With new COVID-19 cases reaching all-time highs, please consider donating to the Emergency Leave Program
The Emergency Leave Donation Program was developed to aid employees who’ve been impacted by COVID-19 and have exhausted their paid leave. Access to donated leave has helped them focus on recovering their health or caring for loved ones. So far this year, nearly 300 employees have generously donated personal leave to support their colleagues.
The program is asking employees to again consider donating personal leave to the program, as the paid leave available is running low. Donating leave is an especially good option for employees who may find themselves in a “use-it-or-lose-it” position with an excess vacation balance at the end of the year. Employees interested in supporting colleagues affected by COVID-19 can donate accrued sick and vacation leave in two different ways:
- Use PeopleSoft to make donations. (Learn how.)
- Email the Emergency Leave Donation Form to EmergencyDonation@kingcounty.gov.
“This virus will be with us for some time to come. It’s important that we not only take care of ourselves but also each other,” Whitney Abrams, Chief People Officer for King County said. “I’m inspired to see so many generous individuals donate leave to their coworkers who’ve been impacted by these terrible events.”
For more information about supporting one another through the Emergency Leave Donation Program, visit the webpage here. See the FAQ information on how to mail or interoffice mail any completed forms.
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Get help correcting your at-home ergonomics
With many King County employees working remotely through the pandemic, and potentially beyond, you may find yourself missing your perfectly adjusted ergonomic workstation in the office.
King County has certified ergonomists in the Department of Human Resources (DHR) that can provide assessments for your at-home workstation. They can’t come to your home, but a virtual assessment can help pinpoint issues and save you pain down the road.
“It’s not too late; even if it’s been several months since you started working from home, you should assess any new workstation,” Rob Stafford, Safety & Health Professional with DHR, said.
Requests for ergonomic assessments dwindled in the first months of the pandemic but have surged since the Executive’s extension of mandatory telecommuting for non-essential personnel through July 5, 2021. A large number of those requests have been to assess at-home workstations.
“People thought this would be temporary and were working from their couch or dining room table, but the reality is that telework might become permanent or more frequent for some employees,” Stafford said.
The first step is complete the online self-assessment, unless you have a medical restriction or your doctor has requested an ergonomic assessment or accommodation. This do-it-yourself evaluation is a simple checklist with tips on how to effectively set up a pain-free workstation from home.
If you still have questions that the checklist didn’t answer, persisting pain, or if you have specific questions regarding your workstation, you can request a virtual ergonomic evaluation (requires SharePoint login). Any King County employee can request an ergonomic assessment; no supervisor approval is needed. Despite the high demand, the team at DHR can typically conduct a virtual ergonomic assessment within 2-3 weeks of your request.
So what does a virtual assessment look like? “I usually start by asking the employee to email or text me a photo of their workstation and chair,” Stafford said. “Once I get an idea of what their workstation looks like, I’ll set up a call, preferably via video conference. Just from the angle of your camera, I can see important details like your desk and monitor height, and how far the monitor is from your face.”
Ergonomists in DHR have spent years determining proper human factors as well as establishing relationships with vendors to recommend proper equipment. They are also familiar with new technology and practices that could increase worker comfort. In your virtual assessment, the ergonomist will walk you through adjusting your workstation, and recommend any specialized equipment. New equipment must be approved by your supervisor and bought through your department’s regular purchasing process.
It can be challenging to maintain good ergonomic practices when working away from the office. Here are some tips for working from home:
- Maintain a neutral neck position by placing the top of the screen at about eye level or slightly lower if using bifocal glasses.
- Use a laptop stand or place your laptop on a stable support surface, such as monitor risers, reams of paper or books so that the screen height can be adjusted.
- Attach a regular size, external keyboard and mouse to the laptop, and place them on an adjustable keyboard tray or desk. The keyboard and mouse should be positioned at or slightly below elbow height.
- Use a docking station whenever possible to more closely resemble a standard desktop workstation where input devices can be attached.
- Take frequent stretch breaks every 30 to 45 minutes. Visit the University of North Carolina’s Workplace Safety Office Ergonomics website to view additional rest and exercise ideas.
