Pet of the Week: Sasha
Sasha is a 9 year-old, female, longhair dilute tortie (A497023). Her personality color is RED, meaning she is a fun and spirited cat who likes to get attention on her own terms. Sasha is a gorgeous kitty with a big personality! She likes to be petted a certain way and is a very sweet cat with those who respect her signals and preferences. Read more.
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2019 Employee Survey Results
Dear fellow King County employee,
King County Executive Dow Constantine
Last month in my 2019 State of the County address, I spoke about my “True North,” the simple statement that sums up our work: Making King County a welcoming community where every person can thrive.
The True North is our aspiration for both the people we serve and the people who serve them. Every employee needs to feel welcome here, and have the support and opportunities to grow and thrive in their King County career.
Our annual Employee Engagement Survey, part of my Investing in YOU strategy, is one tool that we use to gauge how well we are doing in helping you be your best at work and do your best work, and I thank you for taking the time to share your feedback this year.
Overall, we had a 70% response rate, up 11 points from our first annual survey in 2015 and our highest participation rate ever. Employee engagement continued its steady increase, with our engagement index climbing two points from 2017 – a significant jump for an organization our size – and up a total of eight points since we began the annual survey in 2015.
Opportunities for career advancement and skills development remain key drivers to engagement, and we saw a further five-point gain in employees feeling that they can advance in their County careers. Yet we need to do a better job of providing opportunities to develop your skills, with this response dropping three points, and belief that “My supervisor supports me in achieving my professional development goals” falling 11 points.
I am particularly proud that the question “I would recommend King County as a great place to work” – which is up two points this year to 79 percent – is now 11 points higher than the government benchmark, and four points above the all industries benchmark. We will continue our Investing in YOU work to ensure that King County not only does great work, but is also a great place to work.
This is the first year we asked about stress and created a well-being index which will allow us to track employees’ sense of well-being. That score is 65 percent which is decent, but I’d like to see it higher. We’ll use this data about stress and work-life balance on strategies to improve well-being and help you thrive.
I encourage you to take some time to review the results, which you can find here (Sharepoint), and work with your teams to address the issues that matter to you and your colleagues.
Thank you for providing your honest feedback. Your responses will help us build a welcoming workplace culture where you can learn, thrive, and do your best work, and ensure that we are continuing to recruit, retain, and develop the best talent to serve the people and employees of King County.
Sincerely,
Dow Constantine
King County Executive
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Activity centers offer employees exercise and healthy workout options
Pictured: The activity center at the King Street building.
Employees interested in working out have the option to get their morning started, or break up their day, by accessing one of 21 (soon to be 23) available activity centers at King County worksites. Each activity center offers similar exercise equipment, such as treadmills, dumbbells, and other items, but can also be equipped with items more specific to employee needs based on their work environment.
Each center can vary in size, but the goal of the activity centers remains the same: To give employees the convenience of being able to work out at work.
“The activity centers gives employees an opportunity to get a workout in and relieve stress,” said Balanced You Health Educator Karla Clark. “The convenience of being able to go on your lunchbreak, before or after work, is in line with our theme of balance.”
“Being able to balance your workday and your physical activity,” she adds.
Created as part of the previous health benefits program, Balanced You has worked to expand the activity centers. Several more locations are planned, with the collaboration of an external vendor who assesses the space and offers recommendations. When approved, each activity center is then overseen by a King County employee volunteer activity coordinator (AC), who works with Karla, and checks the sites periodically to ensure they are kept clean and equipment is working properly. The AC reports issues and helps provide appropriate signage and information to employees. Additionally, all sites offer stretching areas, and are regularly maintained for safety and cleanliness.
The activity centers also serve as a way for employees to support each other. Certain locations have developed walking groups, or hold group exercise classes like yoga and Zumba. The activity center is one more option for employees to get exercise during their workday.
Pictured: The stretching area in the Chinook Building activity center.
“It’s one building over from my office, allowing me – 45 minutes to an hour a couple of times per week – to step away from work stress and reset my energy to a high point,” said Travis McKinnon, a Senior Human Resources Analyst for District Court. “Especially, when afternoon crashes set in on my energy levels, or if I fail to go to my regular gym.”
