The Emergency Leave Donation Program was developed to aid employees who’ve been impacted by COVID-19 and have exhausted their paid leave. Access to donated leave has helped them focus on recovering their health or caring for loved ones. So far this year, nearly 300 employees have generously donated personal leave to support their colleagues.   

The program is asking employees to again consider donating personal leave to the program, as the paid leave available is running low. Donating leave is an especially good option for employees who may find themselves in a “use-it-or-lose-it” position with an excess vacation balance at the end of the year.

Employees interested in supporting colleagues affected by COVID-19 can donate accrued sick and vacation leave can either use PeopleSoft to make donations (learn how) or email the Emergency Leave Donation Form to EmergencyDonation@kingcounty.gov.

Read more. 

Get help correcting your at-home ergonomics 

With many King County employees working remotely through the pandemic, and potentially beyond, you may find yourself missing your perfectly adjusted ergonomic workstation in the office.  

King County has certified ergonomists in the Department of Human Resources (DHR) that can provide assessments for your at-home workstation. They can’t come to your home, but a virtual assessment can help pinpoint issues and save you pain down the road.  

“It’s not too late; even if it’s been several months since you started working from home, you should assess any new workstation,” Rob Stafford, Safety & Health Professional with DHR, said. Read more. 

Your vision benefits don't expire at year-end  

If you’re panicking because your regular vision provider has been closed or is booked solid during the long COVID-19 pandemic, fear not; your vision benefits, through Vision Service Plan (VSP), make it easy for you to get the eye care you need. And best of all… vision benefits are calculated on a rolling 12-24 month period, as follows, meaning you don’t need to rush out before year-end.  

You may use any eye care provider you want, but if you see a VSP provider, your out-of-pocket expenses are generally lower and the provider automatically files your claim. Kaiser Permanente provides routine vision exams under its medical plan, but none of the other vision benefits, such as frames, lenses, and contacts. 

For more information, go to the Dental & Vision Plans page contact your Benefits team at 206-684-1556 or kc.benefits@kingcounty.gov. 

Summit at Snoqualmie discount ski and snowboard tickets program on pause 

The Summit at Snoqualmie has paused their discount program, due to COVID-19 and Washington State guidelines. For season passes, sales will be significantly limited, and discounts for partners, such as King County, will not be offered. For daily lift tickets, sales will begin in the coming weeks, and partner discounts will not be available until early to mid-January. The Summit at Snoqualmie advises guests to make reservations early; expect reservations for popular holiday and weekend dates to sell out quickly. 

Please make all reservations online in advance at www.summitatsnoqualmie.com. Reservations will not be processed over the phone and tickets, rentals, lessons or activities can't be purchased onsite. In addition to daily lift tickets, the Summit at Snoqualmie requires online advanced reservations for all Summit activities including: lessons, equipment rentals, snow tubing, Nordic skiing and snowshoeing. For more information about COVID-19 rules and protocols, visit the Summit at Snoqualmie COVID-19 website. 

Planning holidays during a pandemic 

Planning holidays during a pandemic is a tough feat. While news of COVID-19 vaccines brings a welcome light at the end of the tunnel, we still need to follow social distancing and mask recommendations until the vaccine is available to try to keep ourselves, our loved ones, and our community safe. 

To help employees safely navigate the holiday season, Balanced You has put together a list of resources and tips for fun and meaningful ways to celebrate. Click here for more information. 

Stress less this holiday season  

The holiday season will look different for many people this year. Many of us will still find ways to cultivate joy and cherish time with loved ones, whether virtually or safely in-person. Many of us will also undergo sadness and fatigue from experiencing holidays during a pandemic. Balanced You and King County’s Making Life Easier program offer the following recommendations so you can enjoy the season to the fullest.  

Read this Balanced You blogpost for more information. 

Hope and Joy Campaign: December 16 Coffee Connection