- If your chair needs lumbar support, use a pillow or rolled up towel.
For more information, visit King County’s ergonomic evaluation website.
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Planning for COVID-19 vaccine access at King County
Message from Whitney Abrams, Chief People Officer, & Brenda Bauer, Deputy Chief Operating Officer
Dear employee,
The first shipment of COVID-19 vaccine is expected to arrive in Washington state this week. This is an exciting development in the pandemic response, and the county, particularly Public Health staff, are working hard on plans, preparations, and communications to ensure equitable access to the vaccine in King County.
Who will receive the early doses?
Initial doses of the vaccine have strict “ultracold” storage requirements with special freezers that are typically found only in certain hospitals. The Washington State Department of Health (DOH) will distribute the vaccine and prioritize the initial limited supplies for high-risk workers in healthcare settings and adults in long-term care facilities in accordance with guidance from the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP).
A relatively small number of doses will come to King County in the first weeks and will mainly be delivered to a small number of healthcare facilities that have the equipment to meet the vaccine’s stringent “ultracold” storage requirements. In the first shipments, there will not be nearly enough vaccine to vaccinate everyone who is eligible, but we have been told to expect supplies to increase each week.
According to the state’s prioritization framework, the first group to be vaccinated are workers in healthcare settings and those working in Long Term Care Facilities (LTCFs) who meet all of these recommended criteria:
- Have direct patient contact with known or suspected COVID-19 cases
- Unable to telework
- Handle infectious materials
- Have not had a known COVID-19 infection in the 90 days prior to vaccination
King County workers who may be eligible
Public Health workers who meet these criteria will be eligible to receive the vaccine from early shipments. However, the first shipments will be small, so even eligible workers may need to may need to wait more than a week or two. Supervisors will reach out to eligible staff to provide instructions about vaccination.
Larger supplies of vaccine are expected to be available in mid-2021, and as supplies of vaccine gradually increase, more people will become eligible for vaccination. The state Department of Health is still working to prioritize all other essential workers for future distributions we receive from the federal government; we anticipate better knowing the state’s priorities and the tiering for employees in the coming weeks. Public Health will update the COVID-19 vaccine website with information about current eligibility and supply. Eventually there will be enough vaccine for everyone who wants to get vaccinated.
What you can do to help
Understandably, many people have questions and concerns about the COVID-19 vaccine, and unfortunately, misinformation is plentiful. Current and accurate information will be available at Public Health’s www.kingcounty.gov/covid/vaccine webpage and from social media (@KCPubHealth).
A safe and effective vaccine against COVID-19 is a major break-through. But vaccine alone won’t end the pandemic right away. Even after a vaccine is available, stopping the pandemic will continue to require (at least for the next few months) everyone – even if vaccinated – to continue to follow all current guidance to protect themselves and others, including wearing a mask, staying at least six feet away from others, limiting activities outside the home and avoiding crowds, washing hands often, following CDC travel guidance, and following quarantine guidance after an exposure to someone with COVID-19.
The effort to make vaccine available to most of the US population in a relatively short time frame is a gargantuan undertaking and there will undoubtedly be bumps along the way. Thank you for continuing COVID-19 safety precautions and for all the work you do for our community. With your help, we will be able to limit the impacts of this virus and move towards more normalcy in our lives.
Whitney Abrams, Chief People Officer
Brenda Bauer, Deputy Chief Operating Officer
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Hope and Joy Campaign: December 16 Coffee Connection
As part of the Hope and Joy Campaign, the Balanced You team is hosting a series of virtual zoom sessions, called “Coffee Connections”, to provide spaces for employees to connect over fun topics and events. The second Coffee Connection’s theme is “Quarantine Holiday Celebrations” Join us then to share the unique way you and your family will celebrate the holidays this year.
It will be held on December 16, from 10-10:30 a.m. Click here to Register.
You can check out other upcoming Coffee Connections on the Balanced You Blog here.
