Executive proclaims Emergency Medical Services Week
King County Executive Dow Constantine has proclaimed May 21-27 as Emergency Medical Services Week in recognition of the important work these medical professionals provide to our community, including saving lives, responding to crises, and serving as a model for the federal Emergency Medical Services System Act of 1973, now celebrating its 50th year. Executive Constantine encourages all residents of King County to show their gratitude and appreciation to these valuable providers. Read the full proclamation below.
Mental Health Accommodations for King County Employees
King County is committed to supporting employees with mental health conditions in the workplace. A key part of this focus is to provide employees who experience limitations due to a mental health condition with reasonable accommodations in the workplace to be able to perform their job duties productively and effectively. Examples of reasonable accommodations that may be provided to employees with mental health conditions include the following: An employee with depression may benefit from noise-cancelling headsets to help with concentration and focus. An employee coping with an anxiety disorder may need to… Read More
An industrial mechanic at home at West Point Treatment Plant
Cross-posted from Clean Water Stories Shane Hamilton, an industrial maintenance mechanic, knows West Point like home turf. At 33, he’s been in this line of work more or less since he was a 15-year-old intern. Shane grew up in Federal Way. In high school, his friend’s father was Mike Lindsay, an industrial maintenance mechanic at South Treatment Plant in Renton. Mike saw in Shane a hard worker who was willing to learn, and when time came for Shane to do a job shadow for school, Mike worked out an internship at South Plant…. Read More
We’re ready for warmer weather – but our bodies might not be
Cross-posted from Public Health Insider Our bodies may be more sensitive to heat when they haven’t had a chance to adjust to warmer temperatures. And people flock to rivers and lakes when the weather turns warm – but the shock from unexpectedly cold water can lead to accidental drowning. You can prepare for the heat by knowing if you or your loved ones are more sensitive to heat, paying attention to any signs that you are overheating, and being careful around cold water. Read more.
Metro Matters: Service you can count on
Crossposted from Metro Matters By Michelle Allison, King County Metro General Manager King County Metro is the largest transit agency in the entire Northwest. We provide bus, paratransit, vanpool, and water taxi services. We also operate Seattle Streetcar, Sound Transit Link light rail, and Sound Transit Express bus service. We are proud to be part of Executive Dow Constantine’s broader vision to continue to expand our regional transit network by putting people first. We’ve earned recognition ranging from Best Large Transit Agency in North America in 2018 to Most Equitable Large Transit… Read More
Fourth Avenue entrance to King County Courthouse now closed, Third Avenue reopens
Updated June 15, 2023 The Fourth Avenue entrance to the King County Courthouse in downtown Seattle has closed for necessary repairs, and the Third Avenue entrance has resumed serving as the primary access point to the building moving forward. Employees, jurors, and other visitors to the Courthouse Building should allow additional time to gain access and clear security screening on Third Avenue during this transition. Temporary signage will be installed to provide directions to users of the building. King County employees will still be able to access the Courthouse Building through the… Read More
Submit WA Cares Fund exemption letters to King County by June 26
The WA Cares Fund is a new long-term care insurance program administered by the Washington State Employment Security Department (ESD) and the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS). With limited exceptions, workers in Washington are required to contribute to the WA Cares Fund via mandatory payroll deduction beginning July 1, 2023. The premium has been set at 0.58% of gross wages (58 cents per $100). The initial maximum value of the benefit will be $36,500 (adjusted annually for inflation). Exemptions to the WA Cares Fund You may be eligible for a… Read More
Mental health resources: Making Life Easier
For personal life challenges, Making Life Easier (MLE) provides free counseling and support services to all King County employees, their dependent family members, and anyone living in an employee’s home. MLE offers referrals to therapists and coverage for eight free sessions per topic per year. Many therapists also contract with the Regence and Kaiser Permanente Health Plans so MLE can make a referral for you to a therapist who is also in your health plan network. In that way, if you need more than eight sessions, your health plan benefits will cover… Read More
Mental Health Month: Creating a healthy home environment
This year, Mental Health America has focused Mental Health Month on encouraging us to “Look around, Look within,” sharing suggestions on ways to improve our surroundings in order to improve our mental health, and how to seek help for mental health challenges. Optimizing our space to improve our mental health is something that anyone can benefit from. It is one tool of many that can be used to improve and support your mental well-being. Go to the Balanced You blog for helpful some tips to shape your home environment, improve sleep quality and… Read More
New appointment scheduler assists county veterans
The King County Veterans and Military Affinity Group and King County Veteran’s Program would like to remind all County employees who are veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces that the Veteran’s Administration (VA) has launched a new appointment scheduler to connect you with VA Benefits Counselors. The Visitor Engagement Reporting Application (VERA) is a streamlined scheduling process for in-person or online appointments to learn about your benefits and how to navigate the VA’s processes. This is a useful resource for those with questions about benefit eligibility, or in need of assistance filing… Read More
Employee News 