PeopleSoft unavailable at 3 p.m. today for up to one hour

PeopleSoft will be down for emergency maintenance at 3 p.m. today. The outage will be approximately one hour.

Thank you for your continued understanding and support.

N95 masks for employees working onsite

King County is making N95 masks available to employees who are required to be onsite for voluntary use as we continue to monitor the rise of the Omicron variant of COVID-19.

All King County department and division leaders have been provided with information on ordering N95 masks, and these masks will be available soon for onsite employees to request. Click here for more information.

Reduce your risk, sign up for a COVID-19 booster shot

With the highly infectious Omicron variant now circulating rapidly in our region, it is more important than ever to take steps to reduce your risk – including getting a booster dose if you are eligible. If it has been at least six months since your second dose of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine, or at least two months since your single dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, you are eligible for a booster shot.

To schedule a COVID-19 vaccine booster, visit www.kingcounty.gov/vaccine or use the Washington State Department of Health’s vaccine locator to check out your options. And to help meet the demand for boosters, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is sending its Mobile Community Vaccination Center to Federal Way and Auburn in December and January. This Community Vaccination Center will be providing free COVID-19 vaccinations and boosters to everyone ages five and older. To get more information and register for an appointment with the Mobile Clinic visit https://bit.ly/kc-comm-vax. Read more.

County offices closed Dec. 24 and Dec. 31

King County government offices will be closed Friday, Dec. 24 for the observed Christmas Day holiday, repoening Monday, Dec. 27. Offices will again be closed Friday, Dec. 31 for the New Year's Day observed holiday, reopening on Monday, Jan. 3. 

Click here for Metro Transit bus schedules.

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

Up your mask game: Omicron is here

Cross-posted from Public Health Insider

There is a dramatic rise in COVID-19 cases due to the Omicron variant. That means, more people will test positive, including some who are vaccinated. The vaccines are doing their job of preventing severe illness, but more cases are expected.

Because Omicron is so highly contagious, well-fitting and high-quality face masks are more important than ever. It’s one of the most important tools we have right now to limit the spread. Click here for more information about masking up.

Best of Balanced You: 2021 reflections and highlights

As 2021 comes to a close, we at Balanced You want to take a moment to reflect on the past year and review the highlights we shared. Many of us entered 2021 with optimism and hope. While we soon found out that the COVID-19 pandemic wasn’t over, the resiliency and adaptability that we gained in 2020 continued to be necessary skills.

At Balanced You, we saw the need to prioritize well-being was still of high importance. Over the past year we furthered our efforts to meet the emotional, financial, social and physical wellness needs of our King County colleagues. Join us in review of this past year’s program highlights, all of which will continue to be available in 2022.

Cybersecurity Training deadline extended to March 31, 2022 – with approval from your Dept. Leadership

The deadline to complete mandatory Cybersecurity Training has been extended to March 31, 2022 (with approval from your department leadership). Cybersecurity Training is an important safeguard that protects King County systems. The number of employees who complete training each year impacts our insurance rates and our regulatory compliance. Training includes 90 minutes of engaging videos; while watching an exciting espionage plot unfold, each episode demonstrates basic security practices.

You should have received an email with a direct link to training from King County’s partner KnowBe4. If you can’t find the email, login with your work email here. If you don’t see your 2021 training listed as an option, please submit a Helpdesk ticket and follow the prompts to select “Help With Security” then “Security Training Request.”

Getting a new cell phone? Don’t get locked out of King County systems 

Dreaming of a new phone for the new year? Before you trade in your old phone, remember to set a backup Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) security option such as a phone number or text. Setting a backup option now will save you the hassle of getting locked out of King County’s systems when you purchase a new phone…or accidentally lose or break your current phone.

Adding a backup call or text option is easy: Update your MFA Options Here. After you’ve purchased your new phone, add the device to your MFA options list. Follow the prompts to select your MFA notification preferences (call, text or app), and remember to remove your old device when you’re done. Don’t wait – set a backup option today!

The full report: Impacts of the COVID pandemic on parents and young children in 2021

Cross-posted from Best Starts for Kids

More than 7,000 parents and caregivers with young children across King County participated in a survey and shared their stories on how the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted wide-ranging parts of their lives, including health and emotional well-being, childcare, experiences with schooling, family relationships, and economic challenges and meeting basic needs. The final results of this survey are now avaialble. Read more of this post

Free New Year’s Eve rides on King County Metro, Sound Transit, Community Transit, Pierce Transit, and Seattle Streetcar

Riders can travel without paying fares on King County Metro, Sound Transit, Community Transit, Pierce Transit and Seattle Streetcar as part of their New Year’s Eve celebrations. See the full announcement here.

Register for January and February 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.

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. The next session is Tuesday, Jan. 18 from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Register here. 

Medicare 101 - If you are reaching Medicare age and want to learn about your options as a King County employee, then come hear.guest speaker Jean Cormier discuss Medicare basics. In addition, Jenny Stark from Regence BlueShield and Hannah Bachelder from Kaiser Permanente will discuss their Medicare Advantage plan options. The next session is Wednesday, Feb. 16 from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Register here.

Registration is required. Use the 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.

Featured Job: Public Health Nurse Kids Plus Program