King County is moving to Teams – Learn to make a call
By now, many employees have been notified that Skype is retiring and King County is moving to Teams. Most employees will move by the end of the year, and KCIT will let each person know multiple times by email when that happens for them. For those employees wondering how Teams will work for their phone calls, the process is super easy. Below is a sneak peek at the new Teams screen showing how to make a call. KCIT will let each employee know when Teams phone calls are turned on. Moving to Microsoft Teams is a big change, and KCIT is here to make… Read More
Extension of mandatory telecommuting through July 5, 2021
Dear fellow King County employee, This has been a challenging year. We’ve had to radically change many aspects of our lives. The way we work has shifted dramatically for all of us, whether you are working onsite and remotely. First responders and employees delivering in-person services continue to do extraordinary work, adjusting to new safety measures and protocols. Teleworkers have adapted to new technology and changes in the way services are offered. Employees with school-aged children are juggling multiple roles, while the demands of work remain. I thank you for your efforts…. Read More
Learn about the Benefit Access Fee
Are you covering a spouse or state-registered domestic partner on your King County medical plan next year? If so, a monthly Benefit Access Fee may apply, depending on the medical plan you choose and your employee benefit group, as shown below. The Kaiser Permanente SmartCare medical plan has no Benefit Access Fees. If you are eligible for an exemption to the Benefit Access Fee, you must select this each year during Open Enrollment, Nov. 1–15. Benefit Access Fee exemptions If your benefit group and medical plan have a Benefit Access Fee, it automatically applies each year…. Read More
A Voter’s Guide to the Finish Line: Frequently Asked Questions & Answers
Crossposted from Election Connection Election Day is officially a week away! Can you believe it? With ballots mailed and drop boxes open since mid-October, here at King County Elections, we’ve been in the middle of an election for a while now and are going full speed ahead! This year, we projected record-breaking turnout at 90%, and it looks like we’re well on our way! King County has shown up and we’re already at about 55% turnout. Out of 1.4 million registered voters, we’ve had more than 800,000 ballots returned already! We’ve never… Read More
Tech Tip: Operating systems update coming
All county employees using County devices will receive a critical operating system update beginning Oct. 26. This update will result in minor changes to the appearance of your system. Most of the update will not require any action on the part of users except for a restart of their device. The restart will take a bit longer than typical for updates, from about five to 20 minutes. Thanks for your cooperation, and please let us know if we can answer any questions about the update. Please contact the Helpdesk if you experience any issues.
Training Spotlight for October 29
Team Leadership – Online – Team leaders must account for the special and unique circumstance of working in a team where responsibility, accountability, communication, and leadership are shared. Know the benefits and challenges as well as key sources of motivation of empowered teams. You’ll also learn approaches for managing conflict in teams. This training takes place on Wednesday Nov. 4, from 1-4 p.m. The cost is $89 and space is limited. Register here. Brain-based Time Management – Online – What we do and how we do it are driven by how our brains are wired. Neuroscience tells… Read More
COVID-19 frontline charities
Crossposted from KC Employee Giving You asked for it, and we created it. A highly requested list for this years Employee Giving Program was non-profits who are actively serving those affected by COVID-19. This above link to the comprehensive list is the result of a collaborative, cross-departmental effort to uplift EGP nonprofits that are working with communities who have been particularly impacted by COVID-19/are “on the frontlines.” This workgroup is centered on mutual support of each other as Ambassadors and of the community. The group has taken a broad, inclusive approach to identify the… Read More
King County website and PeopleSoft available for use
KCIT has resolved the issues that were impacting the King County website and the PeopleSoft system, and both of these resources are now available for use. Thank you for your patience and understanding – we appreciate it.
Return your ballot early
Don’t race against the clock and wait till 7:59 p.m. on Election Day to get your ballot to your nearest Drop Box. King County Elections is expecting about 500,000 ballots back through drop boxes on Election Day alone. Avoid the traffic and get it done early. There are three ways to return your ballot: Ballot Drop Box: If you don’t send back your ballot in the mail, return your ballot to a nearby Drop Box—no stamp required. By mail: We recommend dropping your ballot in the mail by the Friday before Election Day to make sure it… Read More
Support survivors and speak out against domestic violence
October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, and an important time to share information and resources to support survivors. Prior to COVID-19, domestic and intimate partner violence were ongoing epidemics impacting people of all races, ages, genders, and orientations, but this health crisis has continued to intensify during times of stay-at-home orders, school and work transition, increased stress, and isolation as a result of the pandemic. This is a critical time to learn about domestic violence and connect to supportive resources. To get help or support someone in need, review the Domestic Violence Resource Flyer to be… Read More
Employee News 