Employee workgroup takes on equity challenges
This article is by Corinne Easter, Administrative Specialist with the King County Office of Risk Management Services
When thinking about Equity and Social Justice (ESJ), most people immediately think about age, ethnicity, and gender. Fewer people look deeper and realize that job classification can also be an ESJ issue. Shawn Abernethy, Human Resources Manager for the Department of Executive Services (DES) has been leading a group focused on just that: equity within workgroups.
Shawn summarizes their 2018 action items by saying, “In 2018, we have been focused on three main goals. We are building an equitable and inclusive workplace culture, building a more racially diverse and culturally responsive workforce at all levels, and creating equitable employee development and access to opportunities.”
Pictured: Left to right are Robert James, Jennifer Irwin, Shawn Abernethy, Christina Davidson, Miesha Vaughn, Sandy Treibel and Cecelia Hayes.
From the team, Supported Employment Program Manager Christina Davidson, Senior Human Resources Analyst Robert James and Claims Investigator, Miesha Vaughn have taken the lead on these three goals. Christina and Miesha created several focus groups to engage employees in classifications that have limited access to training due to alternative work schedules, all day fieldwork or continuous customer-facing positions. A second group, led by Miesha, evaluated the effectiveness of mentorship programs as an avenue to work towards career goals. The third group, led by Robert, worked with DES human resources staff and individuals from the Human Resources Division to help visualize workforce demographics, recruitment data, and identify disparities in diverse hires.
Why is it important to focus on workforce equity? Miesha answered this by saying, “Everyone should have equal access to learning and development. We have a lot of untapped talent out there and people deserve the opportunity to develop it.” Three members of the focus group committee also answered this question. Jeff Steuby, Lead Transit Custodian, said, “It’s important to be a voice for front-line employees, and give them permission to be proactive about their careers.”
Pictured: From left to right are Saybre Locke and Jeff Steuby.
Saybre Locke, Custodian for the Facilities and Management Division, added, “By telling our own stories at the focus groups, we created a ‘safe space’ for employees to engage in honest dialogue.”
Michael Rheubottom, Rail Station Custodian, continued, “We were in the field talking to real people. What surprised me was that the different positions and trades didn’t matter, we were all experiencing the same issues.”
Caroline Whalen, Director of the Department of Executive Services, reflects on her team’s work by saying, “I’ve learned a lot from reading Stephen Covey’s books on management and leadership and he said, ‘Strength lies in differences, not in similarities.’ King County’s goal to have county management reflect our community demographics aligns with this management principle.”
“DES has a remarkable Workforce team helping us to reach this goal, she continued. “I appreciate their approach that began by listening to employees who have jobs in the lower salary ranges to get their ideas and creating development plans that help those employees achieve their career goals.”
With about half of these projects completed, Miesha and Christina plan on publishing their focus group findings in the next few weeks, while the mentorship pilot that ended in July will have participant data analyzed for relevant information and themes. Similarly, Robert’s group is still collecting data, and he will see what can be done with it to help different groups advance into management positions.
The positive feedback and reception of this group’s work re-enforces the importance of King County’s Equity and Social Justice Strategic Plan. Providing employees with equitable work groups and a supportive environment is necessary for career development. This workgroup will continue its work through 2022.
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Pet of the Week: Lila Rose
Crossposted from Tails from RASKC
Lila Rose is a 3 ½ year-old, black, longhair female cat (#A555163). This beautiful girl is an affectionate love bug once she warms up to you. She loves hanging out with her favorite people, and once she get comfortable she can talk up a storm! Lila Rose’s personality color is RED, meaning she is a spirited and fun-loving girl who likes to get attention on her own terms. She can get a bit overstimulated with petting, so it’s best to keep an eye out for signs she may need a break. This sweet girl may take some time to get comfortable in her surroundings, so she would probably do best in a low-traffic home without young kids. Lila Rose is litter box trained, spayed, current on vaccinations and microchipped. Her $30 adoption fee also includes a free visit to the veterinarian of your choice, and 30 days of opt-in pet insurance through Trupanion.
