Changes to paper paychecks and direct deposit pay stubs
As part of efforts to reduce exposure and slow the spread of the COVID-19 virus, Payroll Operations is changing the process for printing and distributing paper paychecks and direct deposit pay stubs. The following changes begin March 19:
If you currently receive a paper paycheck: Beginning March 19, all paper paychecks will be mailed via the U.S. Postal Service to the address printed on your last check. If the address on your last paycheck is not accurate, go to PeopleSoft to make changes. Now is a great time to Set Up Your Payroll Direct Deposit, if you haven’t already done so!
If you have opted to have a paper copy of your direct deposit statement sent to you: Direct deposit pay stubs will not be printed or distributed. Your pay will be directly deposited into your account on payday, as usual. To view your direct deposit pay stubs, go to PeopleSoft using a smart phone, tablet, or computer.
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Protecting network security during COVID-19
During this COVID-19 outbreak, please be extra careful when accessing external sources of information. Fake coronavirus website and emails have been identified, and can compromise our network security if accessed. Please do not share links that have not been approved by county leadership. King County will share the latest information with employees from Public Health via its website www.kingcounty.gov/COVID and blog www.publichealthinsider.com, and our official communications channels.
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New limits on large gatherings, other emergency strategies to slow the spread of COVID-19
Crossposted from Public Health Insider
In addition to Governor Jay Inslee’s Proclamation that prohibits large gatherings of more than 250 people, Public Health—Seattle & King County is also issuing a Health Officer order to minimize the health impacts of COVID-19.
Under an order from Health Officer Dr. Jeff Duchin, Public Health prohibits large gatherings of more than 250 people.
Read more from Public Health Insider
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Self-care tips for telecommuters during the coronavirus response
As King County responds to the coronavirus (COVID-19), many employees have been asked to telecommute as a form of “social distancing” to reduce the community risk of coronavirus transmission. Furthermore, the CDC has recently issued guidance that everyone minimize time spent in large groups, and that immune-compromised, chronically ill, and older adults stay home as much as possible. While these strategies have many benefits, the sudden switch can throw off your routine.
Balanced You wants to support you in rethinking self-care during this time. Up-to-date information on how to protect yourself from the coronavirus can be found here. Tips on how to keep your mind and body well while you respond to the coronavirus professionally and personally can be found here. Frequently asked questions for employees regarding coronavirus can be found here.
Read more from Balanced You
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Updated COVID-19 guidance for employees – March 11, 2020
Dear King County employee,
Governor Jay Inslee, King County Executive Dow Constantine, and other regional leaders jointly announced new strategies to minimize the spread of COVID-19 at a press conference at King Street Center this morning.
The new health order includes:
- All events of more than 250 people are prohibited, including large conventions or conferences, sporting events, concerts, fundraisers, or other recreational events
- In addition, events with fewer than 250 attendees are prohibited unless event organizers take prescribed steps to minimize risk.
In line with today’s announcement, King County is providing the following guidance to employees (Note: this applies to Executive Branch employees. Employees in separately elected agencies [listed below] will receive guidance from their leaders):
Telecommute: Employees should telecommute if their work allows for it. Managers and supervisors should work with their employees to permit telecommuting wherever possible, and be creative in helping to maximize telecommuting. Employees must receive the approval of their supervisors before commencing telecommuting. The supervisors of employees who are able to telecommute but choose not to, should consult with their department’s HR Managers in those situations. Please find telecommute resources here and submit a signed telecommute agreement to your supervisor. You can also get KCIT guidance here on the necessary technology tools (SharePoint).
Schools: With some school districts and individual schools announcing extended closures, employees may need to telecommute or take leave. An employee may use sick leave if an employee’s child’s school is closed by order of a public official for health-related reasons or place of care is closed by order of a public official for a health-related reason. This also applies to the closing of private schools. An employee may telecommute if feasible, or use accrued or donated paid leave during their absence. If the employee does not have any leave to use, the employee should discuss the matter with their department’s human resources staff.
Meetings: All non-essential King County in-person large group employee meetings and gatherings will be canceled until further notice, or follow the guidance issued today. Please work with your supervisors and use good judgment about which meetings are essential and limit the number of people present where possible. Conduct essential and non-essential meetings using Skype or teleconference where practical.
Public Events: Departments should postpone or cancel all non-essential public meetings or events until the Health Officer’s order is rescinded. Please work with your department leadership and follow the guidance issued today. If departments would like guidance about particular meetings or events, please elevate those concerns for advice and decisions.
Employee questions: See our answers to common questions for King County employees about our operations during this outbreak.
Help prevent the spread and stay informed: We all have an important role to play in preventing the spread of this virus. Follow personal hygiene and health guidance at Public Health’s website www.kingcounty.gov/COVID and blog www.publichealthinsider.com.
Separately elected agencies: Department of Assessments, Department of Judicial Administration, District Court, King County Council, King County Elections, King County Sheriff’s Office, Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, Superior Court.
