Employee News
Telling the stories of King County employees
King County Metro celebrates the 30th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Proudly committed to mobility innovations, our entire Metro bus fleet is ADA accessible. Allowing our riders with disabilities to travel with independence ensures all of us are moving forward, together.
The COVID-19 pandemic has taken an unprecedented toll on our economy, resulting in layoffs across many industries and organizations, including local governments. In the event you are facing layoff, or are concerned about potential lay-off, Balanced You has developed the following list of financial wellness resources to support you during this difficult time. Visit the Balanced You blog for more information. Throughout this pandemic, Balanced You has been inspired by each of you and is grateful to everyone at King County. If you are facing lay-off, please remember these decisions are not a reflection… Read More
The American’s with Disabilities Act (ADA) is turning 30 on Sunday, July 26, 2020. The ADA prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities in several areas, including employment, transportation, public accommodations, communications and access to state and local government programs’ and services. In honor of this groundbreaking legislation, King County, the City of Seattle and the Northwest ADA Center have put together a three-hour block of television programming that highlights individual stories about disability, ways to support accessibility, and challenges that remain for individuals with a disability in our community. Please join us… Read More
Hi! My name is Bert and I am available for adoption. My personality color is BLUE. I am a gentle and loving cat who likes to take things slow. I may get nervous in new situations, so I am looking for a family who understands that I might need some time to warm up. Once I get to know you, I will be a very devoted friend! I am an independent kitty who likes to do my own thing! I like getting attention on my own terms. I can get overstimulated with petting, so… Read More
By Sinang Lee, Program Manager Public Health’s Environmental Health Services Division’s Fun to Catch, Toxic to Eat Program for the Duwamish River Superfund site was one of 21 programs across the country to receive this year’s prestigious Model Practice Award by the National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO). The award, as determined through a competitive, peer-reviewed process, celebrates local health departments for programs that demonstrate exemplary and replicable best practices in response to a critical local public health need. The program was recognized for building an innovative community participatory… Read More
It’s finally feeling like summer! A wave of days over 80 degrees, perhaps into the 90s, are in the forecast next week. But things are different this year with COVID-19. Going to a movie theater, a mall, or the library to cool off after work aren’t possible for most of us in King County in this phase of the state’s Safe Start reopening plan. Remember to let safety be your guide. Check with your supervisor or manager for specific information or directions related to your job. Tips from Public Health specific to… Read More
Governor Jay Inslee will hold a press conference to provide an update on the state’s ongoing response to COVID-19 today, Thursday, July 23, at 2:30 p.m. The governor will accompanied by Washington Secretary of Health John Wiesman. You can watch the livestream here at 2:30 p.m. today.
This year marks the thirtieth anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), signed into law in 1990 by former U.S. President George H. W. Bush. Here at King County we’ve worked to provide everyone equal access to employment, transportation, housing, education, health care, recreation, and community life. On July 26, 2020, we celebrate thirty years of progress in access and inclusion, and renew our commitment to making King County a welcoming community where every person can thrive. For more information about the ADA and how can get involved in King County’s efforts to celebrate… Read More
The U.S. Department of Defense’s Diversity Management Operations Center, Disability Programs Directorate, a partner in the Office of Disability Employment Policy’s Workforce Recruitment Program, will host a virtual tour of the Smithsonian Institution’s disability history collection on Thursday, July 23 from noon to 1:30 p.m. Eastern Time. During this celebration of the 30th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act, Smithsonian historian Dr. Katherine Ott will show the National Museum of American History’s disability exhibit. Register for the event and request accommodations by emailing dodhra.dmoc-dpd@mail.mil. For more information, visit the National Museum of… Read More
Crossposted from Public Health Insider In the past few weeks, we have heard reports of longer wait times to get COVID-19 tests and delays in receiving test results in some instances. For most labs, the average time from testing to results being available has typically been one to three days, but recently it has been taking five to six days for tests done in some settings. Healthcare providers (or testers) then report results to patients. Because these are averages, some people may wait longer than these times. We believe these delays are… Read More
The Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) posted information on the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in commemoration of the 30th anniversary of its signing on July 26, 1990. Featured is a timeline highlighting disability employment legislation enacted since the signing of the ADA and other notable related events from the past 30 years. Also included are suggestions on ways for organizations and individuals to celebrate ADA30. View the timeline here, and visit the ODEP’s ADA30 webpage.
