Employee News - June 11, 2020

A service of the King County Department of Human Resources

King County Employee News

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anit

Anita Whitfield named Chief Equity and Inclusion Officer 

Dear fellow King County employee, 

I have named Anita Whitfield to serve as the County’s Chief Equity and Inclusion Officer in my office and as part of my Senior Leadership Team as we continue our work to embed our “We are racially just” value across all of our operations. 

In this new role, Anita will lead our Equity and Social Justice strategy and oversee the Office of Equity and Social Justice (OESJ). She will work across all of our functions to ensure that we are doing everything we can to push our ESJ agenda in all of our operations, policy and planning, budgets, community engagement, communications, and more. 

It is clear that we have much work to do to build a truly fair, racially just, and equitable community and workplace, and I am pleased that Anita is joining my team to lead this charge. Read more


racism

Racism is a public health crisis: The transformation
starts here. It starts with us. 

By King County Executive Dow Constantine and Public Health — Seattle & King County Director Patty Hayes 

“There’s nothing new under the sun but there are new suns.”  Octavia E. Butler, Parable of the Trickster  

Today, we declare that racism is a public health crisis. Public Health – Seattle & King County and all of King County government are committed to implementing a racially equitable response to this crisis, centering on community. 

King County government and Public Health – Seattle & King County are committed to working in stronger and better resourced partnerships with community organizations and leaders to disrupt and dismantle racism and protect the health and well-being of Black, Indigenous People and People of Color. We recognize that historically and currently King County has been complicit in maintaining and perpetuating structural racism, and that as an institution we must be a vital player in dismantling oppressive systems that are grounded in white supremacy. Read more.  


ride pride

PRIDE rides on 

June 28, 2020 marks the 50th anniversary of the first Pride parade. Started in New York City, the event was originally known as Christopher Street Liberation Day. This activist-created march bloomed in reaction to the police raid against LGBTQ patrons of the Stonewall Inn, and the five days of community protests and riots a year earlier. The first Pride parade brought together thousands of participants. Today, millions participate in Pride events around the world. 

In 1977, Mayor Charles Royer made the first official declaration of Gay Pride Week in Seattle. That year, the parade started at Occidental Park in Pioneer Square, with more than 2,000 participants marching up First Avenue. As of 2020, organizations like Seattle Pride, the South King County PRIDE Alliance, and the Renton LGBTQIA+ Community plan Pride events throughout our region. Read more.  


raciallyjust

How to be an ally: Anti-racism resources for white people 

Many white people witnessing the violence against Black bodies and minds are committed to action that will set our country on a more just path. As such, many are resolving to demonstrate allyship by taking actions to counter, disrupt, and dismantle systemic racism through anti-racism. If you’ve heard these words, wondered what they mean, and want to know how you can make a difference, visit the Balanced You blog for definitions, tips, and resources. 


time

How to apply for and donate to Emergency Leave Program 

King County is working hard to address the challenges that have arisen from the coronavirus, and is providing new ways to support employees. Some employees are impacted more than others, and will exhaust their paid leave while recovering their health or caring for others. With this in mind, the Emergency Leave Donation Program was developed so that employees who have been affected by COVID-19 can request donated leave. 

Employees interested in supporting colleagues affected by COVID-19 can donate accrued sick and vacation leave in two different ways. Read more.  


PS

PeopleSoft HCM outage this weekend, June 12-14 

To allow for KCIT infrastructure maintenance, the PeopleSoft system will not be available this weekend, starting 6 p.m. Friday, June 12, through Sunday, June 14. 

During this planned outage, KCIT will upgrade infrastructure including server maintenance that impacts the PeopleSoft system. As a precautionary measure, the PeopleSoft system will be taken offline and not available during this time. 

This work will begin on Friday, June 12, at 6 p.m. and is scheduled to be completed by 6:30 a.m. on Monday, June 15. 

The system will not be available for access by any County staff during this outage window. There will be a communication sent out to all County staff when the system becomes available. 

We realize that this outage impacts all PeopleSoft users and we appreciate your understanding and support. 


webinar

On-demand webinar: Supporting Kids through the Pandemic 

During the recent Balanced You webinar “A Conversation on Self-care and Connection,” we heard from employees that one of your top concerns is how the pandemic is impacting your kids. Because you asked for help supporting your kids through this, we reached out to one of the area’s top parent coaches, Sarina Behar Natkin, to coordinate a webinar and Q&A session for King County employees. Attendees of the “Supporting Kids through the Pandemic” webinar learned how to support their children and themselves while building resilience and increasing connection in the home. To listen to a recording of the webinar, visit the Balanced You blog. 


blm

Black Lives Matter silent march and general strike Friday, June 12  

Black Lives Matter Seattle-King County (BLMSKC) has called for a statewide silent march and general strike across Washington on Friday, June 12. 

King County remains steadfast in our fight against racism, hatred, and violence, and in our commitment to our “We are racially just” value. We respect, value, and support people peacefully expressing their views and exercising their First Amendment rights. Read more.  


problem solving

Communication and Problem Solving Skills three-day online webinar, June 30-July 2  

In this three-day training, instructor Lenny Borer will address communication and problem-solving skills with the public and with co-workers. This class covers skills for effective listening, speaking, dealing with conflicts and with defensive behavior. Participants will learn how to name and demonstrate seven active listening skills, five assertive verbal skills, the five steps to deal with defensive behavior, and identify the differences between aggressive and assertive behavior, as well as list the seven steps in the problem solving process. 

  • Tuesday, June 30, Wednesday, July 1, and Thursday, July 2, from 9 – 11:30 a.m. Register hereParticipants must attend all three days.  

The webinar is $65 and space is limited. For more information, contact the Learning and Development Team at KCTraining@kingcounty.gov or visit www.kingcounty.gov/learning. 


gender inclusive

Building Gender Inclusive Spaces online workshops, June 22 or June 26 

As part of King County’s continuing efforts to lead with racial justice and in celebration of LGBTQ+ Pride Month, the Department of Human Resource’s Learning and Development team will be hosting two online workshops titled Building Gender Inclusive Spaces: Exploring the Intersection of Race and LGBTQ+ Identities. 

In this two-hour workshop, participants will learn foundational knowledge of gender and sexuality and best practices to support a gender diverse workforce, with a focus on the intersection of race and LGBTQ+ identities. Participants will have the opportunity to move through real-life scenarios, apply their understanding of pronoun use, and develop strategies to advance gender equity at King County. 

There are two opportunities to join this workshop: 

The workshop will be recorded and available to employees after these sessions. Cost is free, but space is limited. For more information, contact the Learning and Development Team at KCTraining@kingcounty.gov or visit www.kingcounty.gov/learning. 


Featured Job: Human Resource Manager II - SDA 

Salary$108,494.26 - $137,522.94 Annually 

LocationSeattle, WA 

Job TypeSpecial Duty Assignment 

DepartmentKCSO - Sheriff's Office 

Job Number2020-11741 

DivisionSupport Services 

Closing6/24/2020 11:59 PM Pacific 

Learn more about this position or view all available positions. 


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