Featured Coronavirus Information
Updated guidance for mandatory telecommuting (updated Oct. 29, 2020)
Emergency childcare for first responders & essential workers
Help needed to support COVID-19 efforts
Cleaning and disinfecting facilities during COVID-19
News
Executive Constantine on the adoption of $12.4 billion biennial King County budget: Putting our money where our values are
“I thank the King County Council for their careful deliberations since I transmitted my proposed two-year budget in September. I also want to recognize the many community members who participated in hearings and other venues to get their voices heard. “This budget puts our money where our values are. It will provide a safe, dignified place to live to thousands of chronically homeless people. It re-orients our criminal legal system and makes a significant down payment in our ongoing efforts to shift resources to upstream programs aligned with racial and social justice. … Read More
Join the virtual blood drive for King County employees, November 23–December 7
Bloodworks Northwest is hosting a virtual blood drive for all King County employees. Employees are encouraged to the give the special code KING when registering in person the day of their appointment to help keep track of all King County employees who are participating to help save a life. Make an appointment at a donor center, or pop up donor center at the link below for anytime between Nov. 23 and Dec. 7. All donations are by appointment only to provide the safest possible donation environment. Additionally, no walk-ins, guests or people under age 16 are permitted onsite, and masks (or an appropriate face covering) are required. Make an… Read More
King County Council approves Metro’s Access Paratransit Advisory Committee (APAC)
Crossposted from Metro Matters King County Metro is pleased to announce the 11 members of its newest advisory group, the Access Paratransit Advisory Committee (APAC). The Access Paratransit Advisory Committee will advise Metro, the King County Executive, and the King County Council on transit and policy issues related to equitable public transportation for people with disabilities. The work of this new committee will enhance the Access paratransit program by providing guidance to Metro on what to prioritize and on developing a vision for ongoing improvements. The committee was appointed by the King County… Read More
Elections Building selected for Round 1 of PSE Community Solar Program
Crosposted from DES Express Puget Sound Energy has selected King County’s Elections Building in Renton to be one of the sites for Round 1 of its Community Solar Program, currently under development. “This is a really great opportunity to shine a light on renewable energy in general and Elections specifically,” said Sarah Calvillo Hoffman, Energy Manager for Facilities Management Division in Executive Services. “Elections is really interested in doing more sustainable things in general. There are lots of people who go to that building, and there will be signage about the project.” Read more.
Featured Job: Education Specialist – Downtown Needle Exchange
Salary: $56,673.97 – $71,837.79 Annually Location: Seattle, WA Job Type: Career Service, Part Time, Std Wkly Hrs Vary Department: DPH – Public Health Job Number: 2020DB12401 Division: Prevention Closing: 11/23/2020 11:59 PM Pacific Learn more about this position or view all available positions. https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/kingcounty/jobs/2907925/education-specialist-downtown-needle-exchange
Tech Tip: Skype Business to Teams migration chatting and instant messaging
For the next year, as employees move to Microsoft Teams for County communications, many people will continue on Skype until they move. Did you know you can send Instant Messages between Skype and Teams? Below are instructions to send Instant Message between Skype and Teams. Once employees move to Teams, send a message, called Chats in Teams, to coworkers using Skype by simply looking them up and sending a message. They will receive the message in Skype. When they reply, it will show up in Teams for the original sender using Teams. Pro… Read More
KCIT successfully transitions the new PSERN emergency radio system core
KCIT recently transitioned to the new Puget Sound Emergency Radio Network (PSERN) system core, which will help provide more effective and coordinated emergency responses in King County. The PSERN Project’s dispatch center and core cutover was an important milestone because it replaced components that were unsupported by the manufacturer due to their age. The PSERN core is the “brains” of the system composed of servers, switches, routers, databases, storage units, and radio components. In essence, it is a large data center dedicated to managing the radio network primarily used by emergency personnel… Read More
Thank you from Employee Giving Program – Last Day of the Annual Giving Drive
Dear fellow King County employee, In the midst our work, our families, the planning, schooling, cooking, finding new routines, and doing what we can to prevent the spread of COVID-19, we are encouraged to stop and take a moment next week to celebrate all those very precious people and things we have in our lives. This year, I am thankful for the extra time with my children. While it is hard balancing all the things, I am getting to see parts of them I didn’t know before. They are showing me how… Read More
Staying safer as COVID-19 infection rates increase
Dear employee, Nationally and locally our Public Health agencies are reporting an increase in COVID-19 infection rates in communities. This escalation in infections is also reflected in our work community, with increasing numbers of employees testing positive for COVID-19 or reporting significant exposure to those who have tested positive. Temporary statewide restrictions announced by the Governor are in place to help reduce the rate of infections. Workplace exposure The County continues to review workplace exposures where employees report that they have tested positive for COVID-19. County staff conduct workplace contract tracing on… Read More
Investor relations website launched
Crossposted from DES Express King County’s first-ever Investor Relations website is now live. The site, maintained by a third-party vendor, BondLink, greatly improves the potential investor experience with links in one place to Official Statements, ratings, budgets, Comprehensive Annual Financial Reports (CAFRs), policies and more. With voters approving a $1.74 billion bond measure for capital improvements at King County-owned Harborview Medical Center, the website comes at the perfect time. “We are hoping King County sees an increase in the pool of potential investors and bidders by leveraging the BondLink communication functionality,” said Carol Basile, Treasury Manager. Read more.
