Safety and security at work
Ensuring your safety and security at work is our top priority. Recently, King County hosted an employee Lunch and Learn with representatives from the Sheriff’s Office and the Facilities Management Division (FMD) Security Unit sharing information and resources.
In response to employee requests, we now have a list of safety tips online. This information from the Seattle Police Department is designed to help you enhance your personal safety and avoid potential trouble.
We have also launched a new online security incident report form. You can use this form to report non-emergency incidents to the FMD Security Unit for possible follow-up. You can report incidents that happen at work or on your commute. FMD Security will also continue to take incident reports by phone at 206-296-5000. As always in an emergency, call 9-1-1 for immediate assistance.
We also plan to add more safety training classes and host more Lunch and Learns focusing on safety and security at work. Look for announcements about these offerings in future issues of Employee News.
Share this:
Featured Job: Information Assurance Engineer Senior
Closing Date/Time: Mon. 10/31/16 4:30 PM Pacific Time
Salary: $41.57 – $52.69 Hourly, $86,465.60 – $109,595.20 Annually
Job Type: Career Service, Full Time, 40 hrs/week
Location: Chinook Building – 401 5th Ave, Seattle, Washington
Department: King County Department of Information Technology
Description: King County Information Technology (KCIT) is seeking a Senior Security Engineer. The Senior Security Engineer will be responsible for daily monitoring, management and administration of information security. The Senior Security Engineer proactively protects the integrity, confidentiality, and availability of information technology resources. Incumbents resolve information security issues for internal and external customers and enforce security policies, standards and procedures.
King County Information Technology Department is taking organizational change from multiple, functionally focused organizations (decentralized model) to one world class technology services provider.
Learn more about this position or view all available jobs.
Share this:
The Annual Employee Giving Drive: Nonprofits helping kids
The County’s 2016 Annual Employee Giving Drive is approaching the halfway point, and this year’s goal is to raise $1.82 million. King County employees have donated $419,780.58 so far, bringing the drive to 23.1% of the goal!
If you’ve made it to one of the nonprofit expositions, you may know you can win prizes just by learning about five attending nonprofits! (This can be done virtually, as well.) To enter a drawing for the grand prize of Seattle City Pass, movie tickets, and fun giveaways, visit nonprofits (in person, or through the online video presentations) and fill out the “passport.” The drawing will take place November 9. You will be notified if you win, and winners will be posted on the website.
This week, we’re featuring four nonprofits serving children in the King County area, and each is eligible to receive donations through the Employee Giving Program!
- Seattle Children’s Hospital and Research Foundation (9002) – Seattle Children’s Hospital, Foundation and Research Institute together deliver superior patient care, advance new discoveries and treatments through pediatric research.
- Make-A-Wish Foundation® of America (5048) – We grant the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions to enrich the human experience with hope, strength and joy.
- March of Dimes Foundation, Washington Chapter (4024) – To improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth, and infant mortality, through programs of research, community services, education and advocacy.
- St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital (serving AK, ID, MT, OR & WA) (4015) – Researches and treats deadly childhood diseases – primarily cancer. Families are never billed by St. Jude for treatment, travel, housing or food. Discoveries freely shared worldwide.
The Employee Giving Program is a philanthropic resource for King County employees that benefits county employees by providing prescreened nonprofits, allowing you to plan your giving, making it possible for you to donate time (vacation or compensatory hours), and offering anonymity.
You may pledge either online in PeopleSoft or with a paper form. Through payroll donations, employees can donate to as many as 20 nonprofits, and contributions can be made bimonthly (first two pay checks each month), monthly (second paycheck each month) or annually (first paycheck in January).
Every donation made through the Employee Giving Program is tax deductible. Just keep track of the proper paperwork and you can deduct your donations when you file your taxes!
This year’s drive runs through November 18. For more information, visit the EGP site. For additional questions, contact your EGP Ambassador, email EmployeeGiving@KingCounty.gov or call 206-263-9405.
Share this:
The Kitsap County Civilian Navy visits King County to learn about Supported Employment
In June 2016, King County hosted the Kitsap County Civilian Navy to share best practices about supported employment in order to assist them to grow and develop their own Supported Employment Program. During the Navy’s visit they toured the workplaces of three employees: Jennifer in DES Records and Licensing Division, Tony in DPH Financial and Administrative section, and Kirsten in DCHS Community Services Division, who showcased their work.
Debra Wood, Kirsten’s supervisor, states, “It’s been wonderful to see Kirsten grow. [The Supported Employment Program] is a terrific! I want everybody who has a developmental disability to have the opportunity to experience this kind of support to help them grow into who they know they can be.”
Watch the short video below that highlights the Supported Employment Program and the Navy tour. Please contact Christina Davidson, Supported Employment Program Manager, to learn more about ways you can take advantage of this program.
In addition to King County’s program, the Navy also tour Microsoft’s Supported Employment Program to gather ideas from the private sector. More private and public sector organizations are seeing the benefits of inclusive hiring and developing programs to increase representation of individuals with developmental disabilities.
“It is very exciting to see large organizations in the both the private and public sector solve their business needs utilizing this untapped workforce,” says Christina Davidson, King County’s Supported Employment Program Manager.
Share this:
Community Supported Agriculture program proves County employees and local farms make a great pear
The farm-to-table effort has steadily grown in popularity over the last few years, giving rise to a new movement that brings together farms and local employers called farm-to-work. King County joined this movement earlier this year when it launched its Farm Fresh Local Program, bringing healthy, delicious produce to employees at select worksites.
