On Monday, Sept. 26, the 2016 King County Employee Survey will launch, giving the County an opportunity to hear from employees about how we can better serve our customers and make King County a better place to work.

In 2015, more than 7,500 employees participated in the employee survey. Since then, more than 230 action plans have been created to address the issues you raised and the major themes that emerged:

1. Growth and development

• Launched an Employee Resource Center to provide resources like resume building, mock interviews and training plans to meet your goals
• Advertised all Special Duty Opportunities wherever possible
• Revamped the Bridge Fellowship Program
• Developed a new Mentoring Program to launch at the end of 2016.

2. Senior leadership visibility

• Executive Constantine has begun regular visits to employees in their worksites and department all-hands meetings
• The Executive has used video to expand his communications with employees
• More than 30 department and division leaders have made increasing their visibility the focus of their action plan.

3. On the job

• Almost 40 action plans addressed work-life balance, respect and workplace safety
• Multiple departments worked to improve communications channels and understanding of division and department priorities
• A new lunch and learn series on workplace safety is launching in the Fall of 2016.

The online survey will open on Monday, Sept. 26, running until Friday, Oct. 21, and paper surveys will be available from Monday, Sept. 19, and also close on October 21. Survey responses are confidential and results are anonymous.

Tell us how we can make King County better for you. We’re listening. Find out more at www.kingcounty.gov/employeesurvey.

View the video below about what’s happened since last year and what you can expect this year.

Top ideas from the 9/15 training:

• Discuss w/team the goals of the survey and its ability to create change incrementally.
• Schedule a time for work group to take the survey. Serve food and beverages
  • Paper survey – work site meeting time.
  • Online – outlook calendar meeting.
• Be clear about using work time.

These were not the top scoring ideas from the training, but interesting enough to share:

• Explain to the employee how important the survey is, share results from last year and the timeline of how involved the county is in gathering this data.
• Set up kiosks/work stations in places where employees aren’t always on computers to allow electronic option.
• Free puppy/kittens for each completed survey.
• Personal testimony from the division leader on what he/she has changed as a results of last year’s survey.
• Mobile survey bus with laptops and treats.
• Medals for units with most participation – gold, silver, bronze.

Here are some  ideas for engagement from the 9/8 training:

1. Give staff lunch on me (supervisor) if work group has 100% participation
2. Raffle Prizes
3. Incentivize them with a special raffle prize every week for those who have completed the survey. The earlier you do it, the more chances you have to win.