Website planning in a mobile-responsive era
As more people turn to their mobile devices to access King County information, departments are working to ensure their web content is mobile responsive and user friendly. While desktop users still account for the majority of visits, mobile visits to King County’s website now account for 43% of all traffic. “The ability of our King County employees and residents to access County information and services at any time with any device is the future and the future is now,” said Bill Kehoe, King County Chief Information Officer. Two of the most popular webpages are… Read More
New ESJ iMap tool brings together community and capital projects for employees
Back in 2013, the Water and Land Resources Division wanted to find a more efficient way of determining the characteristics and statistics of the populations they serve or would impact when doing capital projects. The information is critical to supporting King County’s equity and social justice goals and better project or program outcomes. Developed over the last three years through a partnership with King County GIS Center, the Equity and Social Justice (ESJ) iMap application was developed to allow employees to access and view census and demographic data with a geographic context for their projects, programs and… Read More
Working together on our priorities
People choose a career at King County because they want to make a difference in their communities and the lives of the people who live and work in them, and their efforts are guided by four key priorities. “Over the last several years we have been working in four priority areas – best-run government, regional mobility, confronting climate change and building equity and social justice – to make King County a better place to live, work and raise a family,” King County Executive Dow Constantine said in a recent email to employees…. Read More
Application period is now open for project funding from the ESJ Opportunity Fund
The Office of Equity and Social Justice (OESJ) is now accepting applications for the Equity and Social Justice (ESJ) Opportunity Fund. The Opportunity Fund is a competitive process that provides resources to King County employees to develop and implement projects that work to advance equity and social justice and that complements the ESJ Strategic Plan. For the 2017-2018 biennium, there is a total of $100,000 in one-time funds available and grants ranging from $500 to $7,500 will be awarded to projects that the Funding Committee determines best meet the outlined criteria. For more information, read… Read More
Lead mechanic Derek Harris is Metro’s Vehicle Maintenance Employee of the Year
Crossposted from Metro Matters Through 23 years with Metro, lead mechanic Derek Harris has always put customer service first, whether he’s rebuilding engines to keep buses moving or searching with a flashlight to find a driver’s lost wedding ring. Harris was named Thursday as Metro’s Vehicle Maintenance Employee of the Year. As he accepted the award, coworkers reiterated his focus on customers, and his patience, leadership and always challenging others to find the best solution. “What I enjoy most about Metro is working with all different types of people and coordinating with… Read More
Triple digits Thursday? Excessive heat expected this week
Crossposted from KC Emergency News The National Weather Service in Seattle has issued an Excessive Heat Warning for western Washington through 9 p.m. on Friday, August 4. Unusually hot weather will affect the region for the next few days, with record highs possible on Wednesday and Thursday. Many areas in King County could see temperatures of 100 degrees or more on Thursday. Waterfront and higher-elevation areas will only be slightly cooler, with temperatures there in the mid to upper 90s. Temperatures this high can be dangerous, especially for the very young, very old, and people with certain… Read More
King County Bureaufasts conquer 200-mile Ragnar Relay
The King County Bureaufasts, a 12-person King County employee running squad, completed the Reebok Ragnar Northwest Passage Relay July 14-15, spanning 200 miles of relay running from Blaine to Langley, WA. With some new faces on the team this year, the King County team shared two days of bonding, cheering, fatigue, and most importantly, a weekend in the Ragnar Bubble. The team trekked through some of the most breathtaking scenic views that the Pacific Northwest has to offer including Mount Baker and Olympic Mountain to Deception Pass and Puget Sound. Each member ran… Read More
Paid Parental Leave: New-parent approved
Newborn, adopted and foster-to-adopt children now get to bond with their King County-employed parent for up to 12 weeks thanks to the Paid Parental Leave Program. King County Executive Dow Constantine initially proposed a paid parental leave pilot as a way to support early childhood development by giving parents time to nurture and connect with their little ones. The Paid Parental Leave Program was made an on-going benefit in 2017. “I’m proud that King County is among the leading employers in the nation to offer a program that has a positive, lifelong… Read More
Hot weather on the way – help us keep cool!
We’re expecting unusually hot weather this week with record high temperatures likely Wednesday and Thursday, and the possibility of 100-degree weather in and around King County. The Facilities Management Division (FMD) is committed to your safety and comfort at work, and to running King County buildings as efficiently as possible. To help us all keep cooler as the weather heats up, here are a few tips: Lower the blinds in your work area to reduce sunlight streaming in Keep windows and doors closed when the air conditioning is on Dress for the weather conditions … Read More
Whitney Abrams announces Dave Sarju appointed Director of Human Resources Division
Dear King County Employee, I am excited to announce that King County Executive Dow Constantine has appointed Dave Sarju as Director of Human Resources Division, starting full-time on August 14. Dave has more than 25 years’ experience in developing people, teams and workplace culture in public, private and non-profit organizations and delivering more value to customers. Dave will report to me as Director of Employee Engagement and Support, and play an integral role in implementing Executive Constantine’s Investing in You strategy to ensure we are building a workplace where you have the… Read More
Employee News 