Administrative Professionals Program quarterly recognitions
Do you know administrative professional you’d like to recognize for the outstanding work they do? The Administrative Professionals Program holds quarterly recognitions for the County’s administrative employees who contribute to the success of every department every day. The upcoming recognitions will cover July through September 2023, and will be posted on the Administrative Professionals Program website in October. To recognize an administrative professional, please fill out the Recognition form here by Sept. 30, 2023.
How to prepare for a long and unpredictable flood season in King County
Crossposted from Keeping King County Green The most common natural disaster in King County is flooding. There have been 29 flood-related federal disaster declarations in the county since 1956, and the science is clear that climate change will increase flood risks to our region. Even minor flooding can cause big disruptions to our infrastructure, closing roads and requiring costly clean-up and repairs to property. In King County, flooding is most common from October through April. This year, experts predict an El Niño weather pattern. This typically means a warmer, drier winter in… Read More
Accessing naloxone (NARCAN®) nasal spray in King County
With dramatically increasing overdoses in our community, knowing how to access and administer naloxone—a lifesaving medication that can reverse an opioid overdose—is critical. King County employees are permitted to carry and administer naloxone, while on the job, if they so choose. Here’s your guide to finding naloxone in King County and Washington, and how to access overdose prevention training. For those who can, King County encourages accessing naloxone over the counter or through pharmacies with medical insurance, rather than using free sources. This helps ensure adequate availability for our community members who… Read More
A passion for making great food
It’s 5:30 a.m. and the kitchen staff at the Department of Adult and Juvenile Detention’s (DAJD) Juvenile Division are hard at work preparing breakfast for the youth in detention. It will be a continental breakfast, with scrambled eggs, pastries, yogurt, and an assortment of other healthy food, served at 7:45 a.m. The cooks and bakers then start making lunch, which will be ready to go by 11:30 a.m. and may include burgers or variety of hot burritos and sandwiches. A dinner with a protein choice and vegetables comes at 5 p.m. with… Read More
Wounded motorcyclist aided by TFD painter
Early last month, Salvador (“Sal”) Garcia, was returning to South Facilities after finishing up his day painting comfort stations. On his way back, Sal came across a troubling scene—a man was lying on the ground next to three idling motorcycles. Sal knew something was amiss. He could see another man at the end of the block, also harmed, and clutching his shoulder. Sal was worried, so he courageously got out of the van to investigate the situation further. When Sal approached the man, he could tell he was in distress. Sal then called… Read More
Celebrating National Senior Center Month
Every September the National Council on Aging celebrates National Senior Center Month by shining a light on senior centers and showing the nation how vital they are to the health and well-being of a community. In King County, senior centers support a growing population of older adults by providing essential services such as food and nutrition, cultural and social activities, information and assistance, education opportunities, celebratory events, health and wellness programs, and connection for isolated seniors. The Veterans, Seniors and Human Services Levy (VSHSL) funds senior centers to serve as recognized resource centers on… Read More
Don’t leave history behind: Celebrate Archives Month
October is Archives Month, and King County Archives wants to celebrate it with you. We’re offering county staff tours of our beautiful space, including the areas where we store and preserve historically significant county government records. What is Archives Month? Many people don’t realize that the historical county government records at King County Archives are publicly accessible. Archives Month is a reminder to explore and make use of them. Why should I sign up for a tour? Because you want to see the cool records that were created by other county employees: Oldest marriage… Read More
Security tip – Watch out for QR code phishing scams
Recently, several King County employees have received emails with instructions to re-authenticate their passwords by scanning a QR code. Do not scan the QR code. This is a new “phishing” tactic from cybercriminals. Although these sophisticated emails often look like genuine security alerts, please be aware that King County does not use QR codes to re-authenticate passwords. Only scan QR codes from trusted, expected sources. Please use the “Report Phishing” button in Outlook to report any suspicious emails. Thank you for helping keep King County safe from cybersecurity threats!
First 2024 Professional Development Scholarship application period ends Oct. 8
The first application period for the 2024 Coalition Labor Agreement’s Professional Development Scholarship Program ends at 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 8, 2023. The Scholarship Program is a benefit offered as part of the 2022 – 2024 Coalition Labor Agreement and is only open to employees represented by one of the unions in the Coalition. Award recipients for this period will be notified between Nov. 20 – Dec. 1, 2023. Please check the scholarship website for important dates, information and the link to apply. The Scholarship Program is part of the County’s commitment to Investing in YOU, and is designed to assist eligible… Read More
Possible Kaiser Permanente employee strike will not impact the Pacific Northwest region
The Coalition of Kaiser Permanente Unions recently issued notice of a possible strike from Oct. 4––6. This does not include Kaiser employees in the Pacific Northwest region. At this time, the negotiations involve only a fraction of Kaiser Permanente workers and facilities in Washington—primarily in the southwest edge of the state. Other areas impacted are Colorado, Mid-Atlantic States, Northern California, Oregon, Southwest Washington, and Southern California. Kaiser Permanente and Coalition leaders will continue negotiating with hopes to reach an agreement before any work stoppage occurs. Kaiser has plans in place to ensure continued access to needed health care… Read More
Employee News 