Employee News

Posted on April 8, 2020 by Lilia Cabello Drain

Celebrating the outstanding work of Public Health and healthcare professionals in our region

The courage, professionalism and service of public health and healthcare professionals deserves our deepest gratitude and admiration.

Thank you for your service and sacrifice as we face the COVID-19 pandemic together.

April 6-12 is National Public Health Week. Over the last several weeks, we’ve all seen firsthand why public health matters to our community and around the world.

We’re grateful for the work you do every day, and especially now.

Posted on April 8, 2020 by Lilia Cabello Drain

Giving during COVID-19

Crossposted from KC Employee Giving

Here at the program, we believe in the strong power of philanthropy and know that our nonprofit organizations are on the front lines of this work. This is a long haul issue and we need our nonprofit organizations to make it through to the other side.

Philanthropy is a huge act of community and builds resilience. It is also a powerful tool in our toolbox in combating this pandemic.

COVID-19 update: Further Metro and Sound Transit service reductions begin Monday, April 6, to support essential travel and transit workforce

Crossposted from Metro Matters

As the effects of COVID-19 continue to be felt across our community, King County Metro will further reduce bus service on Monday, April 6, to focus operations on a core 115 Metro and Sound Transit routes, and reduced water taxi and Link light rail service.

The revised Reduced Schedule identifies routes that will operate with fewer trips and hours. This updated schedule will maintain vital lifelines for access to critical supplies, services, and worksites across the region.

Overall, Metro will operate with approximately 37% fewer buses, 30% fewer transit operators, and 19% fewer service trips than typical weekday service. Water taxi and Link light rail service reductions also will be made.

How to wear a cloth face mask

King County supports employees who may choose to wear a cloth face mask while they are working. If you voluntarily choose to wear a cloth face mask, please carefully review and follow this guidance:

Cloth face mask should—

Fit snugly but comfortably against the side of the face
Be secured with ties or ear loops
Include multiple layers of fabric
Allow for breathing without restriction
Be able to be laundered and machine dried without damage or change to shape

While wearing your cloth face mask –

Avoid touching the mask to make an adjustment. If you do touch your mask, wash your hands.
Replace the cloth face mask as soon as it becomes damp from your breathing. A damp covering can become a breeding ground for bacteria and viruses.

How does one safely remove a used cloth face mask?

Individuals should be careful not to touch their eyes, nose, and mouth when removing their face mask and wash hands immediately after removing.
Do not place a dirty cloth face covering in your purse or pocket. Place your dirty covering in a paper bag or zip lock bag.

Should cloth face mask be washed or otherwise cleaned regularly? How regularly?

They should be routinely washed depending on the frequency of use.

How does one safely sterilize/clean a cloth face mask?

A washing machine should suffice in properly washing a face mask.

The CDC has created DIY-cloth-face-covering-instructions-CDC.

Additional information on the use of cloth face masks can found from the CDC, the Washington Department of Health, and Public Health – Seattle & King County.

Posted on April 7, 2020 by kingcountyemployees

Guidance on cloth face masks

On Friday, additional guidance on cloth face masks was provided by federal and local public health authorities, and King County quickly moved to identify a supplier and put in an order for cloth masks for front line, non-medical workers. The cloth face masks recommended are not surgical masks or N-95 respirators. Those are critical supplies that must continue to be reserved for healthcare workers and other medical first responders, as recommended by current CDC guidance. The county is continuing efforts to identify suppliers and obtain medical masks for healthcare workers and medical first responders.

The Washington State Department of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) now recommend that people wear cloth face masks when they are in public settings where they cannot maintain six (6) feet of distance from others. This recommendation is not a substitute for existing guidance to maintain six feet of physical distance from non-household members, whenever possible, and performing frequent hand hygiene with soap and water or alcohol-based hand sanitizer.

While the county will make cloth masks available as we receive them for employees who have contact with the public (non-medical staff), this is not a mandate that you must wear a face covering. It is considered an additional layer of protection. These cloth masks will be received in batches and distributed to departments with frontline employees as supplies arrive.

King County supports employees who may choose to wear a cloth face mask while they are working. If you voluntarily choose to wear a cloth face mask, please carefully review and follow the guidance here.

Masks are not the most important protection!

