Mental Health Month week three: Connecting with others
For the third week of Mental Health month, Balanced You is focusing on the topic “connecting with others.” Social connection helps ward off social isolation and is an important part of mental health. The connections we make with other people enrich our lives and support us through the most difficult times. But, sometimes, it is not easy to know how to make those meaningful, enriching connections, especially during the pandemic.
During the pandemic, you may not be as ambitious about connecting with others as you were pre-pandemic, and that is okay. Still, there are small steps you can take to help maintain connection during this time, using both technology and other resources. Check out the Balanced You blog for more information.
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D.I.Y. face coverings: Tips on making cloth masks from the Public Health Crafter’s Corner
Crossposted from Public Health Insider
A lot has changed since we published our first Public Health Crafter’s Corner in December (where we featured bedazzled hand sanitizer as a surprisingly prescient holiday gift). Since then, crafting has become a way to fill the many hours at home, and now there is urgent need for homemade cloth masks with the directive to wear face coverings in King County.
Fortunately, making your own face coverings isn’t necessarily hard or expensive. We’ve got you covered–so to speak–with Do-It-Yourself ideas, even if you’ve never threaded a needle or touched a glue-gun.
Read more from Public Health Insider
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Remembering and honoring our fallen heroes
Every Memorial Day, in communities across the nation, we honor the brave members of our country’s armed forces who gave their lives to protect our country and our freedom.
As we reflect on the service of our fallen heroes, let us also remember the families they left behind. We honor the memory of those we have lost when we support their spouses and children, and when we help our returning veterans build healthy and successful lives here at home.
On Monday, May 25, I ask you to join me in a moment of remembrance and respect for all who have died in service to our country, and offer our gratitude to all who serve around the world and here at home.
Sincerely,
Dow Constantine
King County Executive
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Advice from EAP during Mental Health Month: Finding safe connection while social distancing
Social distancing is one the strongest tools we have to save lives and slow the spread of the coronavirus. Yet for many of us, the practice is difficult; while social distancing keeps us and others safe, it also challenges our important need for connection.
Whether you live alone or in a home full of people, practicing social distancing can lead to feelings of isolation, which can take a toll on your mental health. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to help combat isolation and stay safely connected, both online and offline, to others during this time. Visit the Balanced You blog for more information.
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Mentoring Lunch and Learn online session, May 26
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. If the thought excites you, join King County’s Mentoring Program by signing up for a monthly online sessions to uncover more about mentoring and search for a Mentor,
Tuesday, May 26, 2020 from noon to 1 p.m., register here.
This session is live via Zoom. For questions contact Learning and Development at KCTraining@kingcounty.gov.
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Celebrating Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, May 2020
This year the King County Asian Pacific Islander Affinity Group (API) has developed several events and resources to share API culture, support the API community, and learn more about Asian American and Pacific Islander history.
- Volunteering at Danny Woo Garden, Wednesday, May 27, 2020 from 1-4 p.m. Contact Sung Cho to volunteer.
- Asian Americans PBS Series discussion, Thursday, May 28, 2020 from noon to 1 p.m. Join on Zoom.
The API group has also put together resources to help employees learn how they can better support the Asian American and Pacific Islander community. Consider supporting a local business or produce and flower farm owned or operated by Asian American and Pacific Islander individuals. Employees can also learn more about Asian American and Pacific Islander Leaders and Luminaries in a presentation developed by the API group, viewable here.
Additionally, employees are invited to participate in the API “Thank You Campaign” to send letters of appreciation to King County essential workers. To ensure their letter is included, employees will need to submit their letter directly to Stephanie Santos by Tuesday, May 26.
For questions about these events and for more information, contact Stephanie Santos with the King County Asian Pacific Islander Affinity Group.
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Unemployment fraud is escalating. Learn how to protect yourself
Washington State is seeing an alarming rise in fraudulent unemployment claims as victims’ identities are being used to file false unemployment claims with the Employment Security Department (ESD), including here in King County.
Some individuals who have not filed an unemployment claim have received notification from ESD indicating that a claim as been filed on their behalf. The State is taking this seriously and reviewing its internal processes to identify and prevent these fraudulent claims going forward. This may slow down processing, but is being done in the interest of claimants.
Please see our recommendations for how you can protect your identity and finances, as well as steps to take if you are a victim of this fraud.
To protect yourself from fraud
Employees should consider setting up their own account with ESD to prevent a fraudulent account being created in their name at https://secure.esd.wa.gov/home/.
