Employee News
Telling the stories of King County employees
Christina O’Claire, supervisor of strategic planning and analysis (Service Development) for Metro Transit, was named in September by Mass Transit magazine as one of its 2014 “Top 40 under 40.” This list honors transit professionals who made significant contributions to the public transit industry. Nominated by peers, honorees were judged on job commitment, industry involvement and contributions, achievements, and innovation in their field. O’Claire was cited for “helping King County Metro move into the future through an evolving array of strategic performance and planning initiatives.” She is currently working to keep Metro… Read More
King County is partnering with 4Culture, Historic Seattle and local construction firms to give returning military veterans new skills that they can use in building restoration and preservation careers. VETS RESTORE is a new education and career opportunity for returning military veterans in King County where participants are trained in preservation carpentry and introduced to the building rehabilitation trades. The mission of VETS RESTORE is to connect veterans with the valuable work of revitalizing America’s historic building stock. In this video, Bryan Fry with the King County Veterans’ Program shares how diverse opportunities,… Read More
What makes a good Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) volunteer, according to Peggy Larson, is someone who has a commitment to helping children. “They get the reward of knowing they’ve made a difference in a child’s life,” Larson said. Larson, a CASA Supervisor at the Maleng Regional Justice Center who works with CASA volunteers, has been at King County for 25 years. “It’s a great job. I love working with our volunteers. They’re such interesting people and they do so much on behalf of the kids,” Larson said.
Take advantage of a series of three training opportunities that will build your leadership skills and help you manage change in difficult circumstances: Change Management for Leaders, December 2, 9 am – 4:30 pm, Seattle Marriott Waterfront, 2100 Alaskan Way, Seattle Performance Under Pressure, December 3, 9 am – 3 pm, Seattle University, Campion Towers, 305 Harrison Street, Seattle, WA 98109 Workforce of the Future: Managing Millenials, December 4, 8:30 am – 4:30 pm, Bell Harbor Conference Center, 2211 Alaskan Way, Seattle. You can take all three classes or individual classes depending… Read More
In neglect and abuse cases involving children, a vital role is played by a group of volunteers known as CASAs. King County Executive Dow Constantine recently visited some of the employees and volunteers from the Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) program in Kent to learn more, and thank them for their care and support of children going through traumatic times. A Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) is a trained volunteer who represents the best interests of children up to 11 years old who have allegedly been abused and/or neglected as they are… Read More
Save up to 43% off Chinook Books and get access to over 500 coupons to your favorite local merchants. Due to demand, this offer expires on November 30, 2014. Order as a group with your colleagues and pay just one shipping fee. Click here to place your order. Available in print and mobile editions. See all available discounts on the Employee Discount Webpage.
When he entered the civilian workforce, Navy veteran Bryan Fry says one of the hardest parts was finding the “red line.” “In a blink, your military career is over. You’re done. Time to go home, time to get a job. But, where’s the red line? How do I integrate back home? I had a relationship with order, I had a relationship with the red line and it’s not there anymore,” Fry said at a King County Lunch and Learn called “Increasing Understanding of Our Veteran Employees.” Moderated by Fry, who is now… Read More
Falling leaves and falling temperatures mean the giving season will soon be here. However, for many families in King County, this time of year is difficult. They struggle to make ends meet, especially as the weather turns colder and heating bills rise. For many years now, King County employees have demonstrated their generosity and giving spirit by donating canned and pre-packaged food to our Holiday Food Drive. Collection bins have been stationed at most King County buildings to accept your donations. Donations will be accepted in the bins through Friday, Nov. 21…. Read More
The website http://www.BlackPast.org has created a special section on the history of notable African-American residents of King County. The site includes brief profiles of the individuals, organizations, institutions and events that shaped the history of King County. Biographies include Edwin T. Pratt, Norm Rice, Jimi Hendrix, Larry Gossett and Wanda Herndon. Also included are primary documents, speeches, bibliographies, and a photo gallery related to that history. See more here. The website was created with the help of a grant from 4Culture, King County’s cultural service agency.
