2019 Balanced You Worksite Fund recipients announced

The Balanced You Worksite Fund is a competitive process brought to you by King County’s Department of Human Resources. The purpose of the Worksite Fund is to empower employees to make creative improvements to improve the health and well-being at their worksites. Today, Balanced You released the list of 2019 Worksite Fund recipients. This year, King County received over 150 applications and is investing over $100,000 in 44 projects reaching employees across the county. Projects are funded in a range of categories, including mental health. Mental health is an important part of… Read More

Balanced You Worksite Fund: Investing in Your Health and Well-Being

Dear employee, As we continue our efforts to make King County a welcoming community where every person can thrive, we are also working to make our worksites more supportive of the health and wellbeing of all employees. One way that we are doing that is through the Balanced You Worksite Fund, a competitive process brought to you by the Balanced You team and part of our Investing in YOU strategy. In 2019, the Worksite Fund’s second year, we received more than 150 applications totaling almost $580,000 in requests, and we are investing… Read More

New Vanpool Pilot Program – 100% Metro Vanpool and Vanshare subsidy 

Starting October 1, the King County Employee Transportation Program (ETP) will cover the Metro Vanpool or Vanshare program for all King County employees who choose to form a new group or participant in an existing Metro vanpool or vanshare group.    Currently, the King County ETP provides $65 per month towards the cost of your vanpool.  ETP has always provided a vanpool subsidy to King County employees, but now we are offering our employees a 100% Metro Vanpool and Vanshare subsidy.    This is a one year pilot program that is available to all King County employees receiving transportation benefits!  … Read More

Untold Stories: Lunch and Learn, Sept. 10 

As part of the Equity and Social Justice (ESJ) Initiative, King County government has prioritized race to address the historical and persistent inequities in our communities. Such inequities are experienced by the county’s own employees, both on and off the job. US–The Untold Story Project, sponsored by the ESJ Literary Project team, is excited to launch its 2019-2020 program. Come learn about the Untold Story Project, read stories, engage in conversations, and learn how to get involved in the Untold Story Project at this one hour Lunch and Learn! Sept. 10, 2019, noon… Read More

Upcoming flu shots information 

Ready, set, protect. Every fall, King County’s Balanced You offers worksite flu shots for employees. Building a countywide culture of health and well-being – it’s one way we’re Investing in YOU. We’ve expanded this year’s scheduled based on feedback received from employees and will offer flu shots at 33 worksites around the region. These are open to all King County employees, except when noted otherwise. In many instances, benefits-covered spouses or family members, age 11 and above, may also participate. Flu shots are provided at no cost for benefits-covered individuals – those… Read More

Training Spotlight: Emotional Intelligence for Leaders and Emerging Leaders

Emotional Intelligence for Leaders and Emerging Leaders, Oct. 19: Emotional intelligence describes the ability to understand one’s own feelings, and that of groups, and how these emotions can influence motivation and behavior. Leaders who are emotionally intelligent foster safe environments, where employees feel comfortable to take calculated risks and to voice their opinions. Engage in interactive, hands-on self-evaluation and exercise to develop your emotional intelligence and become a respected and inspiring leader. This course is every Saturday from 10/19/2019 – 11/02/2019 and you must attend all sessions in order to receive a complete…. Read More

Walkpools: Safety in numbers 

Have you heard of walkpooling?  Walkpooling is a buddy-up initiative that helps employees travel safely. Some of you have said you’d feel more comfortable walking to and from work with a buddy, and walkpools are a great option; whether you walk long distances, walk early in the morning or late in the evening, or have to navigate transit stations.  Our top three reasons why walkpools are great: safety in numbers, health benefits, and mutual interdependencies that can lead to friendships.  Check out our video, or visit the Employee Transportation Program website for more information. 

Fluid Life Events: Changing your benefits after birth or adoption 

Last week, the Business Resource Center (BRC) launched a new PeopleSoft feature, Fluid Life Events, that allows you to make benefit changes online from any mobile device or computer. You can make changes to your medical, dental, vision, life, and AD&D coverage if you experience one of the following life events: marriage, divorce, birth, or adoption.  You can still submit paper Qualifying Life Event forms and documentation to the Benefits office if you prefer; these forms can also be used for life events not yet available in PeopleSoft.  Birth and Adoption  The addition of a new… Read More

Empowering employees to prioritize Equity and Social Justice 

The Solid Waste Division is helping build a more equitable and just King County by empowering its employees with new equity and social justice awareness and skills through a series of interactive training sessions. The Solid Waste Division (SWD) of the Department of Natural Resources and Parks engaged employees in 12 open discussion sessions where they went through the fundamentals of equity and social justice (ESJ) and what it means to establish a pro-equity environment where every person can thrive – internally and in the community. “I saw this awareness throughout the… Read More

Fluid Life Events: Changing your benefits after marriage or divorce 

Certain life events may impact your benefits and allow you to make changes mid-year. This week, the Business Resource Center and the Benefits office launched a new PeopleSoft feature, Fluid Life Events, that allows you to make benefit changes online from any mobile device or computer. You can make changes online to your medical, dental, vision, life, and AD&D coverage if you experience one of the following life events: marriage, divorce, birth, or adoption.  You can still submit paper Qualifying Life Event forms and documentation to the Benefits office if you prefer; these forms can… Read More