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Holiday travel? Metro will help you get there
Emergency exercise tests communications ahead of World Cup
King County Wins 2025 Geospatial Professional Network Award for Innovative AI-GIS System
Recognizing the service of Metro veterans
News
Increase connections during Suicide Prevention Month
Dear fellow King County employee, National Suicide Prevention Month, recognized during September, is a month to bring awareness to the general public and those who are affected by suicide. Mental health struggles, such as suicidal thoughts, can happen to anyone at any time. Mental health may be especially impacted by the unprecedented levels of loneliness many of us are experiencing. A 2023 Gallup poll indicated that one in five workers worldwide suffer from loneliness. Additionally, the United States Surgeon General issued a report in 2023 stating that our nation was experiencing an… Read More
Records Management Reminder: Transitory records should be routinely destroyed
As government employees, we are bound by various laws and policies that describe what we need to do with our records. The good news is that many of our records are considered transitory. This means that they do not have retention value and can and should be destroyed as soon as they are no longer needed. Some examples of transitory records: Accepted meeting notices Out-of-office replies Cherwell ticket notifications Spam Personal / Non-work related records Newsletters you receive (including this one!) Emails you are CC’d on that do not require or result in… Read More
Fall and winter vaccines: Q&A with Dr. Eric Chow
Crossposted from Public Health Insider We are going to see more respiratory illnesses in the coming months with kids going back to school, more people working in person, and folks spending more time indoors. COVID-19 already has a head start. This summer we are seeing a wave happening across the country, and King County’s no exception. Here’s the good news: updated vaccines for the 2024-2025 respiratory illness season are starting to arrive in pharmacies and clinics and they’ll soon be widely available. Keeping up to date on vaccinations gives you and your… Read More
Onsite King County flu and COVID-19 clinics
King County is making it easy for employees to get protected by offering multiple onsite flu and COVID shot clinics at County worksites. Getting your flu and COVID-19 shots are an important part of protecting your health, your family’s health, and your community’s health. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that everyone six months and older get a flu shot and COVID-19 shot every year. Flu shots have many important benefits; getting a flu shot can reduce your risk of getting the flu, help protect vulnerable populations, and conserve health care resources…. Read More
Executive Constantine proclaims 2024 National Payroll Week
King County Executive Dow Constantine has proclaimed Sept. 2 through Sept. 6 as National Payroll Week, and recognizes the important role of King County’s payroll professionals. “King County payroll professionals play a key role in maintaining the economic health of the County, in ensuring the economic security of families by carrying out diverse tasks such as processing paychecks, payments to child support, and tax withholding, reporting, and depositing,” Executive Constantine said in the Proclamation. Read the full proclamation here.
Sustainability and support mark a summer of meaningful advocacy for Department of Public Defense interns
Crossposted from For the Defense Cecilia Atkins, a rising 3L student at Michigan Law, chose to spend her summer internship at the King County Department of Public Defense (DPD) largely because of Washington’s unique Rule 9 licensure that allows supervised students to speak on the record. At the start of the 10-week program, she took over a handful of cases from a public defender who rotated into felonies from practicing in Seattle Municipal Court. Although Cecilia had heard from classmates at Michigan who had interned at DPD that she’d have the support… Read More
Morgan Stanley emails and workshops are not associated with King County
Recently, several employees have reported receiving emails from Morgan Stanley Wealth Management regarding workshops for public employees. Please be aware, Morgan Stanley is not associated with King County or any of its employee retirement or financial plans. For security purposes, it is recommended that you do not give out any personal information to anyone you did not first contact, and use caution when using links in an unsolicited email. You can find more information about King County retirement and financial plans and services here: Retirement Deferred Compensation Retirement Education Schedule Balanced You – My… Read More
State retirement plan contributions change Sept. 1, 2024
Employer contribution rates for some of the following retirement plans will change on Sept. 1, 2024, as approved by the State Legislature. The state Pension Funding Council adjusts contribution rates, as needed, to fund the retirement benefits earned by members. You will see the new employer contribution amounts under employer-paid benefits on your paystub beginning Sept. 26, 2024. More information is available on the Washington State Department of Retirement Systems (DRS) website. If you have any questions about the rate change, please contact DRS at 800-547-6657 or recep@drs.wa.gov.
