“Fall” in love with $50 dog adoptions in October
The leaves are changing color and the weather is turning cooler, making October a great time to cuddle up with a warm pup from Regional Animal Services of King County!
All this month, you can adopt a dog for just $50, plus a pet license fee where applicable. All pets from RASKC have had an initial veterinary exam, are up to date on their vaccinations, have been spayed or neutered, and are microchipped. Adopters get 30 days of opt-in pet health insurance through Trupanion, among other benefits. Dog adoptions come with a lifetime discount on online training from GoodPup. Read more.
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Recognizing Metro’s Operators of the Month, July-August 2024
Crossposted from Metro Matters
They are chess players, hikers and gardeners. They love to cook, barbeque, read and travel. They shoot hoops, shoot pool and ride motorcycles. For riders, they are “patient and understanding,” carry “a really contagious positive energy,” “very sweet and thoughtful” and make “my day better every time I ride on their route.”
They are operators with a century and a half of driving experience. The operators on your bus are as unique as you, and all of them love driving and giving back to their community.
Meet your Operators of the Month for July and August 2024. Read more.
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Records Management Reminder: Most information that we have access to is considered a “Record”
The definition of a record is “any information – regardless of format – that is created, received, or maintained, and which supports, sustains or provides evidence of King County business.”
Because of this broad definition, most information we have access to can be considered a record that needs to be managed.
This can include, but is not limited to:
- Paper records
- Emails
- Microsoft Office documents (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.)
- Information in databases
- Audio and video files
- Photographs
- Social media and website posts
- Text messages
- And many more!
For more information, visit the county’s Records Management Program website or contact them at records.management@kingcounty.gov. The Records Management Program, in the Department of Executive Services, provides guidance, resources, and training to all King County employees to assist them with managing King County’s public records according to state and local legal requirements and best practices.
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Double the excellence: King County Metro celebrates Operators of the Year
Crossposted from Metro Matters
Metro celebrated two “Operators of the Year” today, marking the rare occasion of two drivers being selected for the annual honor.
Emmanuel “Manny” Bautista and Thulin Tolliver were jointly honored as Metro’s 2023 Operators of the Year during a ceremony at the Central/Atlantic Base on Wednesday.
Metro riders and colleagues call them skilled, kind and amazing examples of public servants.
“Every day, their commitment to safety and reliable service stands out,” said King County Executive Dow Constantine. “Their dedication is a shining example of King County’s public service, always putting our residents first.” Read more.
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New virtual contact center and search tool to connect King County residents to services
Crossposted from Cultivating Connections
On Sept. 30, the Resource Access Team, a new key investment of the Veterans, Seniors, and Human Services Levy, launches their virtual contact center and online interactive resource database to better connect King County residents with the services and resources they need to thrive.
Resource Access is a multifunctional customer service team within the Department of Community and Human Services that will serve as a centralized information and resource referral system, helping to bridge gaps across the human services system making it easier for residents of King County to access the services they need. The team aims to help King County residents remain housed, retain employment, access emergency financial assistance, connect to behavioral health treatment, and more! Read more.
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Employee safety reminders as the fall season begins
Fall officially arrived on Sunday, Sept. 22 so it’s time to get ready for changes in the weather and less daylight. Daylight saving time ends on Sunday, Nov. 3 at 2 a.m. which means turning your clocks back one hour on Saturday, Nov. 2 before you go to bed. It is important to prepare for these seasonal changes. If you drive, you should have an emergency kit in your vehicle, including extra clothing, food, water, and a flashlight. If you work on site, have a plan for your commute, dress warmly, and let safety be your guide when making commute decisions. King County cares about the safety of our employees so please familiarize yourself with the safety programs listed below:
Walking Bus: King County’s employee “Walking Bus” pilot program offers five afternoon departures from the King County Courthouse to King Street Station and Colman Dock via the Pioneer Square light rail station. In this pilot phase, which started last November, King County employees can join their colleagues and a Facilities Management Division (FMD) Security Escort each weekday evening walking from the Third Avenue entrance of the King County Courthouse to the King Street Station and Colman Dock via a stop at the Pioneer Square light rail station entrance at Jefferson Street and Yesler Way. Download this flyer for routes and departure times and learn more here.
Escort Program: Upon request, King County provides security escorts in downtown Seattle for individuals moving between their workplace and their commute. Please contact the Emergency Dispatch Center (EDC) at 206-296-5000 to arrange for a security escort whether coming in to work or leaving work. Escorts are limited by available staff.
Walkpool: Walkpool is a program where you can walk to and from work with a buddy. Visit the Employee Transportation Program website for more information.
Home Free Guarantee: King County employees who come to work via bus, rail, streetcar, carpool, vanpool, biking, or walking are eligible for eight free taxi rides home each year in cases of personal emergency or unexpected requests to work overtime. Visit the Home Free Guarantee website to learn about who is eligible and how to arrange a ride.