The Community Services (CS) team in King County’s Wastewater Treatment Division (WTD) is known for comprehensive, creative, and thoughtful outreach. CS team members solve problems and find ways to work with diverse communities throughout WTD’s 400-square mile service area. The CS team takes the County’s True North initiative seriously, engaging residents through trusted community-based organizations and expanding translation and live interpretation services every year. CS team member Monica Van der Vieren found ways to address a need that all of us will face at some time in our lives: accessibility. Monica leads… Read More
King County will make clear face masks available to employees as part of its efforts to support deaf and hard of hearing people at work and in the community. Clear face masks are critical for the deaf and hard of hearing community, but they are only effective if the hearing community wears them. Therefore, it’s important that our customer-facing employees and employees who have deaf and hard of hearing coworkers have access to these types of masks. King County has ordered 3,600 clear face masks for customer-facing and other employees who may… Read More
To protect themselves from the coronavirus, many people have chosen to delay non-emergency doctors’ visits and therapy appointments, hoping they can pause their medical needs until the pandemic is over. Unfortunately, we now realize the virus is likely here to stay for many more months. And so, we are faced with the challenge of developing strategies for safely navigating our new reality. Fortunately, King County employees and family members enrolled in Kaiser and Regence medical plans have access to telehealth services that allow you to virtually access board-certified, trained medical providers from… Read More
Salary: $25.37 – $32.16 Hourly Location: Seattle, WA Job Type: Special Duty Assignment or Term Limited Temp (TLT) Department: DPH – Public Health Job Number: 2020ML11869 Division: Prevention Closing: 7/30/2020 11:59 PM Pacific Learn more about this position or view all available positions.
A common challenge faced by individuals in business is how to lead and facilitating meetings that are interesting and solicit active engagement. This two-day training covers the skills used by a facilitator to design and run an effective meeting. How to be a better participant is also discussed. Topics include specific facilitation skills, group decision making skills, and how to deal with disruptive behaviors. This webinar will be led by notable trainer and meeting facilitator Lenny Borer, who specializes in classes on communication and problem solving skills, meeting facilitation, instructor training and… Read More
The Employer Assistance and Resource Network on Disability Inclusion (EARN) will host a webinar on “Celebrating ADA30: A Discussion on Youth Employment from the ADA Generation” on July 24 from 1 – 2 p.m. Eastern Time. During this webinar, young people with disabilities who grew up after the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), known as the “ADA Generation,” will discuss their experiences in the workplace and offer ideas to help employers attract young people with disabilities. They will address policies and programs of particular interest to younger workers with… Read More
Crossposted from GIS & You The King County Information Technology GIS For Equity & Social Justice Team received Esri’s Special Achievement in GIS (SAG) Award on July 13, 2020, at the annual Esri User Conference. Selected from over 300,000 eligible candidates, King County Information Technology received the award for its innovative application of mapping and analytics technology, as well as thought leadership in the field of GIS for Equity and Social Justice. King County’s GIS for Equity and Social Justice program was developed to create methodologies, training and ultimately solutions that leverage or innovate GIS technology to Advance Equity… Read More
King County provides mental health programs to help employees and their family cope with the personal outcomes of tragedies, stress, change, or trauma. The Making Life Easier Program (MLE) is one free resource that is available for employees to use when experiencing difficult situations. MLE offers support with various services, such as free mental health counseling to address any issue, financial advising, credit and legal consultation, support for alcohol and drug dependency, and childcare and elderly services. Interactions are confidential and the program’s flexibility lets you request a counselor by race, ethnicity,… Read More
Hi! My name is Rocko and I am available for adoption. My personality color is GREEN. I am an adaptable dog who loves to go with the flow! I am outgoing and carefree, and I just can’t wait to find my forever home! I’m just a sweet old man looking to live the rest of my days with someone who will spoil me! I lovvveee doggie treats! Please read the shelter process to find out how to meet Rocko. Read more and view all available pets at www.kingcounty.gov/adoptapet. Have you or someone you know adopted a pet from RASKC? Let us… Read More