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.

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.

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.

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.

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. 

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.

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. 
  • Wednesday, Sept. 15 from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
  • Register for Your DRS Pension here.
• 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. 
  • Tuesday, Sept. 21 from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
  • Tuesday, Sept. 28 from 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.
  • Register for Road to Retirement here.

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.

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.