Employee News

Posted on September 8, 2020 by Lilia Cabello Drain

Pet of the Week: Dora

Hi! My name is Dora and I am available for adoption. I like getting attention on my own terms. When I come up to say hello, sometimes I want to rub against your pant leg, sometimes I want to smack you, and sometimes I want to bite you. I’ll always keep you guessing as to what kind of mood I am in! I am a gorgeous cat that at first was very timid, but once I realized that people just want to make me happy, I have taken my rightful place as princess and will be adored and treated with respect! I can get overstimulated with petting, so please move carefully with me and keep an eye out for signs that I might need a break. 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.

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.

Posted on September 8, 2020 by Lilia Cabello Drain

Celebrate the unsung heroes of the workplace: Payroll Professionals

This week is National Payroll Week. It is a week set aside to celebrate all payroll professionals everywhere who, day after day, work hard to ensure the timely and accurate distribution of payroll to approximately 150 million America wage earners.

Payroll is important. Not only is it a symbol of the bond of trust and mutual commitment between employers and employees, payroll also funds families, supports households, and keeps our economy going. It enriches careers and allows us amazing experiences as we grow and go. To be a payroll professional means that you are constantly learning as you work through the many changes and increasing demands to be compliant with federal, state, and county regulations. Yes, payroll is also difficult and seems to get harder and more complex every day, but it is also enormously rewarding to know that you consistently provide employees with an accurate and timely paycheck every single payday.

This year, we have all faced unexpected and enormous challenges to ensure payroll is processed properly while many of us are working from home with all its distractions and interruptions and without our usual working space, yet, somehow we have all managed to overcome the new obstacles and meet the challenges to stay on schedule. Please know that your many efforts to keep payroll on track, regardless of those challenges, are very much appreciated.

Thank you for all the work you do every day to pay our employees. Your part in this complex process and your willingness to do whatever it takes to meet the payroll deadlines makes it possible for employees to be able to count on King County payroll, regardless of the department or agency. We are all partners in this process and appreciate all you do for payroll, and especially your flexibility and determination in this difficult year.

To show the appreciation of the county, King County Executive Dow Constantine has declared this week to be National Payroll Week 2020 in King County. View the official proclamation here.

Posted on September 8, 2020 by Lilia Cabello Drain

Advice for working in smoky air

Dear employee,

You have probably noticed the smoky air in our region today. Wildfire smoke can cause a range of health problems, including chest pain, coughing, fast heartbeat, headaches, and asthma attacks. Some people need to be outdoors for their work or other responsibilities. With our current unhealthy air conditions, it’s recommended that you limit your time outdoors. If you are concerned about doing field work in these conditions, please consider these tips and guidance:

Talk to your supervisor about possible options to reduce the amount of time you spend outdoors by performing desk work or alternate work assignments on smoky days.
Conduct field work later this week if possible (smoke should improve later in the week)
The air quality level can change quickly, so check air quality conditions regularly and if possible, adjust your schedule to avoid travel and working outdoors during periods when air quality is the most impacted by smoke conditions (keep in mind air quality is typically the worst in the middle of the day during wildfire smoke).
If you must work outdoors, limit time outdoors to a minimum and find a safe location to breathe filtered air while maintaining social distancing during breaks from outdoor work. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it will be more difficult to find public spaces to take clean/cool air breaks this year.
Drink plenty of water.
If you have medical conditions that could be worsened by wildfire smoke, consult with your medical provider and speak with your supervisor to work out the best options for your work schedule on smoke days.
You may be able to use accrued vacation or comp time when there is wildfire smoke instead of reporting to your designated work location. You may request leave, subject to approval by your supervisor. If you have no leave accrued, your supervisor may approve leave without pay to cover absences. Please refer to HR Bulletin 2011-0009 County Operations During Emergency Situations and Inclement Weather to learn more.

