How to get care from your home during COVID-19
To lessen the risk of exposure to COVID-19 and to help health care providers prioritize care for those who need it most, use your phone, smartphone, or computer to access health care whenever possible. Most King County employee medical plans have free options for telehealth or virtual visits. If you need to go in-person, call your doctor first. If it’s an emergency, call 911. Check the information below to learn how to access care through your health plan. SmartCare (Kaiser Permanente) Customer Service: 888-901-4636 Hours: 8 a.m. – 8 p.m., 7 days… Read More
Managing records while telecommuting
As King County continues to respond to COVID-19, many employees are telecommuting and working from home. With this shift in work style comes different duties and tasks, including the opportunity to manage and clean out records. This can include tasks such as filing records to Content Manager, and cleaning up records in Outlook or on shared drives. This work is an essential job duty that can easily be done when employees are out of office, and it serves significantly useful purposes in responding to public records requests, reducing financial liability, and helping each employee do their job more efficiently. To get started, consider taking an online training course, beginning with Basic… Read More
Living our values to stop the spread of stigma
As we work to stop the spread of COVID-19 (Coronavirus), it’s equally important that we stop the spread of stigma and support each other during this challenging time. “We are racially just” and “We respect all people” are two of our core values. It’s as important as ever that we stay true to our values and do everything in our power to stand together against discrimination. Misinformation about COVID-19 can create fear or hostility that hurts people. Please remember that: Coronavirus doesn’t recognize race, nationality, or ethnicity Wearing a mask may be a cultural… Read More
Use Text for Departures to see Reduced Service starting March 23
Crossposted from Metro Matters Your bus may be running less often, during fewer hours, and/or be canceled. Text your bus stop ID # to 62550 for to find out when the next bus will arrive. Visit the Reduced Service webpage. View the update in other languages here.
Keeping employees paid as we respond to COVID-19
Dear fellow King County employee, In this time of anxiety and disruption, the last thing I want is for our employees to have any additional stress while they work to stop the spread of novel coronavirus (COVID-19) in our community. To that end, all Executive Branch employees will remain in paid status and continue to receive their normal pay at least through Friday, April 24, with the exception of short-term temporary employees and interns. Whether you are teleworking, on the front lines, performing other duties, or on one of our types of… Read More
Navigating difficult times with resilience
As COVID-19 related events unfold, we find ourselves in uncertain terrain as impacts move closer to home. It’s common during these times to experience heightened anxiety or fear. While we cannot control external events, we can establish practices and enlist tools to support our resilience and well-being. Instead of suffering with anxiety, we have the ability to administer care to ourselves, our families, our work colleagues, and our communities. Join in on a free webinar to learn how to navigate these uncertain times with resilience. Wednesday, March 18, 2020 from noon to… Read More
Input and approve time remotely in PeopleSoft
Due to the COVID-19 emergency, many King County employees are working remotely. Basic self-service functions in PeopleSoft, such as entering time and manager timesheet approvals, are available outside of the King County firewall and can be done remotely without using the King County VPN. Timesheet entry and manager approval (self-service functions) are available in PeopleSoft using the Login from Home link on the BRC SharePoint intranet site or by typing ess.kingcounty.gov in the address bar of your browser. Log into PeopleSoft as you normally would; you will have access to only self-service functions. (Timekeeper, Human Resource,… Read More
King County essential services continue to operate with some modifications
King County employees are continuing to deliver essential services, but several buildings will close to public walk-in access until further notice due to the COVID-19 outbreak. Employees who are not telecommuting or on leave via a prior arrangement are expected to report for work as normal. Healthy first responders and medical personnel should continue to report to work. Supervisors, managers, and leaders will provide additional information to their employees as needed. The affected facilities are: King County Administration Building, 500 Fourth Ave., Seattle King County Sheriff’s Office registry on second floor will… Read More
COVID-19 staffing updates – March 16, 2020
Approval to take IT peripheral equipment home while telecommuting With many employees telecommuting at this time in line with the County’s guidance, employees are permitted to take home laptop peripheral equipment, including monitors, to help them continue to be productive during the COVID-19 outbreak. Employees must receive supervisor approval prior to taking peripheral equipment home, such as a monitor, mouse, or other devices. Supervisors should keep a record of any equipment that is being taken home. Departments are responsible for keeping an inventory of equipment taken home. (Note: this applies to Executive… Read More
Livestream of coronavirus press conference at 11 a.m. today, March 16
You can tune in to this livestream at 11 a.m. today where King County Executive Dow Constantine, Governor Jay Inslee, and public health leaders will provide new guidance on efforts to contain novel coronavirus (COVID-19). Watch the livestream here (starts at 11 a.m.). Please refer to the Public Health – Seattle & King County website at www.kingcounty.gov/covid and the Public Health Insider blog for the latest information, and see our list of answers to common questions for King County employees. You can also sign up for free email alerts from Public Health. When the livestream is over, a recording of the… Read More
Employee News 