Open Enrollment for 2022 benefits continues until Friday, Nov. 15. Get the most out of your robust King County employee benefits package by finding out what’s offered in 2022 and by participating in Open Enrollment. Attend a virtual information session: Learn about the 2022 benefit changes and get your questions answered at live information sessions hosted by the Benefits Team. This event is offered on a variety of days and times to accommodate your schedules. Register here: Open Enrollment Education Session or here: Transit Open Enrollment Education session Watch an Open Enrollment… Read More

Make the most of your robust King County employee benefits package by making informed decisions for next year during Open Enrollment, Nov. 1 – 15. Here’s how you can learn more: See what’s changing next year. Register for an Open Enrollment information session. Watch the Open Enrollment Overview. Review how to use the PeopleSoft Open Enrollment tool by watching the Completing Open Enrollment with PeopleSoft video or reading the Open Enrollment PeopleSoft Guide. Go to the Open Enrollment page. When you are ready, Go to Open Enrollment  to log in from Nov. 1… Read More

As part of the 2021 Annual Giving Drive, we are highlighting nonprofits whose work supports organizations commited to disaster relief. These and hundreds of nonprofits are participating in this year’s Annual Giving Drive. International Relief Teams (3575) – Alleviates human suffering by providing health services and other assistance to victims of disaster, poverty and neglect. Soup Ladies (9583) – Their mission is to deliver fresh, homestyle meals at no cost to First Responders called out to natural disasters, crime scenes, fires and critical incidents. Safety & energy are #1. UNICEF USA (3553) – Immediately… Read More

Check your home mailbox for important benefits and Open Enrollment information mailed recently to the address you have listed in PeopleSoft. Open Enrollment takes place Nov. 1 – 15 and is your opportunity to: Change medical plans—Check plan quality and performance scores and use the Plan Comparison Charts and other resources on the Medical plans page to evaluate your options. Consider whether Kaiser SmartCare or KingCare Select (Regence) makes sense for your family. These plans will likely save you money, with lower deductibles, copays, and Benefit Access Fees. The Washington Health Alliance’s… Read More

As part of our ongoing effort to build a safe, welcoming, and supportive workplace for every King County employee, this fall we are offering training for all King County employees, which includes a short video and an online course, on reporting processes, roles, and responsibilities under the County’s Nondiscrimination, Anti-Harassment & Inappropriate Conduct Policy, Procedures and Responsibilities. As a member of our organization, you have a defined role in the Nondiscrimination, Anti-Harassment & Inappropriate Conduct Policy to prevent, report, and act on behavior that is not in line with our expectations of employees…. Read More

For Corrections Officer Edward Duenas, this career fair was on familiar ground. Duenas retired from an Army career out of Joint Base Lewis-McChord (JBLM). Since then, he’s worked eight-plus years as a King County corrections officer. So the recent event at JBLM’s American Lake Conference Center came naturally. “I know the lingo,” Duenas said, as he prepared to field questions from the soldiers and Air Force personnel milling about the room. “To me it’s a little easier.” King County’s Department of Adult & Juvenile Detention (DAJD), like other corrections agencies near and… Read More

The state of Washington has opened their online opt-out procedure for those who want to apply for an exemption to the new state-mandated long-term care program, called the WA Cares Fund, and associated payroll deduction that begins in January 2022. If you have private long-term care insurance in place by Nov. 1, 2021, and you wish to opt out of the state program, you can apply to the Employment Security Department (ESD) for a permanent exemption from the program. Those applications became available Oct. 1 and will be accepted through Dec. 31,… Read More

As part of the 2021 Annual Giving Drive, we are highlighting nonprofits whose work supports people with disabilities. These and hundreds of nonprofits are participating in this year’s Annual Giving Drive. The ARC of King County (9233) – Serving individuals and families with intellectual and develpmental disabilities through case management, peer support, leadership training, and advocacy. Hearing, Speech & Deaf Center (9267) – Empowers people who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have speech differences through advocacy, early education, audiology, speech therapy, and American Sign Language (ASL) interpreting. SKCAC Industries & Employement Services (9758)… Read More

On Feb. 26, 2018, the Metropolitan King County Council adopted ground-breaking immigration legislation designed to protect everyone’s safety and civil rights. While still adhering to federal law, King County Code 2.15 Immigrant, Refugees and Language Access Ordinance (KCC 2.15) prevents the use of County funds and resources on federal immigration enforcement and outlines the steps the County uses to protect immigrants and refugees seeking services from the County, or who are victims or witnesses of crime. “This legislation was developed with consultation from community organizations and leaders that advocate for equitable public… Read More

Creating strong passwords should be the number one priority in keeping your online world safe. Having weak passwords could result in stolen identities, loss of data or money, and even the loss of a job and/or reputation. You’ve likely heard recommendations for creating secure passwords before. Experts suggest using long, complex, and random combinations of words, letters, numbers and special characters. Follow the tips below to improve your password safety practices: Improve the strength of your passwords. Strong passwords are usually made up of at least eight characters. They should contain numbers,… Read More

It began with a 2019 court case. A blind juror was selected with a commitment from both sides that their witnesses would be descriptive enough to work with the juror. In this case, the lawyers were enthusiastic to make it work. And according to King County Superior Court Judge David Keenan, a judge has a duty to “figure out a way to make it work.”  But the juror’s ability to hear descriptive evidence wasn’t the only issue. Jurors are required to take notes on a court-issued notepad and they’re not allowed to… Read More