BRC gets national attention for credit card solution
King County continues to make waves nationally, in so many positive ways. Julia Cordero’s article about the county’s implementation of virtual credit cards as a new payment method in 2019 was recently published in Insight magazine, a national industry magazine that highlights best practices and innovative solutions. Cordero initially presented at Oracle Applications and Technology Users Group’s national conference last year. She was asked to write an article for Insight.
By Julia Cordero, ERP Project/Program Manager, Business Resource Center
What are Virtual Credit Cards?
With procurement card fraud on the rise, organizations are looking for ways to minimize unauthorized transactions. The now ubiquitous EMV chip cards have emerged as a way to increase security for card-present (CP) transactions, which are those in which the customer physically uses the card at the point of sale. In contrast, card-not-present (CNP) transactions, such as those involving online purchases, continue to be vulnerable to fraud.
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Strategic Interviewing Tips and Techniques – online, Sept. 16
King County Career Support Services staff will provide you with strategies and tips to help you to do your best during the interview. This training will include:
- How to prepare for a virtual job interview
- The interview structure and types of questions you will be asked
- The STAR-LA method and how to use it to provide organized and complete responses
- General tips and strategies
The workshop will be held via Zoom Wednesday, Sept. 16, from 10 a.m. to noon. Register here.
Additional courses are available on the Career Support Services training page. For questions or more information visit www.kingcounty.gov/CSS or contact Career Support Services at CareerSupportServices@kingcounty.gov.
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Options for flexible work schedules during COVID-19
King County now offers employees the option to flex their work hours where business needs allow for it.
Where permitted, an employee may adjust the time period in which they complete each day’s required work hours to help them better manage the competing demands on their time. For example, instead of a standard 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. work schedule, an employee may be permitted to adjust their schedule to 6 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. five days a week. Employees may also be permitted to adjust their schedule to work a different number of hours on each day of the week as long as they complete their regular 35- or 40- hour work week.
This option will not be appropriate for every employee or every function and will require the approval of an employee’s supervisor. Any change to the schedule of an employee represented by a labor organization must be consistent with the relevant collective bargaining agreement. If an employee would like to adjust their hours, they are encouraged to have this discussion with their supervisor. A Pandemic Alternative Work Arrangements form must be completed and approved by the employee’s supervisor prior to beginning an adjusted schedule. After an employee begins an adjusted schedule, supervisors should conduct periodic reviews with the employee to evaluate the success of the arrangement.
For more information and the form, visit the Human Resources webpage on accessing leave during COVID-19.
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Updated mask guidance for employees
King County has released updates to its Guidance for Workforce, Operations, and Customer Service Recovery and Temporary COVID-19 Personnel Policy, and has provided new guidance on face masks.
Under the updated policy, “individuals should use county provided masks or substantially similar masks in the workplace. Bandanas, gaiters, buffs, vented masks and face shields are not permitted substitutes for masks” (Temporary COVID-19 Personnel Policy, page 9).
Face masks must be worn properly in order to avoid contaminating the hands or face of the user. The County has cloth masks available for all employees to use in the workplace. Employees’ supervisors will tell them if a specific type of mask is required for their job.
In this unprecedented time, when individuals can be infected and contagious before or without symptoms and evidence suggests a significant number of infections may be transmitted this way, face coverings must be worn to prevent inadvertently spreading COVID-19 while interacting with others.
If an employee has COVID-19 symptoms, the employee should not report to a King County worksite. The employee should stay home, contact their medical provider and their supervisor or human resources manager. Refer to the Temporary COVID-19 Personnel Policy for more details on scenarios regarding COVID-19 testing and required protocols.
Read the policy for more information, and talk to your supervisor or your department’s Human Resources Manager (SharePoint: employee access only) if you have additional questions.
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New support and resources to help employees during COVID-19
King County has announced some new financial resources, tools, and policy decisions to help employees manage during this pandemic and make our work sites safer for everyone.
The new resources include support setting up remote workspaces, more options for flexible work schedules, support resources and leave options for parents with school-aged children at home, and updated guidance on wearing face masks at work. The Guidance for Workforce, Operations, and Customer Service Recovery has also been updated and divided into two separate guides with specific information for employees in one guide, and managers and supervisors in the other.
“Many King County employees are teleworking through Jan. 8, 2021, as we try to limit the transmission of the novel coronavirus and slow the spread of COVID-19,” Chief People Officer Whitney Abrams said. “Many employees are also showing up every day, onsite, while navigating the personal impacts of this pandemic. The announcement that most schools will start remotely in fall of 2020 creates additional challenges for working parents, as does caring for elderly or sick family members. This stuff is not easy, and it takes a toll!”
To support employees and keep our workspaces safer, King County has announced:
- Support setting up a remote workspace: Necessary furniture and equipment can be purchased prior to the end of 2020, and the County will provide computers and technology to support teleworking. Reimbursement may not be available after Dec. 30, 2020. See page 6 of the guide.
- More flexible work schedules: New options to flex work hours and adjust the time period in which work hours can be completed. See page 8 of the guide.
