New telecommuting resources site
The Department of Human Resources has launched a new site with information and resources for employees who have started telecommuting as a response to the COVID-19 outbreak. The site provides information on tools, health and wellness, and learning employees can do from home. It also has a section for supervisors and managers about managing employees remotely.
Employees are encouraged to talk to their supervisor if they would like to engage in lengthy trainings during work time. Supervisors are encouraged to be flexible and allow employees to attend online training if their workload allows. The trainings on the new website are free or low cost. Supervisors should be familiar with the process for approving training and any associated costs within their departments and divisions.
View the telecommuting resources site and learn more about working from home, and staying connected and engaged.
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Self-care for Essential Personnel during the COVID-19 pandemic
Essential personnel are employees whose jobs are necessary for King County to continue operating. Many of you – including staff from Metro, DAJD, FMD, the Criminal Defense system, and others – have jobs that cannot be performed at home, and so you continue to report to work each day during this pandemic. King County is grateful for your continued dedication to our community.
Balanced You knows this is a difficult and stressful time for you. We are here to support essential personnel in reducing stress and caring for your well-being. Visit the Balanced You blog for tips and resources you can use as you respond, professionally and personally, to coronavirus.
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Join us in thanking our community’s essential workers
Crossposted from Public Health Insider
Over the past few weeks many people have transitioned to telecommuting to comply with Governor Inslee’s Stay Home order to help slow the spread of COVID-19. Many others, who are essential workers, will continue to report to their jobs to ensure critical public health, safety and infrastructure functions continue to support Washingtonians. They are making sure that there is food, water, electricity, trash and sanitation services, buses & trains running, and health care services and spaces.
Being an essential worker during the COVID-19 pandemic means potentially exposing themselves and their families to COVID-19 while performing their job duties. Essential workers are having to deal with new stresses of adding social distancing measures to their jobs, shifting work hours, changing childcare needs with school closures among many other challenges, all while serving our King County community during this stressful time. Many of these jobs were hard and underappreciated to begin with, even before additional stresses and pressures of COVID-19.
Read more from Public Health Insider
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Free personalized Money Coaching for King County employees
During the uncertain economic times brought on by the coronavirus outbreak, you may find yourself becoming worried about your family’s financial stability. Wouldn’t it be great if you could turn to an impartial expert for advice? With King County’s My Secure Advantage (MSA) program, you can receive personalized advice from a professional Money Coach for free.
What is a Money Coach?
A Money Coach is a trained professional who works with you one-on-one to assess your current financial situation and help you take concrete steps to improve it. Money Coaches have certifications in financial planning, taxes, and credit counseling. They can help with a wide variety of situations, including establishing or adjusting your budget, advising on mortgage and loan deferrals, or investing. The MSA Money Coaches are paid a salary; they will not charge you any fees and they won’t try to sell you anything.
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Featured Job: CNA Care Coordinator (Medical Assistant)
Salary: $22.74 – $28.83 Hourly
Location: Various Locations throughout King County, WA
Job Type: Short Term Temporary, Part Time, Std Wkly Hrs Vary
Department: DPH – Public Health
Job Number: 2020NH11591
Division: Community Health Services
Closing: Continuous
Learn more about this position or view all available positions.
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April and May mindfulness class schedule now available
Mindfulness is a practice that can support you in reducing stress at work and at home. Mindfulness techniques are especially useful now, as we move through the uncertainty of the coronavirus pandemic.
Balanced You continues to partner with Mindfulness Northwest to offer free mindfulness classes and workshops to King County employees, via both employee-specific and community classes. In alignment with social distancing recommendations, all in-person classes have temporarily shifted to online platforms.
Read more from Balanced You
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Exercise and stretching videos you can do in the field, in the office, or at home
Exercising during a pandemic is tough. Our routines are thrown off. Gyms, Activity Centers, and trailheads are closed. Stress levels are high. Due to the coronavirus response, many employees are working from home, while others are pulling long hours in the office or in the field. Because everything is currently so different, it is easier than normal to get wrapped up in a work project, spend an entire day without exercise or stretching, and end the day with an aching body.
Muscles need a break, not only from strenuous work, but also from continuous, low-level activity like sitting, and repetitive motions like driving a bus. Additionally, regular exercise has been shown to improve depression and anxiety symptoms, which is especially helpful during this time of uncertainty.
Read more from Balanced You.
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Advice from EAP to front-line staff during COVID-19
Reporting to your workplace during a pandemic is challenging. The pace can be frantic, and the work can feel relentless. Many people – colleagues and customers – are stressed out, ourselves included. Whether your job is categorized as essential, front line, first responder, or mission-critical, coming into work at this time can cause anxiety, perhaps even fear. Visit the Balanced You blog for advice from EAP on how to cope with areas where you may be struggling.
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CARE Act relief for T. Rowe Price deferred compensation
If you are a member of a Deferred Compensation Plan through King County, you will receive guidance from T. Rowe Price on coronavirus-related relief which may be permitted under the Coronavirus Response and the Affordable Care Act (CARE Act). For more information, please visit the T. Rowe Price website or call them at 888-457-5770.
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Working together to overcome domestic violence
As our community socially distances to stop the spread of COVID-19, law enforcement officials have seen an increase in domestic violence situations. Throughout the month of March, the Seattle Police Department saw a 21% increase in reported domestic violence.
King County is here to provide support and resources for survivors of domestic violence and their families. To get help, or support someone in need, review this resources webpage. You can to find out about legal rights, get an order of protection, and other community services. Emergency petitions can be now filed for Anti-Harassment or Stalking Orders remotely. To donate to an organization that provides domestic violence assistance, view a list or nonprofits that participate in the Employee Giving Program here.
King County employees dealing with a domestic violence situation and in need support, can also call the King County Employee Assistance Program Main Line at 206-263-8733 or email HRDEAP@kingcounty.gov. You can find additional employee resources for emergency housing and community safety here.
Employee News 