Labor Day holiday observed on Monday, Sept. 5 

Monday, Sept. 5 is Labor Day, and King County government offices will be closed. All offices will reopen Tuesday, Sept. 6.

On Sept. 5, most Metro Transit buses will operate on Sunday schedules.

As a reminder, starting this year King County government will observe Indigenous Peoples' Day as a new annual paid holiday on the second Monday in October or Oct. 10, 2022. This new holiday will provide an opportunity for us to deepen our knowledge about our nation’s history and the institutionalized practices and policies that continue to harm Indigenous people today, and further our understanding of Indigenous heritage and culture.

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

Temporary subsidized parking ends Sept. 2

The temporary subsidized parking program of half the employee cost of parking at the Goat Hill Parking Garage and King Street Center Garage will end Sept. 2, 2022.

Effective Sept. 3, 2022 the full daily rate of $20 will be in effect. Employees who wish to park for a full day at either of these garages will pay a $20 daily rate with their employee ID Card. You can find complete hourly rates here. Read more.

Your ID/ORCA card transit benefits and resources for a safer commute

As a King County employee, your employee ID/ORCA card opens up a world of public transit options in our region.

If you’re eligible for commute benefits, one tap of your card pays your fare on a variety of regular services. Read more. 

Megan Pedersen appointed as temporary Special Deputy for King County correctional facilities

Executive Constantine has appointed Megan Pedersen, current Director of the Office of Labor Relations, to serve as a temporary Special Deputy to the Executive, stepping into the role immediately to provide additional support in implementing critical actions and improvements related to staffing, operations, and health and safety in King County correctional facilities. Read more.

Coping with Grief and Loss: National Grief Awareness Day

Today, Aug. 30, is National Grief Awareness Day. Balanced You and the Employee Assistance Program are raising awareness around the many ways individuals cope with loss and sharing resources to help when you or a loved one needs support. There are a wide range of resources available.

While certain emotional responses are common, each person’s grief is also individual, and may be experienced differently.

In this blog post we share grief support resources and how to understand grief, grow through grief, and help others with their grief. Now more than ever it’s important to connect with each other and offer support when needed.

Get a flu shot this fall

With mask mandates lifted in most settings and many people resuming in-person activities, public health experts are predicting flu activity will ramp up this season. It’s especially important for every person to be protected before it starts to spread in our area to give your body time to build immunity.  

The county makes it free for employees and anyone covered by your healthcare benefits to get a flu shot at one of our onsite clinics, or at your doctor’s office or local pharmacy. The Balanced You team is again organizing free onsite flu shot clinics for those workers onsite.

Read about free onsite flu shot clinics and schedule your appointment here. Benefits-covered employees who are telecommuting and their covered family members may find it more convenient to go to their healthcare provider’s office or a local pharmacy for their free flu shot. Learn more about how to get a flu shot through your provider or local pharmacy. 

Register now for September retirement classes

Check out the following educational opportunities to help you prepare for retirement. These online classes will be held on Zoom or Teams and are provided by your King County Retirement Team.

Your PERS Pension: Learn about your Washington State Department of Retirement Systems (DRS) pension. Guest speaker Jim Mendoza from DRS will discuss your options as a King County employee and answer your questions.

• Wendesday, Sept. 7 from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Register here.

Road to Retirement: This 90-minute class is designed for employees who are planning 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. 20 from 10 to 11:30 a.m. and Tuesday, Sept. 27 from
  1 to 2:30 p.m. Register 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 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 navigator.

Create interactive learning experiences with Teams webinars, Sept. 30

Join KCIT for a free session on Sept. 30 as we learn to Create Interactive Learning Experiences with Teams webinars. This class explains how to create and run webinars in Teams, including how to effectively set up an event and register attendees in advance. Training inlcudes how to leverage built-in tools before, during, and after the webinar – including sharing content and recordings.

To register for the class, King County employees can click here; follow the prompts to log into Teams and download the Learn Now app to complete your registration.

• Friday, Sept. 30 at 1 p.m. Register here.
  

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