Training Spotlight for November 12
- Building Gender Inclusive Spaces – Online – In this two-hour workshop, participants will learn foundational knowledge of gender and sexuality and best practices to support a gender diverse workforce, with a focus on the intersection of race and LGBTQ+ identities. Participants will have the opportunity to move through real-life scenarios, apply their understanding of pronoun use, and develop strategies to advance gender equity at King County. This training is free and takes place on Monday, Nov. 16, from 1-3 p.m. Register here.
Seattle College Winter offerings will be posted by the end of next week. Please visit our King County Eventbrite page website for these and 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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New tool available to help employees choose medical plan during Open Enrollment
Open Enrollment is King County employee’s annual opportunity to evaluate employee benefit options and make changes for the upcoming year. The 2020 Open Enrollment period is currently open until November 15.
Employees who are considering choosing a new medical plan may be interested in the Washington Health Alliance’s 2020 Quality Composite Scores for Medical Groups and Clinics. This tool measures health care quality across the state of Washington using four domains (measures):
- Prevention and Screening
- Care for Chronic Diseases
- Coordinated, Cost-Effective Care
- Appropriate, Cost-Effective Care
For more information on this ranking tool, and how it can help you choose an insurance plan, please visit this Balanced You blogpost.
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King County Elections and Department of Community and Human Services Election Day partnership
On Nov. 3, King County Elections conducted the largest Presidential election in its history, amidst the backdrop of a global pandemic. As can be imagined, Election employees had been preparing for this day for months. Elections formed a great partnership with the Department of Community and Human Services (DCHS) Health Ambassadors in the COVID-19 Emergency Services Group. The Health Ambassadors program was developed to play a critical role in King County’s ongoing effort to slow the spread of COVID-19 and preserve hospital capacity. The Ambassadors, who perform outreach duties by passing out masks, hand sanitizer, and COVID-19 education tips, were dispatched to various drop box locations and two Vote Centers in King County. Working with Elections staff, they helped with social distancing and line management, while providing a friendly face and a message of appreciation to people who were voting.
Elections also wanted to build a voting experience that was safe and reassuring to all voters. Since the death of George Floyd and so many other Black lives that have been taken through senseless, violent, and racist acts, the Elections team has been concerned about ensuring the safety of staff and voters, while emphasizing a non-militarized and non-police security presence that is community oriented at drop boxes and vote centers. This partnership with the Health Ambassadors provided an additional opportunity to have King County staff available to assist voters and help de-escalate any potentially tense situations. King County Elections looks forward to other ways to partner with the DCHS Health Ambassadors in the future.
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Supporting mental health and well-being through the 2020 Annual Giving Drive
This week, we are highlighting nonprofits whose work supports mental health and well-being. These and hundreds of nonprofits are participating in this year’s Annual Giving Drive.
- American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (1508) – Exclusively dedicated to understanding and preventing suicide through research and education and to reaching out to people with mood disorders.
- Kitsap Mental Health Services (0907) – Kitsap Mental Health Services provides recovery-based behavioral healthcare for people of all ages. Services are each designed to best support an individual’s recovery.
- Mental Health American, formerly National Mental Health Association (4035) – The nation’s leading community-based non-profit dedicated to helping all Americans achieve wellness by living mentally healthier lives.
You can go online or use a paper form by Friday, Nov. 20, 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, call 206-263-9405, or attend an online Nonprofit Expo.
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King County honored with workplace mental health award
Whitney Abrams, Chief People Officer, King County Executive Office
I am proud to announce that King County has been awarded the 2020 Bell Seal for Workplace Mental Health at the Platinum, highest, level by Mental Health America (MHA).
The Bell Seal for Workplace Mental Health is a first-of-its-kind workplace mental health certification that recognizes employers who strive to improve employee mental health and create a psychologically safe workplace for all employees. It recognizes the comprehensiveness of our mental health approach at a time when we are expecting higher mental and behavioral health concerns due to the COVID-19 pandemic and ongoing racial injustice, and we are thrilled to be among the first organizations to receive this distinction.
