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
Tech Tip: Skype Business to Teams migration chatting and instant messaging
For the next year, as employees move to Microsoft Teams for County communications, many people will continue on Skype until they move. Did you know you can send Instant Messages between Skype and Teams? Below are instructions to send Instant Message between Skype and Teams. Once employees move to Teams, send a message, called Chats in Teams, to coworkers using Skype by simply looking them up and sending a message. They will receive the message in Skype. When they reply, it will show up in Teams for the original sender using Teams. Pro… Read More
KCIT successfully transitions the new PSERN emergency radio system core
KCIT recently transitioned to the new Puget Sound Emergency Radio Network (PSERN) system core, which will help provide more effective and coordinated emergency responses in King County. The PSERN Project’s dispatch center and core cutover was an important milestone because it replaced components that were unsupported by the manufacturer due to their age. The PSERN core is the “brains” of the system composed of servers, switches, routers, databases, storage units, and radio components. In essence, it is a large data center dedicated to managing the radio network primarily used by emergency personnel… Read More
Thank you from Employee Giving Program – Last Day of the Annual Giving Drive
Dear fellow King County employee, In the midst our work, our families, the planning, schooling, cooking, finding new routines, and doing what we can to prevent the spread of COVID-19, we are encouraged to stop and take a moment next week to celebrate all those very precious people and things we have in our lives. This year, I am thankful for the extra time with my children. While it is hard balancing all the things, I am getting to see parts of them I didn’t know before. They are showing me how… Read More
Staying safer as COVID-19 infection rates increase
Dear employee, Nationally and locally our Public Health agencies are reporting an increase in COVID-19 infection rates in communities. This escalation in infections is also reflected in our work community, with increasing numbers of employees testing positive for COVID-19 or reporting significant exposure to those who have tested positive. Temporary statewide restrictions announced by the Governor are in place to help reduce the rate of infections. Workplace exposure The County continues to review workplace exposures where employees report that they have tested positive for COVID-19. County staff conduct workplace contract tracing on… Read More
Investor relations website launched
Crossposted from DES Express King County’s first-ever Investor Relations website is now live. The site, maintained by a third-party vendor, BondLink, greatly improves the potential investor experience with links in one place to Official Statements, ratings, budgets, Comprehensive Annual Financial Reports (CAFRs), policies and more. With voters approving a $1.74 billion bond measure for capital improvements at King County-owned Harborview Medical Center, the website comes at the perfect time. “We are hoping King County sees an increase in the pool of potential investors and bidders by leveraging the BondLink communication functionality,” said Carol Basile, Treasury Manager. Read more.
Stay informed in inclement weather
Getting timely, accurate information in an emergency or inclement weather event is critical. Make sure you’re getting the latest King County information on how you are affected, at work and at home: KCInform: Make sure you can be reached in a major emergency. If you haven’t yet registered your County provided mobile phones and employees personal contact information in KCInform, please contact kcinform@kingcounty.gov anytime or 206-296-3830 between 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Monday – Friday to request your unique registration link. Watch this short video to learn more or visit our website. Call the Employee Hotline—206-205-8600 (save it to your… Read More
More than 500 nurses urge King County to confront the surge
Crossposted from Public Health Insider In the midst of an unprecedented surge in COVID-19 cases, more than 500 King County nurses are issuing an urgent call to renew efforts to turn around this troubling trend. “It’s been a tough year, and we’ve all sacrificed so much to stay safe. But now, with cases skyrocketing in King County, it’s more important than ever to stop the spread,” reads the nurses’ message, published Sunday in a special wrap-around section of the Seattle Times. Read more.
Prepare now for winter weather
As we approach winter, now is a great time to ensure you are well-prepared for an emergency or inclement weather at home or work. Taking a few steps now to plan ahead will give you peace of mind and help you make good decisions in an emergency: There are many online resources that you can use to make sure you and your family have what you need to Make it Through an emergency – from an extended power outage to a more severe event. Please take personal preparedness seriously. If your child is attending… Read More
Training Spotlight for November 19
Communication and Problem Solving Skills – Online – Join instructor Lenny Borer for this two-day training. He will address communication and problem-solving skills with the public and with co-workers. This class covers skills for effective listening, speaking, dealing with conflicts, and dealing with defensive behavior. This training is $65 and space is limited. It takes place on Tuesday and Wednesday, Dec. 8 and 9, both days from 1-4:30 p.m. Register here. Please visit our King County Eventbrite page website for more opportunities. For more information, contact the Learning and Development Team at KCTraining@kingcounty.gov or visit Learning and Development at www.kingcounty.gov/learning.
