Vanpools for just 2+ riders available for essential workers
Crossposted from Metro Matters
To support COVID-19 response and recovery efforts, King County Metro is offering essential workers the opportunity to form temporary vanpools with as few as two riders.
Metro Vanpool is a commuter service using Metro vans for small groups of people – normally five or more coworkers, friends, or neighbors – with a similar origin or destination.
Read more from Metro Matters
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Not seeing friends and family is hard, but it’s worth it
Crossposted from Public Health Insider
Grandparents miss cuddling their grandbabies. Teens miss hangouts and deep talks with their closest friends. We miss seeing our siblings and cousins, best friends, barbers, co-workers, teachers, and gym buddies. Everyone is feeling the strain from the lack of in-person interaction that makes life rich and full. COVID-19 is taking a toll, and we all want life to get back to normal and to spend time together face-to-face.
As much as we yearn to see our loved ones, there’s a lot at stake if we let go of the stay home measure prematurely. People living in King County and the state of Washington deserve so much credit for the sacrifices they’ve made in staying home. Our actions have proven that we can slow COVID-19 down, and its saving lives. Now we need to protect those gains and prevent a sudden increase in illness.
Read more from Public Health Insider
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Public records during COVID-19
COVID-19 has changed so much about the way we work, but one thing that hasn’t changed is that we are stewards of the public’s records. As such, we must maintain both good records management practices and provide timely responses to requests for public records, whether those come from the public directly, or through a public records officer (PRO) or coordinator. King County’s Executive Branch has received over 100 public records requests specific to COVID-19. The PROs coordinating these requests are working to collect responsive records as efficiently as possible while trying to minimize disruptions to the important work that is being done under uncommon conditions.
One such condition is that many County employees are telecommuting, and in some cases using their own personal equipment to perform their job duties. It’s important to remember that every record you create, receive, or use to conduct County business is subject to the Public Records Act (RCW 42.56), which ensures transparency in government through broad disclosure of public records. The definition of a record is all encompassing, including but not limited to, text messages, emails, photos, notes, files, word documents, etc. Records subject to disclosure include those created in the conduct of County business within the scope of your employment, whether created on personal devices (e.g., phones, tablets, computers, etc.) and/or in personal accounts (e.g., email, social media, etc.).
Wherever possible, you are encouraged to create and retain records within the County’s systems (as accessed through Office 365 or VPN) and not locally on personal devices or through personal accounts. Please reach out to your department’s PRO immediately if you receive a public records request, and please be as responsive as possible to your PROs if they reach out to you for records.
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Third payday of the month, April 30
Almost all King County employees get paid on a biweekly basis, every-other-Thursday, resulting in 26 pay periods per year. You usually receive two paychecks per month, but April 30 will be your third payday of the month.
The net dollar amount of these “third” paychecks may be larger because not all deductions are taken out. For example, Deferred Compensation, supplemental insurance premiums, Benefit Access Fees, and Employee Giving donations are not deducted from these checks.
For more information about your paycheck, go to Payroll or speak with your department Payroll representative or timekeeper.
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Showing up for community in a time of confusion and need
King County employees are finding new ways to serve their community during the COVID-19 outbreak by applying for temporary assignments through the Emergency Deployment Program.
Josephine Wong, whose regular job is as the Deputy Director of the Department of Community and Human Services (DCHS),is temporarily overseeing one of the County’s isolation and quarantine locations for individuals who cannot safely self-quarantine or isolate in their own home, or do not have a home. Her position oversees employees who have deployed through the program as an Emergency Site Worker IV.
Pictured: A thank you note from the Kent Isolation/Quarantine site that a community member posted on their window.
“This program is saving lives and preventing infections, flattening the curve to give more time for our healthcare system to respond, and this is how we can show up for our community in a time of confusion and need,” Josephine said. “This program helps people safely isolate, heal, and return to their community.”
She explains why having these facilities is critical to the response. Many people at these sites may live in congregate (group) housing or with a medically vulnerable person, they may not have a home, or are first-responders or health care workers. Through the facilities, guests at these sites have access to safe and secured shelter with a washroom, public health nurses, responsive care, meals, and other comforting amenities during a time that can be physically and emotionally challenging.