If you are a fraud victim
If you have received a letter from ESD, or if you believe that you are a victim of unemployment fraud, there are several steps that you should take to report this issue to protect your financial identity and credit history:
1. Step One – Contact HR
- Please contact your Human Resources Manager as well as the Department of Human Resources’ unemployment coordinator Elisha Mackey at elisha.mackey@kingcounty.gov.
- Please include a copy of the letter that was mailed to your home so that we can notify our third-party vendor, Employer’s Edge.
2. Step Two – Contact ESD
ESD’s preferred contact method is online at the ESD Unemployment Benefits Fraud website. ESD will ask that you use their Online Fraud Reporting Form to alert them as they are receiving an extremely high number of calls and no longer have email available.
You will need to include the following information when you contact ESD:
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- Your full name
- Last four digits of your Social Security number
- Your address, date of birth, and phone number
- Information on how you learned a claim was filed on your behalf
3. Step Three – Police report
- File an online or non-emergency report with the law enforcement agency whose jurisdiction you live in.
- Seattle residents can file an online report at the City of Seattle Online Reporting website.
- King County residents can file an online report at the King County Online Reporting website.
- Start keeping a file folder or journal with the information from this incident, including any case numbers. Some government services and accommodations are available to victims of identity theft that are not available to the general public, such as getting certain public records sealed.
4. Step Four – FTC Identity Theft report
- File an Identity Theft report with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) via their online form at www.identitytheft.gov.
- Review the materials available from the FTC about how to respond to, limit the damage from, and start recovering from identity theft. You can find useful and reassuring resources at the FTC Consumer Information Identity Theft site and www.identitytheft.gov.
5. Step Five – The three major credit bureaus
- Obtain your free credit reports from Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion at www.annualcreditreport.com or call 1-877-322-8228.
- Report to the credit bureaus that the fraudulent claim was made using your identity and provide them with the case number from your police report. You can have a fraud alert put on your identity or freeze your credit. Doing either is free by law.
- A fraud alert is free and will make it harder for someone to open new accounts in your name. To place a fraud alert, contact one of the three credit bureaus. That company must tell the other two.
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- Equifax: 1-888-766-0008
- Experian: 1-888-397-3742
- TransUnion: 1-800-680-7289
- Check your credit activity at least once a year. As a victim of identity theft, you have the right to check it monthly if you choose.
- Credit Freeze – If you do not have upcoming large purchases, such as a home, you may want to freeze your credit for more protection. It is free, and you can do it yourself. Learn more at the FTC Consumer Identity Credit Freeze site.
6. Step Six – Keep your notes
- Hang on to any notes, copies of emails, etc. This is the paper trail that you can reference if you face any identity issues or locate inaccuracies on your credit history sometime in the future.
If you are a victim of identity fraud, please make sure you follow these steps. They may seem like more work than they are worth; however, they are crucial in helping you recover and combat this crime nationwide.
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Extension of mandatory telecommuting through Sept. 7
Dear fellow King County employee,
For almost three months, we have been working together to stop the spread of COVID-19. By maintaining social distancing, changing the way we deliver services, telecommuting wherever possible, implementing measures to keep front line staff safer, practicing good hygiene and, now, wearing cloth face masks, we have helped to flatten the curve in King County and save countless lives.
These changes haven’t always been easy, and I am grateful for your willingness to adapt and embrace these new and necessary precautions in the interest of our community and colleagues.
We have learned much during this pandemic about our ability to step up and respond to a crisis over a long period of time, how we can serve customers remotely while ensuring they get what they need from us, and how we can remain effective, engaged, and productive while working from home.
Some services are gradually returning to in-person delivery with new precautions to make the workplace safer. Other operations may require employees who are currently teleworking to return to the workplace in the coming weeks where there is an operational need, again with increased safety measures. Our first responders and mission-critical employees continue to do remarkable work under challenging circumstances. I thank you for your efforts.
We have made a big difference in the spread of the virus, but we need to remain vigilant if we are to slow it further. That is why I am extending mandatory telecommuting through September 7, 2020, for all Executive Branch employees who are currently telecommuting, except where there is an operational need to physically return to the workplace. Employees in other branches of County government may receive additional guidance from their leaders. Please see the full guidance and definitions here.
If you are currently telecommuting, remember that we have created a telework web portal with a range of resources to help you continue to be successful while working remotely. There are some elements of our work that are difficult to replicate remotely, and I appreciate the extensive work that has been done to maximize our effectiveness outside of the workplace. In the process, we are building on what we have learned during our COVID-19 response to be even more effective in our work in the future.
I am a firm believer in public service and the critical nature of our work, and the importance of our work has never been more evident than during this pandemic. Thank you for your ongoing commitment to our community. Please take care of yourself, your loved ones, and one another.
