Public Defense creates new post-conviction unit
Crossposted from For the Defense People with criminal convictions who are eligible to have those convictions vacated will get additional legal assistance to do so, thanks to a new post-conviction relief unit at the King County Department of Public Defense. The department started its new unit this month, a pilot project funded by King County’s recently passed 2019-2020 operating budget. One paralegal and the equivalent of one full-time attorney will provide the legal help eligible clients need to get convictions vacated. The pilot project also provides funding to the King County Prosecuting… Read More
Last days to have your say in Employee Survey
There is less than three days to join the more than 7,500 employees who have had their say in the 2019 Employee Engagement Survey and help make King County work better for you. We’re also approaching the finish line for this year’s Speak Up! participation contest. Here are the current leaders as of Wednesday, March 27: For this contest, all divisions are placed in contest classes with their peers by employee headcount; those with the highest participation or are the first in their bracket to achieve 100% will be awarded prizes. Click here for the breakdown… Read More
Kudos! DHR employee makes new employees feel comfortable and welcome!
The following kudos was received in praise of Kristy Hampton, Senior Human Resource Analyst with the Department of Human Resources (DHR). “I’m writing to let you know how much I greatly enjoy working with Kristy Hampton! She is a stellar analyst; she makes the process comfortable for the employee, actively listens, asks thoughtful questions, etc. She has a very approachable style and is very pleasant. I’ve had the pleasure of meeting with Kristy on at least five+ occasions in the last several weeks. She consistently provides top notch service. You’ve got yourself… Read More
Volunteer to be a Ballot Drop Box Closer for April 23
Support your community and your commitment to public service in a visible and impactful way by volunteering as a drop box closer. Drop box closers are the friendly face the public sees on Election Day and allow voters to experience the excitement and camaraderie of the voting process. State law requires that ballot drop boxes close at 8 p.m. Election Day. Drop box closers provide customer service and assistance to voters returning their ballots to a drop box on Election night. King County Elections has rapidly expanded our ballot drop boxes from… Read More
Have a say on Clean Water Plan
King County has started work on a new Clean Water Plan. The plan will guide the County’s work to protect water quality, public health and our environment for decades to come. This is your chance to learn about what we are doing to protect Puget Sound, lakes, rivers and streams and tell us what your priorities are for the future. King County is committed to an inclusive process and will involve all kinds of people. We are going to be sending messages out about our progress, events and workshops. We hope you will… Read More
Tech Tip: OneDrive Sharing: No more anonymous access
KCIT has removed the ability for anyone to create anonymous links within King County OneDrive sites, document folders and documents. This change aligns with Microsoft’s security enhancements for OneDrive and helps ensure our external customers authenticate when accessing information shared with them from OneDrive. From now on, external customers who have had data shared with them from OneDrive will need to have a Microsoft Live account or an Office 365 account from their company to connect to any OneDrive data shared with them. Existing, anonymous links shared earlier will no longer work. Please contact… Read More
Training Spotlight: Conflict Awareness in the Workplace and Introduction to Organizational Performance Measurement
Conflict Awareness in the Workplace, April 18: We all encounter difficult people. Whether you are a supervisor, a customer service professional, or have a challenging co-worker, it’s important to know how to rise above your initial emotional reaction and turn negative situations into positive outcomes. Topics include understanding why we label people as difficult, types of difficult people, tools and techniques for resolving issues, coping strategies for dealing with the effects of difficult people, and conflict management strategies. Register and learn more. Introduction to Organizational Performance Measurement, May 8: Have you ever struggled to create… Read More
Pet of the Week: Buster
Buster is a 4 ½ year-old, brown brindle, Pit Bull mix. His personality color is RED, meaning he is a spirited dog with a fun-loving personality. Buster is an energetic guy who would love to be your hiking partner. He would also make a great cuddle buddy and he just adores belly rubs! Read more.
Applications open for Professional Development Scholarships
As a part of the Master Labor Agreement and Investing in YOU, applications are now being accepted for Professional Development Scholarship Awards for training that occurs anytime between May 17, 2019 and December 31, 2019. This is the third of four application periods this year. The final application period will open on July 8, 2019. Scholarship awards are only available to King County employees who are represented by a union in the Coalition of Unions and who meet additional eligibility requirements. Scholarships are intended to support employees in growing their careers at… Read More
Ukulele Club builds bonds, welcomes all
When Stef Frenzi, an educator consultant with the Department of Human Resources, saw an opportunity to strengthen team unity, improve employee engagement, and have fun at his last county role, he took it. “The thing that’s cool about a ukulele is that you can’t help but smile when you play it, because it’s a silly little instrument – you can’t take it too seriously,” said Stef. What started as a light-hearted conversation soon became a small group of people playing ukuleles together before blossoming into a movement within the workplace to bring… Read More
Employee News 