Strategic Interviewing Tips and Techniques, November 18
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 Wednesday, Nov. 18 from 10 a.m. – Noon. 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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One week left to complete Open Enrollment
One week left – Complete Open Enrollment by Nov. 15
Don’t miss your opportunity to evaluate your benefit choices and make changes. If you haven’t already done so, make sure the right benefit options are in place for you and your family next year.
If you don’t participate in Open Enrollment, your current elections automatically continue for next year—except your Flexible Spending Accounts and your Benefit Access Fee exemption if you cover a spouse on your medical plan—these must be selected each year.
Learn
- See what’s changing next year.
- Register for a live Open Enrollment information session.
- Watch the Open Enrollment Overview video.
- Find out about the updated PeopleSoft Open Enrollment tool: Watch the Completing Open Enrollment with PeopleSoft video or read the Open Enrollment PeopleSoft Guide.
- Go to the Open Enrollment website.
Choose
- Consider changing medical plans. The Kaiser SmartCare and the KingCare Select plans have lower costs.
- If you cover a spouse or domestic partner on your medical plan, select the appropriate Benefit Access Fee—or exemption, which resets each year. The Kaiser medical plan has no Benefit Access Fees.
- Enroll in a Health Care or Dependent Day Care Flexible Spending Account (FSA) to reduce your taxable income.
All set? Sign in to PeopleSoft
- Select the new Open Enrollment tile.
- Make your selections, then scroll up to Enrollment Summary.
- Click the blue Submit Enrollment The Elections Preview statement will open in a new window—review, print, or save it.
- Benefits Enrollment Complete will then be checked.
- Click Exit to return to the PeopleSoft main menu.
Get support
Benefits, Payroll and Retirement Operations
206-684-1556 or KC Benefits
9 a.m. – 4 p.m., Monday – Friday (closed Veterans Day, Nov. 11)
Extended Hours Sunday, Nov. 15: 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Due to COVID-19, the Benefits office is closed for walk-in service.
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A historic moment for our democracy
Dear fellow King County employee,
Last week, the American people elected a new president to lead us for the next four years and begin the work of healing our divided nation.
It was a historic victory for President-elect Biden and Vice President-elect Harris, and indeed for democracy itself. I am eager to work with the new administration on fighting the pandemic, rebuilding our economy, upending racial bias, healing the planet, and restoring America’s standing in the world.
It is time to turn the page. I am grateful to once again have partners at the federal level focused on bringing our country together and advancing the critical work we are doing here in King County.
We have an unprecedented opportunity – not merely to go back to where we were eight months ago, or four years ago – but to press ahead, united and with urgency, to fulfill our nation’s potential.
I look toward to the future with hope and optimism. The work begins now. We face big challenges, but I am convinced that if we can focus on the fundamental values we share, we can build a brighter future for all people.
Sincerely,
Dow Constantine
King County Executive
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Road Services welcomes new director Tricia Davis
Crossposted from King County Local
Local Services proudly welcomes Tricia Davis as the new director of its Road Services Division.
Tricia comes to us as a 13-year employee at King County, most recently as deputy director for Metro’s Rail Division and, prior to that, as a budget supervisor in King County’s Office of Performance, Strategy and Budget (PSB).
Before joining the county, Tricia worked as a research analyst for the Center on Reinventing Public Education. She also worked for Capital One Financial Services as a senior operations analyst.
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Upcoming live and on-demand webinars through Making Life Easier
King County’s Making Life Easier (MLE) program is offering several upcoming live and on-demand webinars. Register early for the live session as space is limited, otherwise, a recording of the session will be available on-demand 48 hours after it has ended.
- Supporting Yourself This Season: The Winter Blues & Seasonal Affective Disorder – Live, Wednesday, Nov. 18, from noon to 1 p.m. Register here.
- Deepening Your Resilience: Tools For Persisting In These Times – Now available on-demand. Register here.
- Moving Forward From Here: Navigating Uncertain Times – Available on-demand the first week of Dec. Registration information coming soon. Please check the website for updates.