Sincerely,
Dow Constantine
King County Executive
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Updated guidance for mandatory telecommuting
On May 21, 2020, King County Executive Dow Constantine extended mandatory telecommuting for all Executive Branch employees who are currently telecommuting through Labor Day, Monday, Sept. 7, 2020, except where there is an operational need to physically return to the workplace. Employees in other branches (definitions below) of County government will receive guidance from their leaders.
Read the Executive’s announcement here, and please see our updated guidance below.
First responders: Employees designated as first responders have the highest duty to report to work as directed in emergency conditions. Given the unique situation of the COVID-19 emergency, employees designated as first responders may be different than those who are designated as first responders in our traditional natural disaster emergencies. First responders who have been exposed to COVID-19, but do not have symptoms, are expected to report for work rather than stay home because of their essential function. First responders who do not have symptoms, but are at high risk for severe illness are strongly encouraged to stay home. Every department needs to determine which employees should be designated as a first responder. These designations may change through the course of the COVID-19 emergency. Supervisors need to inform those employees who are designated as a first responder. There may be circumstances where the particular exposure or household risk factors affect whether a first responder can or should report to work if exposed. If a supervisor has questions about whether a first responder should report to work, they should contact the department Human Resources Manager.
Mission-critical employees: Mission-critical employees must be available to perform their duties as determined by their agency management. During the COVID-19 emergency, the majority of mission-critical employees will be able to perform their duties while telecommuting. Mission-critical employees who have been exposed, but do not have symptoms should discuss with their supervisor and Human Resources Manager whether or not the employee should stay home. Mission critical employees who do not have symptoms, but are at high risk for severe illness, are strongly encouraged to stay home. If the work must be performed in a workplace with other employees, supervisors should make a decision about whether or not an exposed mission-critical employee who does not have symptoms can effectively stay home.
For all other employees, King County is now mandating telecommuting for those Executive Branch employees (definitions below) whose work allows for it, with supervisor approval, through Monday, Sept. 7, except where there is an operational need to physically return to the workplace. Managers and supervisors must work with their employees to permit telecommuting wherever possible and be creative to maximize telecommuting. Employees are permitted to telecommute with children in the home. The expectation of productive work remains. Please find telecommute resources here and submit a signed telecommute agreement to your supervisor. You can also get KCIT resources here on the necessary technology tools (SharePoint). Please note that this guidance does not apply to employees designated as first responders and mission-critical employees. Employees in other branches of County government (definitions below) may receive additional guidance from their leaders.
For additional questions, please refer to our Frequently Asked Questions, or talk to your department’s HR Manager (employee access only).
Executive Branch departments: Department of Assessments, Department of Adult and Juvenile Detention, Department of Executive Services, Department of Community and Human Services, Department of Human Resources, Department of Judicial Administration, Department of Local Services, Metro Transit Department, Department of Natural Resources and Park, Department of Public Defense, Department of Public Health, Executive Department, King County Elections, King County Sheriff’s Office (The King County Sheriff’s Office is administered by the King County Sheriff).
Other branches of County government: District Court, King County Council, Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, Superior Court.
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Translating video guidance helps keep people safe
Public Health – Seattle & King County has launched a Public Service Announcement (PSA) video entitled, COVID-19 Community Guidance, in different languages to support the diverse communities that make up King County and connect them to life-saving information. Employees from all over King County contributed to the videos, working to overcome language barriers by providing extensive language translations.
Two of the employees who participated in this video project and translated information are Dr. Eyob Manzengia, Assistant Division Director for
Environmental Health in Public Health, who translated in Amharic, and Silvia Rus, Health and Environmental Investigator I, also in Public Health, who translated in Romanian.
“It’s important to communicate to communities in their languages because they can connect to the information in a way that they couldn’t previously, ensuring that all communities have accurate information to protect themselves and their loved ones,” said Dr. Manzengia.
The translated videos help to ensure that more people in more communities are getting the information they need to stay safe.
“The more we provide these resources, the more accessible they become to the public,” said Silvia.
“The myriad of translations of the same message emphasizes inclusivity of all,” she added.” Then information starts spreading more easily among community members, making sure communities are seen.”
It is important to support one another during this time, and work to overcome misinformation surrounding COVID-19. King County will continue to provide accurate, important information to all members of the community through videos, the Public Health coronavirus website, announcements, and other needed materials. To view the PSA videos in different languages, view them here on the Public Health – Seattle & King County YouTube channel. For more resources about COVID-19, visit www.kingcounty.gov/coronavirus.
Employee News 