My Secure Advantage: Tips for navigating the COVID-19 financial crisis
As the number of businesses impacted by COVID-19 continues to rise, so does the number of unemployed and furloughed workers in our community. Members of your household may have been impacted by reduced work hours or lay-offs. An unexpected change in one earner’s income can greatly impact household budgets.
Fortunately, there are ways that you may be able to get financial help. Balanced You partners with My Secure Advantage to provide free financial wellness resources to King County employees. Resources include webinars with the latest fiscal information on coronavirus, budgeting spreadsheets and calculators, and personalized Money Coaches. Read the Balanced You blog for more information on My Secure Advantage, including their recommendations for steps you can take if your household income is impacted by COVID-19.
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Metro is redeploying security personnel for safety and social distancing support
Crossposted from Metro Matters
King County Metro is redeploying transit security staff to help promote an atmosphere of safety and equity for all. Officers will help ensure King County Metro’s code of conduct is upheld and encourage riders to heed Public Health – Seattle & King County’s guidance for riding transit safely during the COVID-19 pandemic. Starting Monday, April 20, transit security staff will be monitoring coaches and terminals that are experiencing crowding, defined as when it is difficult to maintain six feet of distance among riders and Metro staff.
We are also coordinating with the Healthcare for the Homeless Outreach Taskforce to share information with service providers to help give non-destination riders more information about available resources during the COVID-19 public health crisis. As always, our operators are encouraged to contact the control center when there are safety concerns.
Read more from Metro Matters
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Telecommuting guidance extended through May 31
Whitney Abrams, Chief People Officer, King County Executive Office
Dear employee,
Yesterday, Governor Inslee reiterated that the state’s “Stay Home, Stay Healthy” order aimed at stopping the spread of COVID-19 will stay in place at least until May 4, and possibly longer. These restrictions are absolutely necessary if we are to stop the spread of COVID-19 in our state and our region, and our employees – especially our first responders and mission-critical employees – have been doing everything they can to continue serving our region under extremely challenging circumstances.
Regardless of when the order is lifted, our operations will not return to normal like the flick of a light switch. It will take thoughtful and prudent actions and decision-making to stop the virus from reemerging in a second wave.
As such, King County is extending mandatory telecommuting for Executive Branch employees who have been telecommuting through Sunday, May 31, 2020. Our guidance remains the same for first responders and mission-critical employees for the Executive Branch until further notice. Employees in other branches of County government (definitions below) will receive guidance from their leaders. Please see the full, updated guidance below.
Thank you for your ongoing service and commitment to our community. Please take care of yourself, your loved ones, and one another.
Sincerely,
Whitney Abrams,
Chief People Officer
Updated guidance – April 22, 2020
First responders: Employees designated as first responders have the highest duty to report to work as directed in emergency conditions. Given the unique situation of the COVID-19 emergency, employees designated as first responders may be different than those who are designated as first responders in our traditional natural disaster emergencies. First responders who have been exposed to COVID-19, but do not have symptoms, are expected to report for work rather than stay home because of their essential function. First responders who do not have symptoms, but are at high risk for severe illness are strongly encouraged to stay home. Every department needs to determine which employees should be designated as a first responder. These designations may change through the course of the COVID-19 emergency. Supervisors need to inform those employees who are designated as a first responder. There may be circumstances where the particular exposure or household risk factors affect whether a first responder can or should report to work if exposed. If a supervisor has questions about whether a first responder should report to work, they should contact the department Human Resources Manager.
Mission-critical employees: Mission-critical employees must be available to perform their duties as determined by their agency management. During the COVID-19 emergency, the majority of mission-critical employees will be able to perform their duties while telecommuting. Mission-critical employees who have been exposed, but do not have symptoms should discuss with their supervisor and Human Resources Manager whether or not the employee should stay home. Mission critical employees who do not have symptoms, but are at high risk for severe illness, are strongly encouraged to stay home. If the work must be performed in a workplace with other employees, supervisors should make a decision about whether or not an exposed mission-critical employee who does not have symptoms can effectively stay home.