To learn more about these webinars and to access others, visit www.KCMakingLifeEasier.com, login with username: King County, and click on the Current Featured Webinars banner on the home page.
For more information about the Making Life Easier program, visit www.kingcounty.gov/MLE.
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Tech Tip: An important note about Microsoft Skype and Teams instant messages/chat
Employees may recall that the guidance for using Skype instant messages (IMs) has been “do not conduct work via IM.” IMs should only be used for transitory communication because once the IM window is closed, the message is gone. Yes, that has meant the instant messages were totally gone, leaving no record.
The same guidance is mostly in place with IMs in Teams, only they’re called “Chats” now.
Chats, though, work a little differently in Teams. Microsoft technical requirements prevent Chats from instantly disappearing when the Chat window is closed, so they will be held in the system for 24 hours, at which point they will be deleted. The Skype to Teams transition project is still working on this “holding period” for Chats, and it may be subject to change in the future. More information is to come on this.
When employees move to Teams for calls, meetings and IMs/chats (this year for most employees, the rest in 2021), continue to use Chats only for transitory communication, such as “Ready for that coffee now?” or “Hey, are you going to join our meeting?”
Posts in Teams Channels, on the other hand, are retained and are a great place to communicate important information. Learn about posts and other great Teams collaboration features here.
Employees should keep in mind that since Teams posts are retained, and Teams Chats are automatically held for 24 hours, they are both subject to public disclosure and a hold may be placed on these communications, so please continue to communicate in a professional manner.
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Election 2020: Seattle voters support funding for transit
Crossposted from Metro Matters
While some ballots are still arriving and being counted, so far an overwhelming majority of voters in the City of Seattle have approved Proposition 1: “Funding for Transit and Related Transportation Needs.” This proposition would replace a funding source that expires at the end of this year.
Revenues from the new measure would fund transit services benefiting Seattle residents through the Seattle Transportation Benefit District. Proposition 1 was placed on the ballot when Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan signed Council Bill 119833 on July 31. The proposition increases the current 0.1% sales tax to 0.15%, which is anticipated to generate roughly $39 million annually over the next six years to fund transit service, capital projects, and transit access programs.
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Annual Giving Drive offers virtual “office hours”
This year, the Annual Giving Drive is offering virtual information sessions to make it easier for you to participate in the 2020 campaign.
The Annual Giving Drive’s Campaign Assistants are hosting Zoom “office hours” where you can ask questions, get help setting up pledges, discuss giving options, and more.
The virtual office hours are available:
- Mondays and Fridays, from 11 a.m. to noon
- Wednesdays, from 1–2 p.m.
- Access the office hours through this Zoom link
For more information, contact your Employee Giving Program Ambassador, visit www.kingcounty.gov/giving, email EmployeeGiving@KingCounty.gov or call 206-263-9405.
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Featured Job: Communications Specialist III
Salary: $78,992.16 – $100,127.46 Annually
Location: Seattle, WA
Job Type: Special Duty Assignment or Term Limited Temp (TLT)
Department: DPH – Public Health
Job Number: 2020EY12395
Closing: 11/17/2020 11:59 PM Pacific
Learn more about this position or view all available positions.
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Executive Constantine statement on approval of Harborview bond measure
King County Executive Dow Constantine released the following statement late Tuesday evening on the $1.74 billion Harborview Medical Center bond measure after King County Elections posted that it was passing by 77 percent of the vote in early returns.
“While there are still many votes to be counted, I thank the voters of King County for their support for Harborview Medical Center. These investments will ensure that our region continues to be the best place in the country to receive emergency medical care, and needed seismic upgrades will protect the lives of patients, employees, and visitors to Harborview. Besides helping people with behavioral health needs and better preparing the region to fight pandemics, the measure creates thousands of family-wage construction jobs at a time when our region needs them the most.
“Every generation has stepped up to support Harborview Medical Center. I am proud that this generation is no different.”
Employee News 