Employee Spotlights
Navigating a loved one’s military deployment
A DPD mitigation specialist begins to use videos to tell clients’ stories
Honoring King County’s active duty employees
Five questions with John Miller, Organizational Development Practitioner, Department of Human Resources
News
Employees who open a new My Secure Advantage account will be entered to win $100 gift card
My Secure Advantage (MSA) offers free money coaching and education, including tax advice, to King County employees. Employees who open a new MSA account and take the financial wellness survey before Feb. 14, will be entered by MSA into a drawing to win a $100 Amazon gift card. To hear more on how to save on taxes, join MSA’s webinar “Making Tax Returns Less Taxing” on Feb. 11 at 9 a.m. and noon. You can register for the webinar by opening an MSA account. Visit the Balanced You blog for more information.
Woodland Park Zoo discounts available
King County employees can now purchase discount zoo tickets online and avoid the ticket line at Woodland Park Zoo. Visit www.zoo.org, click the blue “Tickets” button on the top of the page, select “Buy” in the General Admission box, and enter Promo Code kc18 when prompted to receive a 20% discount. Purchased tickets can be printed at home or shown on a mobile device. See all available employee discounts at www.kingcounty.gov/employeediscounts.
2020 Employee Survey coming soon
The King County Employee Engagement Survey kicks off March 9 and is a great opportunity to hear from you about what is going well and where we need to improve. Employees who participated in previous surveys have helped us make King County a better place to work, and a more effective service provider for our residents. This year we’re making some enhancements to make the survey work better for everyone: Everyone will take the survey electronically Data will be available four weeks sooner There will be more time for action planning Demographic questions will be more… Read More
Featured Job: Social Services Specialist – Certified Peer Support Specialist (Peer Bridger)
Salary: $25.01 – $31.70 Hourly Location: WA 98188, WA Job Type: Career Service, Full Time, 40 hrs/week Department: DCHS – Community & Human Services Job Number: 2020AC11246 Division: Behavioral Health and Recovery Closing: 2/9/2020 11:59 PM Pacific Learn more about this position or view all available positions.
Walking the streets for Count Us In 2020
King County Executive Dow Constantine joined hundreds of volunteers, including many King County employees, for the annual Point in Time Count. “Many of us know how seeing homelessness makes us feel—but it’s vital that we also see the first-hand experience of homelessness and what our unsheltered neighbors are up against every day,” Executive Constantine said. “Joined by hundreds of volunteers, service providers, and lawmakers, we walked the streets early on the morning of January 24 to collect data about the needs of our unsheltered population.”
Pet of the Week: Oreo
Hi! My name is Oreo and I am available for adoption. I was brought in by my previous owner on April 26, 2019 because there was too much activity in the home. I am a very sweet and affectionate boy and I just love hanging out with my favorite people! I particularly enjoy getting head scratches and playing with wand toys. After having some litter box issues in my previous home, I was diagnosed with a urinary tract disease. This is being managed through a prescription diet and reducing stress in the… Read More
Corona virus update, January 29
You have probably seen the news coverage of a new (novel) coronavirus outbreak that was recognized in Wuhan, China, and which is spreading to other locations in China and to more than a dozen countries around the world. As of Tuesday, Jan. 28, there are five cases in the United States, including one in Snohomish County. All of these cases have been isolated from the public and their close contacts are being monitored by public health authorities to prevent any spread to others. Since this is a newly emerging virus, there is… Read More
Personal safety trainings coming Feb. 10
Do you find yourself out and about, walking between King County buildings, or to and from bus or light rail stops? Have you wondered what you can to do keep yourself safe? King County is partnering with the Seattle Police Department and the Seattle Metropolitan Improvement District to present lunch-and-learn sessions on Personal Safety & Public Safety Resources. Register early as these sessions tend to fill up quickly. Choose from two sessions on Feb. 10 at the King County Administration Building, Room 560: 11 a.m. – noon Register here. 12:15 p.m. – 1:15… Read More
Creating efficiencies through Supported Employment
King County’s Supported Employment Program matches job seekers with developmental disabilities to available jobs by identifying efficiencies and unmet needs throughout King County departments. The program allows each department to review its standard work practices utilizing Lean principles. A job coach is also available to help supported employees thrive in the workplace. Christina Davidson, Supported Employment Program Manager shares how meaningful this can be in several ways. “When creating opportunities to be more inclusive with our hiring we are also creating efficiencies and cost savings in departments,” she said. “It’s pretty cool to get… Read More
Pet of the Week: Pepper
Hi! My name is Pepper and I am available for adoption. I was brought in by a good samaritan on December 21, 2018. I am an independent kitty who likes to do my own thing! My caregivers have noticed that I seem to do well with other cats. When meeting cats in a new home, I would do best with a slow introduction. Read more and view all available pets at www.kingcounty.gov/adoptapet.
