Attend a Benefit Fair and complete Open Enrollment by Nov. 15
There’s just one week left to complete Open Enrollment. Don’t miss your opportunity to become familiar with your benefit choices and learn about the changes for next year.
Attend one of the last Benefit Fairs to get your questions answered, pick up givaways, and get help with your Open Enrollment. All employees are welcome to stop by any of the Benefit Fairs from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.
If you are unable to attend a Benefit Fair, take advantage of the following resources:
- Go to the Open Enrollment website and see the 2025 Key Benefit Changes.
- Register for an Open Enrollment information session.
- Watch the Open Enrollment Overview
All set?
When you’re ready, use your work computer or personal device to Log in to PeopleSoft Nov. 1 – 15 and select the Open Enrollment tile. Make your changes, review your Preview Statement, then use the Submit Enrollment button. For help with PeopleSoft, call the IT Service Center at 206-263-4357.
If you don’t participate in Open Enrollment…
- A Spouse Benefit Access Fee will automatically apply if you cover your spouse or state-registered domestic partner on your medical plan. If you qualify for an exemption, you must confirm this each year during Open Enrollment.
- You will not be enrolled in a Flexible Spending Account. To participate in a Health Care or Dependent Day Care FSA, you must re-enroll each year during Open Enrollment.
- Your current benefit plan elections will remain the same for next year.
Need assistance?
If you have questions or need language assistance or disability support services, contact the Benefits team:
- Benefits, Payroll and Retirement Operations
- Chinook Building, 2nd Floor
- 401 Fifth Avenue, Seattle, WA 98104
- 206-684-1556 or KC Benefits
- 9 a.m. – 4 p.m., Monday – Friday
- Closed on Veterans Day: Nov. 11
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Donate blood at Eastgate Public Health Center, Nov. 27
Giving blood is a simple way to express gratitude for your own good health and know you’re taking action to help a local patient facing a serious medical condition. Schedule an appointment to give blood at Eastgate Public Health Center on Nov. 27 to help make sure we all have a healthy year together. Make it a celebration – of hope, community, and the power we all have to save a life.
- Wednesday, Nov. 27, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Eastgate Public Health Center, 14350 SE Eastgate Way, Community Room, Bellevue, WA 98007. To book your one hour appointment visit bloodworksNW.org/giveblood.
Appointments are required for the best possible donation experience. Same-day appointments available at most locations. Photo ID required. For safety, we kindly request no visitors under 16 at our donation sites. Eat a hearty meal and drink plenty of fluids prior to donation.
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Help celebrate furbabies with the Annual Giving Drive
Every October, we get to enjoy one of the best months of the year—Adopt a Shelter Dog Month and World Animal Day. This makes it the purr-fect time to celebrate and support the organizations that rescue all the adorable furbabies. World Animal Day, celebrated on October 4, is an International Day of Action for animal rights and welfare, and Adopt a Shelter Dog Month shines a spotlight on the importance of adopting rescue dogs from shelters and giving them a second chance at life.
This a great time of year to consider bringing home a new furry family member from a local shelter. We also couldn’t resist sharing pictures of pets from our EGP Ambassadors, many of them are rescues of their own. Read more. Pledge or renew here by Nov. 22.
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Records Management Reminder: What are retention schedules?
A retention schedule is the name of a legal document that provides important information about county records. King County retention schedules are all based on, and compliant with, Washington State Local Government Records Retention Schedules. However, county employees should only use county retention schedules to determine what to do with their records. All King County retention schedules are available on the Records Management website, which is automatically updated every day.
Retention schedules include important information including:
- Cutoff date: When a type of record becomes inactive;
- Retention period: How long a record must be retained after the cutoff date;
- Archival designation: Determines whether a record can be destroyed at the end of its retention period, or whether it has the potential long-term historical value;
- And more.
For more information, visit the county’s Records Management Program website or contact them at records.management@kingcounty.gov. The Records Management Program, in the Department of Executive Services, provides guidance, resources, and training to all King County employees to assist them with managing King County’s public records according to state and local legal requirements and best practices.
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Proposed budget focuses on cleanliness, equity, reliability, safety, and sustainability
Crossposted from Metro Matters
King County Executive Dow Constantine’s 2025 budget proposal includes transit investments that will expand access to opportunity across our region.
