Featured Headlines
VIDEO: Interim DNRP Director Mo McBroom shares her path to public service
KCSO in the spotlight: Air support
Welcoming new neighbors: King County invests in vital support for immigrant and refugee communities
King County, Plymouth Housing, and City of Kirkland celebrate opening of new permanent supportive housing community, Sheila Stanton Place
News
Interactive webinar series for managers and supervisors kicks off May 26
The Learning and Development Team within the Department of Human Resources is offering a live, interactive webinar series for managers and supervisors entitled Leading the Way. The first webinar in this series, Staying Steady for Yourself and Your Team, will be held Tuesday, May 26. This first webinar will focus on how being a leader is a tough job during the best of times. In order to effectively lead a team, it is helpful to use self-care skills that can enable leaders to stay steady during the COVID-19 response- and beyond. By the end of this session, participants will be able to describe the importance of self-care as… Read More
Making meaning of the COVID-19 race and ethnicity data: A conversation with our health officer and our equity officer
Crossposted from Public Health Insider A recent analysis of updated data by Public Health shows that in King County, COVID-19 is disproportionally impacting communities of color. Our recent blog post dives into the data. We found rates of COVID-19 hospitalizations and cases that are significantly higher for Hispanic/Latinx, Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islanders and Blacks and higher for American Indian/Alaskan Natives (though not statistically significant due to the low population numbers) as compared to Whites. To gain a better understanding of disproportionate impacts of COVID-19 by race, we sat down with Matías Valenzuela, Equity Director for Public – Seattle… Read More
Keeping you updated on COVID-19 personnel guidance
Last week, King County extended its mandatory telecommuting for Executive Branch employees who have been telecommuting through Sunday, May 31, 2020. Gov. Jay Inslee has also extended Washington’s stay-at-home order through May 31 and released plan for a phased approach for re-opening the state’s economy. Here is a reminder of our key guidance for County employees. This guidance is subject to change and will be reissued if conditions warrant, and we will update you of any changes: Telecommuting through May 31: King County has extended mandatory telecommuting for Executive Branch employees who have been telecommuting through Sunday, May… Read More
OESJ is confronting hate and bias by strengthening communities
In response to community concerns over the rise in hate and bias incidents in our region, the Civil Rights Program at the Office of Equity and Social Justice (OESJ) recently launched a new community-based reporting system for communities experiencing acts of hate and bias. This system is unique to the region and focuses upstream on empowering communities, rather than heightening enforcement through the criminal justice system. Currently, data collected by law enforcement agencies does not accurately portray the realities of hate, bias, and discrimination that many communities face. Underreporting due to tenuous community-law enforcement relationships, lack of… Read More
Emergency Deployment Program helps to facilitate donations and address community needs
The Emergency Deployment Program has seen many employees step forward to join efforts to combat the coronavirus (COVID-19), including the deployment of employees to support the King County Emergency Operations Center (EOC). In its response to the virus, the EOC has developed a Donations Management Team to facilitate the donation of hundreds of thousands of masks, gloves, and hand sanitizer, as well as meals and other donations to first responders. The team is also responsible for connecting donation resources with community needs, and has set up the King County Regional Donations Connector… Read More
Celebrating your service during Public Service Recognition Week
Dear fellow King County employee, Here at King County and around the world, the work of public servants has never been more important or more valued than right now during the global COVID-19 response, so it is fitting that this week is Public Service Recognition Week. You may be on the front lines, making sure that our community continues to receive the vital in-person services it counts on; or perhaps you have temporarily changed the way you deliver services so people can continue to get what they need without having to leave… Read More
New Equity Tool brings community considerations to decision making
King County’s Office of Equity and Social Justice has created a new Equity Impact Awareness Tool in partnership with Headwater People to ensure that impacts on low income communities of color are fully considered by the County in its COVID-19 mitigation strategies and decision making. The tool was initially created to address the concerns of community members who were worried that the County would make decisions about quarantine and isolation facilities without considering the burden that will fall on communities who are vulnerable to the health and economic crisis. Janine Anzalota, Equity and Civil Rights Manager for… Read More
My Secure Advantage: New May webinars and COVID-19 financial resources
As the number of businesses affected by the coronavirus continues to rise, so do the financial impacts on countless employees. My Secure Advantage (MSA) remains steadfast in its commitment to provide responsive, relevant personal financial guidance to employees and their families throughout this crisis and the better days to come. Register now for new May webinars Navigating your Finances in Unpredictable Times: May 1, 2020, 9 a.m. Register here. Investor Education: Managing your Money in Volatile Markets: May 1, 2020, noon. Register here. Tips for Major Purchases: May 12, 2020, 9 a.m. and noon. Register here. I Want… Read More
Black/African Affinity Group finds strength
At King County, having a community to connect with is crucial, even more so in dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic, and the County’s Employee Resource Groups, or Affinity Groups, are helping employees support one another. The Black/African Affinity Group centers on providing employees with a community platform. Historically, the focal point of African American life has centered around community such as family, churches, neighborhoods, and organizations, providing a way to connect, share resources, and share knowledge. “Our goal in our Black/African Affinity Group is to bring collective souls together for one purpose…… Read More
Learning about your benefits: Life and disability insurance
In this short video, learn about the life and disability insurance options available to you as a new employee, during qualifying life events, and during Open Enrollment. This video is part of a short created to help employees make informed choices about their options, and better understand their employee benefits package. View all the videos here, and get more information and resources on the Benefits, Payroll and Retirement website.
