Big shoutout to King County Metro and King County Roads employees!
Pictured: King County Metro received a thank you tweet from King County Executive Dow Constantine praising the great work of employees during this difficult time.
Thank you to King County Metro and King County Roads employees for working hard to keep employees, residents and our community safely moving throughout the snow and ice.
We are grateful to Metro employees for getting us all safely to and from our destinations, and to Road Services for maintaining our roadways throughout the county to keep traffic moving carefully and free from harm.
Kudos to you for your commitment and dedication!
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You’re invited: Star Awards & celebration
Crossposted from Employee Giving Program
As our 30th anniversary season comes to a close, we’re celebrating you — the people who went above and beyond to make the Annual Giving Drive a success.
You’re invited to our Annual Celebration and Star Awards!
- Tuesday, Feb. 12 from 8:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. in Chinook Rooms 121/123
Read more from Employee Giving Program
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KCInform alert system reaches employees in emergencies
The snowy weather is a perfect reminder for employees to sign up for KCInform, the King County employee emergency alert system. This system, powered by CodeRED, allows us to reach you by phone, text, and email with timely information in an emergency or natural disaster.
Your safety is our priority, whether you are at work or home, so having updated personal contact information (work cell phone and home phone, email, and/or cell phone) is critical for reaching you wherever you are.
Many employees previously registered to receive alerts through this system, but if you have not registered your personal contact or work cell information yet, please contact kcinform@kingcounty.gov or 206-296-3830 (between 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Monday – Friday) to request your unique registration link. Watch this short video to learn more or visit the KCInform website.
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Measles in Washington
On Friday, January 25, Governor Inslee declared a State of Emergency to bolster the State’s response to a large measles outbreak in Clark County, Washington, that could spread widely. In King County we have had one reported case of measles as of January 31, 2019 and we remain very concerned about the potential for additional cases here. Measles spreads effectively among unvaccinated people, including in schools, households, places of employment, social settings, public spaces, healthcare facilities, and any place where people gather.
Measles is very contagious and can cause serious illness, especially in young children, pregnant women, and anyone with weakened immune system. The good news is that measles is preventable with the safe and highly effective measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine. All children and adults who are up-to-date with their MMR vaccinations are very well protected. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), two doses of the MMR vaccine are more than 95 percent effective in preventing measles and that protection is long lasting. However, in places where vaccination rates are not high and where unvaccinated people gather, the risk for measles cases, outbreaks and spread is high.
Measles is a cause for serious concern for anyone who does not have immunity. Measles is unique because it is so highly contagious. Measles virus has the ability to hang in the air, so people without immunity can become infected by just being in a room where someone measles has been, even if that person left that room two hours ago.
MMR vaccine is covered under King County’s health benefits at no cost to benefits-covered employees and family members. You can get an MMR vaccination from your healthcare provider and at many pharmacies. If you aren’t sure if you’re fully immunized, you can get an MMR vaccination as a precaution; it is safe to have an additional immunization even if you’re already fully immunized.
For more information on measles and updates on the local situation, go to: kingcounty.gov/measles.
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Normal business operations Wednesday, Feb. 6
King County operations will return to normal hours Wednesday, Feb. 6. If you are scheduled to work Wednesday, please plan to report to work at your normal start time or discuss any changes beforehand with your supervisor.
Be prepared for cold weather: Please be prepared for very cold weather on your morning commute. As always, have a plan for your commute, dress warmly, and let safety be your guide when making commute decisions.
Metro buses: You can sign up for Metro Transit Alerts (text, email, tweets via @kcmetrobus, see RSS feed via desktop or mobile RSS reader) and check Metro’s webpage for information on your route. You can also get additional information on Metro’s Snow, Ice and Flood Alerts webpage adverse weather page during storm events.
Roads: Please be extra careful on the roads and expect slippery conditions and black ice in many areas.
