July 4 closures and notices
King County government offices will be closed to observe Independence Day on Thursday, July 4. All offices will be back on schedule Friday, July 5. On July 4, most Metro Transit buses will operate on Sunday schedules with extra late-night services. There will not be an Employee Newsletter published on July 4. If you have questions about your holiday schedule, please speak to your supervisor. Have a safe and healthy holiday.
Ableism and allyship in the workplace
By Karla Lynch, Employment and Community Access Program Manager, Department of Community and Human Services, and Dorian Esper-Taylor, Disability Justice Specialist, Office of Equity, Racial, and Social Justice, Department of Executive Services Disability Pride Month is celebrated each year in July. Disability Pride initially started as a day of celebration in 1990—the year that the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was signed into law. Yet for people with disabilities, navigating a society constructed by and for people without disabilities continues to highlight the presence of ableism and the power of allyship in… Read More
Executive Constantine appoints Leon Richardson as Local Services director, choosing a leader with community connections, programmatic vision, and operational excellence
King County Executive Dow Constantine today appointed Leon Richardson as the new director of the Department of Local Services, selecting a proven leader with operational excellence and strategic vision to lead the department that serves as the local government for the unincorporated areas. Richardson will begin his new position on July 22, and his appointment is subject to confirmation by the King County Council. Interim Director Danielle de Clercq will continue to serve as the department’s deputy director. “Leon Richardson brings a wealth of experience convening and leading people to strive toward… Read More
Free admission to Emerald Downs Sunday, July 7
King County employees and their families are invited to attend the Emerald Downs racetrack for King County Day on Sunday July 7. They will receive free admission and should check in at Will-Call to receive their tickets. Employees will need to show proof of current employment, such as an employee badge or recent paystub. In addition to King County Day, other events at Emerald Downs this summer include Corgi Races, Premio Esmeralda Weekend which highlights the Latinx community, T-Rex Day, Wiener Dog and Wannabe races, and the final race of the season, Three… Read More
Salt and vinegar on weeds? Save it for the chips!
Crossposted from King County Noxious Weeds So, you’ve found yourself pondering ways to tackle those pesky weeds—perhaps through a friend’s recommendation or some late-night online research. Salt and vinegar might have popped up as the seemingly perfect DIY solution – “eco-friendly”, and you already have some on hand! But before you start sprinkling and spraying, let’s uncover the real story behind these household remedies and their often-overlooked environmental impacts, as well as some possible alternatives. Read more.
More than 20 employees complete training to use evacuation chairs
Crossposted from DES Express Dan Cromwell brings an equity and social justice lens to his work that he’s put into action in a new way recently. As a member of the King County Disability Equity Network, and as Special Duty Assignment Security Manager in the Facilities Management Division, Cromwell noticed evacuation chairs in the nearly vacant Administration Building. “In my new role, I discovered there was no training program (for the use of the chairs) and having come from the KC Disability Equity Network, I saw this as an equity and social… Read More
ORCA Card now available in Google Wallet; Android users can pay for transit with phone and Wear OS devices
Crossposted from Metro Matters ORCA is excited to announce the ability to save and access ORCA transit cards in Google Wallet from Android and Wear OS devices. Starting today, customers across the Puget Sound region can add an ORCA card to Google Wallet for convenient transit payments. Now ORCA customers with Android and Wear OS devices can easily add their ORCA cards to their Google Wallet, enabling them to pay for transit, fund their accounts, purchase a pass, view transactions, and see trip history all within the Google Wallet app. Read more.
State retirement plan contributions change July 1, 2024
Employer contribution rates for some of the following retirement plans will change on July 1, 2024, as approved by the State Legislature. The state Pension Funding Council adjusts contribution rates, as needed, to fund the retirement benefits earned by members. You will see the new employer contribution amounts under employer-paid benefits on your paystub beginning July 17, 2024. More information is available on the Washington State Department of Retirement Systems (DRS) website. If you have any questions about the rate change, please contact DRS at 800-547-6657 or recep@drs.wa.gov.
BRC team reinvigorates “Underground” team
Crossposted from DES Express Do you know what it takes to ensure your paycheck accurately reflects any changes, like new taxes or union dues, that can occur several times each year? It takes significant behind-the-scenes effort. “No one wants to manually test payroll four times a year,” said Jennifer Gilbert, QA Automation Engineer for PeopleSoft in the Business Resource Center. Read more. Pictured: Pam Ingram and Jessica Maistrovich, both from Hennepin County, Minnesota, and Jennifer Gilbert, QA Automation Engineer for PeopleSoft in the BRC.
‘A victory for regional trails, climate, mobility, and opportunity’: Executive Constantine thanks Sen. Murray, Sen. Cantwell for securing funds to help close a key gap for Eastrail
King County Executive Dow Constantine today thanked U.S. Sen. Patty Murray and U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwell for securing a $25 million federal grant administrated by the U.S. Department of Transportation that will help King County Parks close the final gap of the southern segment of Eastrail by crossing Interstate 90. King County Parks will use the funds to retrofit a steel bridge that spans 16 lanes of Interstate 90. It is the latest progress for Eastrail, an emerging 42-mile trail that will ultimately connect South and East King County communities to Snohomish County… Read More
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