Another winter storm is heading our way tomorrow, and will likely bring more snow and ice to the region, particularly Friday afternoon and evening. If the roads are snowy and icy, expect delays to your commute and be prepared for very cold weather. Please have a commute plan with several fall back options, dress warmly, and as always, let safety guide your commute decisions. If you haven’t already, talk to your supervisor about your role in an emergency, and know how to contact them. Metro buses may have to move to snow… Read More

Dear fellow King County employee, As our region continues to dig out of this week’s snow storm, I want to recognize and thank our employees for reporting to work in snowy, icy, and very cold conditions Sunday night, Monday, and Tuesday morning. When our customers needed us, to get them home or to work, to clear a path for them on the roads, to provide the services and care they count on, these employees went above and beyond to deliver great service. Difficult times and trying conditions often bring out the best… Read More

Thank you to King County Metro and King County Roads employees for working hard to keep employees, residents and our community safely moving throughout the snow and ice. We are grateful to Metro employees for getting us all safely to and from our destinations, and to Road Services for maintaining our roadways throughout the county to keep traffic moving carefully and free from harm. Kudos to you for your commitment and dedication!

Crossposted from Employee Giving Program  As our 30th anniversary season comes to a close, we’re celebrating you — the people who went above and beyond to make the Annual Giving Drive a success.  You’re invited to our Annual Celebration and Star Awards!  Tuesday, Feb. 12 from 8:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. in Chinook Rooms 121/123  Read more from Employee Giving Program

The snowy weather is a perfect reminder for employees to sign up for KCInform, the King County employee emergency alert system. This system, powered by CodeRED, allows us to reach you by phone, text, and email with timely information in an emergency or natural disaster. Your safety is our priority, whether you are at work or home, so having updated personal contact information (work cell phone and home phone, email, and/or cell phone) is critical for reaching you wherever you are. Many employees previously registered to receive alerts through this system, but if… Read More

On Friday, January 25, Governor Inslee declared a State of Emergency to bolster the State’s response to a large measles outbreak in Clark County, Washington, that could spread widely. In King County we have had one reported case of measles as of January 31, 2019 and we remain very concerned about the potential for additional cases here. Measles spreads effectively among unvaccinated people, including in schools, households, places of employment, social settings, public spaces, healthcare facilities, and any place where people gather.   Measles is very contagious and can cause serious illness, especially in young children, pregnant women,… Read More

King County operations will return to normal hours Wednesday, Feb. 6. If you are scheduled to work Wednesday, please plan to report to work at your normal start time or discuss any changes beforehand with your supervisor. Be prepared for cold weather: Please be prepared for very cold weather on your morning commute. As always, have a plan for your commute, dress warmly, and let safety be your guide when making commute decisions. Metro buses: You can sign up for Metro Transit Alerts (text, email, tweets via @kcmetrobus, see RSS feed via desktop or mobile RSS… Read More

Due to icy road conditions, King County operations will open at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 5. (District Court staff are expected to report to work by 10 a.m.; Superior Court will have a two hour delayed opening). First responders and other mission critical staff are expected to report to their work location at their usual time. This includes, but is not limited to, corrections officers, 9-1-1 call center operators, emergency personnel, security staff, and certain senior managers. Employees who are unsure of their designation should contact their supervisor. Employees who are not… Read More

Crossposted from Tails from RASKC  Fall in love with Bryce, our Pet of the Week!  This seven-year-old boy quickly became a favorite among staff and volunteers at the Pet Adoption Center. He is curious, affectionate, and active. He also loves to meow, so if you like a “talker,” Bryce might just be the cat for you! He cannot hear though, so he is looking for a special home with a family who will take the time to get to know his communication style. Because Bryce is deaf, he should be an indoor-only… Read More

Introduction to Mindfulness, Feb. 14: In this workshop we will review the various aspects of mindfulness practice, the ways mindfulness can help reduce stress, reactivity and burnout, and the science that supports the practices. The workshop includes hands-on learning of several simple but effective mindfulness practices that participants can put to use in their lives right away. Register and learn more. You’re the Boss: Now What? Feb. 28 and March 7: Has your job position changed and now you are in charge? Are you adapting to a new supervisory role? In the two-class workshop gain… Read More

Due to updated weather forecasting and safety concerns resulting from today’s winter storm, King County operations will not be open today Monday, February 4, 2019 except for essential and mission-critical functions. First responders and other mission critical staff are expected to report to their work location at the usual time. This includes, but is not limited to, corrections officers, 9-1-1 call center operators, emergency personnel, security staff, and certain senior managers. If you are not sure of your designation, please contact your supervisor. Priority and mission-critical services will continue to be provided… Read More

You could qualify for significant savings and special services! Learn about the newly updated homeownership and banking benefits program offered to King County employees by HomeStreet Bank. Home loan and finance experts will be on-site to talk to you about programs to help you with home buying, selling, and remodeling and answer questions you have about your financial goals.   Thursday, Feb. 7, Noon – 1 p.m., Chinook Building, Room 118  Thursday, Feb. 14, Noon – 1 p.m., King Street Center, Cloaca Maxima  Don’t miss the overview of this important King County employee benefit! Snacks… Read More

How can we make King County work better for you? We use the annual Employee Engagement Survey to hear from you about changes you want to see here at King County.  Employees who participated in the survey over the last three years have helped us make King County a better place to work, and a more effective service provider for our residents.  This year we’re making some enhancements to make the survey work better for everyone:  The survey is shorter.   Analysis will be done in house.  There will be more ways to take… Read More

King County employees enrolled in the Kasier Permanente health plan have access to a new wellness tool. Omada® is a program to support you and eligible covered family members in achieving your goals toward healthy weight and reducing your risk of certain chronic diseases. Omada is available at no cost to you, if you’re eligible. This is another way that King County is Investing in YOU. Learn more.