KCSO attends annual Skyway Health and Safety Fair
Cross-posted from the King County Sheriff’s Office newsletter. Last weekend, the King County Sheriff’s Office took great pride in participating in the Annual Skyway Health and Safety Fair alongside various stakeholders and the local community. This highly anticipated event attracted hundreds of residents from Skyway and nearby areas and was meticulously organized by the dedicated team at Skyway Fire District 20. The day kicked off with a complimentary pancake breakfast hosted by the fire department, setting a warm and inviting tone for the event. Throughout the day, there was a wide range… Read More
Protect yourself, your family, and your co-workers
King County wants employees to be healthy so you can feel good, get the most out of life, and do your best work for the community we serve. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend that everyone six months and older get a yearly flu vaccine and the most current COVID-19 vaccine. Each year, King County’s Balanced You arranges onsite flu shot clinics for employees. This year we will also be offering the most current COVID-19 vaccine. The clinics for King County employees are scheduled at various sites around the County from… Read More
King County’s ultimate frisbee team brings employees together
This summer, King County employees formed an ultimate frisbee team for DiscNW’s corporate league (with the team name “zzGrp, KC Ulti”). King County departments represented on the team included Natural Resources and Parks (including players from Water and Land Resources Division, Wastewater Treatment Division, and Parks), Information Technology, Public Health, Executive Services, Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, plus several significant others who consistently showed up as well. While most other teams in the league came from tech companies that sponsored them, King County’s squad was composed of enthusiastic County employees who covered league costs themselves. Games… Read More
A highly successful paint recycling program shows how extended producer responsibility reduces waste, protects human and environmental health
Cross-posted from Department of Natural Resources and Parks. The success of a statewide rule that holds producers responsible for their own products, such as leftover paint, is a key component of Re+, King County’s initiative to prevent pollution, protect human and environmental health, and keep waste management costs in check. A state law that went into effect in 2020 promoting product stewardship dramatically reduced the amount of oil-based paint sent to the regional landfill in Maple Valley, preventing waste and protecting the natural environment in King County. An estimated 15,000 gallons of… Read More
Drug Court celebrates 30 years on Sept. 16
Cross-posted from King County Superior Court. King County Drug Diversion Court (KCDDC) will hold an in-person 30th anniversary celebration on September 16 in the Presiding Courtroom (E-942) of the King County Courthouse, 516 3rd Avenue, Seattle to celebrate three decades of “Transforming Lives and Strengthening Communities.” “Drug Court provided me with the treatment and resources that transformed my life. Since graduating, I have devoted my time to helping others by returning to work at the same program that saved me, supporting those who are facing similar struggles,” said Joe Barsana, a KCDDC… Read More
All employees must complete cybersecurity training
All employees and vendors with access to King County systems must complete Cybersecurity Training by Dec. 31, 2024. Log in here to complete your assigned training with our education partner, KnowBe4. Training takes about 60 minutes. Annual security training is an important activity that safeguards King County systems, and the number of employees who complete training each year impacts our insurance rates. Thank you for doing your part to protect King County! For assistance, contact the KCIT Helpdesk.
King County employee discounts for Husky Football
Husky Football is excited to offer local Washington government employees discounted tickets to three exciting games this year. This special offer is exclusively available to you as a local Washington government employee! Join UW as Coach Fisch, Will Rogers, and the Dawgs take on Weber State, Northwestern, and UCLA this season. To purchase discounted tickets, click here. Discounted tickets are available for the following games, UW vs Weber State, Saturday, Aug. 31; UW vs Northwestern, Saturday, Sept. 21; UW vs UCLA, Friday, Nov. 15, 2024. See all available employee discounts on the Employee Discount webpage.
King County employee discount for 2024 Washington State Fair
King County employees can save on admission and ride tickets for the Washington State Fair. Have a blast with tons of free entertainment, fabulous Fair food, rides, farm animals and more. To purchase your discount tickets visit thefair.com/corporate, click the “Buy Tickets” button, enter access password: king24, under “Corporate Perks – 2024” click “Buy Tickets” for Admission & Ride deals. Get full details here. 2024 Washington State Fair takes place, Aug. 30 – Sept 22. See all available employee discounts on the Employee Discount webpage.
Facilities Management streamlines customer service under new section
Crossposted from the DES Express The Facilities Management Division welcomed the Customer Experience Section (CES) to their division last month. This new group oversees customer-facing services: the Customer Care Team (CCT), Print Shop, ID Access, Chinook 13 Program, and the Parking Program. From day one, CES has been dedicated to discovering ways they can improve the customer service their partners receive. “What initially attracted me to this role was the opportunity to engage in process development within a new team structure that focuses on the experience of all those involved,” said Shannon… Read More
Tech Tip: USB Sticks (User Snare Bait)
Have you ever found a USB Stick/Thumb Drive, or a CD on the ground or in a parking lot? Hopefully you did not put this into your computer.While you may be tempted by curiosity to see what data is on there, or perhaps to identify the owner, Do Not insert any of these found objects into your computer. You may think that it is your lucky day… ‘Hey, Free USB Stick!’, but in fact it could turn out to put you in a hot seat with your IT department. This is a common… Read More
Join the Balanced You Well-being Advisory Committee
Do you have ideas on how King County can better support the well-being of you and your colleagues? Balanced You is seeking employees interested in joining our Balanced You Employee Well-being Advisory Committee! Any King County employee who is interested is invited to apply. Inspired by employees, Balanced You equips us to live healthy and safe, know and use our benefits, and find balance in life and work. We’re Investing in YOU to help you feel good, get the most out of life, and do your best work for the people of King County. Read… Read More
Fleet Services motor pool reservation system changing soon
Crossposted from the DES Express Fleet Services is updating their Motor Pool Dispatch (MPD) reservation technology. Fleet’s current vehicle reservation system, INVERS, is nearing its end of life and will be retired by the end of 2024. To continue meeting employees’ transportation needs efficiently, the Fleet Services team is partnering with the vendor to bring an updated and more reliable reservation technology called WeGo. This new system will provide more efficient access to vehicles. Read more.
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