Featured Headlines
DCHS-led Health Through Housing initiative hits major milestone
In the field with Executive Zahilay: Listening to staff and empowering solutions
Tap to pay: Puget Sound region transit systems to accept credit and debit cards, and digital wallets as fare payment
Major ‘Revive I-5’ repairs continue for Ship Canal Bridge
News
Inslee announces updated school guidance for in-person instruction
Gov. Jay Inslee and Superintendent of Public Instruction Chris Reykdal today announced an update in the metrics used to inform local school district decisions for in-person learning. They also announced $3 million from set aside funds to be distributed to implement health and safety protocols. The update to the school health and safety toolkit comes after recent data showed limited COVID-19 transmission in school environments when state health and safety protocols are implemented. The Department of Health suggests three categories for re-introducing in-person learning: For schools in counties where COVID-19 cases are “low” (less… Read More
Pet of the Week: Rex
Hi, my name is Rex! I’m an 8 year old male domestic short hair cat (ID #A65307). I am the shy and sensitive type. But, once you start petting me I slowly but surely will rub into your hand. I especially enjoy getting little chin and neck scratches! I am neutered, current on vaccinations, and micro chipped. Also, as the Pet of the Week, my adoption fee has been waived and includes a free visit to the veterinarian of your choice. You can find out more about me and my friends at www.kingcounty.gov/adoptapet. Have you… Read More
Tech Tip: An important reminder about Microsoft Skype and Teams instant messages (chats)
Instant messages in Teams, called Chats, don’t instantly disappear when you close the Chat window—they’re typically held for 24 hours or more before deletion. That means they can be subject to Public Disclosure Requests during that time. Some chats last for up to a week, but KCIT is working on the issue. Even if you’re still using Skype, any IMs with coworkers on Teams will also be retained for 24 hours or more on their side. Remember: You may recall that our guidance for using Skype instant messages has always been “Don’t conduct work in instant messages.” The same is true in Teams Chats. They should only be used for transitory communication. What does this mean for you? When you move to… Read More
Planning holidays during a pandemic
Planning holidays during a pandemic is a tough feat. While news of COVID-19 vaccines brings a welcome light at the end of the tunnel, we still need to follow social distancing and mask recommendations until the vaccine is available to try to keep ourselves, our loved ones, and our community safe. To help employees safely navigate the holiday season, Balanced You has put together a list of resources and tips for fun and meaningful ways to celebrate. Click here for more information.
Countywide web refresh will help users quickly, easily access information and King County services
Big changes are coming to King County’s web experience. The King County Website Refresh project aims to modernize the existing King County website experience to create a better user experience, align with the County’s mission and provide easy access to content. KingCounty.gov is the primary source of information for community members, employees, agencies and the general public. However, the current site doesn’t fully reflect King County’s mission to provide quality local and regional services to the community, largely because some information is difficult to find and understand. A major goal of the new site is to provide residents with a fast, convenient and equitable user-centered experience. Information will be easier to find,… Read More
Training Spotlight: Mentorship Lunch and Learn
Online – Would you like to have a mentor, someone who can help you grow professionally? Do you want to strengthen your coaching skills? As a Mentee, you will have a trusted advisor who can help you navigate complex situations, and as a Mentor, you can uncover new or forgotten skills and build influence. This Lunch and Learn is free and the next session is on Thursday, Dec. 17, from noon to 1 p.m. Register Here Please visit our King County Eventbrite website and our Learning and Development website for more opportunities. For more information, contact the Learning and Development Team at KCTraining@kingcounty.gov or… Read More
Summit at Snoqualmie discount program on pause
The Summit at Snoqualmie has hit pause on their discount program, due to COVID-19 and Washington State guidelines. For season passes, sales will be significantly limited, and discounts for partners, such as King County, will not be offered. For daily lift tickets, sales will begin in the coming weeks, and partner discounts will not be available until early to mid-January. Discounts will only be available on lift ticket reservations made after this launch date. The Summit at Snoqualmie advises guests wishing to reserve specific dates to make reservations as soon as public… Read More
Making Life Easier webinars for the holiday season
King County employees can choose from these upcoming live and on-demand webinars. Register early for the live session as space is limited; otherwise, the recording will be available on-demand 48 hours after the live session. Navigating Grief During the Holiday Season, Wednesday, Dec. 16 from noon to 1 p.m. Register here. Moving Forward From Here: Navigating Uncertain Times, now available on-demand. Register here. Supporting Yourself This Season: The Winter Blues & Seasonal Affective Disorder, now available on-demand. Register here. To learn more about these webinars, login to kcmakinglifeeasier.com with your username: King County, click on the Current… Read More
Stress less this holiday season
The holiday season will look different for many people this year. Many of us will still find ways to cultivate joy and cherish time with loved ones, whether virtually or safely in-person. Many of us will also undergo sadness and fatigue from experiencing holidays during a pandemic. Balanced You and King County’s Making Life Easier program offer the following recommendations so you can enjoy the season to the fullest. Read this Balanced You blogpost for more information.
