Winter weather tips for your pet
Crossposted from Tails from RASKC
A significant snowstorm hit King County this week, dropping as much as ten inches of snow. Temperatures are not expected to warm much above freezing the next couple of days, so it’s important to make sure your pet is kept safe and warm.
As always, the best thing to do is to keep your pet inside when it’s cold and wet outside.
Read more from Tails from RASKC
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Featured Job: Chief Pharmacist Officer
Salary: $112,068.95 – $142,054.02 Annually
Location: Washington, WA
Job Type: Career Service, Hours Vary
Department: DPH – Public Health
Job Number: 2019-09307
Closing: 2/11/2019 5:00 PM Pacific
Public Health Seattle-King County is searching for a (Career Service) Chief Pharmacist Officer to supervise the clinical practice of other pharmacists, general oversight of pharmaceutical services, including quality improvement and assurance standards, ensure integrity of the 340B Drug Pricing Program, and ensuring that services and programs are in alignment with the department’s strategic plan.
Learn more about this position or view all available positions.
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Be prepared for possible snow Friday afternoon, impacts to evening commute
Another winter storm is heading our way tomorrow, and will likely bring more snow and ice to the region, particularly Friday afternoon and evening.
If the roads are snowy and icy, expect delays to your commute and be prepared for very cold weather. Please have a commute plan with several fall back options, dress warmly, and as always, let safety guide your commute decisions.
If you haven’t already, talk to your supervisor about your role in an emergency, and know how to contact them.
Metro buses may have to move to snow routes at any time, so please check for information on changes to your bus 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), and have a backup plan.
Consider canceling or postponing non-essential meetings tomorrow and early next week, or move them onto Skype for Business.
If telecommuting is an option for your job, make sure you submit a Telecommuting Agreement in advance for approval. KCIT has created a telework resources site that answers many questions. You may also consider adjusting your work schedule, working at an alternative location, or taking vacation if these are options. Please discuss beforehand with your supervisor and make sure you have approval.
Some school districts have already announced early closures Friday, so make a plan to take care of 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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Thank you for your service in difficult conditions
Dear fellow King County employee,
As our region continues to dig out of this week’s snow storm, I want to recognize and thank our employees for reporting to work in snowy, icy, and very cold conditions Sunday night, Monday, and Tuesday morning.
When our customers needed us, to get them home or to work, to clear a path for them on the roads, to provide the services and care they count on, these employees went above and beyond to deliver great service.
Difficult times and trying conditions often bring out the best in people, and I am proud that our colleagues responded to the challenge presented by the winter storm to deliver the services upon which our region relies.
With more snow and cold weather on the horizon I am grateful that King County has employees who epitomize the words “public service” and can be counted on to be there for our residents.
Please join me in thanking our County colleagues who went above and beyond the call of duty this week.
Sincerely,
Dow Constantine
King County Executive
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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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