The activity centers are provided free of charge to all employees, and are not attached to a benefits plan. Employees are free to come and go, using the equipment to support their own exercise plan. This allows each person the opportunity to get exercise in their workday that is fulfilling to them.
”I love having an activity center that is freely accessible to increase strength, reduce stress, and boost morale,” said Matt Green, a Transit Purchasing Specialist with Metro Transit. “It is one of the many benefits of working for King County, and it is important for me to work in an environment that actively supports better health and well-being for its employees.”
To learn more about the activity centers, their locations, equipment, and amenities, visit the Balanced You website. For questions about exercise options at your workplace contact BalancedYou@kingcounty.gov.
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Ready, set, sign ups now open for weekly produce deliveries at work
Spring has sprung! Get ready to stock up on delicious eats, try new recipes and connect with colleagues, all while supporting local farmers.
What? Through the CSA@Work program (Community Supported Agriculture), employees are able to buy local seasonal food (a “share”) from a farmer and receive deliveries right at or near work. Typically, the share consists of a weekly box of vegetables – additional items such as eggs, flowers and fruits are also available.
When? Beginning in late June, CSA@Work will deliver weekly boxes of freshly harvested produce to 10 King County worksites. Each week, you’ll receive recipes, storage tips, and easy preparation ideas to make the most of your box. Deliveries wrap up in late October.
Read more from Balanced You
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Did you know you had this benefit? Mentorship Program
King County offers a Mentoring Program designed to provide employees the opportunity to develop beneficial and rewarding partnerships that encourage professional and personal development in powerful ways. Mentoring allows a mentee to build a relationship with a trusted advisor who can help them explore career options and develop future goals in a safe space. Being a mentor can improve coaching skills, build influence and contribute to the success of the County. Learn more at www.kingcounty.gov/mentoring.
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Tech Tip: Working remotely
How to access the training:
To start your Cyber Security Awareness Training please login at:
https://sso.securingthehuman.org/kingcounty/
Your account for Securing the Human:
- Username: King County email address
- Password: King County email password
For more information about Cyber Security please visit our Sharepoint site:
https://kc1.sharepoint.com/teams/ITISRC/ISRCPUB/SitePages/Home.aspx
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Training Spotlight: KC eLearning
With thousands of courses, videos, and books, there’s bound to be something to spark your learning. Build your knowledge and increase your skills with free 24/7 access to KC eLearning. Employees with @kingcounty.gov email address can login with their email/network credentials, and employees who do not have an email address can log into their accounts using their PeopleSoft ID number. For more information about signing in, accessing KC eLearning via the mobile app, popular trainings and other eLearning opportunities, visit the KC eLearning webpage.
View more training and development opportunities at www.kingcounty.gov/learning.
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Kudos! Employee provides exceptional customer service
The following kudos was received from a customer in praise of Tiffany Frank, Customer Service Specialist III, Records and Licensing Services, with the Department of Executive Services (DES).
“I would like to thank miss beautiful lady Tiffany Frank for her outstanding performance on Monday, April 29, 2019. She was warm, kind, pleasant, knowledgeable and professional when an old Asian woman needed help getting an auto title which we lost and miss Tiffany rewrote an ‘Affidavit of Loss/Release of Interest’ for me even though she was very busy. I would like to share this with you.”
Kudos Tiffany for delivering excellent service!
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Pet of the Week: Franco
Crossposted from Tails from RASKC
Looking for an energetic, free-spirited companion? Look no further than Franco, our Pet of the Week!
This six-year-old American Bulldog mix is a genuinely happy boy who is eager to please. He always has a big grin on his face and his happiness is contagious! Franco is an active boy, so he’s one of our “Rambunctious Red” personality pets.
Read more
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Bike Show, May 22
In support of Bike Everywhere Month, we will be hosting a Bike Show on Wednesday, May 22 from 2-3:30 p.m. in Chinook, Rooms 121 and 123. Join us for a chance to ask your colleagues how they make bike commuting work for them. There will be a variety of bike set ups to check out. For more information contact Heather Eliason at Heather.Eliason@kingcounty.gov.
Employee News 