Upcoming COVID-19 vaccination clinics for King County employees
In November, King County is hosting five COVID-19 worksite vaccination clinics open to all employees and family members ages 12 and older. All three vaccine types –Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson – are expected to be available. The clinics are intended to support employees who are in the process of completing their initial COVID-19 vaccination series to comply with the Executive’s vaccination mandate. In addition, COVID-19 booster shots will be available to those who are eligible. Although not currently required, booster shots are recommended and encouraged for specific populations, including people… Read More
Access Transportation broadens services in response to pandemic
Access Transportation is a transit service for eligible people with disabilities, taking them anywhere a Metro bus, Seattle streetcar, or Sound Transit light rail goes. Last year, as the COVID-19 pandemic spread and services across King County adjusted to the new reality of taking extra public health measures for safety and creating additional services supporting the community, Access took on extra responsibilities providing urgent assistance outside its normal sphere of responsibility. One of the first steps was to ensure the safety of the Access employees and those they service. On short notice,… Read More
Booster shots now available for all three COVID-19 vaccines
Booster shots have been approved by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for all three primary vaccines in use in the U.S., and several groups of employees should consider getting a booster shot. Although not currently required, booster shots are recommended and encouraged for specific populations, including people who work in occupational or institutional settings that put them at high risk for COVID-19. You can find out where to get booster shots here. Booster shots and COVID leave The county will allow use of… Read More
Supporting disaster relief organizations through the 2021 Annual Giving Drive
As part of the 2021 Annual Giving Drive, we are highlighting nonprofits whose work supports organizations commited to disaster relief. These and hundreds of nonprofits are participating in this year’s Annual Giving Drive. International Relief Teams (3575) – Alleviates human suffering by providing health services and other assistance to victims of disaster, poverty and neglect. Soup Ladies (9583) – Their mission is to deliver fresh, homestyle meals at no cost to First Responders called out to natural disasters, crime scenes, fires and critical incidents. Safety & energy are #1. UNICEF USA (3553) – Immediately… Read More
Look for Open Enrollment information
Check your home mailbox for important benefits and Open Enrollment information mailed recently to the address you have listed in PeopleSoft. Open Enrollment takes place Nov. 1 – 15 and is your opportunity to: Change medical plans—Check plan quality and performance scores and use the Plan Comparison Charts and other resources on the Medical plans page to evaluate your options. Consider whether Kaiser SmartCare or KingCare Select (Regence) makes sense for your family. These plans will likely save you money, with lower deductibles, copays, and Benefit Access Fees. The Washington Health Alliance’s… Read More
Required Nondiscrimination and Anti-Harassment Training coming soon
As part of our ongoing effort to build a safe, welcoming, and supportive workplace for every King County employee, this fall we are offering training for all King County employees, which includes a short video and an online course, on reporting processes, roles, and responsibilities under the County’s Nondiscrimination, Anti-Harassment & Inappropriate Conduct Policy, Procedures and Responsibilities. As a member of our organization, you have a defined role in the Nondiscrimination, Anti-Harassment & Inappropriate Conduct Policy to prevent, report, and act on behavior that is not in line with our expectations of employees…. Read More
Disability Awareness Month: Reasonable Accommodations in King County Superior Court
by Linda Ridge, Chief Administrative Officer, and Ronda Bliey, Public Access Specialist – King County Superior Court Access to justice is a fundamental right of all people; however, for individuals with a sensory, cognitive, or physical disability, seeking access can be filled with challenges. Implemented in 2007, Washington State General Court Rule 33 (GR 33) was designed to assure that people with disabilities have equal and meaningful access to the judicial system[1]. Recognizing the important role that accommodations play in providing access to justice for individuals with disabilities, King County Superior Court… Read More
Join our Team: DAJD Recruiters make a pitch
For Corrections Officer Edward Duenas, this career fair was on familiar ground. Duenas retired from an Army career out of Joint Base Lewis-McChord (JBLM). Since then, he’s worked eight-plus years as a King County corrections officer. So the recent event at JBLM’s American Lake Conference Center came naturally. “I know the lingo,” Duenas said, as he prepared to field questions from the soldiers and Air Force personnel milling about the room. “To me it’s a little easier.” King County’s Department of Adult & Juvenile Detention (DAJD), like other corrections agencies near and… Read More
Supporting people with disabilities through the 2021 Annual Giving Drive
As part of the 2021 Annual Giving Drive, we are highlighting nonprofits whose work supports people with disabilities. These and hundreds of nonprofits are participating in this year’s Annual Giving Drive. The ARC of King County (9233) – Serving individuals and families with intellectual and develpmental disabilities through case management, peer support, leadership training, and advocacy. Hearing, Speech & Deaf Center (9267) – Empowers people who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have speech differences through advocacy, early education, audiology, speech therapy, and American Sign Language (ASL) interpreting. SKCAC Industries & Employement Services (9758)… Read More
Employee vaccination clinics provide over 1,800 COVID-19 vaccine doses
As the COVID-19 vaccine became more widely available, it became clear that to best support essential workers who have complex schedules and shifts, King County would need to bring the vaccines to worksites. Through a collaborative partnership with Public Health – Seattle and King County, their vaccine partners, and King County labor unions, onsite clinics provided 1,877 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine to County employees and their loved ones between April 9, 2021 and Oct. 2, 2021. King County Metro led the way, hosting 31 clinics that provided a total of 1,582… Read More
Employee News 