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Telling the stories of King County employees

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Featured Coronavirus Information

Don’t let your guard down to COVID-19

Updated guidance for mandatory telecommuting (updated Oct. 29, 2020)

Emergency childcare for first responders & essential workers 

Help needed to support COVID-19 efforts

News

Posted on January 21, 2021 by kcwebteam

Recording meetings and calls in Teams is available once again!

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

Posted on January 21, 2021 by kingcountyemployees

Cmdr. Corinna Hyatt retires after 30-plus years at DAJD

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

Posted on January 21, 2021 by kingcountyemployees

Executive Constantine outlines top priorities for 2021

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

Posted on January 21, 2021 by Denise Higgins

Update your life insurance beneficiaries

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

Posted on January 21, 2021 by kingcountyemployees

A roadmap for Clean Water Healthy Habitat

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

Posted on January 19, 2021 by kingcountyemployees

COVID-19 Child Care Reimbursement Program now available

A new temporary program will provide $500 to $5,000 tax-free to those in the Regular Employee Benefits Group to reimburse them for child care provided during the 2020/2021 school year. The COVID-19 Child Care Reimbursement Program was created by King County management and unions in the Joint Labor Management Insurance Committee (JLMIC) in response to the overwhelming impacts of COVID-19 on working parents. It is funded with $9M from the Protected Fund Reserve of the JLMIC. Who can participate? If you are enrolled in the Regular Employee Benefits Plan, you can be… Read More

Posted on January 15, 2021 by Jason Argo

Panel discussion on understanding ableism, Jan. 21

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

Posted on January 14, 2021 by Jason Argo

Please join me today, Jan. 14, for MLK Day Celebration

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

Posted on January 13, 2021 by Jason Argo

Teleworking employees impacted by power outages

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

Posted on January 12, 2021 by Jason Argo

Update on rollout of COVID-19 vaccines

Dear fellow King County employee, Last week I announced $7 million to create high-volume community vaccination sites and mobile teams so that as many people as possible in our community can receive COVID-19 vaccinations as quickly as possible. My strategy is closely aligned with Washington State Department of Health (DOH) guidance for vaccine allocation, prioritization, and distribution. DOH has released a priority plan for vaccinating people in the next tiers, starting with Tier B1 potentially later this month. It has also released a chart showing estimated timelines for vaccine distribution, which contains… Read More

Posted on January 8, 2021 by kingcountyemployees

We’ve moved to a better, more modern standard Internet browser

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

Posted on January 7, 2021 by kingcountyemployees

Special Online Event for Veteran and Military Employees, January 21, Noon – 1:30 p.m.

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

Posted on January 7, 2021 by kingcountyemployees

Protect yourself from unemployment fraud

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

Posted on January 7, 2021 by kingcountyemployees

2021 Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration, January 14

Community members and King County employees are invited to join in honoring our nation’s foremost human rights leader and King County’s namesake, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr, in a virtual celebration on Thursday, Jan. 14. The theme for the 2021 Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration is “Creating the Beloved Community” and the accompanying quote is “A democracy cannot thrive where power remains unchecked and justice is reserved for a select few. Ignoring these cries and failing to respond to this movement is simply not an option — for peace cannot exist where justice… Read More

Posted on January 7, 2021 by Lindsay Pryor

Balanced You: 2020 Reflections and 2021 Highlights

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

Posted on January 6, 2021 by Lindsay Pryor

Training Spotlight: Coaching Skills – Online

Become an effective and productive coach! In this workshop, you’ll learn a model of coaching for maximum effectiveness and the impact coaching has on a team. You’ll conclude the class with an action plan for your personal growth and development as a coach. Offered through N Seattle College, this course will be held on January 13, 2021, from 1 to 4 p.m. with a fee of $89.00. Register Here    Please visit our King County Eventbrite website and our Learning and Development website for more learning opportunities. For more information, contact the Learning and Development Team at KCTraining@kingcounty.gov or visit Learning and Development… Read More

Posted on January 6, 2021 by Jason Argo

Our democracy remains strong in the face of violence

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

Posted on January 6, 2021 by Lindsay Pryor

Featured Job: Transit Mechanic

Salary: $60,819 – $86,881 annually  Location: Multiple locations in King County  Job Type: Multiple – Career Service and/or Temp  Department: MTD – Metro Transit  Job Number: 2020RSJ12406  Division: Vehicle Maintenance  Learn more about this position or view all available positions. 

Posted on January 6, 2021 by Lindsay Pryor

Employee webinar: The Role of Hope, Joy, and Resilience

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

Posted on January 5, 2021 by Lindsay Pryor

New survey shows how COVID-19 is impacting basic needs, mental health, and social supports in King County 

Crossposted from Public Health Insider   The coronavirus pandemic has brought dramatic changes to our lives – beyond the illness and death directly caused by the virus. Rising unemployment, increased needs for food assistance, and remote schooling are all economic and social impacts of COVID-19 that go beyond the daily counts of new cases or deaths.   The overall results are concerning. 1 in 4 respondents said that COVID-19 impacted their ability to pay for essentials like rent/mortgage, utilities or groceries. About 1 in 6 of survey respondents said that sometimes, their food didn’t last and they… Read More

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We tell stories that highlight the work we do to support our residents,
build strong communities, and make our region a great place to live and work.

Our 15,000 employees work every day to make King County
a welcoming community where every person can thrive.

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  • Equipping employees to advance equity and social justice
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We tell stories that highlight the work we do to support our residents, builds strong communities, and make our region a great place to live and work. Our 15,000 employees work every day to make King County
a welcoming community where every person can thrive. Read more about our amazing employees and their stories, and learn what it means to be a King County employee.

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