Featured Job: Administrative Specialist 3 – Treasury
Salary: $24.51 – $31.20 Hourly Location: Seattle, WA Job Type: Multiple job types-career service and/or temp Department: DES – Executive Services Job Number: 2020JM11223 Division: FBOD-Finance & Business Ops Closing: 2/3/2020 11:59 PM Pacific Learn more about this position or view all available positions.
Leadership Series+ A Training accepting applications, deadlines to apply Jan. 24 and Feb. 12
The Office of Equity and Social Justice in partnership with Our BODHI Project presents the Leadership Series+ A Training on Belonging, Racial Equity, Co-liberation, and Health. This series is for King County employees leading efforts towards greater racial equity and social justice, and is rooted in Our BODHI Project’s Embodying Belonging and Co-liberation Frame. Participants will engage with expanding their racial equity and social justice analysis, deepening their purpose, and centering collective well being. Employees must be able to attend both dates in ONE of the cohorts. Both cohorts also require attendance at… Read More
Important notice regarding Microsoft Teams and Planner tools
Background: King County must make changes to Office 365, resulting in updates to the Microsoft Teams and Planner tools. These changes will improve the stability and security of Office 365. The changes are required by Microsoft. If you use Teams or Planner: You should not edit your Teams and Planner sites from Feb. 1 until at least Feb. 18 or later. No changes can be saved during this period. You’ll still be able to access your documents and files by navigating through SharePoint to the file location. Continue to edit your documents through… Read More
Resilience and strength in the face of violence
Dear fellow King County employee, A shooting occurred during yesterday’s evening commute in downtown Seattle, leaving one person dead and multiple people with injuries. It was the third shooting in two days within a several-block radius of downtown. These events strike us all deeply – as residents, commuters, and public servants. Everyone deserves to feel safe. As we process this string of violent incidents, we must support each other, and appreciate the collective trauma that gun violence inflicts upon the entire community. As always, King County employees displayed laudable courage and exemplary… Read More
Customer Care Team poised to improve customer service
Crossposted from DES Express Walt Lowry was hired last fall to lead the Facilities Management Division’s Customer Care Team and improve its processes. Now fully staffed, the team juggles dozens of work orders daily, while developing process improvement strategies. “There’s never a dull moment in Facilities,” Lowry cracks. “All of our buildings are old. They’re handing out work orders like they’re playing cards. We deal with moves, clogged toilets, dead batteries, flags, leaks, broken windows, elevator issues and inspections, and anything else staff can think about for building needs. Read more from DES… Read More
Everyday customer service makes a difference
Crossposted from DES Express Within just minutes at the Maleng Regional Justice Center (MRJC) in Kent, Security Officer Kim Brown helped a handful of customers. He escorted a woman and her young child from outside a closed courtroom to the proper room for their appointment. While giving a tour, he overheard a couple who sounded lost and offered his services. He quickly answered another question from someone who stopped at the Information Desk. He gives cookies to crying kids and helps start employees’ dead car batteries. It’s all in a day’s work for Brown, who… Read More
MLK Jr.: ‘The time is always ripe to do right’
Crossposted from Metro Matters Martin Luther King, Jr. visited Seattle once, from Nov. 8 to Nov. 11, 1961. King was 32 at the time and had yet to deliver his iconic address during the March on Washington or write his powerful Letter from Birmingham Jail. Accounts from his time in King County, King’s “The American Dream” speech at Garfield High School includes lines that he would use two years later in his “I Have a Dream” speech. King also delivered some of his most powerful calls to action to Seattle audiences. The Seattle Times reported… Read More
Featured Job: Engineer II (Capital Strike Team)
Salary: $37.75 – $47.86 Hourly Location: Seattle, WA Job Type: Career Service, Full Time, 40 hrs/week Department: DNRP – Natural Resources & Parks Job Number: 2019MK11102 Division: WLRD -Water & Land Resources Closing: 1/23/2020 11:59 PM Pacific Learn more about this position or view all available positions.
2020 Mindfulness classes open for registration
Would you like to stress less this year? Give Balanced You’s popular mindfulness classes a try! Balanced You has partnered with Mindfulness Northwest to offer classes at county worksites, online, or in the community. Classes are available to King County employees free-of-charge, subject to availability. The next available class, “Introduction to Mindfulness” will be Jan. 16 from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. at the King County Airport. Registration closes January 15th. Visit the Balanced You blog for more information.
Pet of the Week: Rudolph
Hi! My name is Rudolph and I am available for adoption. I was brought in by a good Samaritan on Dec. 2, 2019. I am a sweet cat who may need extra time and attention to warm up to new situations and new people. When I was a wee little one, I was not taught how nice and friendly people can be, but I am learning quickly! Though I may be timid at first, once you take the time to show me I can trust you I will show you just how wonderful I… Read More
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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.
