Taking care of ourselves during COVID-19
It is a challenging time for employees, families, and our community as we continue our efforts to stop the spread of COVID-19, and it is normal to have feelings of uncertainty and anxiety. While many things are beyond our control with this outbreak, there are many things that we can control. When we are anxious and fearful, establishing some control in our lives can be empowering and comforting. Balanced You is here to support you as you establish new practices of self-care to support your immune system and overall physical and mental… Read More
Guidance on Governor’s Order and essential services
On Monday, March 23, Governor Inslee announced a “Stay Home, Stay Healthy” order, and included a lengthy list of essential services and workforce that can and should continue operating. Governor Inslee’s order listed a number of workers who his office deemed to be essential. The Governor’s list also included “Critical government workers, including the Governor’s Office, as defined by the employer and consistent with Continuity of Operations Plans and Continuity of Government plans.” Last fall, all King County departments updated their Continuity of Operations Plans (COOP) and designated employees as First Responders,… Read More
Suspension of many face-to-face customer services to continue through at least April 30
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, King County will extend the suspension of many face-to-face customer service operations through at least April 30. This move is being made in accordance with Governor Jay Inslee’s “Stay Home, Stay Healthy” order issued on March 23. Employees are expected to work in line their current, approved arrangements. Employees will continue to provide services by phone, online, and by email wherever possible. Supervisors, managers, and leaders will provide additional information to their employees as needed. Please visit kingcounty.gov/ServiceChanges for a list of face-to-face service suspensions. This list… Read More
Update your emergency contact information in PeopleSoft
It’s important to review and update your personal contact information in PeopleSoft in case we need to urgently reach you or your emergency contact. By making sure your information is current: Your emergency contact can be notified if something happens to you at work. Someone at King County can reach you with information about building closures, safety directives, and other time-sensitive issues. You can receive information at the email address and phone number you prefer. Here’s how: Sign in to PeopleSoft. You can also access PeopleSoft from home: ess.kingcounty.gov. Go to Personal Details… Read More
Public Health – Seattle & King County launches new data dashboard and social campaign, and other COVID-19 updates for March 25, 2020
Crossposted from Public Health Insider A new public campaign launched, called “Stand Together, Stay Apart.” Public Health—Seattle & King County launched a new data dashboard to update daily case counts and deaths. Public Health announced 82 new cases of COVID-19 today, bringing the official case count in King County to 1359. In addition, six new deaths are reported, bringing the total of deaths in King County to 100. Story: Stand Together, Stay Apart Public Health—Seattle & King County has launched a new public information campaign called, Stand Together, Stay Apart in response to the… Read More
Working together to protect older adults in our communities
Crossposted from Public Health Insider The risk for COVID-19 rises with age. Adults age 60 years and over are at highest risk for severe illness with COVID-19 illness, and the older you are, the more you are at risk. While much attention has focused on those living in nursing homes, many older adults live independently and face challenges of their own. Older adults often live alone and may need help with basic needs in order to stay home as much as possible and avoid close contacts at gatherings, stores and other public… Read More
COVID-19 Staffing Updates – March 25, 2020
Dear employee, as you know we are working in a rapidly evolving situation responding to COVID-19. On Monday evening, Gov. Inslee announced a “Stay Home, Stay Healthy” order. We will provide additional guidance soon on what this means for our employees, and will continue to provide regular updates. To ensure we can continue to serve our customers and slow the spread of COVID-19, the following guidance applies to Executive Branch employees until further notice (Employees in other branches of County government will receive guidance from their leaders [definition below]). First responders: Employees… Read More
How to get care from your home during COVID-19
To lessen the risk of exposure to COVID-19 and to help health care providers prioritize care for those who need it most, use your phone, smartphone, or computer to access health care whenever possible. Most King County employee medical plans have free options for telehealth or virtual visits. If you need to go in-person, call your doctor first. If it’s an emergency, call 911. Check the information below to learn how to access care through your health plan. SmartCare (Kaiser Permanente) Customer Service: 888-901-4636 Hours: 8 a.m. – 8 p.m., 7 days… Read More
Managing records while telecommuting
As King County continues to respond to COVID-19, many employees are telecommuting and working from home. With this shift in work style comes different duties and tasks, including the opportunity to manage and clean out records. This can include tasks such as filing records to Content Manager, and cleaning up records in Outlook or on shared drives. This work is an essential job duty that can easily be done when employees are out of office, and it serves significantly useful purposes in responding to public records requests, reducing financial liability, and helping each employee do their job more efficiently. To get started, consider taking an online training course, beginning with Basic… Read More
Living our values to stop the spread of stigma
As we work to stop the spread of COVID-19 (Coronavirus), it’s equally important that we stop the spread of stigma and support each other during this challenging time. “We are racially just” and “We respect all people” are two of our core values. It’s as important as ever that we stay true to our values and do everything in our power to stand together against discrimination. Misinformation about COVID-19 can create fear or hostility that hurts people. Please remember that: Coronavirus doesn’t recognize race, nationality, or ethnicity Wearing a mask may be a cultural… Read More
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