For all other employees, King County is now mandating telecommuting for those employees whose work allows for it, with supervisor approval, through Sunday, May 31. Managers and supervisors must work with their employees to permit telecommuting wherever possible and be creative to maximize telecommuting. Employees are permitted to telecommute with children in the home. The expectation of productive work remains. Please find telecommute resources here and submit a signed telecommute agreement to your supervisor. You can also get KCIT guidance here on the necessary technology tools (SharePoint). Please note that this guidance does not apply to employees designated as first responders and mission-critical employees.
Temporary reassignment: Employees who would not normally be able to telecommute but are provided a temporary reassignment or work arrangement and decline, must first use their leave accruals and then will be placed in leave without pay. Learn more about our Emergency Deployment Program.
Temporary Leave and Telecommuting Policy: Please see our Temporary Leave and Telecommuting Policy to help answer your questions, talk to your manager or supervisor, or consult your department’s Human Resources Manager.
Executive Branch departments: Department of Assessments, Department of Adult and Juvenile Detention, Department of Executive Services, Department of Community and Human Services, Department of Human Resources, Department of Judicial Administration, Department of Local Services, Department of Metro Transit, Department of Natural Resources and Park, Department of Public Defense, Department of Public Health, Executive Department, King County Elections, King County Sheriff’s Office (The King County Sheriff’s Office is administered by the King County Sheriff).
Other branches of County government: District Court, King County Council, Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, Superior Court.
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Join us for a question and answer session about COVID-19, April 23 – ¡en español!
In a virtual seminar, this Thursday, April 23, 2020 at 7 p.m., we will talk about the impacts of coronavirus (also known as COVID-19) on the Latinx community. We will respond to your questions, and more If you have a specific question, we would love to hear it. You can write your questions into the comments on the Facebook event or announcement. Follow us on the Condado de King Facebook page to receive a reminder the day of the virtual seminar.
This event will feature Matias Valenzuela, Director of Equity for Public Health – Seattle & King County, and Dr. Julian Perez, family medicine physician for Sea Mar Community Health Centers.
¡Acompáñenos a una sesión de preguntas y respuestas sobre COVID-19! 23 de abril
En el seminario virtual este jueves 23 de abril a las 7 p.m., hablaremos sobre los impactos en la comunidad Latina del coronavirus, también conocido como COVID-19. Responderemos a sus preguntas ¡y más. Si tiene una pregunta específica, nos encantaría escucharla. Por favor ¡anótelo en los comentarios abajo. Síguenos en la página Condado de King para recibir un recordatiorio el día del seminario virtual.
Este evento presenta a Matias Valenzuela, Director de Equidad para Salud Pública – Seattle y Condado de King, y el Dr. Julian Perez, médico de Los Centros de Salud Comunitarios Sea Mar con una especialización en medicina familiar.
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King County goes digital for Earth Day, April 22
As we respond to the call to stay home and stay healthy during the COVID-19 pandemic, many King County employees and residents have a renewed appreciation for – and look forward to once again fully experiencing – the healing qualities of King County’s natural spaces. The global response to the pandemic also offers a blueprint for environmental resiliency which relies on the power of collective action, and basing decisions on the latest science.
In commemorating the 50th anniversary of Earth Day, this lesson of resiliency and ingenuity resonates, and is why the Department of Natural Resources and Parks (DNRP) is celebrating by going digital, at www.kingcounty.gov/earthday. This webpage highlights actions that residents can take to protect the natural environment while promoting social distancing, including advice for planting native gardens, removing noxious weeds, and offering activities like green-themed coloring pages and crossword puzzles. You can also find King County Department of Natural Resources and Parks on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
While the pandemic prevents us from safely organizing volunteer habitat restoration events, education fairs, or other in-person events this year, our employees continue to provide essential work protecting the environment, public health and our quality of life. We want to take a moment to thank all the dedicated essential workers that are keeping King County safe and functioning. Your work is important and we value your commitment to public service.