Staying apart from others is our best protection against COVID-19. The most important ways of preventing COVID-19 are frequent handwashing, avoiding touching your face, staying away from ill people, staying home and avoiding all non-essential activities and contact with others. Mask use does not replace the need to follow these important precautions to prevent illness.

Additional information on the use of cloth face masks can found from the CDC, the Washington Department of Health, and Public Health – Seattle & King County.

Posted on April 7, 2020 by kingcountyemployees

New FSA rules in response to COVID-19

The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, signed into law on March 27, 2020, contains important provisions that affect Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs).

In addition, under existing rules, certain changes in your situation—called “qualifying life events”—may allow you to increase or decrease contributions or enroll or disenroll from your FSAs. For example, if your spouse loses a job due to the COVID-19 pandemic, or any other reason, and can no longer participate in their employer’s FSA plan, you can enroll in King County’s Health Care and Day Care FSAs or increase your contributions using the FSA Change Form.

Your Health Care FSA

Under the CARES Act, you can now use your Health Care FSA to pay for or receive reimbursement for:

Over-the-counter drugs and medicines without a doctor’s prescription.
Menstrual care products, which are now considered a qualified medical expense. All expenses incurred after Dec. 31, 2019, qualify, and the provision has no expiration date.

Your Dependent Day Care FSA

If you have a Dependent Day Care FSA, you can reduce or cancel your contributions due to the current situation with school and day care closures. If you want to make changes to your Day Care FSA, please contact The Benefits Team.

The following scenarios have arisen due to the COVID-19 pandemic that may affect your Day Care FSA:

Your child’s day care closes, causing a loss of care and care expenses, and resulting in a significant reduction of your annual cost of care. Because your care expenses have decreased, you may decrease your FSA election or stop participating in the plan.
You are now working from home and can keep your children home instead of using day care, resulting in a significant reduction of your annual cost of care. Because your care expenses have decreased, you may decrease your FSA election or stop participating in the plan.
Your child’s school closed and you need to enroll your child in day care to allow you to continue to work. This new care expense allows you to enroll or increase your current FSA election.

Keep in mind, you must request the FSA change within 30 days of the status change event.

If you opt to stop participating in the plan, contributions already made will not be refunded, however, you may use your FSA to get reimbursed for expenses incurred between Jan. 1 (or your start date) and the date you stop participating.

It may be safer to reduce your annual contribution to the amount you’ve already contributed year-to-date. This means you can use the funds you’ve already contributed for expenses incurred through the end of the year.

Once our usual day-to-day operations resume, you can again make changes to your Day Care FSA elections—reducing or increasing your expenses or enrolling or disenrolling in the plan, within 30 days of the status change event.

For more information or to request a change to your FSA, please contact the King County Benefits Team at KC Benefits or 206-684-1556.

Posted on April 7, 2020 by Lilia Cabello Drain

Tech Tip: Changing your password and updating your computer when working remotely

King County Information Technology (KCIT) has developed two documents that explain how to change passwords and receive Windows updates while working remotely on a King County device. Both processes require employees to use VPN AnyConnect. Employees should submit a HelpDesk ticket if VPN permissions are needed.

KCIT’s Telework site has more information to help employees work remotely. Contact the KCIT Help Desk if needed at 206-263-4357 or https://helpdesk.kingcounty.gov.

Posted on April 7, 2020 by Lilia Cabello Drain

Doing our part to flatten the curve

Downtown Seattle is home to more than 330,000 jobs and 88,000 residents. The heart of the region, the economic engine, is now quiet. While downtown Seattle is at a near-standstill, we’re flattening the curve and doing what we can to battle COVID-19. The heart still beats strong and we’ll be ready for the comeback. View this video to learn more.

Posted on April 7, 2020 by Lilia Cabello Drain

Healthy eating during the coronavirus response

Crossposted from Balanced You

Now that you have stocked up on groceries, you may be wondering how to best use all the rice and beans you bought and what recipes will boost your immune system. Balanced You has got you covered.

There’s no better support for your immune system than sleeping well, exercising, managing your stress, washing your hands, and eating a healthy diet. Evidence for specific foods that boost immune responses is mixed, but sticking to a balanced diet filled with lots of colorful fruits and vegetables will help you get the necessary vitamins C and D, and Zinc.