Employee News - April 3, 2020

King County Employees sent this bulletin at 04/03/2020 04:08 PM PDT

A service of the King County Department of Human Resources

Emergency Deployment Program now available to support COVID-19 efforts

As King County responds to the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak and works to slow its spread, there is an urgent need to fill emergency related roles within the county. This is a rapidly evolving event in which staffing needs and work demands are continuously changing. As we strive to keep our workforce, workplace, and community safe, we are providing employees, who have capacity, with opportunities for temporary work redeployment to assist in our COVID-19 response.

Employee safety and well-being is a priority, and employees will be provided training and support to help them succeed in these temporary redeployments.

Redeployment opportunities with more detailed information will be posted on the Emergency Deployment website. The goal is to place as many employees as possible in these positions. The most urgent needs for emergency staffing include... Read more.

New Emergency Leave Fund now accepting donations

King County is a community of public servants. The COVID-19 outbreak, and the measures in place to stop its spread, may extend for months. Some employees will be impacted more than others and will exhaust their paid leave while recovering their health or caring for others.

If you have been looking for an opportunity to support your fellow employees affected by COVID-19, this is your chance. We are looking for your donations to help get us started! Read more.

Reminder of guidance for employees during COVID-19

Yesterday, Gov. Jay Inslee announced an extension of his "Stay Home, Stay Healthy" emergency order through May 4, extending the ban on all gatherings and temporarily shuttering non-essential businesses. King County’s guidance remains the same for employees:

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. Read more.

Cleaning and disinfecting facilities during COVID-19

King County’s Facilities Management Division (FMD) is using a disinfectant to clean county facilities that is approved by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for use against SARS-CoV-2, the novel coronavirus that causes the disease COVID-19.

FMD custodial staff is utilizing VIREX II 256 Solution to disinfect highly touched surfaces, such as door handles, elevator buttons, restrooms, Corrections visitation areas, and court rooms.

We want to thank FMD’s custodial team for its efforts in responding to COVID-19 and helping to prevent the spread of the virus.

Self-care for Emergency Responders during COVID-19

Crossposted from Balanced You

Emergency responders – healthcare workers, public health professionals, law enforcement, emergency operations staff, and others – are heroes in the battle against coronavirus. King County is grateful for your dedication to our community’s health. Thank you.

Balanced You knows you are working long hours, making difficult decisions, enduring trauma, and facing human tragedy. Many of you are tired and stressed. Balanced You is here to support emergency responders as you care for your own well-being during this time and our community. Find tips and resources you can use as you respond, professionally and personally, to coronavirus. Read more.

Balanced You programs during COVID-19: What’s available and what’s on pause

Crossposted from Balanced You

Due to social distancing recommendations from the CDC and stay-at-home orders from Washington state leadership, Balanced You is making changes to our programming and resources. We are working with our partners to transition in-person programs and resources to online formats when possible, and to create new programs and resources that support King County employees in staying healthy and well while you respond to this pandemic, professionally and personally. Read more.

Telecommuting with children at home

Crossposted from Balanced You

To slow the spread of coronavirus, all King County employees who can telecommute should now be telecommuting. Because K-12 schools have closed, King County is temporarily allowing parents and caretakers to telecommute while caring for children at home.

Telecommuting with children at home is a new experience for most employees and can present its own unique challenges. As such, Balanced You has put together some advice to help you continue to be productive and keep your family safe. Read more.

Families First Coronavirus Response Act poster

The federal government has shared a poster about the Families First Coronavirus Response Act and its provisions for paid sick leave and expanded family and medical leave for specified reasons related to COVID-19. You can view the poster here and the guidelines here.

Free employee virtual training series: Budgeting when income is uncertain

Millions of Americans’ incomes are becoming increasingly unpredictable. The good news is that there are many new governmental programs that can help and budgeting strategies you can implement. This webinar series is brought to you by My Secure Advantage (MSA). Available dates are:

Friday, April 10, 2020 at 9 a.m. Register here.
Friday, April 17, 2020 at 9 a.m. Register here.
Friday, April 24, 2020 at 9 a.m. Register here.

Each webinar in this series will include government-based programs and nationwide resources, including those recently launched, specific budgeting tactics, student loan repayment strategies, and debt/credit tips, and a question and answer period. If you register and cannot attend, a recording of the webinar, along with a copy of the session presentation and handouts, will automatically be sent within 2 business days.

Free employee virtual training series: Investment strategies in volatile markets

Financial markets are volatile whenever the future earnings of companies, the stability of industries, or the direction of global economies are uncertain. This webinar series is brought to you by My Secure Advantage (MSA). Available dates are:

Friday, April 10, 2020 at noon. Register here.
Friday, April 17, 2020 at noon. Register here.
Friday, April 24, 2020 at noon. Register here.

Each webinar in this series by will include government and corporate actions intended to stabilize the markets, investing principles, including current investment opportunities and challenges, and a question and answer period. If you register and cannot attend, a recording of the webinar, along with a copy of the session presentation and handouts, will automatically be sent within two business days.

Free virtual training for employees: Parenting through a pandemic, April 7

Join Making Life Easier for a free webinar, “Parenting through a pandemic: Talking with your children about COVID-19 and maintaining sanity during a time of Ccaos,” on how to talk to your kids with developmentally appropriate language about COVID-19, and how to manage your home as you all hold the uncertainty, the cabin fever, and the new normal in your home for the coming weeks and months.

This webinar will be held Tuesday, April 7, from noon to 1 p.m. Register here. This webinar will include:

Tips and guideposts for navigating your kids’ questions and concerns about COVID-19, with special attention to their developmental stage
Strategies for weathering your new role as full-time parent, teacher, and employee
Identifying when your child/teen might be suffering from anxiety and when to ask for help from a professional

Free virtual training for managers and leaders, April 8

Leadership has never been for the faint of heart. On a good day, we have experiences that are equally rewarding and challenging, as we support our teams and encourage and shape high performance. Add in a global pandemic, and managers have an additional layer of stress, personally and professionally. We also have the opportunity to lead our teams with confidence and to emerge from this crisis stronger than before. Join Making Life Easier for a free webinar, “Supporting your team (and self!) during extraordinary times.”

This webinar will be held Wednesday, April 8 from noon to 1 p.m. Register here. It will cover the following:

Typical human responses to crisis
The importance of self-care for you and your team
Leadership tips and tools for navigating this time of uncertainty

Free virtual training for employees: Navigating Uncertainty. Growing Resilience, April 14

Join Making Life Easier as we learn how to navigate these uncertain times with courage, perseverance and a hope that allows us to reimagine a better story ahead. This webinar will help you sShift your perspective when facing adversity from “danger” to opportunity, normalize major life disruptions within the framework of transition, and learn tools that enable growth of resiliency, promotes perseverance and good choice-making.

This webinar will be held on Tuesday, April 14 from noon to 1.pm. Register here.

Tech Tip: Changing your password and updating your computer when working remotely

King County Information Technology (KCIT) has developed two documents that explain how to change passwords and receive Windows updates while working remotely on a King County device. Both processes require employees to use VPN AnyConnect. Employees should submit a HelpDesk ticket if VPN permissions are needed.

KCIT’s Telework site has more information to help employees work remotely. Contact the KCIT Help Desk if needed at 206-263-4357 or https://helpdesk.kingcounty.gov.