Oct. 30 is the last day for public feedback on Metro’s late-night bus service plan
Crossposted from Metro Matters
There are only 12 more days for the public to weigh in on Metro’s proposal for expanding and improving late-night bus service in Seattle. The proposal would offer new transit options for those getting to or from jobs, the airport and nightlife between 2 a.m. and 5 a.m.
Metro has about 40 routes with some level of late-night service throughout King County. Of these, 20 provide trips after 2 a.m., including three Night Owl routes that loop through some Seattle neighborhoods only between 2:15 a.m. and 4:30 a.m. The Seattle Department of Transportation funds all service on Night Owl Routes 82, 83 and 84, and partners with Metro to fund additional night owl service on the C and D Lines.
Read more at Metro Matters
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2017 Benefits: Open Enrollment November 1-15
Covering a spouse/partner on your medical plan? Learn about the Benefit Access Fee
If you cover a spouse or domestic partner on your King County medical plan, a Benefit Access Fee is automatically applied each year. If you qualify for an exemption, you must confirm it annually during Open Enrollment—Nov. 1 – 15.
The Benefit Access Fee is a monthly deduction from your paycheck. The amount depends on your benefit group and the medical plan you select. See the Benefit Access Fee flyer for a list of amounts and exemptions.
If you are eligible for an exemption to the Benefit Access Fee but you don’t select it during Open Enrollment, the fee will be automatically deducted from your paycheck each month beginning in January. If you notify us later that you qualify for an exemption, you can discontinue the fee, however, amounts already deducted will not be refunded.
For more information, go to Open Enrollment, call Benefits, Payroll and Retirement Operations at 206-684-1556, or email KC Benefits.
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Celebrating engagement efforts with chicken and waffles
Human Resources Division’s Safety & Claims section held itsfirst annual Employee Engagement party on Thursday, Oct. 13, to celebrate the year-long commitment to build engagement in the workplace.
The “Chicken & Waffles” celebration included waffle making, raffle prizes, and team-building exercises using KEVA planks. The party was an opportunity to solicit feedback from each of the staff members on the effectiveness of the Employee Engagement Committee in addressing employee needs and concerns. It was a great way to celebrate, reflect and think ahead on continuing to build engagement in the section.
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The newest Captain in the Water Taxi family!
Crossposted from the Captain’s Blog
Pictured: Nick Williams, on the left, receiving Captains epaulets from Deckhand/Relief Captain GW Rogers.
Officer on deck! West Seattle Water Taxi riders already recognize deckhand Nick Williams, and know him for his great sense of humor and unflappable and easygoing attitude.
Get ready to salute, though. Nick recently received his captain’s license from the United States Coast Guard, and last week started driving the West Seattle route as a relief Captain for the King County Water Taxi.
“It was great to have all the support and all the compliments when I started driving. But it also will be great to not get as wet!” Nick said.
Read more at the Captain’s Blog
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Defense team works to clear name of man wrongly accused and imprisoned
Crossposted from For The Defense
Pictured from left: Amy Parker, Bettye Witherspoon, and Molly Gilbert — the team that worked to clear Ezequiel Apolo-Albino’s name
Update: Ezequiel Apolo-Albino was released from immigration detention yesterday, Oct. 5, and his immigration case has been terminated.
Ezequiel Apolo-Albino spent eight years in prison wrongfully accused of a crime that never happened. Thanks to the tenacity and legal acumen of Department of Public Defense attorney Amy Parker and DPD investigators Molly Gilbert and Bettye Witherspoon, a Superior Court judge recently signed an order vacating his conviction on two counts of child molestation.
Read more at For The Defense
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Earthquake drill
On Thursday, October 20, King County will join with employers and other organizations statewide participating in the annual Great Washington ShakeOut earthquake drill.
At 10:20 a.m., a PA announcement will go out in many County buildings asking employees to practice what they should do in an earthquake:
- DROP to the floor
- Take COVER under a desk, table, or other sturdy furniture
- HOLD ON until the shaking stops (or the earthquake drill ends).
If you or your workgroup are not able to join in the drill on October 20 at 10:20 a.m., pick another time that works for you.
Before you come out from under cover, feel free to take a photo and share it on Twitter or Facebook with the hashtag #DropCoverSelfie! King County Emergency Management also invites you to practice DROP, COVER, and HOLD ON at home with your family in the evening. It’s also a good idea to take a few minutes to locate your home emergency kit and make sure you have everything you, your family, and your pets need.
