Closure reminders
Please note most King County government offices will be closed Monday Dec. 26 for Christmas and Monday Jan. 2 for New Year’s Day. Metro buses will operate on Sunday schedule. For other transit holiday information, please see Metro holiday schedules. All County transfer stations will be closed Jan 2. For garbage collection, please contact your hauler for details.
Top 10 successes for the Best-Run Government: Employees initiative
We’ve had tremendous successes this year in the Best-Run Government: Employees initiative, working to make King County an employer of choice. A 2017 goal is to communicate more regularly about our successes and challenges. In that vein, here are some highlights from the past year, including negotiation of a total compensation agreement, a record response to the engagement survey and a new interactive Leadership Essentials course.
“Sweet ’16” highlights and accomplishments
Crossposted from the DES Express It’s been a busy year in the Department of Executive Services! As 2016 comes to a close, we want to take a look back at our highlights and accomplishments this year, and celebrate 366 days of Delivering Excellent Service. We’re already looking forward to more great work in 2017! Thank you for all you do for the residents of King County. Read more at the DES Express
Important fire safety tips for this holiday season
Each year fires occurring during the holiday season cause injuries and damage. To ensure your happy holidays are fire safe you should follow a few extra fire safety precautions. Candles: Always put candles in candlesticks before you light them. Don’t use lit candles as decorations on your holiday tree or near flammable decorations and curtains. Never leave candles unattended or within the reach of young children. Extinguish all candles when leaving the room or going to sleep. Holiday trees: Dispose of fresh-cut trees before becoming dry to the extent that needles are falling and the color is fading. Contact… Read More
Ongoing Paid Parental Leave benefit
Based upon the success of the Paid Parental Leave Pilot Program, King County Council adopted legislation in November establishing an ongoing Paid Parental Leave benefit effective January 1, 2017. The benefit will be the same as it has been under the pilot program. Paid Parental Leave supplements an employee’s accrued paid leave to provide the employee the equivalent of his or her full salary for up to a total of twelve weeks, when combined with the employee’s accrued leave (except for one week of sick leave and one week of vacation leave),… Read More
Executive hosts first “Listening Session” to hear directly from employees
If you want to know what’s going on in any organization, you ask the people who are doing the work. That’s why King County Executive Dow Constantine hosted his first Employee Listening Session – to hear from employees about the issues they are facing in their workplaces, and what the County can do to help them thrive and better serve their customers. “Although I visit many King County work sites each month, I still don’t get as many opportunities as I would like to talk directly with individual employees, so I asked… Read More
Reminder: Win a book of poetry; further the conversation about equity and social justice, deadline December 30
This year an Equity and Social Justice (ESJ) project team in DNRP organized a series of four literary readings called “Reflecting on Race and Racism through Spoken Word, Story, and Conversation” that was open to all King County employees. The purpose was to provide a forum for employees to discuss issues of race and racism to help reject stereotypes, practice empathy, and come to a greater understanding of the roots of inequity and injustice. The ESJ literary project is also the reason behind this book giveaway open to all employees. To be… Read More
Holiday Food Drive Extended to Dec. 19
Thank you to all who have given so generously during this year’s Holiday Food Drive benefiting Northwest Harvest. If you haven’t given yet, and you’d like to, you still have time! This year’s drive has been extended until Monday, Dec. 19. Drop off your pre-packaged, non-perishable donations in the marked collection bins located in many King County buildings. If you have questions about the drive, call 206-477-9400 or email workorderdesk.fmd@kingcounty.gov. Thanks in advance for helping those in need this holiday season!
Attend a Sounders FC pep rally Friday at noon
The Seattle Sounders have been on an amazing run through the post-season… and now they’re on the verge of their first-ever MLS Cup! Join your fellow employees at noon on Friday, Dec. 9 as we rally on the Administration Building Plaza (Fourth Avenue side) and raise a flag to celebrate our hometown club and Major League Soccer’s best fans. If you are on break or at lunch, or not working during this time, you’re invited to put on your Sounders gear, join in the pep rally, and help cheer the Rave Green… Read More
Two public defenders become fellows in University of Washington Leadership Institute
Crossposted from For The Defense Both Sadé Smith and Matthew Sanders became public defenders because they knew it was in the courtroom – fighting on behalf of people who are often marginalized and disempowered – where they could make the biggest difference. Now, they’re going to get the opportunity to take these values and aspirations to the next level. Smith and Sanders, both attorneys at the King County Department of Public Defense, were selected as two of 12 fellows for the 2017 Washington Leadership Institute (WLI), a program co-sponsored by the University of Washington School of Law… Read More
Employee News 