The Bell Seal certification sends the message that King County is a national leader in workplace mental health. Bell Seal-certified organizations complete a rigorous evaluation of their workplace policies and practices in five areas: workplace culture, health insurance and benefits, employee perks and programs, legal and ethical compliance, and leadership and community engagement.
Here are some of the reasons for which we were certified at Platinum:
- Our commitment to racial justice
- Our competitive and mental health-friendly benefits package
- Our support of well-being through the Balanced You program
- Our willingness to go above and beyond ethical standards
- Our efforts to engage all levels of the organization in greater awareness of mental health and what to do when there are concerns.
This is a proud moment for King County as we continue to exceed expectations for what a mentally healthy workplace can be. One in five employees will experience a mental health condition each year, but we know that all employees benefit from a supportive and psychologically safe workplace. We care about your mental health and well-being, and our Bell Seal status is a testament to the positive workplace culture you have helped us create here at King County – and I thank you for that.
For more information about our mental health programs and resources visit the Balanced You mental health page.
Take care,
Whitney Abrams
Chief People Officer
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Thanking our local veterans for their service
King County Executive Dow Constantine
Dear fellow King County employee,
For more than 100 years, our nation has dedicated November 11 as the day to recognize the brave members of our country’s armed forces past and present. They placed their own lives at risk to defend freedom here at home and around the world. Veterans Day is our opportunity to honor and thank them for their service.
As we acknowledge the 115,000 veterans of all ages who call King County home, let us also recognize the 1,314 individuals we work beside every day – the King County employees in every branch and department of County government who have served in the armed forces. So far this year, 114 of our colleagues have performed military service hours. Serving your nation, serving your community – we are better for everything you bring to our team. Thank you all.
I am extremely proud that, in King County, support for our local veterans is demonstrated not just through words but through our actions. In November 2005, the voters of King County approved the first of three ballot measures that for 15 years have provided taxpayer support for shelter, housing, employment training, counseling, and behavioral health treatment coordinated through our King County Veterans Program. We are working to ensure that every returning veteran has the support they need to achieve a safe and healthy life when they come home – giving back to those who have given so much.
Veterans Day is Wednesday, November 11. Please join me in thanking our veterans and active duty personnel for their courage, commitment, and ongoing contributions to our country and to our community.
Sincerely,
Dow Constantine
King County Executive
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King County to observe Veterans Day holiday Nov. 11
Most King County offices will be closed in observance of Veterans Day on Wednesday, Nov. 11.
Due to the nature of our work, some services will continue as normal while others will operate on a reduced schedule. If you have any questions about your schedule for Nov. 11, please talk to your supervisor.
Veterans Day is our opportunity to thank our veterans for their service to our nation, and the contributions that they continue to bring to our communities.
Services will return to normal on Thursday, Nov. 12.
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Training Spotlight for November 10
- Mindful Morning for King County Employees – Online – A silent morning of continuous practice. During this half-day retreat, we will be guided in a sequence of meditation and mindfulness practices including: sitting meditation, the body scan, walking meditation, gentle mindful movement, and contemplative practices like the loving-kindness meditation. Restful and restorative. Treat yourself! Join us on Saturday, Nov. 14, from 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. Register here.
- Building Gender Inclusive Spaces – Online – In this two-hour workshop, participants will learn foundational knowledge of gender and sexuality and best practices to support a gender diverse workforce, with a focus on the intersection of race and LGBTQ+ identities. Participants will have the opportunity to move through real-life scenarios, apply their understanding of pronoun use, and develop strategies to advance gender equity at King County. This training is free and takes place on Monday, Nov. 16, from 1-3p.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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Access restored to King County systems
Access has been restored to King County systems that were experiencing outages, and these can now be used again.
Thank you for your patience and understanding.
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Outage of several King County systems
King County is experiencing a network outage that is impacting multiple County facilities as well as VPN connectivity. It is also affecting many major services, including call centers and Skype calls. KCIT is working to restore services as quickly as possible.
We will send an update when systems are restored. Thank you for your patience.
Employee News 