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Celebrating you and your work during Public Service Recognition Week
May is Mental Health Month
How the end of the COVID-19 public health emergency impacts your employee medical and pharmacy benefits
Reminder: WA Cares Fund payroll deductions begin in July
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Employee survey participation continues to grow, nearing 50 percent in some departments
The 2016 Employee Survey, open until Friday, October 21, continues to gain responses, with some departments nearing 50 percent. View the data on the survey website to find out how your department is doing. As a reminder, King County is committed to increasing equity, fairness, opportunity and social justice in all we do. This includes equity in our employee experiences. We are asking for you to complete demographic questions so that we can learn whether employees with different backgrounds and characteristics have significantly different work experiences at King County. This information will… Read More
Featured Job: Communications Manager
Closing Date/Time: Wed. 10/12/16 11:59 PM Pacific Time Salary: $92,830.40 – $117,665.60 Annually Job Type: Career Service, Full Time, 40 hrs/week Location: King Street Center – 201 S Jackson St, Seattle, Washington Department: Department of Transportation – Director’s office Description: This exciting career service opportunity is open to all qualified candidates. The position manages the Department of Transportation’s Office of Communications and reports to the Department Deputy Director. The Communication Manager supervises eleven staff members in the Director’s Office who perform a wide range of duties, including strategic communication planning, management of… Read More
KCIT presents Hands on Technology Day at Chinook Oct. 10
On Monday, Oct. 10 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., the Chinook lobby and rooms 121, 123 and 124 will host KCIT Tech professionals ready and willing to help. We have tables and booths and room dedicated to King County employee support. Bring your device (county-issued laptops, smartphones, tablets) to our HelpDesk for repairs. Join us in person or via Skype for Skype tutorials including: Noon: How to set up a Skype Meeting to allow both internal and external people to attend the meeting for the sharing and brainstorming of ideas and information…. Read More
Indigenous Peoples’ Day Monday, Oct. 10
Seattle voted in 2014 to honor Native Americans, and their contributions to our history and achievements, on what has traditionally been celebrated as Columbus Day. Now the second Monday in October is officially Indigenous Peoples’ Day in Seattle. It’s an especially poignant turnaround given that in 1865 the City of Seattle passed a resolution banning Native Americans from living in Seattle. Indigenous Peoples’ Day also recognizes that we all are living on Indian land, and that without the displacement of its first inhabitants, none of us would be here. The day also… Read More
Tech Tip: October is CyberSecurity Awareness Month
The Department of Homeland Security has proclaimed October Cyber Security Awareness month and the theme is: Stop. Think. Connect. STOP: make sure security measures are in place. THINK: about the consequences of your actions and behaviors online. CONNECT: enjoy your devices with more peace of mind. (Here’s a link to the website. It’s great and has tips in multiple languages.) Top takeaways this week: Update all devices with the latest security patches as soon as patches are released. Consider a sentence for a password: Ilovesushi! Use the two-step authentication process if it’s offered…. Read More
The 2016 Bridge Fellowship experience challenges employees to grow up and out
The King County Bridge Fellowship is a 16-week professional development program that expands participants’ mindsets, strengthens current competencies, and helps participants develop new skills. The Fellowship, open to all full-time and TLT employees, was reestablished in 2013-2014 by King County Executive Dow Constantine. Bridge Fellows participated in a rigorous application and interview process before joining this year’s cohort. The program is supported by the Learning and Development Team in the Department of Executive Services and is led by Debra Baker. Together they have created a rich course that encourages participants to explore… Read More
From the Hip: Pat McLaughlin, King County Solid Waste Division Director
‘Book ‘em’, and they will come We are in the midst of collecting responses for the 2016 Employee Engagement Survey. I cannot express just how important it is for each and every one of us to complete this survey (I know I’ve already submitted mine). As King County Executive Dow Constantine has shown, your opinions directly influence the changes division, department, and county leadership implement to make your work life more enjoyable. The Solid Waste Division is no exception, and for the past four years we have used the results of the… Read More
Kudos to the Business Resource Center team for working to improve response times!
Consultant Tracy O’Rourke gives a Twitter shoutout to the King County BRC team as they strives to provide stable and efficient systems that continue to meet ongoing needs. Kudos to the staff for taking the time to learn new skills and provide top-notch services and technical support!