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Hope and inspiration for 50th Earth Day
For this year’s Earth Day, the 50th year of the annual celebration of our planet, King County Executive Dow Constantine shared a video message of hope and inspiration.
“I find more hope, more inspiration, this year than any Earth Day before,” Executive Constantine said in the video. “The global response to the COVID-19 crisis really does offer us a kind of blueprint for saving our planet.”
Thank you to the dedicated employees working hard every day – oftentimes behind the scenes – to sustain our environment and promote the health and safety of our community. We appreciate your efforts this Earth Day and every day.
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Celebrating Administrative Professionals Recognition Day, April 22
Wednesday, April 22, is Administrative Professionals Recognition Day, an opportunity to say “thank you” to the Administrative Professionals that keep our teams, divisions, and departments running smoothly.
While we have had to cancel this year’s annual Administrative Professionals Recognition Day Celebration Event in line with Governor Inslee’s “Stay Home, Stay Healthy” order and our ongoing efforts to practice social distancing and stop the spread of COVID-19, we can still use this opportunity to express our gratitude to our Administrative Professionals.
This extraordinary group of people is greatly appreciated by all employees across King County, and we look forward to celebrating our Administrative Professionals in-person in 2021. Learn about our Administrative Professionals Development and Recognition Program at www.kingcounty.gov/administrativeprofessionals.
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How Public Health officials decide when to order closures
Crossposted from Public Health Insider
Dr. Jeff Duchin, Health Officer for Public Health — Seattle & King County recently interviewed with ProPublica and The Seattle Times to discuss his and the department’s thinking related to the timing of Public Health recommendations to avoid and subsequently prohibit large public gatherings, and in particular in not prohibiting the Sounders match on March 7th. The following is an overview of information Dr. Duchin shared in his conversation and through e-mail.
Early response and initial outbreak
Starting in late January, when the first United States COVID-19 case was recognized in Snohomish County, and with relatively few recognized COVID-19 cases, our public health response was based on a resource intensive “containment” strategy. It involved extensive investigations of suspected and confirmed cases, isolating ill people and identifying and following up with their close contacts to arrange isolation or quarantine as needed in an effort to interrupt transmission from person to person.
Read more from Public Health Insider
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Learning about your benefits: Out-of-pocket expenses
A short series of benefits videos has been created to help employees make informed choices about their options, and better understand their employee benefits package.
The second video, below, is about the out-of-pocket expenses associated with your medical, dental, and vision plans. View all the videos here, and get more information and resources on the Benefits, Payroll and Retirement website.
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Employee deployment program and how you can help
The Emergency Deployment Program was developed to support the critical staffing needs that are part of this emergency response. These roles do not have contact with patients but do provide the vital backbone of support needed to run our facilities, which house individuals, families, and small children during this difficult time. We also have staff who have worked tirelessly organizing emergency operations and are in need of relief. You can play a huge role in supporting the County’s ongoing response to this emergency. Please consider applying for the Emergency Deployment Program.
Work assignments include:
- Emergency Site Worker III – Administrative staffing for quarantine facilities, assessment and recovery facilities and the Emergency Operations Center (EOC). Some weekends and OT may be needed.
- Emergency Site Worker IV – Site managers for quarantine facilities or assessment and recovery facilities. All shifts including night and weekend workers needed. This position also serves as Emergency Operations Branch managers to lead ongoing work units in the EOC and Project Management for various locations and units.
We are seeking employees who have supervisor approval to commit to a minimum of one month. Training and scheduling will be confirmed by the requesting department. Here is a video that provides a quick look at our location in Kent and the great work that has already started.
Learn more by visiting the Emergency Deployment Program webpage.
Employee News 