Video: COVID-19 vaccine planning update from Dr. Jeff Duchin (Dec. 11, 2020)
Crossposted from Public Health Insider With COVID-19 cases surging in King County, Health Officer Dr. Jeff Duchin shared the most recent data and responded to questions from the media and the community about vaccine planning and how we can all help stop slow the spread during the holiday season. For more on COVID-19 data trends, visit our data dashboards: https://www.kingcounty.gov/depts/health/covid-19/data.aspx For more on COVID-19 vaccine planning in King County: www.kingcounty.gov/covid/vaccine
Your vision benefits don’t expire at year-end
If you’re panicking because your regular vision provider has been closed or is booked solid during the long COVID-19 pandemic, fear not; your vision benefits, through Vision Service Plan (VSP), make it easy for you to get the eye care you need. And best of all… vision benefits are calculated on a rolling 12-24 month period, as follows, meaning you don’t need to rush out before year-end. *Allowance for Regular and Transit ATU 587 employee benefit group is $200, allowance for all other benefit groups is $130. You may use any eye… Read More
With new COVID-19 cases reaching all-time highs, please consider donating to the Emergency Leave Program
The Emergency Leave Donation Program was developed to aid employees who’ve been impacted by COVID-19 and have exhausted their paid leave. Access to donated leave has helped them focus on recovering their health or caring for loved ones. So far this year, nearly 300 employees have generously donated personal leave to support their colleagues. The program is asking employees to again consider donating personal leave to the program, as the paid leave available is running low. Donating leave is an especially good option for employees who may find themselves in a “use-it-or-lose-it” position with an excess vacation balance… Read More
Get help correcting your at-home ergonomics
With many King County employees working remotely through the pandemic, and potentially beyond, you may find yourself missing your perfectly adjusted ergonomic workstation in the office. King County has certified ergonomists in the Department of Human Resources (DHR) that can provide assessments for your at-home workstation. They can’t come to your home, but a virtual assessment can help pinpoint issues and save you pain down the road. “It’s not too late; even if it’s been several months since you started working from home, you should assess any new workstation,” Rob Stafford, Safety… Read More
Planning for COVID-19 vaccine access at King County
Message from Whitney Abrams, Chief People Officer, & Brenda Bauer, Deputy Chief Operating Officer Dear employee, The first shipment of COVID-19 vaccine is expected to arrive in Washington state this week. This is an exciting development in the pandemic response, and the county, particularly Public Health staff, are working hard on plans, preparations, and communications to ensure equitable access to the vaccine in King County. Who will receive the early doses? Initial doses of the vaccine have strict “ultracold” storage requirements with special freezers that are typically found only in certain hospitals…. Read More
Hope and Joy Campaign: December 16 Coffee Connection
As part of the Hope and Joy Campaign, the Balanced You team is hosting a series of virtual zoom sessions, called “Coffee Connections”, to provide spaces for employees to connect over fun topics and events. The second Coffee Connection’s theme is “Quarantine Holiday Celebrations” Join us then to share the unique way you and your family will celebrate the holidays this year. It will be held on December 16, from 10-10:30 a.m. Click here to Register. You can check out other upcoming Coffee Connections on the Balanced You Blog here.
Strategic Interviewing Tips and Techniques, December 17
This two-hour virtual workshop will provide you with strategies and tips to help you to do your best during the interview. Learning objectives include: How to prepare for a virtual job interview The interview structure and types of questions you will be asked The STAR-LA method and how to use it to provide organized and complete responses General tips and strategies This workshop will take place Thursday, Dec. 17 from 1–3 p.m. Register here. For additional online workshops offered by King County Career Support Services (CSS), visit their Eventbrite page. For more information about CSS visit www.kingcounty.gov/CSS.
Road to Retirement session offered December 15
Are you planning to retire in the next six months? If so, join your Retirement Team for this informative 90-minute online class on Tuesday, Dec. 15, from 1–2:30 p.m. We’ll discuss procedures and forms, medical coverage options, and pension plans—so you’ll be on a smooth road toward a happy retirement. Please register for Road to Retirement at Eventbrite. Sessions for 2021 are also listed, so chose a class that works best for your schedule. After you register, you will receive an email with a Zoom link for the class you selected. To learn more before the class,… Read More
Ensuring a Disability Perspective in State Policy, online webinar
The webinar on “Ensuring a Disability Perspective in State Policy,” hosted by the Council of State Governments (CSG) and the State Exchange on Employment and Disability, is available for viewing. The webinar, which was held as part of the CSG 2020 National Conference, features discussions on how states can include individuals with disabilities in broader policymaking, including a disability perspective in commissions on transportation, the future of work, and other state initiatives. It was the final episode in an ADA30 series produced by CSG that explored the origin and legacy of the… Read More
COVID-19 Accessible Materials for People with Disabilities webinar series, December 16, January and February 2021
The Georgia Tech Center for Inclusive Design and Innovation presents the COVID-19 Accessible Materials for People with Disabilities webinar series. The following dates and topics are available for employees to register for: Wednesday, Dec. 16, from 11 a.m. to noon. Register here for “A Closer Look: Mental Health and Resilience within the Disability Community During COVID-19” – explore the mental health and resilience of people with disabilities during the COVID-19 pandemic and ways service providers can access relevant resources Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2021 from 11 a.m. to noon. Register here for “Making Social Media Accessible for… Read More
Employees may not relocate out of Washington while working remotely
Many King County employees are telecommuting through July 5, 2021, as we continue our efforts to slow the spread of COVID-19. Telecommuting employees may not relocate out of Washington state. Employees may work at a location outside of the home, provided the location is within a reasonable distance to the employee’s primary county worksite. Our policy continues to be that employees need to obtain prior approval if they want to temporarily work outside of their normal work/home area. Unless travel has been preapproved, employees are expected to remain close enough to physically report to work, if necessary. … Read More
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