Alternative work arrangements: If adjusting a work schedule, working at an alternative location, teleworking, or taking vacation are options for your job, please discuss beforehand with your supervisor. Employees may be able to take a day of accrued vacation or comp time instead of reporting to their normal work location today. Check with your supervisor for more information.
School districts: Some school districts may have delayed start times so please check with your local school district and have a plan for your kids. When schools are closed and King County operations remain open, employees are expected to report to work as usual, or follow applicable personnel policies.
HR Policies: When an agency remains open, but conditions prevent you from reporting to work on time, notify your supervisor as soon as possible. You may request leave, subject to approval by your supervisor. If you have no leave accrued, your supervisor may approve leave without pay to cover absences. Sick leave may not be used. Please refer to HR Bulletin 2011-0009 County Operations During Emergency Situations and Inclement Weather to learn more.
Stay informed: Make sure you’re getting the latest King County information at work and at home in the event of snow:
- Call the Employee Hotline—206-205-8600 (save it to your phone now!).
- Check your King County email for specific directives and updates. Log on at outlook.kingcounty.gov.
- Contact your supervisor for instructions.
- Follow King County on Twitter—@KingCountyWA, @kcmetrobus, @kcroads, and @kcemployees
- Check your agency website or Intranet (if applicable), and monitor local media channels.
- Visit the Emergency News page at kcemergency.com for regional impacts.
KCInform: Make sure you can be reached in a major emergency. If you haven’t yet registered your personal contact or work cell information in KCInform, please contact kcinform@kingcounty.gov anytime or 206-296-3830 between 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Monday – Friday to request your unique registration link. Watch this short video to learn more or visit our website.
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Delayed opening Tuesday, Feb. 5, for non-mission critical employees
Due to icy road conditions, King County operations will open at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 5. (District Court staff are expected to report to work by 10 a.m.; Superior Court will have a two hour delayed opening). First responders and other mission critical staff are expected to report to their work location at their usual time. This includes, but is not limited to, corrections officers, 9-1-1 call center operators, emergency personnel, security staff, and certain senior managers. Employees who are unsure of their designation should contact their supervisor.
Employees who are not mission critical, as identified above, who are scheduled to work Tuesday, Feb. 5, are expected to report to work by 10:30 a.m. Tuesday or at the time designated by their supervisors.
Employees who are scheduled to work Tuesday and available for work will receive normal pay for their regular hours that occur prior to 10:30 a.m. This applies for hourly and exempt employees. We are continuing to monitor the weather and will make additional operational decisions as conditions warrant. If conditions change drastically we will send an update to employees by 9 a.m. Tuesday morning.
Metro buses on snow routes: Metro buses will be on snow routes so please check for information on changes to your route on Metro’s Snow, Ice and Flood Alerts webpage, Metro’s adverse weather page, or sign up for Metro Transit Alerts (text, email, tweets via @kcmetrobus, see RSS feed via desktop or mobile RSS reader).
Roads: Please be extra careful on the roads and expect slippery conditions and black ice in many areas.
Be prepared for cold weather: Please be prepared for very cold weather on your morning commute. Have a plan for your commute, dress warmly, and let safety be your guide when making commute decisions.
School district closures and delays: Many school districts are closed today, including Bellevue, Enumclaw, Federal Way, Highline, Kent, Lake Washington, Mercer Island, North Shore, Renton, Seattle, and Shoreline, and others are on a two-hour delay. Please check with your local school district and have a plan for your kids. When schools are closed and King County operations remain open, employees are expected to report to work as usual, or follow applicable personnel policies.
Alternative work arrangements: If adjusting a work schedule, working at an alternative location, teleworking, or taking vacation are options for your job, please discuss beforehand with your supervisor. Employees may be able to take a day of accrued vacation or comp time instead of reporting to their normal work location today. Check with your supervisor for more information.
HR Policies: When an agency remains open, but conditions prevent you from reporting to work on time, notify your supervisor as soon as possible. You may request leave, subject to approval by your supervisor. If you have no leave accrued, your supervisor may approve leave without pay to cover absences. Sick leave may not be used. Please refer to HR Bulletin 2011-0009 County Operations During Emergency Situations and Inclement Weather to learn more.
