible to all in the workplace. Features will include insightful dialogues with thought leaders and a video showcase of the latest innovations in communications, artificial intelligence, autonomous vehicles, and more.
- Tuesday, Oct. 20 from 11 a.m. to noon. Register here.
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Featured Job: Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Mediator
Salary: $97,787.25 – $123,950.94 Annually
Location: Seattle, WA
Job Type: Career Service, Full Time, 40 hrs/week
Department: DHR – Human Resources
Job Number: 2020EM12244
Division: Career and Culture
Closing: 10/20/2020 11:59 PM Pacific
Learn more about this position or view all available positions.
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