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Strategic Interviewing Tips and Techniques, December 17
This two-hour virtual workshop will provide you with strategies and tips to help you to do your best during the interview. Learning objectives include:
- How to prepare for a virtual job interview
- The interview structure and types of questions you will be asked
- The STAR-LA method and how to use it to provide organized and complete responses
- General tips and strategies
This workshop will take place Thursday, Dec. 17 from 1–3 p.m. Register here.
For additional online workshops offered by King County Career Support Services (CSS), visit their Eventbrite page. For more information about CSS visit www.kingcounty.gov/CSS.
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Road to Retirement session offered December 15
Are you planning to retire in the next six months? If so, join your Retirement Team for this informative 90-minute online class on Tuesday, Dec. 15, from 1–2:30 p.m.
We’ll discuss procedures and forms, medical coverage options, and pension plans—so you’ll be on a smooth road toward a happy retirement.
Please register for Road to Retirement at Eventbrite. Sessions for 2021 are also listed, so chose a class that works best for your schedule. After you register, you will receive an email with a Zoom link for the class you selected.
To learn more before the class, go the Retirement page and read the Retirement Guide. For more information, contact KC Orientations or Carmen Johnson, retirement navigator. Please note, attendance is strictly voluntary, on your own time, and non-work related.
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Ensuring a Disability Perspective in State Policy, online webinar
The webinar on “Ensuring a Disability Perspective in State Policy,” hosted by the Council of State Governments (CSG) and the State Exchange on Employment and Disability, is available for viewing. The webinar, which was held as part of the CSG 2020 National Conference, features discussions on how states can include individuals with disabilities in broader policymaking, including a disability perspective in commissions on transportation, the future of work, and other state initiatives. It was the final episode in an ADA30 series produced by CSG that explored the origin and legacy of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
Register here to watch “Ensuring a Disability Perspective in State Policy” webinar and visit the ADA30 series archive.
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COVID-19 Accessible Materials for People with Disabilities webinar series, December 16, January and February 2021
The Georgia Tech Center for Inclusive Design and Innovation presents the COVID-19 Accessible Materials for People with Disabilities webinar series. The following dates and topics are available for employees to register for:
- Wednesday, Dec. 16, from 11 a.m. to noon. Register here for “A Closer Look: Mental Health and Resilience within the Disability Community During COVID-19” – explore the mental health and resilience of people with disabilities during the COVID-19 pandemic and ways service providers can access relevant resources
- Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2021 from 11 a.m. to noon. Register here for “Making Social Media Accessible for People with Disabilities”
- Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2021 from 11 a.m. to noon. Register here for “A Closer Look: Guidance for Business and Employers Considering the Needs of People with Disabilities during COVID-19”
For more information, visit the Georgia Tech Center for Inclusive Design COVID-19 Accessible Resources website.
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Employees may not relocate out of Washington while working remotely
Many King County employees are telecommuting through July 5, 2021, as we continue our efforts to slow the spread of COVID-19. Telecommuting employees may not relocate out of Washington state. Employees may work at a location outside of the home, provided the location is within a reasonable distance to the employee’s primary county worksite. Our policy continues to be that employees need to obtain prior approval if they want to temporarily work outside of their normal work/home area. Unless travel has been preapproved, employees are expected to remain close enough to physically report to work, if necessary.
Working outside of Washington involves many challenges, including different states’ taxation and employment laws. Moreover, it is important that – as a public employer – we continue to support and contribute to the vibrancy of communities within King County and across the state. You can find more details about the County’s policy in the Temporary COVID-19 Personnel Policy.
If you have additional questions, please contact your department’s HR Manager.
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STAR-LA Interview Practice and Feedback, December 15 and January 12
This 60-minute, virtual, small group workshop is designed to provide mock interview practice and feedback using the STAR-LA method as taught by King County Career Support Services. This workshop is ideal for participants who have attended the Strategic Interviewing Tips and Techniques workshop and/or have reviewed the STAR-LA method found on the Career Support Services website.
This workshop will take place Thursday Dec. 15 from noon to 1 p.m., and Jan. 12 from 12:30–1:30 p.m. Register here.
For additional online workshops offered by King County Career Support Services (CSS), visit their Eventbrite page. For more information about CSS visit www.kingcounty.gov/CSS.
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