Employee News - November 10, 2020

King County Employees sent this bulletin at 11/10/2020 02:15 PM PST

A service of the King County Department of Human Resources

Highlights

Thanking our local veterans for their service

Dear fellow King County employee,

For more than 100 years, our nation has dedicated November 11 as the day to recognize the brave members of our country’s armed forces past and present. They placed their own lives at risk to defend freedom here at home and around the world. Veterans Day is our opportunity to honor and thank them for their service.

As we acknowledge the 115,000 veterans of all ages who call King County home, let us also recognize the 1,314 individuals we work beside every day – the King County employees in every branch and department of County government who have served in the armed forces. So far this year, 114 of our colleagues have performed military service hours. Serving your nation, serving your community – we are better for everything you bring to our team. Thank you all.

I am extremely proud that, in King County, support for our local veterans is demonstrated not just through words but through our actions. Read more.

King County honored with workplace mental health award

I am proud to announce that King County has been awarded the 2020 Bell Seal for Workplace Mental Health at the Platinum, highest, level by Mental Health America (MHA).

The Bell Seal for Workplace Mental Health is a first-of-its-kind workplace mental health certification that recognizes employers who strive to improve employee mental health and create a psychologically safe workplace for all employees. It recognizes the comprehensiveness of our mental health approach at a time when we are expecting higher mental and behavioral health concerns due to the COVID-19 pandemic and ongoing racial injustice, and we are thrilled to be among the first organizations to receive this distinction.

The Bell Seal certification sends the message that King County is a national leader in workplace mental health. Bell Seal-certified organizations complete a rigorous evaluation of their workplace policies and practices in five areas: workplace culture, health insurance and benefits, employee perks and programs, legal and ethical compliance, and leadership and community engagement. Read more.

Employee Spotlights

Recognizing Metro’s Operators of the Month

Crossposted from Metro Matters

Every month, operators from King County Metro’s seven transit bases select their fellow drivers who make positive contributions to Metro and recognize them as Operators of the Month. The operators selected demonstrate safe driving skills; show courteous and helpful attitudes toward customers; and pay conscientious attention to job requirements such as attendance, appearance and discipline.

We want to introduce you to some of our recent Operators of the Month. Please join us in congratulating them. Additionally, the Operators of the Month later come together to vote on who among them will be Metro’s Operator of the Year! Read more.

Announcements

King County District Court Expands Youth Traffic Court on Eastside

East King County Youth Traffic Court provides teen drivers with an alternative to fines, while helping educate them and their peers on the justice system

King County District Court has expanded its Youth Traffic Court Program from Redmond to the broader Eastside. The East King County Youth Traffic Court is a student-led organization that works with district court to hear real cases of traffic citations issued to 16- and 17-year olds, offering them an alternative to the traditional justice system. Cases are handled by youth “attorneys,” a youth “judge” and a youth “jury,” making it the ultimate jury of your peers for teenagers. Read more.

King County Elections and Department of Community and Human Services Election Day partnership

On Nov. 3, King County Elections conducted the largest Presidential election in its history, amidst the backdrop of a global pandemic. As can be imagined, Election employees had been preparing for this day for months. Elections formed a great partnership with the Department of Community and Human Services (DCHS) Health Ambassadors in the COVID-19 Emergency Services Group. The Health Ambassadors program was developed to play a critical role in King County’s ongoing effort to slow the spread of COVID-19 and preserve hospital capacity. The Ambassadors, who perform outreach duties by passing out masks, hand sanitizer, and COVID-19 education tips, were dispatched to various drop box locations and two Vote Centers in King County. Working with Elections staff, they helped with social distancing and line management, while providing a friendly face and a message of appreciation to people who were voting. Read more.

Five days left to complete Open Enrollment

Five days left – Complete Open Enrollment by Nov. 15

Don’t miss your opportunity to evaluate your benefit choices and make changes. If you haven’t already done so, make sure the right benefit options are in place for you and your family next year.

If you don’t participate in Open Enrollment, your current elections automatically continue for next year—except your Flexible Spending Accounts and your Benefit Access Fee exemption if you cover a spouse on your medical plan—these must be selected each year. Read more.

Video: As COVID-19 cases spike, an update from Health Officer Dr. Jeff Duchin

Crossposted from Public Health Insider

In recent days, King County has seen the highest COVID-19 case counts we’ve experienced to date. In light of these increases, we’re sharing Dr. Jeff Duchin’s November 6th, 2020, press briefing where he discusses the rising numbers and what we need to do to turn around this outbreak. View the update below.

King County to observe Veterans Day holiday Nov. 11

Most King County offices will be closed in observance of Veterans Day on Wednesday, Nov. 11.

Due to the nature of our work, some services will continue as normal while others will operate on a reduced schedule. If you have any questions about your schedule for Nov. 11, please talk to your supervisor.

Veterans Day is our opportunity to thank our veterans for their service to our nation, and the contributions that they continue to bring to our communities.

