Executive Constantine proclaims 2023 Latinx/Hispanic Heritage Month
Sept. 15 is the starting point for Latinx Heritage Month and King County, Executive Dow Constantine has declared Sept. 15 through Oct. 15 as Latinx/Hispanic Heritage Month in King County. The month is an opportunity to recognize and celebrate the cultural, educational, economic, and political influences and contributions of Latinx residents.
“I urge all residents to join in this community celebration,” he said.
Read the full proclamation in English here, and in Spanish here.
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Crossposted from DES Express
Inquest Program employees see and hear things that many others never do. Even months or a year after an inquest hearing, those graphic images and sounds are hard to shake. The collaborative culture of the program not only helps employees successfully perform their jobs; it helps them deal with what is by its nature a stressful work environment.
One staffer remembers the video of a police shooting victim’s children, being led from the scene by a neighbor. More than a year later, the employee remembers asking a colleague for a tissue and hunkering down behind a desktop computer monitor during the formal inquest proceeding. There were many teary faces that day, attorneys and staff alike. Read more.
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Crossposted from the DES Express
The Finance and Business Operations Division (FBOD) is pleased to announce that Nora Bennett has been selected for the permanent leadership role of Chief Treasury Officer. Nora has served as the interim Chief Treasury Officer for the past eight months and was selected for the permanent position after a competitive recruitment process.
“I’m excited to continue working with the FBOD/Treasury team,” Nora said. “It is an honor to lead such an amazing group of professionals who care deeply about their jobs and the people of King County.” Read more.
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Is your personal information correct in PeopleSoft?
It’s important to review and update your personal information in PeopleSoft to ensure:
- You will receive important Open Enrollment and other employee benefits information mailed to you at the address you provide.
- Your emergency contact can be notified if something happens to you at work.
- You can be notified of safety directives, building closures, etc.
- You can receive information at the email address you prefer.
Watch the Updating Personal Details in PeopleSoft video or follow these steps:
- Sign in to PeopleSoft from any device at https://ess.kingcounty.gov.
- Go to the Personal Details
- Make sure all items are up-to-date, especially your mailing address and email.
- Save any changes.
If you need a new password, go to Forgot My Password. If you have any other login issues, submit a Helpdesk Ticket or call the IT Service Center at 206-263-4357.
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It's that time for onsite employee flu shot clinics
Getting a flu shot will help to protect you, your loved ones, and your work colleagues from getting sick with the flu this season. King County is hosting onsite flu clinics where employees can get vaccinated.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that everyone six months and older get a flu shot every year, ideally by the end of October.
Onsite flu clinics start Sept. 18. Learn more about onsite flu clinics and how to register here.
In addition to onsite flu clinics at county worksites, employees can also get vaccinated at pharmacies and healthcare clinics. All King County employees and their dependents who are covered by Kaiser or Regence are eligible for free flu shots at healthcare clinics or pharmacies.
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Balanced You and Benefits resources for King County employees
King County offers multiple programs and resources to support the health and well-being of employees.
Whether it’s tools to help your physical, mental, emotional, or financial health, there’s a program or benefit that’s right for you.
Watch this video to learn more and visit the Balanced You blog and website and the Benefits, Payroll and Retirement Operations (BPROS) website for more informational.
Crossposted from the DES Express
Emergency Management staff, along with the King County E911 Program Office and the Washington State Patrol, attended the Washington State Fair for an evening earlier this month. The Washington State 911 office hosted a booth for the duration of the fair and encouraged government agency partners to join in. Emergency Management staff shared community preparedness information with event goers and promoted Alert King County, a regional public information and notification service.
While pulling the evening duty, Susanna Trimarco tried some state fair classics, including a Krusty Pup (similar to a corndog), a scone and an elephant ear.
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What we know about the new COVID-19 vaccine: Q&A with Dr. Eric Chow
Crossposted from Public Health Insider
This week, the CDC recommended that everyone six months and older get an updated COVID-19 vaccine to protect against the newer variants and potentially serious COVID-19 complications now ahead of possible increases in infection this fall and winter. We talked to Dr. Eric Chow, our Chief of Communicable Disease Epidemiology and Immunization, to get the latest about the updated COVID-19 vaccine.
Dr. Chow, why is there yet another COVID-19 vaccine?
