Online “marketplace” connects donors with people and organizations in need during COVID-19 outbreak
Crossposted from KC Emergency News
The King County Regional Donations Connector is now available online to link up individuals, businesses, non-profits, and others who have resources with those who need them during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Donations Connector will help make sure services, supplies, and funding reach health care providers, first responders, and social service entities working on the front lines.
The website at kingcounty.gov/emergency/donate serves three major functions.
Read more from KC Emergency News
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DocuSign electronic signature solutions available to employees
As employees continue to telecommute during the COVID-19 outbreak, KCIT wants to ensure County staff leverage DocuSign for eSignature needs. DocuSign is King County’s enterprise eSignature solution. It allows employees and third parties to digitally sign agreements/approvals quickly, securely, and at no additional cost. Agency leaders should work with their KCIT customer success manager to set up DocuSign accounts for their staff. New users can access training through DocuSign University. For a general overview, please see DocuSign Features and Benefits on its website.
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Featured Job: Administrative Specialist II – COVID
Salary: $22.74 – $28.83 Hourly
Location: Seattle, WA
Job Type: Term Limited Temporary, Full Time, 40 hrs/wk
Department: DPH – Public Health
Job Number: 2020AB11555
Division: Prevention
Closing: Continuous
Learn more about this position or view all available positions.
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Taking care of ourselves during COVID-19
It is a challenging time for employees, families, and our community as we continue our efforts to stop the spread of COVID-19, and it is normal to have feelings of uncertainty and anxiety. While many things are beyond our control with this outbreak, there are many things that we can control. When we are anxious and fearful, establishing some control in our lives can be empowering and comforting.
Balanced You is here to support you as you establish new practices of self-care to support your immune system and overall physical and mental health. Click here to read the rest of this post on Balanced You’s blog.
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Guidance on Governor’s Order and essential services
On Monday, March 23, Governor Inslee announced a “Stay Home, Stay Healthy” order, and included a lengthy list of essential services and workforce that can and should continue operating.
Governor Inslee’s order listed a number of workers who his office deemed to be essential. The Governor’s list also included “Critical government workers, including the Governor’s Office, as defined by the employer and consistent with Continuity of Operations Plans and Continuity of Government plans.”
Last fall, all King County departments updated their Continuity of Operations Plans (COOP) and designated employees as First Responders, Mission-Critical, and Non-Mission Critical in an Emergency. First Responders and Mission-Critical Employees are classified as “critical government workers” for the purposes of the Governor’s Order, and accordingly are expected to continue to report to work in person or telework per existing arrangements. Departments can change employee designations as needed, and must inform employees accordingly.
Under King County’s Temporary Leave and Telecommuting Policy, First Responders “have the highest duty to report to work as directed in emergency conditions,” and Mission-Critical Employees “must be available to perform their duties as determined by their agency management.” This is as important as ever during our COVID-19 response.
The health and safety of our employees and community remains our top priority and, as always, please follow state and local guidance to stay healthy and stop the spread of COVID-19. As a reminder, many people experience mild symptoms, but those at high risk can potentially experience severe illness. Those who are considered high risk include:
- People 60 and older
- People with underlying health conditions, including heart disease, lung disease, or diabetes
- People who have weakened immune systems
- People who are pregnant
For employees who are not First Responders or Mission-Critical, King County is now mandating telecommuting for those employees whose work allows for it, with supervisor approval, through Friday, April 24.
If an employee needs to take leave, options include:
- Accrued, federal (starts April 1), and donated leave
- Leave Without Pay
- If employees do not have accrued leave to cover their absence, they may request COVID-19 leave from their supervisor.
Thank you for everything that you are doing to help our community as we battle this virus.
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Suspension of many face-to-face customer services to continue through at least April 30
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, King County will extend the suspension of many face-to-face customer service operations through at least April 30. This move is being made in accordance with Governor Jay Inslee’s “Stay Home, Stay Healthy” order issued on March 23.
Employees are expected to work in line their current, approved arrangements. Employees will continue to provide services by phone, online, and by email wherever possible. Supervisors, managers, and leaders will provide additional information to their employees as needed. Please visit kingcounty.gov/ServiceChanges for a list of face-to-face service suspensions. This list is subject to change.
As a reminder, for all non-First Responder and non-Mission-Critical employees, King County is mandating telecommuting for those employees whose work allows for it, with supervisor approval, through at least Friday, April 24. 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.
This is a rapidly evolving event. Thank you for everything you are doing to adapt and respond to COVID-19 and helping to serve the people of King County.
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Update your emergency contact information in PeopleSoft
It’s important to review and update your personal contact information in PeopleSoft in case we need to urgently reach you or your emergency contact. By making sure your information is current:
- Your emergency contact can be notified if something happens to you at work.
- Someone at King County can reach you with information about building closures, safety directives, and other time-sensitive issues.
- You can receive information at the email address and phone number you prefer.
Here’s how:
- Sign in to PeopleSoft. You can also access PeopleSoft from home: ess.kingcounty.gov.
- Go to Personal Details
- Make sure all items under Addresses, Contact Details, and Emergency Contacts are are up-to-date. You can also choose to complete the Ethnic Groups, Disability, and Military Status fields.
- Save any changes.
Watch this video on Updating Personal Details in PeopleSoft.
If you need a new password, go to Forgot My Password. If you have any other login issues, contact the KCIT helpdesk at helpdesk.kingcounty.gov to live chat with an agent or submit a ticket, or call 206-263-4357 (3-HELP).
KCInform: Make sure you can be reached in a major emergency through KCInform, our employee alert and notification system. If you haven’t yet registered your personal contact or work cell information in KCInform, please contact kcinform@kingcounty.gov anytime or 206-296-3830 between 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Monday – Friday to request your unique registration link. Watch this short video to learn more or visit our website.
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Public Health – Seattle & King County launches new data dashboard and social campaign, and other COVID-19 updates for March 25, 2020
Crossposted from Public Health Insider
A new public campaign launched, called “Stand Together, Stay Apart.” Public Health—Seattle & King County launched a new data dashboard to update daily case counts and deaths. Public Health announced 82 new cases of COVID-19 today, bringing the official case count in King County to 1359. In addition, six new deaths are reported, bringing the total of deaths in King County to 100.
Story: Stand Together, Stay Apart
Public Health—Seattle & King County has launched a new public information campaign called, Stand Together, Stay Apart in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The campaign urges people to stay home, limit their contact with others, and take the necessary precautions when making essential trips outside the home.
Read more from Public Health Insider
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Working together to protect older adults in our communities
Crossposted from Public Health Insider
The risk for COVID-19 rises with age. Adults age 60 years and over are at highest risk for severe illness with COVID-19 illness, and the older you are, the more you are at risk. While much attention has focused on those living in nursing homes, many older adults live independently and face challenges of their own. Older adults often live alone and may need help with basic needs in order to stay home as much as possible and avoid close contacts at gatherings, stores and other public places.
Read more from Public Health Insider
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COVID-19 Staffing Updates – March 25, 2020
Dear employee, as you know we are working in a rapidly evolving situation responding to COVID-19. On Monday evening, Gov. Inslee announced a “Stay Home, Stay Healthy” order. We will provide additional guidance soon on what this means for our employees, and will continue to provide regular updates.
To ensure we can continue to serve our customers and slow the spread of COVID-19, the following guidance applies to Executive Branch employees until further notice (Employees in other branches of County government will receive guidance from their leaders [definition below]).
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, many 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 Friday, April 24. 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.
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.
King County is working to model the way for other employers, and we expect all Executive Branch employees, supervisors, and managers to follow this guidance.
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 Information Technology (KCIT), 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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