Your vision benefits don’t expire at year-end
If you’re panicking because your regular vision provider has been closed or is booked solid during the long COVID-19 pandemic, fear not; your vision benefits, through Vision Service Plan (VSP), make it easy for you to get the eye care you need. And best of all… vision benefits are calculated on a rolling 12-24 month period, as follows, meaning you don’t need to rush out before year-end. *Allowance for Regular and Transit ATU 587 employee benefit group is $200, allowance for all other benefit groups is $130. You may use any eye… Read More
With new COVID-19 cases reaching all-time highs, please consider donating to the Emergency Leave Program
The Emergency Leave Donation Program was developed to aid employees who’ve been impacted by COVID-19 and have exhausted their paid leave. Access to donated leave has helped them focus on recovering their health or caring for loved ones. So far this year, nearly 300 employees have generously donated personal leave to support their colleagues. The program is asking employees to again consider donating personal leave to the program, as the paid leave available is running low. Donating leave is an especially good option for employees who may find themselves in a “use-it-or-lose-it” position with an excess vacation balance… Read More
Get help correcting your at-home ergonomics
With many King County employees working remotely through the pandemic, and potentially beyond, you may find yourself missing your perfectly adjusted ergonomic workstation in the office. King County has certified ergonomists in the Department of Human Resources (DHR) that can provide assessments for your at-home workstation. They can’t come to your home, but a virtual assessment can help pinpoint issues and save you pain down the road. “It’s not too late; even if it’s been several months since you started working from home, you should assess any new workstation,” Rob Stafford, Safety… Read More
Planning for COVID-19 vaccine access at King County
Message from Whitney Abrams, Chief People Officer, & Brenda Bauer, Deputy Chief Operating Officer Dear employee, The first shipment of COVID-19 vaccine is expected to arrive in Washington state this week. This is an exciting development in the pandemic response, and the county, particularly Public Health staff, are working hard on plans, preparations, and communications to ensure equitable access to the vaccine in King County. Who will receive the early doses? Initial doses of the vaccine have strict “ultracold” storage requirements with special freezers that are typically found only in certain hospitals…. Read More
Hope and Joy Campaign: December 16 Coffee Connection
As part of the Hope and Joy Campaign, the Balanced You team is hosting a series of virtual zoom sessions, called “Coffee Connections”, to provide spaces for employees to connect over fun topics and events. The second Coffee Connection’s theme is “Quarantine Holiday Celebrations” Join us then to share the unique way you and your family will celebrate the holidays this year. It will be held on December 16, from 10-10:30 a.m. Click here to Register. You can check out other upcoming Coffee Connections on the Balanced You Blog here.
Strategic Interviewing Tips and Techniques, December 17
This two-hour virtual workshop will provide you with strategies and tips to help you to do your best during the interview. Learning objectives include: How to prepare for a virtual job interview The interview structure and types of questions you will be asked The STAR-LA method and how to use it to provide organized and complete responses General tips and strategies This workshop will take place Thursday, Dec. 17 from 1–3 p.m. Register here. For additional online workshops offered by King County Career Support Services (CSS), visit their Eventbrite page. For more information about CSS visit www.kingcounty.gov/CSS.
Road to Retirement session offered December 15
Are you planning to retire in the next six months? If so, join your Retirement Team for this informative 90-minute online class on Tuesday, Dec. 15, from 1–2:30 p.m. We’ll discuss procedures and forms, medical coverage options, and pension plans—so you’ll be on a smooth road toward a happy retirement. Please register for Road to Retirement at Eventbrite. Sessions for 2021 are also listed, so chose a class that works best for your schedule. After you register, you will receive an email with a Zoom link for the class you selected. To learn more before the class,… Read More
Ensuring a Disability Perspective in State Policy, online webinar
The webinar on “Ensuring a Disability Perspective in State Policy,” hosted by the Council of State Governments (CSG) and the State Exchange on Employment and Disability, is available for viewing. The webinar, which was held as part of the CSG 2020 National Conference, features discussions on how states can include individuals with disabilities in broader policymaking, including a disability perspective in commissions on transportation, the future of work, and other state initiatives. It was the final episode in an ADA30 series produced by CSG that explored the origin and legacy of the… Read More
COVID-19 Accessible Materials for People with Disabilities webinar series, December 16, January and February 2021
The Georgia Tech Center for Inclusive Design and Innovation presents the COVID-19 Accessible Materials for People with Disabilities webinar series. The following dates and topics are available for employees to register for: Wednesday, Dec. 16, from 11 a.m. to noon. Register here for “A Closer Look: Mental Health and Resilience within the Disability Community During COVID-19” – explore the mental health and resilience of people with disabilities during the COVID-19 pandemic and ways service providers can access relevant resources Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2021 from 11 a.m. to noon. Register here for “Making Social Media Accessible for… Read More
Employees may not relocate out of Washington while working remotely
Many King County employees are telecommuting through July 5, 2021, as we continue our efforts to slow the spread of COVID-19. Telecommuting employees may not relocate out of Washington state. Employees may work at a location outside of the home, provided the location is within a reasonable distance to the employee’s primary county worksite. Our policy continues to be that employees need to obtain prior approval if they want to temporarily work outside of their normal work/home area. Unless travel has been preapproved, employees are expected to remain close enough to physically report to work, if necessary. … Read More
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