COVID-19 viruses change, and that makes it harder for our bodies to fight off new versions, or variants, even if you’ve had COVID-19 or been vaccinated previously. It’s harder for your body’s immune system to fight off variants that are different than the ones it’s fought before. Read more.
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Learn more about tracking and WW tools to help you on your journey of success. Join WW by Oct. 31 and get a free Smart Scale that syncs right to the WW app, making your activities easier – and tracking is one of the keys to building healthier new habits.
Available for all new sign ups Sept. 1 through Oct. 31. It’s easy to get started, available to all employees and benefits-covered spouses and state-registered domestic partners, and King County pays for half of your membership dues.
(Please note: The dollar value of the employer paid portion is a fringe benefit and will be included as taxable income to the employee.) Achieve your wellness goals to eat healthier, move more, develop a more positive mindset, lose weight, or all the above.
To redeem your scale offer, join WW and then visit ww.com/freescale by Oct. 31.
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Why Tracking Works and How to Actually Like It webinar, Sept. 21
Ready to build healthier habits? Tracking your food and exercise can help. If you ever find yourself with a sense of dread when it comes to tracking, join WeightWatchers’ (WW) head of Behavior Change, Dr. Allison Grupski, and Sophie Webb, WW Coach, for a conversation about why tracking works and how you can actually find ways to, dare we say, like it.
Balanced You has partnered with WeightWatchers to provide this webinar to employees.
Mental Health First Aid Essentials 101, Sept. 26
The Mental Health First Aid Essentials 101 seminar provides a high-level introduction to workplace wellbeing and reinforces the principles of Mental Health First Aid to foster peer support and engagement. The session includes information on best practices in the workplace and guidance on how to support each other and ourselves during this crisis, with a focus on the impact of trauma, the importance of team engagement, self-care, and mindfulness. This seminar is a 90-minutes introductory course.
For more information, email BalancedYou@kingcounty.gov.
Training Spotlights:
Brain-based Planning – Online – Are you overwhelmed by your To Do list(s)? Find out what your brain needs to: keep all your tasks in perspective, prioritize, and have a clear path to get them finished. This class includes information about multitasking, a mindfulness practice to reduce physical stress, and techniques to work with interruptions and distractions. We will also practice effective weekly planning.
Mentoring Lunch and Learn – Online – Would you like to have a mentor, someone who can help you grow professionally? Do you want to strengthen your coaching skills? As a Mentee, you will have a trusted advisor who can help you navigate complex situations, and as a Mentor, you can uncover new or forgotten skills and build influence.
Please visit our King County Eventbrite website, our Learning and Development website, and our Career Support Services website for more learning 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: Azul
My name is Azul and I'm available for adoption. I'm a nine-year-old, female Pit Bull dog, white and gray, ID #A693921. At 60 lbs. I am considered a large breed dog. I am a bit timid at first, but that's because I'm still new to RASKC. So far I've not been very interested in treats or toys. Due to my shy nature, I would do best in a calm, quiet home without younger children. Fast movements and loud noises scare me. I have a blue personality. I am a gentle and loving dog who likes to take things slow.
You can find out more about me and my other friends on our website at www.kingcounty.gov/adoptapet. If you have more questions, you can contact RASKC via phone at 206-296-7387 (PETS) or email pets@kingcounty.gov.
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Featured Job: Customer Service Specialist III
Salary: $26.44 - $33.65 Hourly
Location: Seattle, WA
Job Type: Special Duty Assignment
Job Number: 2023SM19817
Department: DES - Executive Services
Division: FMD - Facilities Mgmt
Opening Date: 8/17/2023
Closing Date: 9/22/2023 11:59 PM Pacific
FLSA: Non-Exempt
Bargaining Unit: F1A : L117-Admin
This is an internal recruitment as a Special-Duty Assignment for current King County career services employees who have passed their initial probationary period. This assignment will last approximately 6-12 months. The King County Facilities Management Division (FMD) has an exciting opportunity to join our dynamic team as a Customer Service Specialist lll (CSS3). This position will afford candidates the opportunity to showcase their experience in a variety of areas. The CSS3 will work closely with the Customer Service Specialist IVs, trades, maintenance planners and other King County entities, and will report directly to the Customer Services Coordinator.
Learn more about this position and view all available positions.
King County Headlines
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