The Farm Fresh Local pilot is a collaboration between the Department of Natural Resources and Parks (DNRP) and the Human Resources Division’s Employee Health and Well-Being program. Together they brokered relationships to test delivery at eight King County worksites from three CSA farms—Seattle Tilth, Oxbow Farm, and Pike Place Market Farm to Go. The collaboration is designed both to support employees who want to focus on healthier eating, and to strengthen the local food economy.
“I love the CSA project,” said Diane Korf, a Juvenile Probation Counselor with King County Juvenile Court. Diane volunteers as a Farm Fresh Local CSA Coordinator for her work location, and coordinates the delivery of CSA boxes to employees who subscribe.
“I really appreciate that King County is on board, helping its employees access better quality foods and now giving them Healthy Incentives credit”, added Diane. Subscribing in the 2016 pilot season helped put employees on a path to earning lower out-of-pocket medical costs for 2017.
Through the CSA pilot, King County employees choose which sized box, or “share,” best suits their needs and pay up front for the produce to be delivered to their participating King County worksite for 15 to 20 weeks, from June through October. A typical 15-week share runs around $300-400, depending on the farm, the share size, and other factors. The weekly delivery comes with fruits and vegetables, as well as a Fresh Sheet which includes recipe ideas, a popular aspect of the program.
“I enjoy supporting the CSA program because it gives our County employees yet another opportunity to bring healthy vegetables into their kitchens and support local agriculture,” said Faon O’Connor, an Administrative Specialist with Public Health – Seattle & King County who serves as a CSA Coordinator for the Chinook Building.
District Court employees happy with the variety and convenience of their CSA delivery.
“Personally, I also enjoy the chance to try new vegetables and come up with meals based on the produce that shows up!”
In addition to the personal health benefits, the Farm Fresh Local CSA raises awareness about local agriculture and helps to support the long term viability of farming in our community. Employees participating in the program represent a new market for local farms and are thus deeply connected to local agriculture. In this way, King County is also directly ensuring that farming operations within the area are successful, thriving business.
“We all feel better when we eat healthy fruits and veggies,” said Michael Lufkin, Local Food Economy Manager with DNRP. “Supporting locally sourced food supports both the health and well-being of families and helps build stronger more sustainable communities.”
“Employees get a better product, they know where it came from and they’re supporting a local farmer.”
About 100 County employees subscribed for workplace CSA delivery this past season at the eight participating locations. An upcoming evaluation will determine whether the Farm Fresh Local CSA pilot will continue next year and, if so, at what locations. To stay tuned about future plans and learn more about the Farm Fresh Local CSA program, visit the Farm Fresh Local page on the King County Employee Health & Well-Being website.
To find farmer’s markets, discover what’s in season year round, look up recipes or even visit a local farm, visit Puget Sound Fresh at www.pugetsoundfresh.org. For information about what King County is doing to support local farmers succeed in their businesses visit Farm King County at www.farmkingcounty.org.
Share this:
Featured Job: Payroll Administrator
Closing Date/Time: Sun. 10/30/16 11:59 PM
Salary: $27.12 – $34.38 Hourly
Job Type: Career Service, Full Time, 40 hrs/week
Location: Chinook Building – 401 5th Ave, Seattle, Washington
Department: Department of Executive Services – Finance & Business Operations Division
Description: Join Our Team! The King County Benefits, Payroll, and Retirement Operations Section (BPROS) in the Finance and Business Operations Division is recruiting to fill twoPayroll Administrators to be part of the Central Payroll team which provides critical support to county departments and agencies to pay our 15,000 employees. Our ideal candidate will possess unique talents and ideas on how to do things differently and continuously strive to improve payroll production.
The Finance and Business Operations Division’s mission is to provide timely, efficient and accurate accounting, procurement, treasury, payroll, benefits and small business services.
Learn more about this position or view all available jobs.
Share this:
Social Media Spotlight: Puget Sound Emergency Radio Network (PSERN) Twitter
PSERN will replace the current aging emergency radio communications network that first responders use with a new one. This account is not monitored 24/7.
Follow PSERN on Twitter today!
Click here to view all King County social media pages.
Share this:
Tech Tip: Are you unwittingly putting King County at risk of a cybersecurity event?
Do you realize how easily you could compromise King County’s security without meaning to?
As part of National Cybersecurity Awareness month several partners have collaborated to bring you the Workplace Security Risk Calculator. This calculator is an educational quiz which will provide you with a determination of your riskiness.
Play the game by clicking on the link above to find out how some of the things you do every day that could be exposing King County to risk. Discover how behaviors like sharing passwords, or using your computer to check personal emails or download music could make your organization vulnerable to hacking, malware and other attacks.
Just answer 12 questions by clicking the link above to calculate your workplace security risk score. No personal information will be collected.
Share this:
Kudos to Mario Bailey! Employee mentioned in local paper for great work coaching high school football and mentoring youth
A social worker in the Department of Community and Human Services, Mario Bailey was recently highlighted in The Seattle Medium, a local news outlet, for his stepping into the head coach position at Franklin High School. His coming forward allowed the students to play football this season, instead of possibly forfeiting after the original head coach had to step down.
He is quoted in the article as saying:
“When you’re a football coach you’re more than a ‘football coach,” says Bailey. “You’re like an uncle, a father, a best friend, a big brother – you’re all of that.”
Kudos to Mario for making a positive impact on youth and giving back to our community!
Read more at The Seattle Medium.
Image courtesy of The Seattle Medium
Share this:
School based clinics in King County
Soon more school kids will be able to get medical care without missing school. King County’s Best Starts for Kids initiative will help fund more school-based clinics.
View the video below to learn more about how we are changing the lives of children in King County.
Employee News 