Who’s in your wallet: Identity Theft classes
When everything around us is connected, how can we protect ourselves? This seminar is presented by HomeStreet Bank to help you learn safeguarding your personal information, avoiding ID theft online, protecting your financial credit, and restoring your identity and managing loss. This class will be held on two dates: Wednesday, October 5, 2016 from noon to 1 p.m. – Chinook Building Tuesday, October 11, 2016 from noon to 1 p.m. – King Street Center Registration is required for each event. Call the Hometown Hotline at 888-425-6990, or go online to: http://www.homestreet.com/KingCo
Ongoing Climate Preparedness Lunch and Learn Series
Join us in a monthly Lunch and Learn Series to discuss Climate Preparedness and what King County is doing to prepare. Learn about preparedness tools that may help your program, and find out how you can help get the county prepared! The next few Lunch and Learn Series dates are: Wednesday, October 12, 2016 from noon to 1 p.m. – King Street Center, Seventh Floor, Rooms North/South Wind Thursday, December 8, 2016 from noon to 1 p.m. – King Street Center, Sixth Floor, Rooms King/Chinook Thursday, January 12, 2017 from noon – 1 p.m…. Read More
New Zealand Restorative Justice presentation and discussion
In the 1980s, the New Zealand criminal justice system began listening to the indigenous Maori people to understand why Maori youth were overrepresented in the courts, jails, and prisons. In 1989 legislation was passed that significantly changed the youth justice system for the entire country. Join us in learning about the story of New Zealand youth justice and what it means for those interested in restorative justice today. Thursday, October 6, 2016 from noon to 1:30 p.m. – Highline College, Building 2 Banquet Room, 2400 South 240th Street, Des Moines, WA. Register… Read More
Come see us at the Northwest Film Forum’s Archival Screening Night!
Crossposted from Bytes and Boxes The King County Archives is delighted to be participating in a screening of clips from local archives and cultural organizations at the Northwest Film Forum, located in Seattle’s Capitol Hill neighborhood. The event is being held in honor of Archives Month and promises to be a treat. The King County Archives is contributing a variety of clips, including some local sports history, 1930s silent film, and more! We hope to see you there!
#AskAnArchivist Day is October 5
Curious about archives or what archivists do all day? On Wednesday, October 5, archivists around the country will be taking your questions on Twitter – including staff at the King County Archives! The day-long event is part of American Archives Month and helps to celebrate the importance of preserving and researching historical records. Follow @KingCoArchives and tweet at us using #AskAnArchivist with your questions about archives or King County history. For more information about #AskAnArchivist Day or American Archives Month, visit the Society of American Archivists website.
Featured Job: Environmental Intern
Closing Date/Time: Sun. 10/09/16 10:30 PM Salary: $17.70 – $22.43 Hourly Job Type: Intern Location: King Street Center – 201 S Jackson St, Seattle, Washington Department: Department of Natural Resources & Parks – Solid Waste Division Description: The Solid Waste Division (SWD) of King County Department of Natural Resources and Parks have an opening for a graduate intern in their Recycling and Environmental Services (RES) section. The King County Solid Waste Division plans, develops and implements a variety of waste reduction and recycling programs that target residents, businesses, local governments, and schools…. Read More
Celebrating Latino/Latina Heritage Month in King County
King County Executive Dow Constantine has proclaimed the month beginning September 15 “Latino/Latina Heritage Month in King County. “I urge all County residents to join me in celebrating the many contributions of people of Latino heritage to our community,” Executive Constantine said in his Proclamation. More than 55 million people of Latino/Latina ancestry live in the United States, with almost 200,000 calling King County home. You can read the Executive’s proclamation here (SharePoint).
Challenge: Take Your Commute to New Heights
You could win a custom adventure by participating in Washington’s Wheel Options campaign during the month of October! As a King County Employee, you can participate in the Washington State Ridesharing Organization’s annual Wheel Options campaign. Commute via bicycle, transit, carpool, vanpool, walking or telecommuting for at least six days next month and – in addition to reducing congestion and saving money – you’ll be eligible to win a customizable adventure! Wheel Options encourages commuters across Washington to reduce their number of drive-alone trips. Visit Wheel Options to register, learn more about… Read More
King County leaders discuss 2016 Employee Survey
The 2016 King County Employee Survey is now underway, and we’ve been asking some County leaders why the survey is important to them and their employees, and how they will act on the results. In this first video, we talk to Caroline Whalen, Director of the Department of Executive Services, Harold Taniguchi, Director of the Department of Transportation, Commander William Hayes, Director of the Department of Adult and Juvenile Detention, and John Wilson, the King County Assessor. Watch the video by clicking the image below (captions coming soon).
Executive Unveils $11.3 Billion Proposed Budget
On Monday, King County Executive Dow Constantine transmitted his 2017-2018 proposed biennial budget to the Metropolitan King County Council. The proposed $11.3 billion, two-year budget invests in Metro Transit, human services, and other important programs that reflect the values of King County residents and again maintains costs below the rate of population and inflation. Find out more by watching the Executive’s address below or read more on the budget website.
Track department results of 2016 Employee Survey
The King County employee survey is now underway through Friday, October 21. Track how well your department is participating by checking out the data on the survey website. Surveys were emailed to most employees from 2016KCEmployeeSurvey@orcsurvey.com on Monday, Sept. 26. The email is unique to each employee and cannot be forwarded to others. If you did not receive a survey email, please contact KCEmployeeSurvey@kingcounty.gov. Please note your responses are completely anonymous to King County and the consultant only shares analyzed results, never individual responses. The survey should take about 15 minutes to complete and can be taken during… Read More
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