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Washington Paid Family and Medical Leave rates to increase Jan. 1
Premium rates for Washington’s Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML) program will increase on Jan. 1, 2023, as follows: The PFML program is funded by premiums collected from employees and employers in Washington state. By law, the Employment Security Department recalculates the premium rate annually in October based on program usage and premiums collected the previous year. More than 154,000 individuals claimed benefits in 2022, paying more than $1 billion in benefits to Washington workers. To learn more about PFML rates, go to the Premiums Calculator on the Washington PFML website. For… Read More
Mindfulness Toolkit for stress reduction at work
Mindfulness is a practice that can help reduce burnout, stress and anxiety. Balanced You’s partner, Mindfulness Northwest created a toolkit that offers practical tips to use mindfulness techniques throughout your whole workday. Tips include setting intentions when you start your workday and taking purposeful pauses to minimize multi-tasking. View the Mindfulness Toolkit on the Balanced You blog.
Work to repair lighting in Jefferson Street alley completed
The City of Seattle has completed the temporary repair work to the lighting in the Jefferson Street alley, just south of the King County Courthouse between Third and Fourth Avenues. A permanent repair, which involves running new electrical cable, will follow at a later date. Ensuring the area around the Courthouse is properly illuminated will help provide a safer, more welcoming environment for staff and visitors.
More holiday spirit, less holiday stress with WeightWatchers
Reach your goals—and still enjoy every delicious moment—with a truly livable program from our partner, WeightWatchers. All employees and benefits-covered spouses and domestic partners can join now for as low as $8.48 per month on select plans—that’s 50% off the retail price. Visit WW.com/us/KingCounty to sign up. Join by Dec. 31 and get a free WW Easy Everyday Cooking cookbook with your membership. Learn more at WW.com/us/KingCounty. Then, get your WW cookbook at WW.com/cookbookoffer.
Safety video: Filing an Online Incident Report Form
Our top priority is your safety and security at work, and we are continuing to partner with law enforcement, community, and other governments to ensure a safer, more welcoming environment in and around our facilities. Here’s another tip to help you stay safe: If you have an incident that’s not an emergency or does not require an immediate response, you can use the Online Incident Report Form to submit details to Facilities Management Division Security at KingCounty.gov/IncidentReport. The Online Incident Report form is also included in the Quick Links section at the bottom… Read More
Photo of K9 Deputy wins contest
Cross-posted from King County Sheriff’s Office newsletter In November, the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) held their 2022 Photo Contest. Photos of Sound Transit K9 Deputy Kristi Bridgman won first place in two categories: Athlete and Officer, and Spirit. The awards were presented at the Law Enforcement Torch Run (LETR) International Conference in Austin, TX with almost 1000 participants in attendance. This program supports the Special Olympics. The photo above of K9 Luna and athlete Ariana Graham was taken by Ariana’s mother and won the Athlete and Officer category. A… Read More
Why people over age 50 should get an updated COVID-19 booster before the holidays
Cross-posted from Public Health Insider The cold winter months help COVID-19—along with RSV and flu—to spread more easily. COVID-19 continues to spread and evolve across King County and in the world around us. The chance of having severe disease and needing to visit the hospital is much higher for those over age 50. Read more.
King County celebrates refugee resettlement efforts in the region
Today, King County Deputy Executive April Putney, alongside the Washington State Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS), the International Rescue Committee (IRC), and the City of Redmond celebrated the short-term refugee resettlement program for individuals and families coming to the region and the nearly 800 new neighbors who benefitted from the program. Read more.
KCIA food drive benefits Georgetown Food Bank
Cross-posted from Plane Talk King County International Airport (KCIA) employees participated in the third annual Fly Washington Passport Food Program this fall, collecting 462 pounds of food, nearly 200 pounds more than last year. KCIA’s food drive benefits the Georgetown Foodbank. Last year, airports in Washington state donated more than 7,500 pounds of food to local area food banks. Each airport collects food donations from October through mid-November. The airport that collects the most gets the trophy for that year. Read more.
Terry White retiring from King County Metro after more than 35 years
King County Executive Dow Constantine recently announced the retirement of Terry White, King County Metro General Manager, and the nomination of Metro Deputy General Manager Michelle Allison to lead the agency after White’s retirement at the end of the year. “On behalf of the people of King County, I want to thank Terry White for over 35 years of exemplary service, and especially for leading Metro through the unprecedented challenges of the pandemic,” said Executive Constantine. White joined Metro in 1987 as a customer service specialist and held 13 positions prior to becoming… Read More
Spend your FSA money
Do you have money left in your Flexible Spending Account (FSA)? To check the balance of your Health Care or Day Care FSA, go to Navia Benefits and sign in to your account. Expenses must be incurred by Dec. 31, 2022, and submitted for reimbursement by March 31, 2023. Please see details below. Health Care FSAs Day Care FSAs If you have questions about your FSA benefits, contact Navia at 425-452-3500 or Navia Benefits.