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Training Spotlight: Introduction to Organizational Performance Measurement
If you have a desire to improve your skills and knowledge of organizational performance measurement, this course is for you. This introductory course is for participants who want to gain a practical understanding of organizational performance measurement. No prerequisites are required. Participants should come curious, ready to engage in exercises, and experiment with new concepts and ideas. Learn more and register on Eventbrite.
Visit www.kingcounty.gov/learning to learn more about trainings and other opportunities to invest in YOU!
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Green space for all: King County moves to speed up open space investments and improve access
Crossposted from Keeping King County Green
Across the street from a grassy private lot fenced off with razor wire, kids play tag in a gray concrete Tukwila parking lot, sometimes dodging honking cars and making the apartment manager nervous about his liability. The closest park playground is a hot 20-minute summer walk from the apartment building along busy arterials.
These kids are among a half million King County residents without easy access to green space, parks or trails (within a 10-minute walk). It’s a stunning truth in a county renowned for its astounding outdoor possibilities – the Cascade Mountains, lush forestlands, fertile farmlands, salmon-bearing streams and rivers, a world-class trail system, lakes both large and small, and the iconic Puget Sound.
The City of Tukwila would like to purchase the vacant lot – easily distinguished within the low-income neighborhood because it has mature trees and green grass – and turn it into a community park. But, with other priorities in a financially-strapped local government, Tukwila hasn’t had the matching money it needs to qualify for King County’s open space funding program – funding that could make a park happen.
Giving more kids, and more King County residents, the ability to experience the health and quality of life benefits of green space is why the King County Council overwhelmingly approved legislation aimed at conserving the last, best places in King County, and making sure every community has easy access to green space.
The legislation bolsters a new Land Conservation Initiative launched earlier this year, designed to improve access to green spaces in underserved communities and preserve 65,000 acres of remaining vital and at-risk farmlands, forestlands, river corridors, open space lands and trail corridors throughout King County within a generation (30 years).
The Initiative is the culmination of two years of work between the County and multiple partners, including 39 cities within King County and conservation partners such as: The Mountains to Sound Greenway Trust, The Trust for Public Land, Forterra, The Wilderness Society, and The Nature Conservancy.
Proposed in May by King County Executive Dow Constantine, the legislation does not increase property taxes, but instead enables the County to borrow more against future revenues from an existing funding stream – as much as $148 million over the next four years – to accelerate protection of open and green space.
What’s more, the ordinance removes the financial match requirements for acquiring new open space in communities where open space investments have been lacking, and which have missed out on the health, quality of life, economic and environmental benefits associated with nearby green spaces.
“Many communities have experienced – and still experience – a history of unequal and limited investment in parks, open space and trail access, which limits the ability of people to lead healthy lives,” said De’Sean Quinn, Tukwila City Councilmember and co-chair of King County’s Open Space Equity Cabinet. “The local match requirement has been a barrier for cash-strapped communities to access CFT funds to make open space investments. Removing the match means these communities can now seek CFT funds for green space investments in neighborhoods with the greatest needs.”
It can’t come too soon for those kids playing tag in Tukwila, and some 500,000 other King County residents.
- Land Conservation Initiative website
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Brewing up clean water
Crossposted from Clean Water Stories
Beer brewing is a growing industry that creates local jobs and supports King County’s economic diversity, and now these operations are helping in our efforts to protect water quality through their commitment to responsible waste management.
There are two concerns with brewery wastewater: the concentration of waste in the water and the pH.
Imagine if all the wastewater from your house came from the garbage disposal. That would be much more concentrated than the wastewater from showers, washing machines, and toilets. Since breweries use a lot of grain pulp and yeast, their wastewater is more concentrated than average household wastewater. And if the extra “solids” in the wastewater are large enough to block a pipe, we could be in real trouble.
Brewery wastewater tends to be acidic because of the grain pulp and yeast, so large quantities can potentially affect the chemistry of our treatment system, which might lead to equipment corrosion or even water pollution problems. That’s why many sizeable commercial breweries are regulated by our Industrial Waste Program, and why King County requires them to test and monitor their wastewater, or in many cases install specialized equipment to pretreat wastewater before it goes down the drain.
