Crossposted from For the Defense People with criminal convictions who are eligible to have those convictions vacated will get additional legal assistance to do so, thanks to a new post-conviction relief unit at the King County Department of Public Defense. The department started its new unit this month, a pilot project funded by King County’s recently passed 2019-2020 operating budget. One paralegal and the equivalent of one full-time attorney will provide the legal help eligible clients need to get convictions vacated. The pilot project also provides funding to the King County Prosecuting… Read More

There is less than three days to join the more than 7,500 employees who have had their say in the 2019 Employee Engagement Survey and help make King County work better for you. We’re also approaching the finish line for this year’s Speak Up! participation contest. Here are the current leaders as of Wednesday, March 27: For this contest, all divisions are placed in contest classes with their peers by employee headcount; those with the highest participation or are the first in their bracket to achieve 100% will be awarded prizes. Click here for the breakdown… Read More

The following kudos was received in praise of Kristy Hampton, Senior Human Resource Analyst with the Department of Human Resources (DHR). “I’m writing to let you know how much I greatly enjoy working with Kristy Hampton!  She is a stellar analyst; she makes the process comfortable for the employee, actively listens, asks thoughtful questions, etc.  She has a very approachable style and is very pleasant.    I’ve had the pleasure of meeting with Kristy on at least five+ occasions in the last several weeks.   She consistently provides top notch service. You’ve  got yourself… Read More

Support your community and your commitment to public service in a visible and impactful way by volunteering as a drop box closer. Drop box closers are the friendly face the public sees on Election Day and allow voters to experience the excitement and camaraderie of the voting process.  State law requires that ballot drop boxes close at 8 p.m. Election Day. Drop box closers provide customer service and assistance to voters returning their ballots to a drop box on Election night.  King County Elections has rapidly expanded our ballot drop boxes from… Read More

KCIT has removed the ability for anyone to create anonymous links within King County OneDrive sites, document folders and documents. This change aligns with Microsoft’s security enhancements for OneDrive and helps ensure our external customers authenticate when accessing information shared with them from OneDrive.    From now on, external customers who have had data shared with them from OneDrive will need to have a Microsoft Live account or an Office 365 account from their company to connect to any OneDrive data shared with them.     Existing, anonymous links shared earlier will no longer work.    Please contact… Read More

Conflict Awareness in the Workplace, April 18: We all encounter difficult people. Whether you are a supervisor, a customer service professional, or have a challenging co-worker, it’s important to know how to rise above your initial emotional reaction and turn negative situations into positive outcomes. Topics include understanding why we label people as difficult, types of difficult people, tools and techniques for resolving issues, coping strategies for dealing with the effects of difficult people, and conflict management strategies. Register and learn more.  Introduction to Organizational Performance Measurement, May 8: Have you ever struggled to create… Read More

As a part of the Master Labor Agreement and Investing in YOU, applications are now being accepted for Professional Development Scholarship Awards for training that occurs anytime between May 17, 2019 and December 31, 2019. This is the third of four application periods this year. The final application period will open on July 8, 2019. Scholarship awards are only available to King County employees who are represented by a union in the Coalition of Unions and who meet additional eligibility requirements. Scholarships are intended to support employees in growing their careers at… Read More

When Stef Frenzi, an educator consultant with the Department of Human Resources, saw an opportunity to strengthen team unity, improve employee engagement, and have fun at his last county role, he took it. “The thing that’s cool about a ukulele is that you can’t help but smile when you play it, because it’s a silly little instrument – you can’t take it too seriously,” said Stef. What started as a light-hearted conversation soon became a small group of people playing ukuleles together before blossoming into a movement within the workplace to bring… Read More

The King County Mentorship Program provides opportunities for growth, development and support, and also helps employees achieve their career goals. The program supports mentors by providing opportunities to deepen their knowledge on a specific topic (to teach is to know), increase their reputation and influence, and the satisfaction of passing on critical knowledge important to the continued success of the county. The program supports mentees by providing a trusted advisor to urge each person to learn new things about his or herself, help make more of personal strengths and develop hidden talents. To learn… Read More

King County employee Chris Franco, a Procure and Pay Functional Lead in the Business Resource Center, was selected to attend Harvard Business School’s (HBS) Young American Leaders Program (YALP) this June, as a representative of the Seattle region.  Only 10 members are chosen each year to participate in the program from select cities across the country including: Birmingham, Boston, Chattanooga, Columbus, Detroit, Miami, Milwaukee, Minneapolis-Saint Paul, Nashville, Pittsburgh, Salt Lake City, and Seattle.  “Being selected to represent the Seattle Region is a deeply humbling honor, and means the world to me,” said Chris. “We’re… Read More

As Mary scrolled through the database of potential mentors a quote caught her attention: “I believe in having a ‘growth mindset.’ I think our potential exceeds our awareness, and the benefits of having someone guide your thinking in that direction can be incredibly helpful. Seeing someone make intentional choices about their next step in their careers will be very gratifying.” “I recognized the support I needed when I read this approach to mentoring before we were matched, said Mary Lear, Capital Project Manager, Department of Natural Resources and Parks. “Getting to meet Chris and talk to her has helped me learn more… Read More

Elizabeth Inglese, a Visual Designer with King County Information Technology, was recently featured in a New York Times article highlighting women’s achievements in the military as part of International Women’s Day. As a Gunnery Sergeant in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Elizabeth served as the Chief Designer for the Reserve’s Centennial Commemoration Campaign, (2015-2016). Her design work appeared across America, including such locations as the National World War II Museum in New Orleans, La., the Navy Memorial Museum in Washington DC, and even Times Square in New York. “It was an honor to be selected for the job of designer… Read More