Debra Baker, Acting Employee Development and Training Manager with the Department of Human Resources (DHR), has been selected by Training magazine as one of the winners of its Emerging Training Leaders of 2018.   In selecting this year’s winners the magazine said it was “recognizing 25 training professionals who inspired and engaged their organizations with exceptional leadership skills, business acumen, and innovation.”  As one of the winners, Debra will be profiled in the January/February 2019 issue of Training magazine and online at www.trainingmag.com, and will be honored at an awards ceremony next month at Disney World’s Coronado Springs… Read More

The International Association of Assessing Officers, (IAAO) the leading professional trade association offering education, technical standards, and consulting services to property appraisers, has conferred the professional appraisal designation of Residential Evaluation Specialist upon Mike Mills, residential appraiser within the King County Department of Assessments.    The designation recognizes attainment of the highest level of experience, competency, and professionalism in the appraisal professional, and is awarded after a rigorous application process.  Very few appraisers pursue or achieve this designation.  Mike is a 5 year member of the King County Department of Assessment and is assigned to… Read More

Lori Bridgewater, a paralegal in the Homicide and Violent Crimes unit within the Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, was recently highlighted by KIRO 7 News. A long-time employee, Lori recently suffered a stroke and now uses a wheelchair. Lori has received services from King County Disability Services, and has been supported through the accommodation and return to work process. She has used this experience to raise awareness about accessibility issues for people and how buildings and locations can work to become more ADA compliant.  To view the full story, read more here. You can make an… Read More

Cold, wintry weather is forecast for this weekend, with the potential for snow Sunday night into Monday, so please be prepared for possible delays to your Monday morning commute and potential impacts to business operations. Make sure you’re getting the latest King County information at work and at home in the event of snow: Call the Employee Hotline—206-205-8600 (save it to your phone now!). Check your King County email for specific directives and updates. Log on at outlook.kingcounty.gov. Contact your supervisor for instructions. Follow King County on Twitter—@KingCountyWA, @kcmetrobus, @kcroads, and @kcemployees Check your… Read More

King County Executive Dow Constantine joined more than 1,000 volunteers, including several members of his Senior Leadership Team, in the early hours of Friday, Jan, 25, for Count Us In, the annual point-in-time county of people experiencing homelessness throughout King County.   Watch this short video as the Executive talks about the importance of this event and some of the things that King County is doing to tackle homelessness.

We’ve been featuring the members of Executive Constantine’s Senior Leadership Team in a new video series, and the latest video with Dwight Dively, Director of the Office of Performance, Strategy and Budget, is now available.  In this video we spotlight Dwight, what he does in his role, and what brought him to King County.  Click the image below to watch the video. You can also watch the previous videos featuring Chief Performance Officer Gary Kurihara and Chief People Officer Whitney Abrams, and see all the videos on this webpage. Look for the remaining videos over the next couple… Read More

Your 2018 W-2 form is now available in PeopleSoft to view and print. A paper copy of your W-2 form was mailed this week by ADP to the address you have listed in PeopleSoft.  To view or print your W-2, log in to PeopleSoft from work, choose the Payroll tile, then go to “View W-2/W-2c Forms.” You can also access W-2 forms by registering at the ADP website. If you need help with PeopleSoft, call the IT Service Center at 206-263-4357.  Your Form 1095-C—Employer-Provided Health Insurance Offer and Coverage—will also be sent to your home… Read More

Recent cyber-attacks have caused an emergency at one local city. The type of attack is called ransomware, and it’s is a form of malicious software that takes over your computer and prevents you from accessing files until you pay a ransom.  Think before you click  We can stop these attacks. The most common way ransomware enters computer networks is through email. Often, scammers include malicious links or attachments in emails that look harmless.  To avoid this trap, please:  Do not click on links or attachments from senders that you do not recognize. Be… Read More

Salary: $24.64 Hourly  Location: Seattle, WA  Job Type: Intern  Department: Department of Public Defense  Job Number: 2018CM09135  Closing: Continuous  The Department of Public Defense (DPD) is now actively recruiting 2nd year law students to begin a 10 week paid internship in our Family Defense Units beginning in June 2019. This is an excellent opportunity for students contemplating pursuing a career in public defense or interested in learning more about public defense. This is a rolling application – the four internship positions will remain open until filled. We are an institutional provider of family defense representation, which allows for… Read More

Crossposted from Tails from RASKC  Delightful Dave is our Pet of the Week!  This handsome boy is a cuddly couch potato! He’s also very smart, and already knows how to “sit,” “stay,” “come,” and “shake.” What’s more, Dave is always willing to learn when treats are involved!  This young pittie mix can be a little nervous with strangers, but with some patience (and treats), he warms up quickly. Dave would do best in an adults-only home, and with a family who can be consistent with his training while he learns to share…. Read More

Lean Problem-Solving Basics, Feb. 5: Do you feel like you tackle the same problems over and over again? In order to effectively solve problems once and for all, they must be solved at the root! Attendees will learn basic A3 Problem Solving, the powerful method borrowed from the Toyota Production System (TPS), learn techniques to incorporate problem solving and continuous improvement in daily work and build on existing Lean practices within your organization. Register and learn more.   Introduction to Strategic Planning, March 13: This training provides an overview of what strategic planning is, when and… Read More