The Executive transmitted his proposed budget to the King County Council on Sept. 23. The council is currently considering and modifying the budget. Adoption of the budget is expected by the end of November. Read more.
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Humans of Road Services: David Garcia
Crossposted from King County Local
David Garcia has found a rare and fulfilling balance between his career and his personal passions.
He is a transportation planner by day but spends most of his free time outdoors, exploring mountains, lakes, and forests with four-legged pal Winston close in step.
David is drawn toward adventure, culture, and new experiences. Understandably, he has moved around quite a bit. After growing up in the bustling, diverse Bay Area, he moved to Guatemala to gain a closer connection to his family’s culture, language and land. Read more.
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Daylight Saving reminder: “Fall back” one hour on Nov. 3
Remember to move your clock back one hour this weekend. Daylight Saving Time ends at 2 a.m. on Sunday, Nov. 3.
Daylight Saving Time in Washington will next be in effect from 2 a.m. Sunday, March, 9 to 2 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 2, 2025.
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Seattle Thunderbirds King County Employee Nights, Nov. 16 and Jan. 11
King County employees can receive discounted tickets to two upcoming Seattle Thunderbirds vs Everett Silvertips men’s junior hockey league games. Both games are at 6 p.m., doors open at 4:30 p.m., and are at the accesso ShoWare Center, located at 625 W James St, Kent, WA 98032.
Both links provided below require you to input coupon code “County” to purchase tickets for $24 plus fees, a discount of $10 off a regular priced $34 ticket. This discount only applies to blue seats on the seating chart.
- Saturday, Nov. 16 – To purchase tickets, visit this link.
- Saturday, Jan. 11 – To purchase tickets, visit this link.
See all available employee discounts on the Employee Discount webpage.
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Regional Veterans Court recognizes hard work of its participants, Nov. 14
The same week the United States honors veterans on Veterans Day, King County Regional Veterans Court (RVC) will recognize the successes and hard work of RVC program participants.
The annual celebration of RVC program participants, including participants who have successfully completed the program and will graduate from it, will be held Thursday, Nov. 14, at 1:30 p.m. King County employees are invited to attend either in person or via Zoom:
- In-person: King County Courthouse, Courtroom E326
- Zoom: https://zoom.us/j/7597251370 (meeting ID: 759 725 1370)
Operated by King County District Court since 2012, RVC understands that veterans in the justice system may be suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and other service-related disabilities. The Court strives to hold people accountable, while rehabilitating them.
“The goal is to identify what the veteran’s needs are, how to best support them, how to guide them – how to walk with them through this system,” says King County District Court Judge Lisa Paglisotti, RVC Presiding Judge.
“We have veterans justice outreach coordinators, who are liaisons making sure our participants are connected to the VA, including if they need any medications prescribed, treatment for mental health or substance use disorders, and to connect them with housing,” adds Kate Tramontana, King County District Court Therapeutic Courts Manager.
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Kaiser to close three Puget Sound-area medical facilities
Kaiser Permanente Washington recently announced that they will be closing their medical facilities in Ballard, Gig Harbor, and Poulsbo on Dec. 13, 2024.
The Kaiser announcement stated “As the health care market changes rapidly, with increased competition, new technologies, and high consumer expectations, it is critical that we continue to adapt by allocating our people and resources where they provide the greatest value to our patients, members, and customers.”
Members who seek care at the Kaiser medical facilities in Ballard, Gig Harbor, and Poulsbo can follow their clinician to a new location or change clinicians or care locations. In mid-November, Kaiser will notify members about the closures and members will receive information about where their doctors are moving to and a list of clinics nearest them.
- Other Seattle-area locations include Capitol Hill, Northgate, and Rainier medical centers.
- On the Kitsap Peninsula, members can go to the Silverdale or Port Orchard medical centers.
- The Tacoma medical center is also an option for Gig Harbor residents.
There are 22 other Kaiser locations in Western Washington. Go to the Kaiser Permanente SmartCare Connect medical plan page for more information and go to kp.org/wa/find-a-doctor to search for doctors, medical facilities, pharmacies, and hospitals.
For questions about the closures, please contact Kaiser at 888-901-4636 or Kaiser Permanente. You can also contact the Benefits team at 206-684-1556 or KC Benefits if you have questions or need language assistance or disability support services.
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