Updates on COVID-19 vaccines

by Whitney Abrams, Chief People Officer Starting March 17, eligibility for COVID-19 vaccine will expand to include residents eligible under Phase 1B2, including critical workers in certain industries and people 16+ who are pregnant or have a disability that puts them at high risk.  I am delighted that so many more of our King County employees who have been on the front lines during the pandemic will now become eligible, including staff working in congregate settings in public transit, corrections, courts, and first responders not covered under earlier phases. While this is… Read More

Have your say in the 2021 Employee Survey

As of Thursday morning, March 25, about 60% of all eligible employees have completed the 2021 Employee Engagement Survey and let County leaders know about their experiences at King County. The deadline to participate is Friday, March 26. You can see a complete breakdown of participation rates here. If you haven’t completed the survey, look in your King County inbox for an email from KC Employee Survey (kcemployeesurvey@us.confirmit.com) with the subject line “Welcome to the King County 2021 Employee Survey.” All employees are eligible for the employee survey, except the following: Employees… Read More

Ways to Increase Mask Protection: Improve Fit and Filtration

From the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Improve fit to help prevent air (potentially with respiratory droplets containing the virus) from flowing freely around the edges of the mask and instead forcing air to flow through the mask. Improve filtration to cause more respiratory droplets containing the virus to be captured by the mask. How to Improve Fit COVID-19 spreads mainly from person to person through respiratory droplets that come out of the nose and mouth when people breathe, cough, sneeze, talk, shout, or sing. These respiratory droplets travel in the air and can then… Read More

Executive Constantine’s proclamation recognizes March as Women’s History Month

In recognition of the 41st year of Women’s History Month, King County Executive Dow Constantine has proclaimed March 2021 to be Women’s History Month. The proclamation states “Whereas Women’s History Month has been celebrated in the U.S. since 1980 – and the 2021 theme is “Valiant Women of the Vote: Refusing to Be Silenced” and “even after many women received suffrage through the 19th Amendment in 1920, many other women and groups were still denied the franchise on the basis of race and gender,” Executive Constantine encourages all King County residents to… Read More

Phase 1 Future of Work plans submitted for review

King County departments have submitted the first phase of their “Future of Work” plans as part of efforts to look ahead to the needs of operations, employees, and customers once the risk of the COVID-19 pandemic has ended. The plans draw on the experiences and lessons learned from the last year operating amid COVID-19 and incorporate input from employees using a variety of mechanisms, including surveys, all-hands meetings, and focused breakout discussions, with a particular emphasis on equity and employee health and safety. The Future of Work plans are being developed in… Read More

County leadership wants to hear from you

The 2021 Employee Engagement Survey is now underway, and King County leaders want to hear from you about what is going well and where we need to improve. King County Executive Dow Constantine, King County Council Chair Claudia Balducci, Assessor John Wilson, and Elections Director Julie Wise recorded a short video about why participating in the Employee Engagement Survey is so important. Watch the video. Most employees will receive an email in their King County inbox between Monday, March 8, and Tuesday, March 9, from KC Employee Survey (kcemployeesurvey@us.confirmit.com) inviting them to have… Read More

Email to participate in 2021 Employee Survey

Between Monday, March 8, and Tuesday, March 9, most employees will receive an email in their King County inbox from KC Employee Survey (kcemployeesurvey@us.confirmit.com) with the subject line “Welcome to the King County 2021 Employee Survey” inviting them to have their say in this year’s Employee Engagement Survey. Here is what the email will look like: The 2021 Employee Engagement Survey will take place from March 8-26, and it is a great opportunity to let County leaders what is going well and where we need to improve. Remember that changes happen from your… Read More

Updates on COVID-19 vaccines

by Whitney Abrams, Chief People Officer Marking one year This week marks one year since the first cases of COVID-19 were identified in King County. I want to acknowledge what a challenging, stressful, and exhausting year this has been. The COVID-19 pandemic together with the public health crisis of racism have had—and continue to have—a profound impact on you, your families, and our community.    I am grateful for the many ways you have taken care of yourself and of one another during this past year. Together, our sustained strength, courage, and resilience has enabled us to provide exceptional service to the people of King County. Together, we’re helping to slow the spread of… Read More

Translations and other changes coming to 2021 Engagement Survey

The 2021 Employee Engagement Survey will take place from March 8-26, and it is your opportunity to let County leaders what is going well and where we need to improve. The last 12 months have been very challenging and it’s more important than ever to hear how you are doing. Employees who participated in previous surveys have helped us make King County a better place to work and a more effective service provider for our residents.  The survey — which can be taken on your work computer or a mobile device —… Read More

Employee Giving Program raises almost $2.4M in 2020

King County employees set a new record for dollars raised and number of participants in the 2020 Employee Giving Program Annual Giving Drive, pledging almost $2.4M to nonprofit organizations. In the last 12 months when most of the news has leaned toward the negative, the Annual Giving Drive has given us some positive numbers to be proud of: $2,392,295 raised 20% over 2019 dollars 614 new participants In 2020, the Annual Giving Drive ran from Oct. 5 to Nov. 20 under the theme Care. Connect. Act. Even though the Annual Giving Drive… Read More