It is not known how much protection cloth face coverings or surgical masks provide from wildfire smoke. N95/N100 masks can provide protection to some people when worn properly but can also worsen conditions for people with existing respiratory conditions. Due to COVID-19, N95/N100 masks may not be available and those available are in need by medical professionals. KN95 masks are available through your agency’s Safety Officer where needed. Safety Officers may contact Fleet Stores for masks at fleetstores@kingcounty.gov.

More information from Public Health – Seattle & King County about wildfire smoke and your health can be found here. Additional information from WA Department of Health and EPA on indoor air filtration during wildfire smoke can be found here and here. We will provide additional updates as conditions warrant.

Posted on September 6, 2020 by Lilia Cabello Drain

Two new COVID-19 testing sites to open in South King County

Crossposted from Public Health Insider

New testing sites in Renton and Auburn will bring additional free COVID-testing to south King County, where communities have been disproportionately impacted by COVID-19. A new site in Auburn opens Sept. 1, and a new site will open in Renton on Sept. 8.

If you have symptoms, get tested early

Early testing is important to help prevent COVID-19 from spreading to friends, family, and the community. It is important to get tested immediately if you have any of the symptoms of COVID-19, including cough, shortness of breath, fever, loss of taste or smell, muscle or body aches, nausea, or diarrhea.

We strongly encourage anyone seeking testing to pre-register at the websites below to save time and speed up the testing process.

Making Life Easier offers live and on-demand webinars for King County employees, multiple dates

King County employees have access to a variety of upcoming scheduled webinars hosted by Making Life Easier. Register early for live interactive sessions as space is limited; otherwise, recordings will be available on-demand 48 hours after the live session.

Tools for navigating this marathon of uncertainty, Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2020, from noon to 1 p.m. Register here.
Supporting your working parents in the chaos of 2020: A webinar for managers, Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2020 from noon to 1 p.m. Register here.

For more information about the Making Life Easier program, visit www.kingcounty.gov/MLE.

Posted on September 6, 2020 by Lilia Cabello Drain

Building Bridges Between Cultures, online training Sept. 18

The King County Native American Leadership Council is sponsoring “Building Bridges Between Cultures.” This free learning opportunity is open to all King County employees and is limited to 300 participants. This workshop will assist participants to understand and acknowledge the unique history and experience of Indigenous Peoples and learn about allyship responsibilities. The training will be hosted by Ellany Kayce and Jonathan Betz-Zall of the Seattle based Nakani Native Program. “Nakani” is a Tlingit word for a person or an entity that serves as a go-between or connector for different people and cultures.

Friday, Sept. 18 from 10 – 11:30 a.m. Join the Zoom call here. Please note the updated meeting link and password: Meeting ID: 947 5904 1117, password: NALC. On mobile: Dial 1-253-215-8782 then input the meeting ID number.

For more information, contact Native American Leadership Council representative Pamela Stearns at Pamela.Stearns@kingcounty.gov.

Posted on September 5, 2020 by Lilia Cabello Drain

Let’s Hit 90, King County!

Crossposted from Election Connection

Over the last year, voters in King County have surpassed our expectations time and time again when it comes to turnout.

In the August Primary, we projected 43% — you all showed up at 56%. The turnout for the 2016 August Primary was 37%. In the March Presidential Primary, we projected 40% — you all showed up at 56%. The turnout for the 2016 Presidential Primary was 33%. Needless to say, King County voters have been showing up and making their voices heard.

Now, as we turn our attention to the Presidential election this fall, we’ve got a challenge for you – Can we hit 90? 90% turnout means almost 1.3 million ballots returned this fall. That is a lot of votes to count. But never fear – we’ve got this.

Join the conversation about employee safety during the COVID-19 pandemic

All employees will soon receive an invitation by email or mail from the Auditor’s Office and the University of Washington to participate in a short, voluntary survey about employee safety during the COVID-19 pandemic. This work builds on some of the safety surveys and communication you might have already received. By providing your insights, you can help to continuously improve wellness and safety efforts at the county and contribute to occupational health research being conducted by the University of Washington.