Our Industrial Waste Program inspectors work closely with the breweries to make sure they’re following the best practices that produce something everyone can enjoy – clean water.
Breweries such as the Georgetown Brewery are one of many industrial facilities that work hard to control pollution and support clean and healthy waterways in King County. View more photos here.
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Employee emergency notification system – free to sign up!
Imagine it’s a nice day and you’ve decided to eat or take a walk outside during your lunch break. During that time, and unbeknownst to you, your building goes into security lock down. If you are registered to receive employee alerts, you’ll be notified on your personal mobile device by text, email, and/or voice message with safety instructions. KC Inform is a free County employee notification system that sends important information to you, wherever you are. Registration is easy. Email kcinform@kingcounty.gov or call 206-296-3830 to request a customized link to build your personal alert profile.
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Homeless prevention efforts help stop youth and families from becoming homeless
Department of Community and Human Services Director Adrienne Quinn was interviewed by KUOW reporter Kate Walters about homeless prevention efforts. They talked about the Best Starts for Kids-funded Youth and Family Homelessness Prevention Initiative and efforts around system connected housing to help prevent people with behavioral health needs from becoming homeless.
Read and listen to the KUOW article here.
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Training helped prepare Water Taxi crew for in-water rescue this week in Elliott Bay
Crossposted from the Captain’s Blog
An ordinary evening sailing from West Seattle turned into an extraordinary display of preparation and skill when our three-person crew rescued a man stranded in Elliott Bay on Thursday.
The rescue took place shortly before 6 p.m., after the MV Doc Maynard left Seacrest Dock and headed toward Pier 52 in Downtown Seattle. The crew spotted a man in the water away from his boat, blowing a whistle and clinging to what appeared to be a chair.
The crew members – who had all undergone rigorous safety and emergency training when they joined our team – sprang into action to pull the man out of the water quickly and safely. Capt. Jeff Bearden positioned the vessel close to the man in the water. As he did that, deckhands Bob McDougall (on the job for only three months) and Amanda Cook (an on-call deckhand in her second year with us) prepared to pull the man aboard the vessel.
(For a glimpse of how quickly they acted, as well as the moment we brought the man aboard, watch the video shot by rider and Instagram user Ryan Abernathy (@r_dabernathy))
Read more at the Captain’s Blog
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Metro’s ‘Vehicle Maintenance Employee of the Year’ keeps buses and coworkers going
Crossposted from Metro Matters
After 34 years, mechanic Dave Bankson is one of the best at his job at King County Metro. He works hard to stay current on changing technology, has become a go-to resource on new diesel-hybrid fleets, and readily shares his expertise.
Bankson recently was honored as Metro’s Vehicle Maintenance Employee of the Year for 2018.
He accepted the award in front of a room full of coworkers, many who praised his work ethic and the way he mentors others to be successful.
“I don’t have just one story to show what a great guy he is, but I have the experience of being around him and the experience of working beside him,” said Chris Parrott, Metro’s managing director of Vehicle Maintenance. “Dave works hard and he works hard until the job is complete.”
Read more at Metro Matters
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Disasters happen. Are you ready?
September is recognized as National Preparedness Month – a reminder to take action to prepare now and throughout the year for the types of emergencies that could affect us where we live, work, and play. It’s important to have a family and workplace communications plan and evacuation route established. You are also urged to store food, water, first aid, and other essential survival supplies in your home and vehicle.
Additionally, take time to learn lifesaving skills – such as CPR and first aid – and how and when to shut off water and gas lines to your home or business. Finally, check your insurance policies and coverage for the hazards you may face (e.g. flood, earthquakes, freezing temperatures). When disaster strikes, first responders may not be able to reach you. That’s why it’s critical you prepare in advance and build relationships with your neighbors so you can support each other until help arrives.
Learn more and get checklists at www.kingcounty.gov/prepare and www.makeitthrough.org.
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