Medical benefits for transgender employees
King County provides comprehensive benefits and services to support the health and well-being of eligible employees, retirees, and their dependents, and now offers enhanced medical benefits for transgender employees. Starting Jan. 1, 2020, King County expanded its medical plans’ coverage policies for transgender employees and their covered family members. King County has covered gender confirmation surgery and hormone replacement since 2015, but starting in 2020, we are covering additional gender-affirming procedures and treatments to comply fully with World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH) standards, including procedures most insurers exclude. This week,… Read More
2020 Employee Giving Drive spotlight and reminder for last chance to donate
The 2020 Employee Giving Drive ends tomorrow, Nov. 20. This week, we are featuring nonprofits that support the arts in our community: Hilltop Artists (9032) – We use glass art to connect young people from diverse cultural and economic backgrounds to better futures through art instruction, wrap around services, and mentoring to 650 youth. 5th Avenue Theatre (9631) – We develop, produce and present live musical theater for the cultural enrichment of the Northwest community; preserve, maintain, and operate the historic 5th Avenue Theatre. Northwest African American Museum (9737) – We celebrate and explore the histories, arts, and cultures of people of… Read More
Donating excess time to the Employee Giving Program, deadline tomorrow, November 20
Every year, many employees find themselves in a “use-it-or-lose-it” situation with their vacation balances. When an employee exceeds the maximum vacation accrual, the balance in excess of the maximum is forfeited on January 8. If an employee has accumulated leave that they do not plan on taking, they can choose to give the cash equivalent of that excess time to a nonprofit organization in the King County Employee Giving Program and/or to the COVID-19 Emergency Leave Fund. Both donations can be done in PeopleSoft. Click here to make a time donation through the Employee Giving Program to a… Read More
COVID-related Paid Administrative Leave extended to June 2021
King County is extending the eligibility period for accessing Paid Administrative Leave (PAL) for COVID-related reasons to June 2021 for non-represented employees, and is bargaining the same extension for represented employees. This is an extension of the timeframe in which the existing 80 hours of Paid Administrative Leave for COVID-related reasons can be used (see COVID-related Paid Administrative Leave for details); additional hours are not being awarded. For non-represented employees, this extension will last until either June 25, 2021, or June 30, 2021, depending on whether the employee’s pay period is biweekly or semi-monthly. Represented employees… Read More
Executive Constantine statement on updated COVID-19 restrictions
King County Executive Dow Constantine delivered the following statement at Gov. Jay Inslee’s press conference announcing new guidance on how to slow the spread of COVID-19, and new restrictions in place until Dec. 14: “Like everywhere in the state, our case counts are soaring, and that is also true nationally. The number of hospitalizations in King County last week increased by over 70 percent compared to the previous four weeks. “In fact, it was just earlier this week that I was reflecting that our hospitalizations had not increased dramatically, and then later that afternoon I… Read More
November 2020 proclaimed Native American Heritage Month in King County
As part of our celebrations for Native American Heritage Month, the Metropolitan King County Council and King County Executive Dow Constantine have proclaimed the month of November 2020 Native American Heritage Month in King County. Native American Heritage Month was initially proposed in 1990 as American Indian Heritage Month by U.S. House Joint Resolution 577, and in 1991 by Congress Senate Joint Resolution 172, before November was ultimately proclaimed as “Native American Heritage Month” by President George H.W. Bush in 1991. “Whereas, in King County, we honor the unique government-to-government relationship that… Read More
Health officer statement on new COVID-19 measures
Crossposted from Public Health Insider Statement from Dr. Jeff Duchin, Health Officer for Public Health – Seattle & King County, on Governor Jay Inslee’s announcement of new measures to control the surging outbreak of COVID-19 in Washington state: COVID-19 transmission and the number of people being infected are at all-time highs in King County and the outbreak is growing in size faster than ever. In the past week, hospitalizations have increased by 70%. Cases are on a trajectory to continue to increase and will be followed by even more hospitalizations and deaths. Read more.
Featured Job: Fare Policy Lead (Transportation Planner IV)
Salary: $100,134.11 – $126,926.18 Annually Location: Seattle, WA Job Type: Career Service, Full Time, 40 hrs/week Department: MTD – Metro Transit Job Number: 2020MC12281 Division: Mobility Closing: Continuous Learn more about this position or view all available positions.
Representation of Native Americans in Law and Justice webinar tomorrow, November 18
Please join the King County Superior Court in celebration of Native American Heritage Month at a Presentation of Native Americans in Law and Justice Panel Presentation. The event will feature a facilitated question and answer session with guest panelists, including keynote speaker Justice Raquel Montoya-Lewis, Ms. Sarah Roubidoux Lawson, Professor Gregory Silverman, and Mr. Rion Ramirez. This presentation is sponsored by the Superior Court’s 2020 Courts and Community Committee. Wednesday, Nov. 18 from 12:15-1:30 p.m. Register here. Space is available and pre-registration is required. For more information view this flyer or contact Beth Taylor at Beth.Taylor@kingcounty.gov.
Join the Executive Department at the Harvest Festival II: Ultimate Zoom tomorrow, November 18
The Executive Department Senior Leadership Team is excited to invite employees to Harvest Festival II: Ultimate Zoom, which includes a drawing to benefit organizations doing important work in the community and on issues critical to King County’s priorities. Donations can be turned into drawing tickets until 11 a.m. tomorrow. Make a donation and be entered into the drawing here. Prizes include bottles of wine and a tasting voucher, state and national parks passes, board games and puzzles, and a stay at the downtown Fairmont Olympic. Winners will be announced tomorrow. Hear from Executive Constantine, the Senior Leadership… Read More
Training Spotlight for November 17
Race: The Power of an Illusion – Online – This training is provided by an external consultant, and will use the three-part video series “Race: The Power of an Illusion” to explore the construct of race, how it has been used to channel benefits to those viewed as white, and why racial inequities persist. This training takes place on Nov.19 from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. The cost is $150.00 and space is limited. Register here Please visit our King County Eventbrite page website for more opportunities. Winter courses will be posted soon. For more information, contact the Learning and Development Team at KCTraining@kingcounty.gov or… Read More
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