King County Executive Dow Constantine today announced that he has brought together funding partners from local cities, tribes, nonprofits, and companies to help maintain services at the Auburn health clinic for the next two years. He will work with the Metropolitan King County Council to identify the additional funds needed to continue operations during the 2015-2016 biennium. The Auburn Public Health Center – which includes satellite offices in Enumclaw and the Muckleshoot Reservation – provides health services to 10,000 clients, 97 percent of whom live below the federal poverty line. The Public… Read More
Following the completion of a LEAN session with department staff, the Assessor’s Office has been working in 2014 to place drop-in office locations around the county for appraisal staff as they complete their work in the field. Three of these drop-in locations are now up and running as appraisal staff begin their physical inspections. These sites are located at Marymoor Park in Redmond, Shoreline District Court, and on Vashon Island at the Community Service Center and the Fire Station. Fleet vehicles are placed at these sites for convenient pick-up, along with working… Read More
If you’re eligible for benefits with the County, you should have received important information about this year’s benefits open enrollment, which will run Nov. 1 – Nov. 15. 2015 benefit highlights Regence BlueShield is issuing new KingCareSMmedical cards for next year. SmartCare Connect (Group Health) has added a cardiac rehabilitation program. You can enroll in a health care flexible spending account with debit card reimbursement. You can carry up to $500 of unused health care flexible spending account funds into 2015 and still elect the maximum $2,500 for 2015. Options during open enrollment Change medical plans…. Read More
The new KCWeb Intranet is now live and is your new one-stop shop for employee news, information and the tools you use every day – all in one central location. If you are unable to log in, here are the five steps to follow: Open your browser (recommended: Internet Explorer 9 or above). Go to SharePoint.kingcounty.gov. Type your King County alias followed by “@kingcounty.gov” and, if allowed, your network password into the fields. Make sure to check “Keep me signed in” (this will reduce having to login again and again). Click “Sign in.” Get complete instructions here. If… Read More
The second open enrollment season for enrolling in Apple Health (Medicaid) or Qualified Health Plan coverage through WA Healthplanfinder runs from November 15, 2014 through February 15, 2015. In King County, we expect an increase in the number of insurance carriers and Qualified Health Plans from which individuals will be able to choose, and small businesses will also be able to begin purchasing coverage for their employees through WA Healthplanfinder. In preparation for the new enrollment season, Public Health-Seattle & King County — the lead In-Person Assister Organization for King County —… Read More
5th Avenue Theatre – $25 Tickets to A Christmas Story, November 25-30 (check dates). To get this special deal, use the promotion code FAMILY when you place your order. Click the link: http://www.5thavenue.org/FAMILY. Summit at Snoqualmie – Get discounts for yourself and your family with your King County ID. Adult Day Ticket (Ages 13+) = $50 (Regular $68), Adult Night Ticket $33 (Regular $41). See all discounted rates and instructions. See all available discounts on the Employee Discount Webpage.
Margaret Thompson is a Customer Service Hero because customer service is her primary focus even though she is “behind the scenes”. She understands that what she produces in the Print Shop helps other county agencies accomplish their mission of promoting the programs and services King County delivers. Margaret goes above and beyond the norm by immediately contacting her customers when she finds a discrepancy in the work order request. Her patience and dedication to create the best products are displayed when she helps the customer resolve issues associated with their work order… Read More
Application deadline: Fri. 11/28/14 4:30 PM Salary: $32.43 – $45.40 Hourly (20 hours) Department: Department of Adult & Juvenile Detention Description: The Department of Adult and Juvenile Detention (DAJD) is seeking a highly motivated individual to occupy the position of Registered Nurse for our Juvenile Division. This position is responsible for providing nursing services to detained youth that may possess a wide range of physical, mental health and behavioral problems. Learn more about this position or view all available jobs.
The King County Employee-Based EEO/AA Advisory Committee presents “Bravery in Equity: Are you brave enough to have a conversation about equity?” Beginning in November 2014, this project will bring a selection from the Pacific Science Center’s “RACE: Are WE So Different?” exhibit to King County facilities for one year. Each location will host four educational panels that will be rotated every three months. These panels provide a brief history of equity and social justice facts in King County and surrounding areas. We hope this exhibit challenges King County employees and patrons to… Read More
John Sharp worked as a truck driver for King County’s Solid Waste Division since 1990, something that he loved doing. But in 1999, he lost an arm in a motorcycle accident. Even with his disability, John wanted to get back to driving grapples, packers and other heavy machinery. So with the help of King County’s Disability Services Program, he was equipped with specially-designed accommodations that allowed him to operate heavy machinery at the Cedar Hills Regional Landfill, and get back to work. Watch this short KCTV video on John’s story.
Dear King County Employee: If you’re eligible for benefits with the County, begin checking your home mailbox for important information about this year’s benefits open enrollment, which will run Nov. 1 – Nov. 15. While you’re waiting for open enrollment to begin, you can get ready by: reading the information you’ll be receiving, and updating the password for your PeopleSoft account if you haven’t logged in to PeopleSoft recently. Every 90 days, PeopleSoft requires you to update your password. To do so, go to www.kingcounty.gov/mybenefits and follow the instructions. Call 206-263-4357 if you… Read More