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 can check here to see if their union has approved the Memorandums of Agreement (MOA). This list will be updated as new MOAs are signed.
Please be advised that employees must receive supervisor approval in order to take this leave. Supervisors will make decisions based on the eligibility criteria, operational needs and business continuity, and employee designations as First Responders and Mission-Critical.
As previously communicated, First Responders “have the highest duty to report to work as directed in emergency conditions,” and Mission-Critical Employees “must be available to perform their duties as determined by their agency management,” per King County’s Temporary COVID-19 Personnel Policy. First Responders and Mission-Critical employees are expected to continue to report to work in person or telecommute per existing arrangements. Departments can change employee designations as needed and must inform employees accordingly. This is as important as ever during our COVID-19 response.
Thank you for supporting our community and one another during this difficult time and doing what you can to keep stay safe.
Whitney Abrams
Chief People Officer
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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 was informed that we had seen a 30 percent increase in one day in hospital bed use. There are twice as many people in local hospitals with COVID-19 as there were just a month ago.
Read more in the official press release.
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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 exists between Indian tribes and County Government, and that relationship has weathered various challenges and changes over the years, evolving into a partnership by which we can work productively together,” Councilmembers and Executive Constantine stated in the Proclamation. “During Native American Heritage Month, we reaffirm our commitment to work to promote the well-being and celebrate the history and cultures of our local and regional American Indian, Alaska Native, and Indigenous communities.”
You can read the full Proclamation here.
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Health officer statement on new COVID-19 measures
Crossposted from Public Health Insider
Statement from Dr. Jeff Duchin, Health Officer for Public Health – Seattle & King County, on Governor Jay Inslee’s announcement of new measures to control the surging outbreak of COVID-19 in Washington state:
COVID-19 transmission and the number of people being infected are at all-time highs in King County and the outbreak is growing in size faster than ever. In the past week, hospitalizations have increased by 70%. Cases are on a trajectory to continue to increase and will be followed by even more hospitalizations and deaths.
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Featured Job: Fare Policy Lead (Transportation Planner IV)
Salary: $100,134.11 – $126,926.18 Annually
Location: Seattle, WA
Job Type: Career Service, Full Time, 40 hrs/week
Department: MTD – Metro Transit
Job Number: 2020MC12281
Division: Mobility
Closing: Continuous
Learn more about this position or view all available positions.
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Representation of Native Americans in Law and Justice webinar tomorrow, November 18
Please join the King County Superior Court in celebration of Native American Heritage Month at a Presentation of Native Americans in Law and Justice Panel Presentation. The event will feature a facilitated question and answer session with guest panelists, including keynote speaker Justice Raquel Montoya-Lewis, Ms. Sarah Roubidoux Lawson, Professor Gregory Silverman, and Mr. Rion Ramirez. This presentation is sponsored by the Superior Court’s 2020 Courts and Community Committee.
- Wednesday, Nov. 18 from 12:15-1:30 p.m. Register here.
Space is available and pre-registration is required. For more information view this flyer or contact Beth Taylor at Beth.Taylor@kingcounty.gov.
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Join the Executive Department at the Harvest Festival II: Ultimate Zoom tomorrow, November 18
The Executive Department Senior Leadership Team is excited to invite employees to Harvest Festival II: Ultimate Zoom, which includes a drawing to benefit organizations doing important work in the community and on issues critical to King County’s priorities.
Donations can be turned into drawing tickets until 11 a.m. tomorrow. Make a donation and be entered into the drawing here. Prizes include bottles of wine and a tasting voucher, state and national parks passes, board games and puzzles, and a stay at the downtown Fairmont Olympic. Winners will be announced tomorrow.
Hear from Executive Constantine, the Senior Leadership Team, and enjoy a special performance local songwriter and activist Cameron Lavi-Jones of King Youngblood.
This event will be held tomorrow, Nov. 18, from noon to 1 p.m. Join the Zoom here, meeting ID: 959 9158 1775, passcode: 157392.
For information on how donations and about the drawing contact Sarah Dickmeyer at SDickmeyer@kingcounty.gov, or view this flyer.
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Training Spotlight for November 17
- Race: The Power of an Illusion – Online – This training is provided by an external consultant, and will use the three-part video series “Race: The Power of an Illusion” to explore the construct of race, how it has been used to channel benefits to those viewed as white, and why racial inequities persist. This training takes place on Nov.19 from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. The cost is $150.00 and space is limited. Register here
Please visit our King County Eventbrite page website for more opportunities. Winter courses will be posted soon. For more information, contact the Learning and Development Team at KCTraining@kingcounty.gov or visit Learning and Development at www.kingcounty.gov/learning.
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Pet of the Week: Elvis
Hi! My name is Elvis and I am available for adoption. I am a very smart dog! At the shelter I am practicing how to sit. I also know how to open chain link gates! I am an independent dog who likes to do my own thing! I enjoy affection, but I really love to use my sniffer to smell all the smells! I am full of energy! I tend to calm down more when the people around me stay calm. I do best when I have lots of exercise and something to keep my mind busy. I would love to show you my beautiful singing voice!
Read more and view all available pets at www.kingcounty.gov/adoptapet. Have you or someone you know adopted a pet from RASKC? Let us know. We’d love to tell your story.
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We can make a difference through the Annual Giving Drive
Dear fellow King County employee,
This year’s Annual Giving Drive comes at a time of enormous need. Communities around the world are struggling to contain the COVID-19 pandemic. Here in the United States, more than 240,000 people have already lost their lives to the virus, and the numbers continue to grow at an alarming rate.
Devastating wildfires once again raged across California and Oregon this year, and hurricanes ravaged communities around the Atlantic. Just this month, Hurricane Eta killed more than 150 people across Central America and the southeastern United States, while Typhoons Goni and Vamco claimed dozens of lives in the Philippines.
The Annual Giving Drive brings King County employees together to help people and support the causes that we care about. Whether it is advancing education, expanding access to safe, warm shelter, buying food for some of the 1 in 6 Americans that struggle with hunger, or providing clean water to villages all over the globe, our donations make a real impact on people’s lives.
Already this year, hundreds of employees have participated in the Annual Giving Drive, and you still have time to take part. You can go online or use a paper form through Friday, Nov. 20, to make a pledge to your favorite Employee Giving Program nonprofits by:
- Payroll donation: One-time, once–per-month, or twice-per-month.
- Time donation: Eligible vacation or comp time. See your department Lead Ambassador for details in your office.
- Check or credit card: Made out directly to the nonprofit.
- Volunteering: Up to three sick days per calendar year at a nonprofit in the EGP (for non-represented and employees whose union has approved this benefit, including those covered by the Master Labor Agreement).
For more information, contact your Employee Giving Program Ambassador, visit www.kingcounty.gov/giving, email EmployeeGiving@KingCounty.gov, call 206-263-9405, or attend an online Nonprofit Expo.
Thank you for all you do, both here and outside of work, to help our community and communities around the world thrive.
Sincerely,
Dow Constantine
King County Executive
Employee News 