“We provide safe, comfortable temporary housing for people who have been exposed to COVID-19 and are awaiting their test results, people who have already tested positive and may not have somewhere they can safely isolate on their own, and folks who have been exposed and not tested yet,” she said.
“By providing these isolation and quarantine units, we are helping to reduce and slow the spread of COVID-19 in our community.”
Having employees who want to help in the fight against COVID-19 and can deploy to fill these emergency positions at the sites throughout the County’s response is essential to meeting an urgent need in the community. Josephine shares how individuals at each site have found it incredibly meaningful know that the County, and County employees, care about their health.
“While this can be a difficult time for all of us, we are so grateful to the staff who have deployed to serve in the County’s COVID-19 response,” she said. “Our guests have told us how appreciative they are for a safe place to rest and recover and how much it means to them that someone cared about them.”
Pictured: King County employees at one of the sites posing for the camera.
“We know this program is working as intended, and we need more deployed employees to help us continue to do just that.”
Employees can make a significant impact through the Emergency Deployment Program. Josephine urges those who have capacity to consider applying for the opportunity to be a part of this response. Each employee will be trained in their specific duties, and will abide by system and safety protocols set in place to keep all employees healthy and safe.
“Many people have asked about how they can help during this time, and this is one way they can help. For those who are able to support our COVID-19 response, we are grateful and ready for you to join in this effort,” she said. “You will provide relief to your King County colleagues who have been doing this for 7 weeks, some without any days off.”
“If you’ve wondered how you can help, this is a way to serve our community. We’re waiting for you to step up and help in this fight to save lives here in King County.”
For more details and to complete the application for the Emergency Deployment Program visit www.kingcounty.gov/emergency-deployment. To learn more about the locations for isolation and quarantine, developed through a partnership with local organizations in response to COVID-19, visit the DCHS Isolation/Quarantine and Assessment/Recovery Facilities webpage.
To learn more about the work Josephine and other employees are doing, view this video. View more photos in the slideshow below.
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County VPN is experiencing problems
King County is currently experiencing VPN problems, which are impacting all County employees. The appropriate KCIT teams are working on the issue. Email, phone service, and access to SharePoint OneDrive and Skype remain unaffected. We will update you when the problems are fixed.
Thank you for your patience.
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Mourning together, virtually: How our Muslim community adapted using technology
Crossposted from Public Health Insider
Authors: Mohamed Ali, Ayan Abshir and Equity Response Team
Death is a universal experience, no matter what race or religion one identifies with. In Islam, Muslims are taught to overcome tragic circumstances with containment (Rida), gratitude (Hamd), patience (Sabr), and firm belief in destiny (Qadr). Although, death is a fact of life, it is never easy to lay a loved one to rest.
The local Somali community in Seattle was recently devastated by the first COVID-19 death. This death has brought to the surface the stress our community already deals with as Black immigrant Muslims. Yet, the resilience of our community is astonishing. Even while abiding by public health advisories, our community maintains a strong commitment to honoring cultural practices and religious rituals to honor the dead and we continue our strong tradition of comforting bereaved families.
Read more from Public Health Insider
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Metro creates passenger limits to support social distancing
Crossposted from Metro Matters
To support the health of passengers, drivers, and community members, King County Metro has instituted new passenger limits to promote social distancing. Metro is also developing additional mobility options for customers taking essential trips.
To better help each person maintain six feet of separation from others as guided by Public Health – Seattle & King County, the optimal number of passengers is 12 on a 40-foot bus and 18 on a 60-foot bus.
Read more from Metro Matters
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Learning about your benefits: Dependents
Our third video in this short series of benefits videos focuses on dependents. It helps employees learn which of your family members are benefits-eligible, and when you can add them to your health plans.
These videos have been created to help employees make informed choices about their options, and better understand their employee benefits package. View all the videos here, and get more information and resources on the Benefits, Payroll and Retirement website.
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Mental health: Tips and resources for navigating uncertain times
It is okay to not feel okay right now. This pandemic is traumatic. Many of us are struggling.
Our minds and bodies tend to shift into a state of hyper-vigilance when faced with trauma. Hyper-vigilance helps keep us safe and alive; it’s the mechanism in our brain that reminds us to wash our hands, wear masks, and social distance. This state, while important, can also take a long-term toll on our mental and physical health.
There are steps you can take to improve your mental health and resiliency during this time. Read the Balanced You blog for tips and resources.
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