Stay informed in inclement weather
Getting timely, accurate information in an emergency or inclement weather event is critical. Make sure you’re getting the latest King County information on how you are affected, at work and at home: KCInform: Make sure you can be reached in a major emergency. If you haven’t yet registered your County provided mobile phones and employees personal contact information in KCInform, please contact kcinform@kingcounty.gov anytime or 206-296-3830 between 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Monday – Friday to request your unique registration link. Watch this short video to learn more or visit our website. Call the Employee Hotline—206-205-8600 (save it to your… Read More
More than 500 nurses urge King County to confront the surge
Crossposted from Public Health Insider In the midst of an unprecedented surge in COVID-19 cases, more than 500 King County nurses are issuing an urgent call to renew efforts to turn around this troubling trend. “It’s been a tough year, and we’ve all sacrificed so much to stay safe. But now, with cases skyrocketing in King County, it’s more important than ever to stop the spread,” reads the nurses’ message, published Sunday in a special wrap-around section of the Seattle Times. Read more.
Prepare now for winter weather
As we approach winter, now is a great time to ensure you are well-prepared for an emergency or inclement weather at home or work. Taking a few steps now to plan ahead will give you peace of mind and help you make good decisions in an emergency: There are many online resources that you can use to make sure you and your family have what you need to Make it Through an emergency – from an extended power outage to a more severe event. Please take personal preparedness seriously. If your child is attending… Read More
Training Spotlight for November 19
Communication and Problem Solving Skills – Online – Join instructor Lenny Borer for this two-day training. He will address communication and problem-solving skills with the public and with co-workers. This class covers skills for effective listening, speaking, dealing with conflicts, and dealing with defensive behavior. This training is $65 and space is limited. It takes place on Tuesday and Wednesday, Dec. 8 and 9, both days from 1-4:30 p.m. Register here. Please visit our King County Eventbrite page website for more opportunities. For more information, contact the Learning and Development Team at KCTraining@kingcounty.gov or visit Learning and Development at www.kingcounty.gov/learning.
Medical benefits for transgender employees
King County provides comprehensive benefits and services to support the health and well-being of eligible employees, retirees, and their dependents, and now offers enhanced medical benefits for transgender employees. Starting Jan. 1, 2020, King County expanded its medical plans’ coverage policies for transgender employees and their covered family members. King County has covered gender confirmation surgery and hormone replacement since 2015, but starting in 2020, we are covering additional gender-affirming procedures and treatments to comply fully with World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH) standards, including procedures most insurers exclude. This week,… Read More
2020 Employee Giving Drive spotlight and reminder for last chance to donate
The 2020 Employee Giving Drive ends tomorrow, Nov. 20. This week, we are featuring nonprofits that support the arts in our community: Hilltop Artists (9032) – We use glass art to connect young people from diverse cultural and economic backgrounds to better futures through art instruction, wrap around services, and mentoring to 650 youth. 5th Avenue Theatre (9631) – We develop, produce and present live musical theater for the cultural enrichment of the Northwest community; preserve, maintain, and operate the historic 5th Avenue Theatre. Northwest African American Museum (9737) – We celebrate and explore the histories, arts, and cultures of people of… Read More
Donating excess time to the Employee Giving Program, deadline tomorrow, November 20
Every year, many employees find themselves in a “use-it-or-lose-it” situation with their vacation balances. When an employee exceeds the maximum vacation accrual, the balance in excess of the maximum is forfeited on January 8. If an employee has accumulated leave that they do not plan on taking, they can choose to give the cash equivalent of that excess time to a nonprofit organization in the King County Employee Giving Program and/or to the COVID-19 Emergency Leave Fund. Both donations can be done in PeopleSoft. Click here to make a time donation through the Employee Giving Program to a… Read More
COVID-related Paid Administrative Leave extended to June 2021
King County is extending the eligibility period for accessing Paid Administrative Leave (PAL) for COVID-related reasons to June 2021 for non-represented employees, and is bargaining the same extension for represented employees. This is an extension of the timeframe in which the existing 80 hours of Paid Administrative Leave for COVID-related reasons can be used (see COVID-related Paid Administrative Leave for details); additional hours are not being awarded. For non-represented employees, this extension will last until either June 25, 2021, or June 30, 2021, depending on whether the employee’s pay period is biweekly or semi-monthly. Represented employees… Read More
Executive Constantine statement on updated COVID-19 restrictions
King County Executive Dow Constantine delivered the following statement at Gov. Jay Inslee’s press conference announcing new guidance on how to slow the spread of COVID-19, and new restrictions in place until Dec. 14: “Like everywhere in the state, our case counts are soaring, and that is also true nationally. The number of hospitalizations in King County last week increased by over 70 percent compared to the previous four weeks. “In fact, it was just earlier this week that I was reflecting that our hospitalizations had not increased dramatically, and then later that afternoon I… Read More
November 2020 proclaimed Native American Heritage Month in King County
As part of our celebrations for Native American Heritage Month, the Metropolitan King County Council and King County Executive Dow Constantine have proclaimed the month of November 2020 Native American Heritage Month in King County. Native American Heritage Month was initially proposed in 1990 as American Indian Heritage Month by U.S. House Joint Resolution 577, and in 1991 by Congress Senate Joint Resolution 172, before November was ultimately proclaimed as “Native American Heritage Month” by President George H.W. Bush in 1991. “Whereas, in King County, we honor the unique government-to-government relationship that… Read More
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