School delays: School districts may open late or not at all so please check with your local school district and have a plan for transporting your kids. When schools are closed and King County operations remain open, employees are expected to report to work as usual, or follow applicable personnel policies.
Stay informed: Make sure you’re getting the latest King County information at work and at home in the event of snow:
- Call the Employee Hotline—206-205-8600 (save it to your phone now!).
- Check your King County email for specific directives and updates. Log on at outlook.kingcounty.gov.
- Contact your supervisor for instructions.
- Follow King County on Twitter—@KingCountyWA, @kcmetrobus, @kcroads, and @kcemployees
- Check your agency website or Intranet (if applicable), and monitor local media channels.
- Visit the Emergency News page at kcemergency.com for regional impacts.
KCInform: Make sure you can be reached in a major emergency. If you haven’t yet registered your personal contact or work cell information in KCInform, please contact kcinform@kingcounty.gov anytime or 206-296-3830 between 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Monday – Friday to request your unique registration link. Watch this short video to learn more or visit our website.
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Pet of the Week: Bryce
Crossposted from Tails from RASKC
Fall in love with Bryce, our Pet of the Week!
This seven-year-old boy quickly became a favorite among staff and volunteers at the Pet Adoption Center. He is curious, affectionate, and active. He also loves to meow, so if you like a “talker,” Bryce might just be the cat for you! He cannot hear though, so he is looking for a special home with a family who will take the time to get to know his communication style. Because Bryce is deaf, he should be an indoor-only cat.
Read more from Tails from RASKC
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Training Spotlight: Introduction to Mindfulness and You’re the Boss: Now What?
Introduction to Mindfulness, Feb. 14: In this workshop we will review the various aspects of mindfulness practice, the ways mindfulness can help reduce stress, reactivity and burnout, and the science that supports the practices. The workshop includes hands-on learning of several simple but effective mindfulness practices that participants can put to use in their lives right away. Register and learn more.
You’re the Boss: Now What? Feb. 28 and March 7: Has your job position changed and now you are in charge? Are you adapting to a new supervisory role? In the two-class workshop gain insight in how you can efficiently make the transition to supervisor and how to effectively support and coach your team. You will be responsible for calendaring and attending both of these dates to receive a course completion. The dates are Thursday, February 28, 2019 and Thursday, March 7, 2019. Register and learn more.
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UPDATE: All non-mission critical King County functions closed today
Due to updated weather forecasting and safety concerns resulting from today’s winter storm, King County operations will not be open today Monday, February 4, 2019 except for essential and mission-critical functions. First responders and other mission critical staff are expected to report to their work location at the usual time. This includes, but is not limited to, corrections officers, 9-1-1 call center operators, emergency personnel, security staff, and certain senior managers. If you are not sure of your designation, please contact your supervisor.
Priority and mission-critical services will continue to be provided in accordance with your department’s emergency planning.
Thank you to all employees who made it in to work today. For non-mission critical staff who have already come in to work, you may return home. Please be extra safe in your return commute.
District Court, Superior Court, King County Council, the Department of Assessments, the Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, and King County Elections have already announced their closures today.
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Updated program offers help for home buying, selling, and remodeling
You could qualify for significant savings and special services! Learn about the newly updated homeownership and banking benefits program offered to King County employees by HomeStreet Bank. Home loan and finance experts will be on-site to talk to you about programs to help you with home buying, selling, and remodeling and answer questions you have about your financial goals.
- Thursday, Feb. 7, Noon – 1 p.m., Chinook Building, Room 118
- Thursday, Feb. 14, Noon – 1 p.m., King Street Center, Cloaca Maxima
Don’t miss the overview of this important King County employee benefit! Snacks and refreshments will be provided. To learn more, go to King County Homeownership Program.
Employee News 