Featured job: Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner – Covid-19 Response Recovery Centers
Salary: $42.69 – $60.09 Hourly Location: Multiple locations in King County, WA Job Type: Short Term Temporary, Part Time, Std Wkly Hrs Vary Department: DPH – Public Health Job Number: 2020NH11611 Division: Community Health Services Closing: Continuous Learn more about this position or view all available positions.
Vanpools for just 2+ riders available for essential workers
Crossposted from Metro Matters To support COVID-19 response and recovery efforts, King County Metro is offering essential workers the opportunity to form temporary vanpools with as few as two riders. Metro Vanpool is a commuter service using Metro vans for small groups of people – normally five or more coworkers, friends, or neighbors – with a similar origin or destination. Read more from Metro Matters
Not seeing friends and family is hard, but it’s worth it
Crossposted from Public Health Insider Grandparents miss cuddling their grandbabies. Teens miss hangouts and deep talks with their closest friends. We miss seeing our siblings and cousins, best friends, barbers, co-workers, teachers, and gym buddies. Everyone is feeling the strain from the lack of in-person interaction that makes life rich and full. COVID-19 is taking a toll, and we all want life to get back to normal and to spend time together face-to-face. As much as we yearn to see our loved ones, there’s a lot at stake if we let go of… Read More
Public records during COVID-19
COVID-19 has changed so much about the way we work, but one thing that hasn’t changed is that we are stewards of the public’s records. As such, we must maintain both good records management practices and provide timely responses to requests for public records, whether those come from the public directly, or through a public records officer (PRO) or coordinator. King County’s Executive Branch has received over 100 public records requests specific to COVID-19. The PROs coordinating these requests are working to collect responsive records as efficiently as possible while trying to minimize disruptions to the… Read More
Third payday of the month, April 30
Almost all King County employees get paid on a biweekly basis, every-other-Thursday, resulting in 26 pay periods per year. You usually receive two paychecks per month, but April 30 will be your third payday of the month. The net dollar amount of these “third” paychecks may be larger because not all deductions are taken out. For example, Deferred Compensation, supplemental insurance premiums, Benefit Access Fees, and Employee Giving donations are not deducted from these checks. For more information about your paycheck, go to Payroll or speak with your department Payroll representative or timekeeper.
Showing up for community in a time of confusion and need
King County employees are finding new ways to serve their community during the COVID-19 outbreak by applying for temporary assignments through the Emergency Deployment Program. Josephine Wong, whose regular job is as the Deputy Director of the Department of Community and Human Services (DCHS),is temporarily overseeing one of the County’s isolation and quarantine locations for individuals who cannot safely self-quarantine or isolate in their own home, or do not have a home. Her position oversees employees who have deployed through the program as an Emergency Site Worker IV. “This program is saving… Read More
County VPN is experiencing problems
King County is currently experiencing VPN problems, which are impacting all County employees. The appropriate KCIT teams are working on the issue. Email, phone service, and access to SharePoint OneDrive and Skype remain unaffected. We will update you when the problems are fixed. Thank you for your patience.
Mourning together, virtually: How our Muslim community adapted using technology
Crossposted from Public Health Insider Authors: Mohamed Ali, Ayan Abshir and Equity Response Team Death is a universal experience, no matter what race or religion one identifies with. In Islam, Muslims are taught to overcome tragic circumstances with containment (Rida), gratitude (Hamd), patience (Sabr), and firm belief in destiny (Qadr). Although, death is a fact of life, it is never easy to lay a loved one to rest. The local Somali community in Seattle was recently devastated by the first COVID-19 death. This death has brought to the surface the stress our community already deals… Read More
Metro creates passenger limits to support social distancing
Crossposted from Metro Matters To support the health of passengers, drivers, and community members, King County Metro has instituted new passenger limits to promote social distancing. Metro is also developing additional mobility options for customers taking essential trips. To better help each person maintain six feet of separation from others as guided by Public Health – Seattle & King County, the optimal number of passengers is 12 on a 40-foot bus and 18 on a 60-foot bus. Read more from Metro Matters
Learning about your benefits: Dependents
Our third video in this short series of benefits videos focuses on dependents. It helps employees learn which of your family members are benefits-eligible, and when you can add them to your health plans. These videos have been created to help employees make informed choices about their options, and better understand their employee benefits package. View all the videos here, and get more information and resources on the Benefits, Payroll and Retirement website.
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