Kaiser to close three Puget Sound-area medical facilities
Kaiser Permanente Washington recently announced that they will be closing their medical facilities in Ballard, Gig Harbor, and Poulsbo on Dec. 13, 2024. The Kaiser announcement stated “As the health care market changes rapidly, with increased competition, new technologies, and high consumer expectations, it is critical that we continue to adapt by allocating our people and resources where they provide the greatest value to our patients, members, and customers.” Members who seek care at the Kaiser medical facilities in Ballard, Gig Harbor, and Poulsbo can follow their clinician to a new location… Read More
Coming soon: Add pronouns and preferred first name/nickname to PeopleSoft and Microsoft
Starting Nov. 1, employees will be able to add pronouns and preferred first name/nickname in PeopleSoft and Microsoft 365 (including Teams and Outlook), making them visible to other King County employees. This option advances our We respect all people value and helps us create a more inclusive and affirming workplace for everyone. It also aligns with the County’s Gender Identity in the Workplace policy. These options will be available for both PeopleSoft and Microsoft 365. Sharing this information with other King County employees is a personal choice and completely optional. Once entered, this information may be subject to public disclosure… Read More
Celebrating creativity and fun on Halloween with the Annual Giving Drive
It’s finally here—Halloween—the day of fun and imagination that brings people together in celebration. The Annual Giving Drive loves this day because it is a time when creativity takes center stage and everyone—kids and adults alike— can embrace their playful side with costumes, decorations, and more! Halloween offers so many ways to showcase imagination and artistry. We hope everyone has a happy, safe, and creative Halloween! Here are some fun Halloween themed EGP nonprofits that specialize in the arts and creative spaces. Read more. Pledge or renew here by Nov. 22.
Healthcare organizations continue commitment to protect patients and healthcare workers with an update to masking guidelines
Crossposted from Public Health Insider Healthcare systems in the Puget Sound region have updated their joint guidelines for masking in hospitals and outpatient clinics during respiratory illness season. This means local healthcare facilities may require patients, visitors and employees to wear masks when respiratory illnesses such as flu and COVID-19 are circulating widely in the community. Masking is an effective way to reduce the spread of respiratory illnesses in healthcare settings. These latest guidelines re-affirm the importance of the health and safety of patients and employees, particularly for those who are at high risk… Read More
Tips and resources for coping with election stress
By Whitney Abrams, Chief People Officer This article is written for employees of King County. The resources listed are only available to employees of King County. Tuesday, Nov. 5, is Election Day and many Americans are waiting anxiously for the results. According to a recent survey by the American Psychological Association (APA), more than two-thirds of U.S. adults say the 2024 U.S. presidential election is a significant source of stress in their life. This can be a time with a lot of uncertainty, stress, and anxiety and it is important that we take care… Read More
Open Enrollment begins tomorrow
Open Enrollment starts tomorrow, Nov. 1 and ends Nov. 15. Most employees have significant changes to the benefits offered in 2025. Use the following resources to learn about the changes and all of your benefit choices, so you can make the best decisions for you and your family during Open Enrollment. Go to the Open Enrollment website and see the 2025 Key Benefit Changes. Attend a Benefit Fair. The first one is tomorrow, Nov. 1, from 10 a.m.–3 p.m. in the Chinook Building, Room 121/123. Register for an Open Enrollment information session…. Read More
Halloween is a great day to vote
Happy Halloween! It’s a great day to vote! We’re projecting 82% turnout for this Election – that’s more than a million ballots returned! – and we expect to see the majority of ballots returned on Monday, Nov. 4 and Tuesday, Election Day, Nov. 5. If you need assistance with anything, give King County Elections a call at 206-296-VOTE, or visit a Vote Center this weekend. You’ll find a list of Vote Center locations and hours at kce.wiki/VoteCenter. Your ballot is too important to leave until the last minute. At King County Elections, we… Read More
Working to end domestic violence
Dear fellow King County employee, This month, we observe Domestic Violence Awareness Month in King County to raise awareness about the prevalence of domestic violence, signs of abuse, and how we can stop it. Shockingly, on average, nearly 24 people per minute are physically abused by an intimate partner in the United States – more than 12 million people each year – according to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence. This can be our family, friends, neighbors, work colleagues, and even ourselves. If a person is an abusive relationship, whatever stage, they need to… Read More
Happy National Vote Early Day
Your King County ballot will be on time if it’s postmarked by Nov. 5, or if it’s in an official ballot drop box before 8 p.m. on Election Night. With that in mind, we’re expecting more than 300,000 ballots to be returned just on Election Day, so we recommend getting ahead of the drop box lines and returning your ballot today! For more information, visit https://kingcounty.gov/elections.
Make your vote plan
Do you have a vote plan? Research shows that voters who make a clear plan to vote are most likely to follow through and make their voices heard. Take a moment today to consider things like where you’ll vote, what pen you’ll use, and what resources you’ll use to research your choices. If you’d like to return your ballot by mail, it’s best to get it mailed by Friday, Nov. 1, to be sure it’s postmarked on time. There are 85 official ballot drop boxes around the county and they’ll be open… Read More
Employee News 