Employee News

Posted on September 29, 2020 by Lilia Cabello Drain

Tech Tip: Clearing your cache to access the new and improved PeopleSoft

PeopleSoft was upgraded over the weekend. Just a reminder that users may experience PeopleSoft performance issues after this update. The system may be missing homepages, freeze, or show a spinning wheel for an extended period of time. Confirm that you are using a valid web browser, and then follow these instructions to delete temporary internet files (also called cache).

Posted on September 28, 2020 by Lilia Cabello Drain

Access to King County systems restored

KCIT has been working with its vendors to restore access to King County’s systems, and you should now be able to access all of your online services and systems.

We are waiting for further information from the vendor that the issue has been fully resolved, and will update you when we receive final confirmation.

We appreciate your patience and understanding. Thank you.

Posted on September 28, 2020 by Lilia Cabello Drain

Outage of several King County systems

King County is currently experiencing an outage to several major services, including Outlook email, SharePoint, Teams, Dynamics, Power BI, and other Microsoft services. In addition, other dependent services such as eCommerce, PRISM, and NeoGov are down. We are working with Microsoft to identify a resolution.

We will send an update when systems are restored. Thank you for your patience.

Posted on September 27, 2020 by Lilia Cabello Drain

Featured Job: Elections Worker (Temporary)

Salary: $19.99 – $22.57 Hourly

Location: WA 98057-2906, WA

Job Type: Short Term Temporary, Full Time, 35 hrs/wk

Department: KCE – King County Elections

Job Number: 2020RL11914

Closing: Continuous

Learn more about this position or view all available positions.

Posted on September 27, 2020 by Lilia Cabello Drain

DES featured in new book, “Solving the People Problem”

Crossposted from the DES Express

A new book, “Solving the People Problem; Essential Skills You Need to Lead and Succeed in Today’s Workplace,” will be published at the end of the month. The book features several examples of how DES, specifically the Finance and Business Operations Division (FBOD) and the Business Resource Center (BRC), have had success using the tools associated with the DISC profile to improve communication, relationships and productivity.

The book includes an example of how the BRC has improved communication and increased productivity across the organization, while raising engagement, using the agency-wide DISC assessment and a “Step Up and Step Back” approach.

Register for the Procurement Technology Modernization Open House on October 1

The Procurement Technology Modernization (PTM) project is well underway and fast approaching some major milestones. This project includes two system implementations: Oracle Procurement and Concur Travel and Travel Expense Reimbursement.

The Oracle Procurement system includes a new service request and solicitations module, along with a self-service supplier registration module. It is scheduled to launch on October 26. Right now, the project team is focused on executing a phased training approach including Procurement and Payables staff, agency representatives, and eventually all relevant agency users. The second system implementation of the PTM project, the Concur system, offers King County employees traveling for work an automated way to seek travel approvals, book travel, and submit travel expense reimbursement. This system is currently undergoing testing, and training opportunities will be announced in the next few weeks.

Please join us on Thursday, Oct. 1 at 2 p.m. via Zoom for the second PTM Agency Open House to learn more details about PTM and get your questions answered. Click here to register today.

Posted on September 27, 2020 by Lilia Cabello Drain

Utility of the Future Today and awards for outstanding performance

Crossposted from Clean Water Stories

King County Wastewater Treatment Division (WTD) has received national recognition as a Utility of the Future Today for its beneficial use of Loop® biosolids. WTD is one of 65 water utilities being recognized for transformational work in community engagement, watershed stewardship, and recovery of resources such as water, energy, and nutrients.

The Utility of the Future Today concept is being promoted as water systems face challenges such as aging infrastructure, water pollution, workforce shortages, and impacts of climate change, including drought, floods, storms, and sea level rise. The Utility of the Future Today program was launched in 2016 by the National Association of Clean Water Agencies (NACWA), the Water Environment Federation (WEF), the Water Research Foundation (WRF) and the WateReuse Association, with input from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The recognition celebrates the achievements of water utilities that transform from the traditional wastewater treatment system to a resource recovery center and leader in the overall sustainability and resilience of the communities they serve. WTD was recognized in 2016 and 2017 as a Utility of the Future Today, as well.

Emergency Management awarded a grant to plan for catastrophic disasters

Crossposted from the DES Express

Following a major earthquake, the supply chain that delivers life-sustaining products to our region will be impacted. King County Emergency Management received nearly $930,000 from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) through the Regional Catastrophic Preparedness Grant Program to establish a framework that lays out alternative modes of delivering these much needed products, specifically using our region’s waterways.

Equity and social justice is a large component of the grant, and the framework will work to ensure that it includes distributing goods and services to the diverse and traditionally underserved populations and communities in the region. The grant is a cross jurisdictional effort including counties, cities, and tribal nations. King County Emergency Management will start this work in early 2021.

Posted on September 26, 2020 by Lilia Cabello Drain

Halloween tips from Public Health

Crossposted from Public Health Insider

Holidays are going to be different this year, no question about it. But we all need to have some festivity, especially in the midst of the all we’ve had to deal with this year. Halloween has some good celebration options since many activities can be outside and mask wearing is part of the holiday, but there are still some risks with COVID circulating. Public Health has tips to prevent illness, help our community stay on track for reopening, and still retain some of the spooky and sweet flavor of Halloween.

First, the basics: when planning your Halloween activities, follow the fundamentals of COVID prevention. Limit close contact with other people, limit touching points, and practice good hand hygiene.