Employees are welcome to join the 4th annual panel discussion in recognition of March as Womxn’s History Month at King County. This year’s theme is, “Womxn Who Lead: Stories from the Past and How They Influence the Future.”   Monday, March 25, from 11:45 a.m. – 1:15 p.m. Doors open at 11:30 a.m. King County Courthouse room E-942. The King County Courthouse is located at 516 Third Avenue, Seattle, WA 98104.  This event is free and open to the public. No RSVP is needed. Lunch is not provided, but there will be light refreshments. Employees are welcome to bring their own lunch to eat during… Read More

Emotional Intelligence for Leaders and Emerging Leaders series, April 27-May 11: Emotional intelligence describes the ability to understand one’s own feelings, and that of groups, and how these emotions can influence motivation and behavior. Leaders who are emotionally intelligent foster safe environments, where employees feel comfortable to take calculated risks and to voice their opinions. Engage in interactive, hands-on self-evaluation and exercise to develop your emotional intelligence and become a respected and inspiring leader. Register and learn more. Communication and Problem-Solving Skills, June 19: This one day training will address communication and… Read More

Salary: $20.67 Hourly Location: Washington, WA Job Type: Career Service, Full Time, 40 hrs/week Department: DPH – Public Health Job Number: 2019NH09421 Closing: 3/31/2019 11:59 PM Pacific King County Emergency Medical Services / Medic One are seeking applicants to enter a 10 to 12 month training program to become certified as King County Paramedics. Paramedic certification is granted upon the successful completion of the University of Washington / Harborview Medical Center / Seattle Fire Department Paramedic Training Program. Paramedic training includes: lectures, medical labs, medical/surgical rounds, emergency room and ICU/CCU experience, and riding… Read More

Play the ukulele? Come join other King County enthusiasts every Monday at noon for a lunchtime strumming session! We meet in the Administration Building in Project Space Conference Room 335. Everyone is welcome, even folks with minimal experience. So bring your uke (and a portable music stand, if you have one) and come jam! If you have questions contact organizer Stef Frenzl.  Please ensure you are on your lunch break or not working at this time. 

Launched in 2017, the Trailhead Direct program was recently highlighted on the REI store blog, with one writer sharing how the program encourages residents to both drive less and explore the natural beauty of the Pacific Northwest. Reliant on the weather, the program will star back up later this year. Read the full article here.  Kudos to our innovative programs, like Trailhead Director, for helping residents to better access the outdoors and for minimizing traffic! 

The Center for Accountability and Performance, affiliated with the American Society for Public Administration, awarded King County the CAP Organizational Leadership Award for 2019.  The annual CAP Organizational Leadership Award recognizes outstanding management strategies that result in a culture change, sustained improvements, and demonstrated positive effects on government performance and accountability.  “This award is a tribute to the thousands of King County employees who embrace continuous improvement every day,” said Executive Constantine. “We are creating a culture of excellence and innovation that will endure and enable us to tackle the most pressing… Read More

Crossposted from Tails from RASKC  Mer has so much love to give, he just can’t wait to find his forever home!  Could it be with you?  Mer is a 3yr old male cat, Brown Tabby, domestic short hair (ID #A579532).  This handsome boy is an affectionate lovebug who would be thrilled to cuddle up with you at home.  He enjoys having his head scratched, as well as under his chin and behind his ears.  He thinks it’s simply divine, and may even lean into the pets and stretch his neck out when you… Read More

The 2019 King County Employee Survey is now underway, and we’ve asked some County leaders why the survey is important to them and their employees, and how they will act on the results. In this video, we talk to King County Executive Dow Constantine, Chief People Officer Whitney Abrams, Chief Operating Officer Casey Sixkiller, Chief Information Officer Tanya Hannah, Director of the Department of Executive Services Caroline Whalen, King County Elections Director Julie Wise, and King County Assessor John Wilson. The survey runs through Friday, March 29 (March 22 for Metro paper… Read More

“When you ask most people what they want to do when they retire, they will often say two things – travel and volunteer more,” said Junelle Kroontje, King County Employee Giving Program Manager (KCEGP). “During an employee’s work life, making time for volunteering can be difficult. By allowing our employees to use up to three days of sick leave to volunteer at a King County Employee Giving Program nonprofit or at a local school, it frees them up to do it today – instead of waiting for retirement.“ The volunteer program allows… Read More

By Leslie Brown, Department of Public Defense Remember story problems from high school math — those vexing questions about the arrival times of trains or the number of apples a shopkeeper has to sell to break even? Some of us hated them. Stev Weidlich loved them. And today, he’s putting that puzzle-solving mind of his to good use. Stev is the research and data analyst at the King County Department of Public Defense (DPD), where he ferrets out the answers to tricky questions every day. How many DUIs did one of the divisions handle at the Maleng Regional Justice… Read More

By Leslie Brown, Department of Public Defense Laura van Dernoot Lipsky, a pioneer in the field of trauma exposure, visited the King County Department of Public Defense (DPD) last month, where she led a spirited, provocative, and often humorous exploration into the impact of secondary trauma on one’s life. The genesis for the training came out of the Secondary Trauma Care Work Group, recently organized by SEIU Local 925, Teamsters Local 117, and DPD. Laura discussed common responses to trauma, from guilt and hopelessness, to chronic exhaustion, to feelings of depression. When trauma is… Read More

The 2019 Employee Survey is now underway and you should receive your unique link from kcemployeesurvey@us.confirmit.com by the end of today. Why take the survey? How will your responses be used? Watch the short video below to find out. The survey runs through Friday, March 29 (March 22 for Metro paper surveys), so please take 15 minutes to have your say and make a difference in your workplace.