Employee News - Sept. 2

A service of the King County Department of Human Resources

final

 PRINT THIS EMAIL

Highlights

Vaccine male dr

Getting vaccinated has never been easier

All King County Executive branch employees must be fully vaccinated by Monday, Oct. 18, 2021, and there are many options for getting vaccinated in your community or at work. No appointment is needed at many community locations, and most pharmacies, clinics, and Public Health centers now offer drop-in COVID-19 vaccinations. 

The vaccination is available regardless of insurance, citizenship, or immigration status. You will not be billed or charged for a vaccination. The COVID-19 vaccine is always free. Since obtaining the vaccination is mandatory, employees will be paid for the time spent getting the COVID-19 vaccine. This includes travel time to and from the vaccination site.

Click here to find out more.


Top 10 COVID-19 questions and how to prepare

The Delta variant of coronavirus has become dominant in the U.S., and Roger Seheult, MD of MedCram, responds to 10 common questions about it in the below video. MedCram is an online resource that helps individuals learn about and review medical topics. Some of the common questions answered in the video include:

  • If someone is fully vaccinated or already had COVID-19, how worried should they be about the Delta variant?
  • Will there continue to be more variants, perhaps even variants more challenging than the Delta variant?

View the video below for more information about COVID-19. If you haven’t already been vaccinated, you can find out where to get your vaccine and get answers to your questions at www.kingcounty.gov/vaccineAll King County Executive branch employees must be fully vaccinated by Monday, Oct. 18, 2021. 

10 Questions

Employee Spotlights

Excellence Award 2020

2020 Innovation Award for Service

The King County Innovation Awards honor employees within department teams whose projects, improvements, and ingenuity deliver exceptional, measurable results. This year, however, rather than individuals, the Service award honors teams who pulled together to address the urgent needs of the COVID-19 pandemic in our community.

The True North values of “We are one team”, “We solve problems”, and above all, “We respect all people” drove these teams to come up with creative and effective solutions that truly aided some of the most vulnerable in our community.

Click here to read the full story.


Announcements

Sept. 6 is the last day to get first Moderna shot to meet the Oct. 18 deadline

Vaccine video

All King County Executive branch employees must be fully vaccinated by Monday, Oct. 18, 2021.

To meet this requirement, employees must:

  • Receive their second shot of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine, or the single shot Johnson & Johnson vaccine, by Monday, Oct. 4, 2021, and
  • Provide verified proof of vaccination by Monday, Oct. 18, 2021

Click here for more information


US Flag

Labor Day holiday observed on Monday, Sept. 6 

Monday, Sept. 6 is Labor Day, and King County government offices will be closed. All offices will reopen Tuesday,
Sept. 7.

On Sept. 6, most Metro Transit buses will operate on Sunday schedules.

If you have questions about your holiday schedule, please speak to your supervisor. Have a safe and healthy holiday.


woman walking sunset

September is National Recovery and Suicide Prevention Awareness Month

September is National Recovery and Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, and throughout the month Balanced You will highlight resources to help us support each other and pay particular attention to our mental health. One of the best ways we can support our friends, family, and coworkers is by learning to recognize the warning signs and how to support people in a crisis.

Whether you seek support for yourself or a loved one, Balanced You created a catalog of mental health benefits and resources for King County employees. This catalog includes community resources for suicide prevention and crisis, substance use and addiction resources, and resources and directories for BIPOC and LGBTQ+ communities. Download the catalog here.


student adolescent mask

For back to school season, use “layers” of precautions to keep everyone safe

Cross-posted from Public Health Insider 

Back to school often comes with feelings of nervousness and anticipation. However, families may feel even more nervous and concerned this year, because the COVID-19 Delta variant is circulating. Delta spreads more easily, so the risk of getting infected is higher.

This calls for extra attention to precautions by our schools, families who have already worked so hard to keep their children safe, and the larger community.

Find more information here on how to keep children – and our community – safe. 


father and baby

Making Life Easier: Childcare and Parenting

You may have heard of Making Life Easier (MLE) as a free mental health counseling service for King County employees, but did you know MLE offers many more services, beyond mental health support, designed to truly help make life easier for you and your family?

This past year-and-a-half has been a challenge to everyone, and parents have had an extra set of concerns and challenges. MLE's Childcare and Parenting resource is a free benefit that includes verified referrals, parenting tips and resources, emergency services, and much more.

Read through the full benefit and find out how to access MLE's Childcare and Parenting resources.


Coin Jar

Register now for September retirement classes

Learn about and prepare for retirement by attending one of the following educational opportunities. These classes will be held on Zoom and are provided by your King County Retirement Team.

  • Your DRS Pension: Do you want to learn more about your pension through the Washington State Department of Retirement Systems (DRS) and your options as a King County employee? Attend this 90-minute virtual seminar which features guest speaker Jim Mendoza from DRS, who will discuss your pension and other options at retirement. 
  • Road to Retirement: This 90-minute class is designed for employees who plan to retire from King County in the next six months. It covers procedures, forms, medical coverage options, and pension plans – so you’ll be on a smooth road toward a happy retirement. 

Registration is required. Use the registration links above, then select the date you’d like to attend. Before classes start, you’ll receive a Zoom meeting invitation at the email address you register with.

Please note, attendance at retirement classes is strictly voluntary, on your own time, and non-work related.

For additional information, visit the King County Retirement page, refer to the Retirement Guide, or contact Carmen Johnson, Retirement and Benefits Navigator.


Security Tips: Keep devices and software current 

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 an 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 already use. The update may include new features, bug fixes, or important security patches.

Why are updates important for cybersecurity? Do you ever wonder how secure the programs installed on your device are? Cybercriminals do. They look for cracks in the security of programs and use these vulnerabilities to gain access to your device. With this access, they could enable a keylogger to track what you type, steal confidential information, and even install ransomware to lock you out of your files and demand payment for access. Developers help prevent this by fixing vulnerabilities as soon as possible. These fixes are included in software updates. Meaning, the longer you wait to install the update, the longer your system is at risk.

If you have questions, please contact kcitcsat@kingcounty.gov.


POTW Anubis

Pet of the Week: Anubis

My name is Anubis, I'm a gorgeous dog with long legs and I weigh 77 lbs. I am very smart and at the shelter I am practicing how to "sit", "stay down", and general leash manners. I am super smart, and I love getting attention from my people. I do get a bit protective, and I have a deep bark, but I’m actually just a big softy… typical shepherd dog!

You can find out more about me and my other friends on our website at www.kingcounty.gov/adoptapet. Note that Regional Animal Services of King County (RASKC) has moved to adoptions by appointment only. If you have more questions, you can contact RASKC via phone at 206-296-7387 (PETS) or email pets@kingcounty.gov.


Project Manager graphic

Special Project Manager – Harborview Bond Program

Salary: $110,098.56 - $153,444.10 Annually

Location: Seattle, WA

Job Type: Career Service, Full Time, 40 hrs/week

Department: DES - Executive Services

Job Number: 2021BM14113

Division: FMD - Facilities Management

Open until filled

Lead and manage large scale, multi-faceted capital programs located on a large, metropolitan hospital campus that will be fully operational during construction.

Learn more about this position or view all available positions


KC Headlines

New connections, more service: King County Metro improving and restoring service as Sound Transit Link light rail expands to Northgate

Updates on King County rental assistance program

King County requires masks at large outdoor gatherings with new Health Officer order to control the spread of COVID-19


Contact us!

Interested in sharing a news story, or have a news tip? Click here to submit an item to Employee News. For questions or suggestions, please contact KCEmployees@kingcounty.gov.