Services will return to normal on Thursday, Nov. 12.

Supporting mental health and well-being through the 2020 Annual Giving Drive

This week, we are highlighting nonprofits whose work supports mental health and well-being. These and hundreds of nonprofits are participating in this year’s Annual Giving Drive.

American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (1508) - Exclusively dedicated to understanding and preventing suicide through research and education and to reaching out to people with mood disorders.
Kitsap Mental Health Services (0907) – Kitsap Mental Health Services provides recovery-based behavioral healthcare for people of all ages. Services are each designed to best support an individual's recovery.
Mental Health American, formerly National Mental Health Association (4035) - The nation’s leading community-based non-profit dedicated to helping all Americans achieve wellness by living mentally healthier lives.

You can go online or use a paper form by Friday, Nov. 20, to make a pledge to your favorite Employee Giving Program nonprofits. Read more.

Employee Annual Giving Drive calendar of events, and upcoming Harvest Festival with Executive

There are many events taking place around the County in support of the Employee Annual
Giving Drive, from Online Nonprofit Expos to Ambassador led, cause specific events. Learn more and view all upcoming events on the Employee Giving Program event calendar.

One event coming soon is the Harvest Festival II: Ultimate Zoom on Nov. 18. Join King County Executive Dow Constantine and the Executive Department Senior Leadership for a 10-day drawing to benefit six local and national organizations doing important work in the community and on issues critical to King County’s priorities.

This event will be held Wednesday, Nov. 18, from noon to 1 p.m. Mark the calendar, a Zoom link and information will be coming soon. For information on how to enter the drawing contact Lily Clifton at LClifton@kingcounty.gov or Sarah Dickmeyer at
SDickmeyer@kingcounty.gov.

New tool available to help employees choose medical plan during Open Enrollment

Open Enrollment is King County employee’s annual opportunity to evaluate employee benefit options and make changes for the upcoming year. The 2020 Open Enrollment period is currently open until November 15.

Employees who are considering choosing a new medical plan may be interested in the Washington Health Alliance’s 2020 Quality Composite Scores for Medical Groups and Clinics. This tool measures health care quality across the state of Washington using four domains (measures):

Prevention and Screening
Care for Chronic Diseases

Coordinated, Cost-Effective Care
Appropriate, Cost-Effective Care

For more information on this ranking tool, and how it can help you choose an insurance plan, please visit this Balanced You blogpost.

Additional Mental Health First Aid@Work Trainings added

More than 20 million Americans experience a mental health challenge in any given year. In a world that sometimes makes it feel impossible to ask for help, it’s up to all of us as people leaders and co-workers to know when to help, what resources are available, and how to offer support. Mental Health First Aid@Work Trainings will teach you how to recognize the signs and symptoms of different mental health challenges and conditions and connect someone to resources at work or in the community. Trainings have been scheduled through the end of the year. Check out the full schedule here.

Automated, online Employment and Income Verification services available to all employees

We want to remind you that all King County employees can use InVerify, an Income and Employment Verification service, to access verification of County employment.

In order to better serve you, King County has partnered with InVerify to meet all of your verification of employment needs. By automating this process, we are ensuring speedy, secure, auditable, and legally compliant responses to assist you in obtaining:

Loans, home mortgages, new jobs, rental qualifications, and
Social Service benefits such as temporary assistance, housing assistance, child support, or nutrition assistance.

It’s one more way we’re Investing in YOU by providing workplace processes and systems that support you. For more information, or to access employment verification self-service, visit our Verification of Employment website and follow the instructions.

Training Spotlight for November 10

Mindful Morning for King County Employees – Online – A silent morning of continuous practice. During this half-day retreat, we will be guided in a sequence of meditation and mindfulness practices including: sitting meditation, the body scan, walking meditation, gentle mindful movement, and contemplative practices like the loving-kindness meditation. Restful and restorative. Treat yourself! Join us on Saturday, Nov. 14, from 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. Register here.
Building Gender Inclusive Spaces – Online – 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. This training is free and takes place on Monday, Nov. 16, from 1-3p.m. Register here.

Please visit our King County Eventbrite page website for more opportunities. For more information, contact the Learning and Development Team at KCTraining@kingcounty.gov or visit Learning and Development at www.kingcounty.gov/learning.

Pet of the Week: Tinsy

Hi, I'm Tinsy, and I am looking for my forever home! I am an affectionate, talkative and independent lady! I like getting attention on my own terms. I can get overstimulated with petting, so please move carefully with me and keep an eye out for signs that I might need a break. My personality color is RED. I am a spirited cat with a fun-loving personality! I may be sensitive to handling, so I would do best in a home with a cat savvy family who knows when to give me some space.

Read more and view all available pets at www.kingcounty.gov/adoptapet. Have you or someone you know adopted a pet from RASKC? Let us know. We’d love to tell your story.