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Benefits and resources to help with COVID-19
Your King County employee benefits package includes a wealth of valuable resources you can rely on to help you stay healthy or recover from illnesses such as the new coronavirus known as COVID-19. Some benefits to keep in mind are summarized below.
SmartCare (Kaiser Permanente) medical plan resources
Kaiser Customer Service
- 888-901-4636
- Hours: 8 a.m. – 8 p.m., 7 days per week
- Call for information, provider assistance, pharmacy questions, appointments, and advice.
Ways to access care and advice:
- Telehealth visits: Kaiser offers care and advice without an in-person visit—including phone, email, and video. To access these telehealth options, call the advice number on your Kaiser membership card or go to Get Care and select “24/7 advice.”
- Care Chat: Members can instant message with a Kaiser Permanente care provider 24/7.
- Online visit: For common medical issues that don’t need a physical exam, such as a sore throat or allergies, you can go online and get a diagnosis and treatment plan, usually within two hours.
- Email your doctor: If you get care at Kaiser Permanente medical facilities, you can email your care team with non-urgent questions and receive an answer within two business days.
- Consulting Nurse: Members can call a consulting nurse 24/7 at 800-297-6877 for care guidance or advice.
Other information and resources:
- Kaiser is waiving early prescription medication refill limits so members with less than a 30-day supply on hand can obtain up to a 90-day supply (except controlled substances) at a Kaiser pharmacy. Learn more about getting extra medication to have on hand.
- Kaiser’s COVID-19 web page: Access regular updates and guidance.
- Care Management: Care managers offer assistance in managing chronic conditions, complicated medical and social needs, and coordinate with your care team. Call 866-656-4183.
KingCare or KingCare Select (Regence) medical plan resources
Regence Customer Service
- 800-376-7926
- Hours: 5 a.m. to 8 p.m., Monday through Friday, Saturdays 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
- Call for benefit information, provider search assistance, referrals to case management, and alternate care options, such as Doctor on Demand and the nurse line.
Ways to access care and advice:
- Doctor on Demand: Access telehealth services 24/7 by calling 800-997-6196, downloading the Doctor on Demand app, or going to Doctor on Demand. In addition, go to Coronavirus: Preparation and Prevention for information and an assessment tool based on CDC guidelines to prepare you in the case of exposure to the virus.
- Regence Advice24: N.-level nurses have current CDC information, are trained on coronavirus screening and triage, and can support patients with fears and concerns specific to COVID-19.
Other information and resources:
- CVS Caremark is waiving early prescription medication refill limits on 30-day prescriptions for maintenance medications (except controlled substances) at any in-network pharmacy. For non-maintenance prescriptions, CVS will approve a one-time emergency refill for a 14-day supply. Learn more about getting extra medication to have on hand.
- Regence’s COVID-19 web page: Access regular updates and guidance.
- Case Management: Case managers are available to answer questions about coronavirus, support your treatment plan, and help you understand your care options. Call 866 543-5765.
For employees feeling anxious or who want to talk
- Employee Assistance Program and Making Life Easier: If you are stressed, need help with childcare or eldercare, or just want to talk to someone, the Employee Assistance Program and Making Life Easier (login: King County) can be helpful. Both resources are free and confidential.
- Mental Health Services: In addition, all King County medical plans include mental health services. For detailed information about your plan, go to Benefits Summaries.
Livestream of coronavirus press conference at 10:15 a.m. today, March 9
You can tune in to this livestream at 10:15 a.m. today where King County Executive Dow Constantine, Governor Jay Inslee, and regional leaders will announce new community strategies to contain novel coronavirus (COVID-19).
The speakers include:
- Governor Jay Inslee
- Dow Constantine, King County Executive
- Bruce Dammeier, Pierce County Executive
- Dave Sommers, Snohomish County Executive
- Jenny Durkan, Mayor of Seattle
- Cassie Franklin, Mayor of Everett
- Victoria Woodards, Mayor of Tacoma
Watch the livestream here (starts at 10:15 a.m.). Please refer to the Public Health – Seattle & King County website at www.kingcounty.gov/covid and the Public Health Insider blog for the latest information, and see our list of answers to common questions for King County employees. You can also sign up for free email alerts from Public Health.
When the livestream is over, a recording of the press conference will still be available for viewing here.
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Doing what we can do minimize COVID-19 spread and protect ourselves
Last week, we advised that a person with a confirmed case of novel coronavirus (COVID-19) was in multiple King County buildings in downtown Seattle. Public Health – Seattle & King County worked to identify where there may have been exposure, and workspaces that might benefit from additional cleaning received additional cleaning, as have workspaces across the county. Importantly, employees should not assume that any public spaces are without risk.
