As we continue our efforts to slow the spread of novel coronavirus (COVID-19) in King County, we have put together several resources for King County employees during this outbreak. Our new one-stop webpage, www.kingcounty.gov/employees-coronavirus has health information, telecommuting resources, benefits updates, frequently asked questions, and more. This webpage can help to answer questions for King County employees about how their work is impacted by the coronavirus. 

To help support employees during this time and provide regular needed updates, the employee newsletter schedule will change. The newsletter will now be sent twice a week, instead of its originally scheduled once a week, Wednesday publication.   This temporary change will allow for important notices and announcements to be sent out at one time, building on the recognition of the employee newsletter, and not overwhelming employees with additional emailed announcements. One-off announcements will be used as necessary.  Please continue to review the employee newsletter for necessary information, and visit the employee news site, www.kcemployees.com, to see all… Read More

King County is sending a mailing to all employees’ homes this week that highlights some of the benefits available to employees and families during this COVID-19 outbreak.   Highlighted services include what to do if you are feeling sick, how to access care in-person and remotely, and how to get support and counselling services through the Employee Assistance Program and Making Life Easier.  Please look for the mailer at home this week, and remember you can always get benefits information online at www.kingcounty.gov/benefits, and all COVID-19 employee-related information at www.kingcounty.gov/employees-coronavirus. 

King County is working to protect the health and safety of its employees and the general public by following the guidance of Public Health – Seattle & King County (PHSKC), the Washington State Department of Health (DOH), and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in response to the COVID-19 virus. As part of this effort, the County has developed protocols for employees and managers for the following situations: An employee has been in close contact with someone who was exposed to COVID-19, but neither individual is showing symptoms. An employee… Read More

Crossposted from Cultivating Connections  In a continuing effort to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus in the community and to preserve critical hospital beds for those with the most acute healthcare needs, King County has joined with Harborview Medical Center to plan for opening an isolation and recovery center in the county’s Harborview Hall building, located at 326 Ninth Avenue.  Harborview Hall, which is across the street from Harborview Medical Center, will be repurposed to serve as a recovery site primarily for people who do not have a home to rest… Read More

As employees continue to telecommute during the COVID-19 outbreak, KCIT wants to ensure County staff leverage DocuSign for eSignature needs. DocuSign is King County’s enterprise eSignature solution. It allows employees and third parties to digitally sign agreements/approvals quickly, securely, and at no additional cost. Agency leaders should work with their KCIT customer success manager to set up DocuSign accounts for their staff. New users can access training through DocuSign University. For a general overview, please see DocuSign Features and Benefits on its website. 

It is a challenging time for employees, families, and our community as we continue our efforts to stop the spread of COVID-19, and it is normal to have feelings of uncertainty and anxiety. While many things are beyond our control with this outbreak, there are many things that we can control. When we are anxious and fearful, establishing some control in our lives can be empowering and comforting.  Balanced You is here to support you as you establish new practices of self-care to support your immune system and overall physical and mental… Read More

On Monday, March 23, Governor Inslee announced a “Stay Home, Stay Healthy” order, and included a lengthy list of essential services and workforce that can and should continue operating. Governor Inslee’s order listed a number of workers who his office deemed to be essential.  The Governor’s list also included “Critical government workers, including the Governor’s Office, as defined by the employer and consistent with Continuity of Operations Plans and Continuity of Government plans.” Last fall, all King County departments updated their Continuity of Operations Plans (COOP) and designated employees as First Responders,… Read More

Crossposted from Public Health Insider  A new public campaign launched, called “Stand Together, Stay Apart.” Public Health—Seattle & King County launched a new data dashboard to update daily case counts and deaths. Public Health announced 82 new cases of COVID-19 today, bringing the official case count in King County to 1359. In addition, six new deaths are reported, bringing the total of deaths in King County to 100.  Story: Stand Together, Stay Apart  Public Health—Seattle & King County has launched a new public information campaign called, Stand Together, Stay Apart in response to the… Read More

Crossposted from Public Health Insider  The risk for COVID-19 rises with age. Adults age 60 years and over are at highest risk for severe illness with COVID-19 illness, and the older you are, the more you are at risk. While much attention has focused on those living in nursing homes, many older adults live independently and face challenges of their own. Older adults often live alone and may need help with basic needs in order to stay home as much as possible and avoid close contacts at gatherings, stores and other public… Read More

To lessen the risk of exposure to COVID-19 and to help health care providers prioritize care for those who need it most, use your phone, smartphone, or computer to access health care whenever possible. Most King County employee medical plans have free options for telehealth or virtual visits. If you need to go in-person, call your doctor first. If it’s an emergency, call 911. Check the information below to learn how to access care through your health plan. SmartCare (Kaiser Permanente) Customer Service: 888-901-4636 Hours: 8 a.m. – 8 p.m., 7 days… Read More