- Leave options for parents with children at home: King County offers a variety of leaves to help employees support our community and take care of themselves and their families during the COVID-19 outbreak. See our new Guidance for Parents with Children at Home for details.
- Childcare, self-care, and parenting resources: King County’s Making Life Easier program has produced a Parenting Toolkit called You’re Still Parenting Through a Pandemic: A Guide for Sustaining Yourself and Your Family in a Changing Landscape (when prompted, enter password “king county”).
- Face masks: Employees should use only County-provided masks, or masks that are very similar. Bandanas, gaiters, buffs, vented masks, and face shields should not be substituted for face masks. The County has cloth masks available for all employees to use in the workplace. See page 9 of the Temporary COVID-19 Personnel Policy. Certain higher-risk situations (like work in medical clinics) require specific masks, and if you or your employees have questions, please check with your department’s Human Resources Manager (SharePoint: employee access only) for more information about specific mask requirements.
For additional information, please consult your department’s Human Resources Manager or your supervisor.
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Creating Effective Application Materials – online, Sept. 1
King County Career Support Services staff will provide you with strategies and tips on making your application materials stand out. This training will include:
- Understanding the purpose of the job application, resume, cover letter and supplemental questions and how to make each of them more effective
- Deciding what to include in your resume and the best format to showcase your qualifications
- How to write a cover letter tailored to the specific position
- Identifying and showcasing your accomplishments
This workshop will be held via Zoom Tuesday, Sept. 1 from 1-3 p.m. Register here.
Additional courses are available on the Career Support Services training page. For questions or more information visit www.kingcounty.gov/CSS or contact Career Support Services at CareerSupportServices@kingcounty.gov.
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FMD saves the day with quick plumbing fix
When the plumbing backed up recently at the Jefferson Day Center on Fourth Avenue and Jefferson Street, initial estimates said it might take two weeks to fix, requiring digging up a busy downtown street. That also would mean a full closure for the center, which offers a safe place from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. for adults experiencing homelessness. The staff offers a cup of coffee, snacks, showers, laundry, on-site case management, and connections to housing and employment services in addition to shelter upstairs.
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King County dedicates $41 million to COVID-19 related rental assistance and eviction prevention
Individuals and families throughout King County economically impacted by COVID-19 due to illness, lost wages and unemployment may apply for assistance through the King County Eviction Prevention and Rent Assistance Program announced by King County Executive Dow Constantine. The new program dedicates $41.4 million for emergency housing aid and is expected to assist 7,700 to 10,000 households across the region.
“Many people are facing serious challenges due to COVID-19 and the loss of health or income, leaving them extremely vulnerable to eviction,” said Executive Constantine. “This emergency program will forestall the loss of housing and prevent homelessness for thousands of residents in need across King County.”
Read more in the official press release.
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Video: August 24, 2020 Update on COVID-19 in King County with Dr. Jeff Duchin
Crossposted from Public Health Insider
Watch the recording of the August 21, 2020 media briefing with Dr. Jeff Duchin, Health Officer for Public Health – Seattle & King County. Dr. Duchin spoke with reporters and answered questions about the latest status of COVID-19 spread in King County. The briefing addressed the latest trends in cases, the role social gatherings are having locally, and what we can all do now to reduce transmission during the sweet-spot before our weather turns colder.
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One month of summer left: If you can, take a vacation
If you want to take advantage of the warmer weather and sunshine, there’s only one month until we reach fall, so maybe it’s time to take a vacation if you can.
While an overseas vacation or trip to a favorite destination might be on hold now during the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s important to remember that a vacation from work allows the body and mind to rest. It allows us to pursue other activities and think about things unrelated to our jobs and careers. We can focus on our family, share laughter with friends, and devote energy toward our communities. And we can prioritize self-care. Studies show that taking time off reduces stress, anxiety, and depression, all of which can lead to serious health issues such as heart disease, high blood pressure, insomnia, and fatigue.
In addition to the many benefits to our physical, emotional and mental health, taking a vacation from work actually contributes to being engaged at work. One definition of stress is that constant feeling that you should be doing something other than what you are currently doing. The solution? Work when you’re at work, enjoy your kids and family when you’re with them, and recognize when you need a break or vacation. When you’re on vacation, focus on your vacation, knowing that your colleagues can handle the work while you truly rest.
So if your vacation to Italy is now on hold, consider exploring Woodinville’s wineries – safely of course. If hiking in Kauai got canceled, perhaps instead enjoy a hike in the Olympic National Park. There is no packing involved, no airport lines to stand in, and only minor actual traveling.
Staying close to home might be just the vacation you need. The Pacific Northwest provides so many ways to rest, relax, and explore. Pick a new neighborhood to discover, a new or engaging hobby to pursue, or a beloved vista to visit again. Alternatively, vacation at home, perhaps catching up with a good book (if you’re seeking inspiration, the 2020 Booker Prize longlist has just been announced), going for long walks, relaxing in the garden, or sleeping in late.
Then we’ll see you back at work.
Got questions about vacation leave? Talk to your supervisor or department’s Human Resources Manager (employee access only).
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