Seattle Symphony Holiday discounts for December 2022
It’s time to experience the Joy, Cheer and Magic of the Holiday Season. Gather your friends and family and join us at Benaroya Hall for beautiful holiday music and great entertainment. Seasonal events for December include Holiday Pops, Handel’s Messiah, and Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9. Use promo code HOLIDAY23 for 20% off tickets and no handling fees. View upcoming performances and purchase tickets at www.seattlesymphony.org/concerttickets. See all available discounts on the Employee Discount webpage.
How to help prevent illness and protect those who are most vulnerable
Cross-posted from Public Health Insider Public Health has reported four deaths from complications of the flu in King County, two children and two adults. This is shaping up to be a bad flu season; the positivity rate for flu tests is much higher at this early point in the flu season than we’ve seen in many years, and the volume of cases is increasing rapidly. Everyone six-months-old and older should get a flu shot every year. Find a flu shot clinic near you. Get your flu shot and updated COVID-19 booster now. There’s no… Read More
Safety video: Consider your route
Our top priority is your safety and security at work, and we are continuing to partner with law enforcement, community, and other governments to ensure a safer, more welcoming environment in and around our facilities. Here’s another tip to help you stay safe. Consider your route when going from A to B and use common sense. Avoid uninhabited parks, parking lots, garages, alleyways, and shortcuts. Stick to well-lit areas. Be alert when walking between buildings and stay aware of your surroundings. Check out the video and watch for additional videos with safety tips… Read More
World Aids Day
Every year, on Dec. 1, the world commemorates World AIDS Day. People around the world unite to show support for people living with and affected by HIV and to remember those who lost their lives to AIDS. Four decades into the HIV response, inequalities still persist for the most basic services like testing, treatment, and even more so for new technologies. King County is committed to radically reducing new HIV infections through diagnosing, treating, preventing, and responding quickly to HIV outbreaks. Learn more about Ending the HIV Epidemic Initiative through Public Health – Seattle &… Read More
Holiday resources for employee financial well being
As we enter the holiday season, many employees will travel, cook, spend time with family, or all of the above. Given the stress the holidays can have on relationships and finances, My Secure Advantage (MSA) has provided financial well being resources to help you keep the holiday spirit joyful and festive. Read Relationships & Money: Common Problems & Solutions and Building a Holiday Budget on the MSA blog. Learn more about the MSA financial wellness benefit you get as a King County employee.
Annual Cybersecurity Training required for all King County employees
Cybersecurity Training is an important safeguard that protects King County systems, and the number of employees who complete training each year impacts our insurance rates. When your training is assigned, you will receive an email from kc-knowbe4@kingcounty.gov with a direct link to your required training modules. If you can’t find the email, check your Junk folder or login with your work email here. All employees must complete annual Cybersecurity Training by Dec. 31, 2022 unless your agency has specified a different deadline. Thank you for doing your part to protect King County. Read more.
Giving Tuesday: Make a difference today and all year long
As our Annual Giving Drive winds down, you can still make a difference through the Employee Giving Program. Giving Tuesday is a global day of giving powered by social media and collaboration. For just one day, we have reopened the online pledging system for payroll donations only. To join the movement, give now. More than 500 past contributors have yet to renew payroll for 2023. Renewal is easy — but not automatic. Renew now. You can confirm your pledge for 2023 by clicking the Employee Giving tile in PeopleSoft and it will… Read More
Be prepared for cold temperatures, snow, and ice
Extremely cold temperatures and icy road conditions are forecast for our region this week, so please be prepared for possible commute delays and impacts to business operations. If you work on site, please be prepared for cold weather. Have a plan for your commute, dress warmly, and let safety be your guide when making commute decisions. If you drive, have an emergency kit in your vehicle, including extra clothing, food, water, and a flashlight. Power outages: If you are teleworking and experience a power outage that affects your ability to effectively work remotely, please… Read More
King County Security Tips – Keep Devices and Software Up to Date
From KCIT Cyber Security Awareness Training Program You know that little pop-up prompting you to restart your computer for a software update? The one that only seems to come up when you’re in the middle of something important? As annoying as it may seem, this notification is actually a valuable asset to your cybersecurity. So, before you click the “Later” option, let’s take a closer look! What is a software update?A software update is a new and improved version of a program, application, or operating system that you are already using. The… Read More
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