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We’re listening: 2016 Employee Survey closes Friday, Oct. 21
With less than a week to go in the 2016 King County employee survey, just over half of employees have given their feedback on how we can make King County a better place to work and a more effective provider of services.
Have you had your say?
- What do you think about career advancement opportunities at King County?
- Is your workgroup open to new ideas?
- Do your leaders communicate a clear vision for your department or agency?
Now is your time to have your say – the survey closes end of day this Friday, Oct. 21.Tell us how we can make King County better for you. We’re listening.
Thank you if you have already completed the survey!
To find the email link to your survey, search in your email under “King County 2016 Employee Survey” or contact the survey consultant, ORC International, atsupport@orcinternational.com.
Your responses are completely anonymous to King County and ORC, the consultant, only shares analyzed results, never individual responses.
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Social Media Spotlight: Regional Animal Services of King County Twitter
Regional Animal Services of King County (RASKC) helps pets find forever homes!
Follow Regional Animal Services of King County on Twitter today!
Click here to view all King County social media pages.
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Removing barriers from job posting increases opportunities
Access to career advancement opportunities was a key theme in last year’s Employee Survey, with only 50 percent of employees saying they were satisfied with opportunities to achieve their career goals.
One way that King County is making job opportunities accessible to more employees is by removing unnecessary minimum qualifications from job postings.
“Shifting the focus from an education-based approach to a skills- and experience-based one “screens in” more applicants who have the skills to be successful in a role but don’t have a degree or certification that really isn’t needed,” said Susie Slonecker, Interim Director of Human Resources Division.
This process will be an ongoing, long-term effort that will help remove barriers to obtaining employment with King County, broaden the pool of qualified talent, and increase internal movement by creating opportunities for employees to be more competitive.
Some County positions will still require degrees, licenses or accreditations but where an education level is not necessary attribute for a job, the County is removing these requirements.
Elimination of barriers to recruitment and promotion by shifting the hiring process to focus on core attributes rather than unnecessary education and experience requirements is one of the priorities in the 2016-2022 Equity and Social Justice Strategic Plan.
See all current County job opportunities here.
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King County and Goodwill: Preparing inmates for release
For people who find themselves in the criminal justice system, transitioning back into society, including getting a job and accessing housing, can often be challenging.
To ease that transition King County removed criminal history disclosure requirements from its employment applications early last year. At the same time, the County also began a partnership with Goodwill to better prepare County inmates for release.
The partnership began with a Goodwill Job Training pilot at King County Correctional Facility.
“The Goodwill Job Training program actually started out as a pilot at KCCF for about a year before being made available at MRJC,” explained Nancy Garcia, Project and Program Manager with the County’s Department of Adult and Juvenile Detention.
Nine students earned certificates for completing MRJC’s first Goodwill Employment and Reintegration Strategies job training class this July, and six others earned their certificates last month.
So far, five classes have been taught at KCCF – including two for female students – and Maleng Regional Justice Center has now held two classes. Nine students earned certificates for completing MRJC’s first Goodwill Employment and Reintegration Strategies job training class this July, and six others earned their certificates last month.
Participants in the seven-week program meet for two and a half hours twice per week to learn how to prepare to find jobs upon release. The program includes training in resume writing, interviewing and disclosure of criminal history. In order to complete the class, students must meet both attendance and participation expectations, as well as demonstrate abilities to perform competencies including: developing strategies to explore careers, being competent in job search activities with a conviction history, and completing both a resume and a mock interview.
Cameron Carl, Program Facilitator and Case Manager with Goodwill, is the Employment and Reintegration Strategies job training instructor. “Goodwill provides quality, effective employment and basic education to individuals experiencing significant barriers to economic opportunity,” said Cameron.
She invests a lot into the program, and the support for the students does not end with a certificate. Upon release, Cameron says, “students receive up to three months of case management services from any of the Seattle Goodwill Job Training and Education Centers located in our five counties; King, Kitsap, Skagit, Snohomish and Whatcom.” Case management services include transportation assistance as well as assistance with basic needs (housing, healthcare, clothing, etc.). As a case manager, Cameron resumes working with the students once they are released and makes the necessary connections and referrals to resources and employment specialists.
Nancy sums it up best by saying, “It is a wonderful story to tell!”
Employee News 