Stay informed about county emergencies
- Sign up for KCInform, King County’s employee alert and warning system. KCInform is used to reach County employees during an emergency with timely information about infrastructure disruptions, facility impacts, changes in your department’s business operations, and other critical impacts. Your King County desk phone and @kingcounty.gov email are already in the system. It is important to register your County-issued cell phone (if applicable), personal cell phone, and personal email address to ensure you receive time-sensitive messages. This service is free, and your personal contact information is secure and protected. To sign up, 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. Visit the KCInform website to learn more or watch our short video.
- Call the Employee Hotline—206-205-8600 (save it to your phone now).
- Check your King County email for information on business operations, delays, and closures. Some agencies may send additional instructions directly to their staff.
- Contact your supervisor for specific instructions.
- Visit the Emergency News page at KCEmergency.com for regional impacts.
Resources for travelers
- Metro, Water Taxi, Streetcar: Sign up to receive transit alerts (via text and email) for routes you use regularly or during inclement weather. Visit MetroWinter.com to learn about snow routes, and review bus route changes before traveling on Metro’s service advisories web page. Recent transit alerts can be viewed in Metro’s RSS feed via desktop or mobile RSS reader.
- Sound Transit: If you travel on Link light rail, Sounder or ST Express buses, Sound Transit keeps riders informed of disruptions at their Service Alerts web page, where you also can sign up to receive alerts via text and email.
- Roads: Visit Roads’ Snow and Ice resources and sign up for King County Road Alerts (text, email, tweets via @kcroads)
To report a non-emergency incident, use our online form, call 206-296-5000, or email FMD.Security@kingcounty.gov. In case of emergency, call 911. See additional resources and programs for personal safety at work.
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Test of KCInform employee alert and warning system on Oct. 17
King County will conduct a test of KCInform, King County’s employee alert and warning system, on Thursday, Oct. 17 between 9 and 10 a.m. as part of the annual Great Washington ShakeOut drill to test earthquake preparedness.
KCInform is used to notify County employees of emergency situations, infrastructure disruptions, facility closures, changes in department business operations, and other critical impacts. Your King County desk phone and @kingcounty.gov email address are already in the KCInform system. However, please register your County provided cell phone (if applicable) and personal cell phone and email address to ensure you don’t miss important, time-sensitive messages. The service is free and your personal contact information is secure and protected.
If you are not currently registered with KCInform, please contact kcinform@kingcounty.gov to request your unique registration link. Visit the KCInform website and watch this short video to learn more.
And remember, at 10:17 a.m. on Oct. 17, Drop, Cover, and Hold On as if there were a major earthquake occurring at that very moment, and stay in this position for at least 60 seconds as part of the Great Washington ShakeOut drill.
Other preparedness steps you can take right now include:
- Create an Emergency Plan: Discuss with your family how you’ll stay in touch and what steps to take if evacuation becomes necessary, especially if you spend time in or near a tsunami area.
- Build an Emergency Kit: Stock up on two weeks of essential supplies so you’re ready for any situation that arises.
- Stay informed: Sign up for regional emergency alerts by visiting gov/Alert.
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Wellness Hero Skyler Bridges
Balanced You Wellness Heroes highlights employees doing things to better their lives, the lives of their colleagues, and our community.
For Suicide Prevention Month, Balanced You is excited to introduce you to Wellness Hero Skyler Bridges, Executive Assistant to the King County Assessor. In this video Skyler talks about breaking down the stigma of suicide, shares a personal story on how he has been impacted by suicide, the importance of community and connection, a podcast that he started, and more.
We want to hear your stories! If you have a wellness story or want to nominate a fellow co-worker you know to be a Wellness Hero, please send an email to BalancedYou@kingcounty.gov. Wellness Heroes can be anyone who has used a King County or Balanced You resource to nurture their well-being.
Check out the video of Skyler below.
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Balanced You Conversations: Veterans mental health
Balanced You Conversations is a series of talks about important topics related to overall health and well-being. Karla Clark, Employee Health & Wellness Educator with the Balanced You team talks with Taylor Nguyen, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker Associate with Wellness x Design. They discuss veterans’ mental health including suicide prevention, signs, and treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder, how to support loved ones, and more.
Read more, and view resources and links here. View the video below.
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Earn rewards when you bike or scoot to transit!
Crossposted from Metro Matters
As we step into fall, King County Metro, in partnership with the Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT), Sound Transit and Lime, is offering a new exciting promotion for those connecting their rides on shared bikes or scooters with public transit. Whether you’re hopping on a bus or catching the Link light rail, you can now earn rewards just by riding and parking at certain transit hubs.
What’s new this year?
Launched on Sept. 16, the Bike and Scoot to Transit pilot now makes it even easier to ride transit and get rewarded. Read more.
Employee News 
