Tech Tip: Microsoft to shut off “ToDo” application 

In preparation for a change that Microsoft is making to King County’s Office 365 setup, the “ToDo” application will no longer be supported or available for use. Access to this application is scheduled to be turned off on Nov. 6. If you use ToDo, you can recreate your ToDo tasks in Outlook as Outlook Tasks prior to Nov. 6. For help, please contact the Helpdesk by submitting a HelpDesk ticket or calling 206-263-HELP. 

That’s a wrap on 2019 flu shots 

Crossposted from Balanced You Every fall, King County’s Balanced You program provides worksite flu shot clinics for employees. In response to employee feedback, we expanded this year’s program by adding late afternoon clinic times, four new worksites, and more staff to better reach employees. Over the course of six weeks, we traveled to Woodinville, Auburn, Maple Valley and several worksites in between, serving more than 3,800 employees. Thank you! Our team works throughout the year to plan these clinics with several benefit partners, our flu shot vendor and employees that volunteer their time to coordinate… Read More

At DPD, a new unit helps people reclaim their lives 

Crossposted from For the Defense  For years, Detric Johnson felt as though there was nothing he could do to erase the mistakes of his past. He faced more than $10,000 in legal financial obligations (LFOs), a crippling burden. He had felonies on his record, most of them 25 years old. Without a driver’s license, he couldn’t land a job.  “My life was in a shambles,” he said.  All that changed over the course of a few months, when an old DUI and another driving charge caught up with him and he was assigned a… Read More

Trailhead Direct ridership increased 75 percent in its second full season 

Ridership on Trailhead Direct – a transit-to-trails service co-led by King County Metro and King County Parks – increased 75 percent during the second year of a two-year pilot project. The improved service design made it possible for hikers to board any of the four routes and get to any trail in the Trailhead Direct network.  Passengers boarded Trailhead Direct for more than 17,500 hikes in the second season of the two-year pilot project co-led by King County Metro and King County Parks, a 75 percent increase from last year. The transit-to-trails service added… Read More

National conference selects King County as site of annual conference, spotlights Zero Youth Detention 

Crossposted from Zero Youth Detention  Each year, the Annie E. Casey Foundation hosts a national conference for the over 300 jurisdictions in 40 states that have signed on to implement its Juvenile Detention Alternatives Initiative (JDAI). This year, the conference was hosted in King County, from October 16-18, in part to showcase the work of King County’s Zero Youth Detention and essential community partnerships.  “I started volunteering. I found community, and they saw gifts in me I didn’t know I had,” said Durell Green, describing to conference attendees the transition that took him from time in… Read More

Food drive underway 

The 2019 Northwest Harvest Food Drive has begun and runs through Nov. 22. Collection boxes are being distributed to King County buildings.    Feel free to get creative and hold competitions to encourage donations! If a box gets full and you would like a replacement, please contact Angela Strong of the Facilities Management Division of the Department of Executive Services.   Last year the generous employees of King County gathered 3,702 pounds of food. Click here for more information about Northwest Harvest and their mission. 

Join the Executive Department at the Harvest Festival, Nov. 8 

The Executive Department Senior Leadership Team is excited to invite you to the Employee Giving Program Harvest Festival. This seasonal event will feature treats, a photo booth, nonprofits, and pets available for adoption. There will be a drawing for prizes such as a $100 gift certificate to Ethan Stowell restaurants, a fall-themed gift basket, and lunch with the Executive.  Are you eager to try the new Cosmic Crisp apple? Come to the Festival, and you’ll have the opportunity to try these not-yet-released Washington apples. Suggested donation of $10 at the door, but giving… Read More

Open Enrollment starts today, ends Nov. 15

Take a fresh look at your benefits Make the most of your robust King County employee benefits package by making informed decisions for next year during Open Enrollment, Nov. 1 – 15. Follow these steps to ensure you are selecting the right benefit options for you and your family: Review your benefit choices See what’s changing next year. Evaluate your medical plan options using the Plan Comparison Charts and other resources on the Medical plans page. Consider whether one of the lower-cost plans, Kaiser SmartCare or KingCare Select (Regular and Transit ATU employees… Read More

Featured Job: Assistant Archivist 

Salary: $22.41 – $28.40 Hourly  Location: WA 98122, WA  Job Type: Career Service, Full Time, 40 hrs/week  Department: DES – Executive Services  Job Number: 2019AB10800  Closing: 11/6/2019 11:59 PM Pacific  Learn more about this position or view all available positions. 

Pet of the Week: Sadie 

Crossposted from Tails from RASKC Need a warm snuggle buddy for the coming chilly winter nights? Check out Sadie, our Pet of the Week! This genteel older lady loves to stop and smell the roses! Sadie has a lot of pep in her step and loves going for long walks… sniffing here, there, and everywhere! Afterwards, Sadie just wants to hang out and cuddle, and she thoroughly enjoys neck scratches. Read more at Tails from RASKC