It is essential that we protect people’s identities in a public health emergency for a number of reasons. Experts in public health and bioethics say that far from helping society, a decision to reveal the identities of people who have contracted the coronavirus would be a disaster with far-reaching ramifications. Health privacy laws (HIPAA) strictly protect confidentiality. People won’t seek medical care if they feel that their privacy will be compromised, and that compromises the ability of health officials to respond to the outbreak. Health officials are responsible for contact tracing and any notifications medically necessary. While we are taking appropriate actions, we are being careful not to announce particular buildings or spaces to avoid identifying individuals and to ensure people don’t assume that other spaces are without risk.
As testing capacity for COVID-19 has increased and more results have come in, it has become clear that this virus is now common in our community, and we will see many more positive tests. We all need to assume public spaces in our community have been exposed, and that we have already or can be exposed to the virus if out in public spaces.
We must focus on what we need to do to minimize our risk of contracting and spreading the virus, and follow Public Health and King County advice about avoiding public spaces, practicing excellent personal hygiene habits, staying home when sick, and taking extra precautions if we are at higher risk of illness. We have also taken measures to limit the number of county employees who need to come to work, by encouraging telecommuting wherever possible; and as mentioned above, have increased our cleaning protocols.
If you believe that you need to utilize leave to be away from the workplace, please contact your Human Resources Manager. For medical questions, please contact your medical provider or take advantage of telehealth resources. If you are stressed or just want to talk to someone, the Employee Assistance Program and Making Life Easier (login: King County) can be helpful. Both resources are free and confidential.
This is a challenging situation for our community. The health and wellbeing of our employees and customers is paramount. As public servants, we are all working to ensure that our community continues to receive the services that it counts on us to deliver, while doing everything that we can to minimize the spread of this virus.
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Tech Tips: Using Skype successfully
KCIT is committed to ensuring all eligible employees can efficiently telecommute. That means using Skype to make calls and conduct your meetings virtually on County-owned devices like laptops and tablets. Many are already using this valuable tool daily, while it may be new to others.
Here’s what you need to know to get started:
- If you use Microsoft Office 365 on your King County device (laptop, tablet, etc.) you are good to go to conduct Skype calls/meetings. You do not need VPN access and no further permissions are needed.
- If you haven’t used Skype meetings or shared your screen using Skype, here are some resources to get started:
More information on using Skype for Business for sharing and conducting Skype meetings can be found here. For questions, contact the KCIT Help Desk at 206-263-4357 or submit a Help Desk ticket.
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How to obtain extra necessary medications to have on hand
King County is committed to the welfare of our employees, and as the COVID-19 virus continues to impact our community, we want employees to know that our prescription benefit vendors have taken steps to address the outbreak and protect employee’s access to medication. The following information will help you and your covered family members obtain extra necessary medication to have on hand.
- If you have long-term maintenance medications, you are encouraged to refill eligible prescriptions for 90-day supplies via mail-order/home delivery or pick up. This can help reduce the number of trips you make to the doctor’s office and pharmacy, and the copay for a 90-day supply is typically less than paying for three 30-day supplies.
- Restrictions on early refills have been relaxed, so you can fill prescriptions ahead of their normal schedule to ensure you can keep an adequate supply of medication on hand.
If you are a KingCare or KingCare Select (Regence) medical plan member
- Your prescription medication coverage is administered through CVS Caremark.
- CVS is waiving early refill limits on 30-day prescriptions for maintenance medications (except controlled substances) at any in-network pharmacy. For non-maintenance prescriptions, CVS will approve a one-time emergency refill for a 14-day supply.
- Go to CVS Caremark to sign in, or Welcome to Caremark if you need to create an account.
- To request a new prescription from your doctor, or change any eligible 30-day prescription supply to a 90-day supply, go to Change from Pharmacy Pick-Up to Mail Service.
- CVS Caremark Mail Service will mail your medication to your home.
- You can also opt to fill and pick up a 90-day supply of many medications at a CVS pharmacy using a program called Maintenance Choice.
- You can also use the CVS Caremark mobile app to refill mail order prescriptions, track order status, and view prescription history.
- If you have questions, call CVS Customer Care: 844-380-8838.
If you are a SmartCare (Kaiser) medical plan member
- Kaiser is waiving early refill limits so members with less than a 30-day supply on hand can obtain up to a 90-day supply (except controlled substances) at a Kaiser pharmacy.
- Go to Kaiser Permanente to sign in.
- To get a 90-day supply of your medicine, transfer your prescriptions to the Kaiser mail order pharmacy.
- Go to Medications, then Transfer Prescriptions. You’ll need:
- Name and phone number of your current pharmacy
- Prescription number, name, strength, and instructions
- Name and phone number of the doctor who prescribed the medication
- Once you’ve transferred your prescriptions, you can order refills when you sign in.
- You can also use the Kaiser Permanente Washington mobile app to refill or transfer most prescriptions, see a list of all your medications, or contact a pharmacy representative.
- If you have questions, call Kaiser at 888-901-4636.
For questions regarding your prescription drug coverage, contact the Benefits team at 206-684-1556 or KC Benefits.
Employee News 