As King County completes the change from Skype to Teams, we want to remind users of our general County policies for recording meetings and calls.  Here are a few things we need everyone to be aware of:   First, we’re a two-party consent state. What does that mean? It means the person making a recording must tell others he or she is doing so.   Just as in Skype, when you’re on a computer and a meeting or a call is being recorded, a banner will appear across the top of your meeting window. Look for it!   If you’re calling into… Read More

Crossposted from Roll Call: the DAJD newsletter January 2021 Corinna Hyatt first set foot inside the King County Correctional Facility as a volunteer. In the late 1980s, her full-time job was at the downtown Seattle YMCA. After a few months helping inmates with physical fitness, a jail supervisor suggested she apply for a corrections job. More than 31 years later, she retired – as leader of DAJD’s COVID-19 Incident Command and the recently departed MRJC facility Commander. At a low-key going-away ceremony in December, Director John Diaz called her “one of the… Read More

King County Executive Dow Constantine has shared the top priorities he is focused on in 2021 and beyond. “While 2021 has begun with new challenges, it is crucial that we continue to push ahead with our priorities and solutions with a sense of renewed urgency and action,” Executive Constantine said. “I am proud of everything we have accomplished together, and I am excited about what’s possible and what’s needed on our path ahead.” Executive Constantine listed his top priorities as: Health through Housing COVID-19 Response & Vaccination COVID-19 Recovery Anti-racism and pro-equity… Read More

Life and disability insurance are important to those who depend on you for financial security. Survivor benefits provide financial assistance in your absence. It’s important to review and keep your beneficiaries up to date for the life and accidental death and dismemberment (AD&D) coverage you have through King County. By designating a beneficiary, you ensure the person of your choice receives the proceeds. If you have not designated beneficiaries, you will be receiving two emails and a home mailer from the life and AD&D insurance plan manager, Securian Financial, the parent company… Read More

A major milestone is in the books for Clean Water Healthy Habitat, King County Executive Dow Constantine’s environmental initiative launched in September 2019 to better align the outstanding work we do throughout King County government to achieve better results faster for all living things in King County. Executive Constantine last month announced completion of the Clean Water Healthy Habitat Strategic Plan (SharePoint link), saying it was shaped by expert employee advice that strengthened the strategic plan and turned an aspirational concept into a roadmap with clear direction and measurable goals. “I am… Read More

The King County Disability Consortium is hosting an online community discussion on ableism, the intersection of racism and disability, and where there is still work to do. Understanding Ableism: Nothing About Us, Without Us is an informative panel discussion on how people with disabilities/disabled people define ableism and how it shows up in their own lives. The panel will also discuss the intersection of disability and other marginalized identities, especially race, other people’s role in combating ableism, how disability justice meshes with other civil rights issues and ways we can all support… Read More

Dear fellow King County employee, I am writing to invite you to the 2021 King County Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration today, Thursday, Jan. 14, from noon to 1 p.m. While public health guidance won’t allow us to gather in person this year, I, along with the MLK Celebration Planning Committee, the Black/African Affinity Group, the Native American Leadership Council, and Council Chair Claudia Balducci, are hoping that you will join us to honor the life and legacy of our County’s namesake, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. This year’s event comes… Read More

Dear employee, Power outages are affecting some employees’ ability to effectively work remotely today. If you are unable to telework effectively today, please contact your supervisor to discuss other options for completing work tasks today. These may include taking leave or working from your regular King County worksite for today only.  If you are currently teleworking and have an operational need to work at your regular King County worksite today, please obtain supervisor approval. If you do have to go into an office area, please ensure you wear a mask over your… Read More

Many of us at King County recently were moved to the Modern Edge browser, which is faster and runs all web applications previously accessed with Internet Explorer and Edge Legacy. The move doesn’t impact any other browsers employees may currently have on their devices, such as Chrome or Firefox.  Last week, a vendor inadvertently hastened the move to the Modern Edge browser by changing settings for many county users. This meant if you previously had Internet Explorer or Microsoft Edge, you were moved to Microsoft Modern Edge ahead of KCIT’s schedule. We regret users didn’t receive advance notice. However, all employees need the Modern Browser to work more effectively with applications and web-based content.   Here is… Read More

King County is hosting a special online event for veteran and military employees on Jan. 21. Employees and family members are invited to join us for one or all of the virtual presentations below. Register HERE (open only to King County employees and family members). Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) Award Presentation Noon – 12:15 p.m. King County Executive Dow Constantine will accept the Pro Patria Award from the Washington State ESGR Committee. The Pro Patria Award is presented annually to one small, one large, and one public sector employer… Read More

With additional stimulus and unemployment payments on their way to many Americans, please be aware that scams and fraud attempts are expected to rise. Last year, Washington state experienced an alarming rise in fraudulent unemployment claims as victims’ identities were used to file false unemployment claims with the Employment Security Department (ESD), including here in King County. Please see our recommendations for how you can protect your identity and finances, as well as steps to take if you are a victim of this fraud. To protect yourself from fraud Employees should consider setting up… Read More

As we welcome in 2021, we at Balanced You want to take a moment to reflect on the growing importance of well-being in 2020 and share our plans for this coming year.  If there is a silver lining on the last year, it’s the realization at every level of the organization that well-being needs to be a priority for all of us. Over the last year we heard through surveys and listening sessions how your well-being was challenged by social unrest, the pandemic, and the presidential election. We were inspired by those… Read More

Dear fellow King County employee, Today we witnessed disgraceful, disturbing scenes of violence and lawlessness in our nation’s capital. This attack on our democracy is, sadly, not totally unexpected, and is the manifestation and culmination of the last four years of lies, misinformation, and hate. It is unacceptable. It is un-American. And it must end. Our democracy will outlast this event. We will continue to live by the values that we all hold dear. We will remain focused on the issues that matter to us. We will move forward and build a… Read More

January 13, 2021 | 1-2:00 PM | Register here  Please join us for our upcoming webinar, “The Role of Hope, Joy and Resilience” which will be held on January 13, 2021, from 1-2:00 p.m. This event will provide an opportunity for King County employees to acknowledge that we have gone through a lot in the last year and will show how finding hope and joy during these uncertain times may help us start the new year off right. The panel will be coordinated by Balanced You and our community partner, Mindfulness Northwest. We… Read More