Pet of the Week: JoJo
JoJo is a 12 ½ year-old, male, shorthair black cat (A403147). His personality color is GREEN, meaning he is an outgoing and adaptable cat who loves to go with the flow. This handsome boy is very sweet and loves to be around people. He can be the life of the party, especially if food is involved! He loves puzzles and works really hard when the reward involves a yummy treat! JoJo does have a heart murmur, so he will do best with regular visits to the veterinarian. Read more at www.kingcounty.gov/adoptapet.
Mindfulness classes offered to King County employees
Looking to reduce stress? Mindfulness is the simple yet powerful ability of the mind to attend more fully to the present moment’s experience. Cultivating mindfulness results in many benefits for mental and physical health, well-being, and happiness. Through a partnership with Mindfulness Northwest, Balanced You offers Mindfulness classes, available online and in-person to all employees, free-of-charge. Visit Balanced You’s blog for a list of classes recently added for Fall/Winter 2019.
Making Life Easier program offers tools for stress relief
King County’s Making Life Easier program offers the Wellspring Stress Center, a web-based stress management tool that includes a variety of resources to help become more stress-resilient. One of the tools, Instant Relief, is designed to help ease tension in minutes and stay relaxed and recharged throughout the day, by including guided meditation, muscle relaxation, desk yoga, and relaxation music. Access Instant Relief at www.kcmakinglifeeasier.com, enter username “King County,” and click on Stress Center.
Get ready for 1,350 new bus trips per week starting Sept. 21
Crossposted from Metro Matters The last few times we’ve asked you to “get ready,” it hasn’t been connected with good news. Alaskan Way Viaduct closure and buses moving out of the Downtown Seattle Transit Tunnel required the public to change travel times and habits, and made tougher commutes for everyone. But, we have great news with the Fall Service Change starting September 21: more Metro to get you where you are going. Read more from Metro Matters
CFJC Resource Center connects youth and families to service providers
By Alex Hurtado The brick and mortar of the Children and Family Justice Center (CFJC) is nearing completion, but it’s the services that will be provided to youth, their families and the community that will make this building shine. Each courthouse level’s interior design has a King County theme; the main level of the courthouse side – The City – includes a café, community conference rooms, and a resource center. This floor will be vibrant, dynamic and community-centric. Robert Gant, who is the Superior Court Community Partnership Manager, is enthusiastic about the opportunity… Read More
King County Information Technology Innovation Day, Sept. 30
Want to learn about amazing tech options available to aid your department or agency? Then come visit KCIT Innovation Day Monday, Sept. 30 from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. Multiple rooms on the first floor of the Chinook Building will host different speakers and topics throughout the day. Here’s a sampling of what’s available at Innovation Day: Augmented Reality: How Spatial Computing is Changing the Way We Learn and Work – Find out how mixed-reality hardware like the Microsoft HoloLens and software like Taqtile Manifest are changing how workers capture and transfer knowledge,… Read More
From Supported Employment Participant to Behavioral Health Division Employee
King County is celebrating National Recovery Month this September by helping to raise awareness, support, and recovery resources for people with mental health and substance use conditions and their families, friends and co-workers who support them. One program that provides behavioral health supports is the Behavioral Health Supported Employment Program. This program assists people who have experienced chronic mental health and/or substance use conditions to gain and maintain competitive, integrated employment throughout our region. The program provides job search assistance and ongoing support after job placement through an evidence-based, integrated team approach with… Read More
UPDATED: Acceptable use of email in the workplace
Dear employee, Email is an important tool for your work here at King County, and it is most effective when used appropriately. It is important that each employee understands the legislation and policies that apply to our use of email: Acceptable Use of Information Assets Policy One of our eight core values is “We respect all people,” and the way that we communicate with another is central to being a safe, respectful, and inclusive workplace. King County’s Acceptable Use of Information Assets Policy sets out the acceptable and prohibited use of all information… Read More
Executive proclamation and celebration kick off Latinx/Hispanic Heritage Month
King County Executive Dow Constantine has proclaimed the month beginning September 15 “Latinx/Hispanic Heritage Month” in King County. “Latino and Latina residents have been a consistent, vital influence in the history of King County, and we name our commemoration “Latinx” Heritage Month to be more inclusive of the experiences and identities of our communities,” Executive Constantine said in the Proclamation. Additionally, Sound Transit’s Latinx in Transportation (LIT) Employee Resource Group, King County Metro and the Seattle Department of Transportation held a multi-agency Latinx Heritage Month kick-off celebration on September 19, 2019. View more photos below and… Read More
King County 2019 flu shot schedule, week of Sept. 25
Check out the King County 2019 Flu Shot Schedule and mark your calendars for the location most convenient for you. These are open to all employees, unless noted otherwise. If you miss the opportunity to get a flu shot at work, here are some tips for getting your flu shot through your health plan. Contact balancedyou@kingcounty.gov for more information. Some things to remember: Clinics are open to all employees, except when noted otherwise. Benefits-covered spouses and family members (age 11 and above) are welcome to attend most clinics, but please confirm these details with your site contact(s) beforehand…. Read More
Employee News 