Employee News - Feb. 3

A service of the King County Department of Human Resources

King County Employee News

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Highlights

BIPOC Thrive

Introducing BIPOC Thrive: Training Opportunities that center BIPOC Experiences and Perspectives 

Too many of our learning opportunities at King County fail to include BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) experiences. That’s what our Equity and Social Justice (ESJ) Interbranch team found through feedback and listening sessions in 2018. Since then, King County has made investments to better ensure the county understands and practices diverse perspectives and ways of being.  

Our latest investment in equity and inclusion is BIPOC Thrive – a skill building, learning-and-growth program designed to center the values and experiences of BIPOC communities, broaden BIPOC leadership, and strengthen our commitment to being a pro-equity and anti-racist government. Every King County employee should be a leader in moving our ESJ vision forward, and these learning opportunities will help build your ability to do just that. 

If you’re interested in these learning opportunities, supervisor approval is required, and we encourage you to enroll as soon as possible, as space is limited. Apply online or visit kingcounty.gov/BIPOCthrive


Walking Bus

Join the Walking Bus pilot program

King County recently launched the “Walking Bus” pilot program where county employees can join their colleagues and a Facilities Management Division (FMD) Security Escort each evening walking to the King Street Station and the Coleman Dock from the downtown campus.

In this initial pilot phase, two dedicated security escorts will depart daily, Monday through Friday, from the King County Courthouse: one to the King Street Station and one to the Colman Dock ferry terminal. Click here to for more information. 


kids covid video screenshot

Youth-produced videos about importance of vaccines for children and young people

King County’s COVID-19 and Health Equity Training and Capacity Building Program works with young people to educate their peers and parents / guardians about COVID and the COVID Vaccine.

Magdalene and Yuhaniz are two young people who have worked with PHSKC for seven years doing peer and near-to-peer education on vaccines. They created and produced the following social media videos to support this work with an online strategy that connects well with young people and parents.

Watch the videos below to learn more and share on your own social media networks if you choose:

  • This first video about the importance of 12 to 17 year olds getting vaccinated was produced and created by young people for young people. Getting vaccinated protects young people from getting and spreading COVID-19. Watch and share on Facebook and Instagram.
  • This second video was also produced and created by young people, and is geared to parents and guardians of 5 to 11 year olds to discuss how critical it is to get children vaccinated. Watch and share on Facebook and Instagram.

Announcements

Windows 11

Windows 11 update is coming – please wait for your scheduled transition date

KCIT is currently working through extensive testing and security requirements to ensure King County systems can support Microsoft’s new operating system, Windows 11.

Until this testing is complete, Windows 11 is not approved for use on King County workstations; please wait for your scheduled transition date, and do not attempt the update yourself.

KCIT estimates upgrades to Windows 11 will begin in late 2022. Thank you for your patience. If you have any questions, please reach out to KCIT Support.


valentines day

Coffee Connections: Valentine’s Day ideas

Take a break from your day and join an upcoming Balanced You Coffee Connections. On Wednesday, Feb. 9 we’ll be talking all about Valentine’s Day. Share some fun ideas on how to impress your loved one on this special day or share your best Valentine’s Day story. 


MSA

Balanced You webinar: New Year, New You: Steps to Financial Freedom

Want to save more money this year? Planning a vacation? Looking for tips on long term financial planning? Join Balanced You and William Wesley, financial expert from My Secure Advantage, to learn tips for financial planning for the year.


Disability graphic

Disability Affinity Group monthly meeting Feb. 8

Disability Affinity Group meetings are open to King County employees who self-identify as a person with a disability. Employees will not be asked to disclose any information regarding one’s disability. 

The Disability Affinity Group will host its next meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 8 from 1 to 2 p.m., via Teams. To join the meeting, use this link. Closed captioning is available on the Teams platform. 

If you need a reasonable accommodation to fully participate in the meeting, please email disabilityequity@kingcounty.gov.  Future Disability Affinity Group meetings are scheduled for the second Tuesday of each month at 1 p.m.

Stay connected by joining the private Disability Affinity Group Teams site.


New King County phone numbers will get different 3-digit prefixes

No, those aren’t spam calls! You may start to see King County phone numbers with different 3-digit prefixes. Existing phone numbers will not change; however, new phone numbers assigned to King County employees or departments will continue to have the 206 area code, followed by the new prefixes: 848, 656, 791, or 690.

If you receive a call from one of these numbers on a mobile phone, you may want to update your contact information to indicate it’s from King County – not a robot or spam.


Career Support Services 

Career Support Services provides a variety of virtual career development workshops, along with online resources, to support you in achieving your career goals:

Strategic Interviewing Tips and Techniques – This two-hour online workshop will provide you with strategies and tips to help you to do your best during the interview. 

STAR-LA Interview Practice and Feedback This one-hour online, small group workshop is designed to provide mock interview practice and feedback using the STAR-LA method as taught by King County Career Support Services. This workshop is for participants who have attended the Strategic Interviewing Tips and Techniques workshop or have watched the 10 minute STAR-LA method video found on the Career Support Services website

Creating Effective Application Materials – This two-hour online workshop will provide you tips and strategies on how to make your application materials stand out. 


Training Spotlight:

Facilitating Effective Meetings – Online – A common challenge faced by individuals in business is how to lead and facilitate meetings that are interesting and solicit active engagement. This two-day training covers the skills used by a facilitator to design and run an effective meeting. How to be a better participant is also discussed. Topics include specific facilitation skills, group decision making skills, and how to deal with disruptive behaviors. In this class you will learn how to navigate difficult behaviors and keep meetings on track. This class takes place:

  • Tuesday and Wednesday, Feb. 8 and 9 from 8:30 a.m. to noon. Fee is $65. Register here.

Staying Steady – Online – As leaders we are often balancing multiple priorities and demands. This year has been especially difficult in finding ways to stay steady ourselves and ensure the wellbeing of our teams, especially as we continue with Future of Work planning, re-entry anxiety at home/work, and racism as a public health crisis. Join us for an interactive session that focuses on prioritizing your wellbeing as a leader and supporting your team with strategies to build a sense of stability and resiliency, to work more effectively. Sessions are free and are offered monthly. The next session will be:

  • Tuesday, Feb. 15 from 12:30 to 3:30 p.m. Register here for this date or choose another date that best fits your schedule.

Please visit our King County Eventbrite website and our Learning and Development 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


POTW Freckles

Pet of the Week: Freckles

Hi! I'm Freckles, a 50 pound Pit/Pointer mix, and a spirited 10-year-old. I am full of energy and I love to play! I tend to calm down more when the people around me stay calm. I do best when I have lots of exercise and something to keep my mind busy.

You can find out more about me and my other friends on our website at www.kingcounty.gov/adoptapet. Note that 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. 


logo

Featured Job: Court Reporter

Salary: $41.75 - $52.92 Hourly

Location: Seattle, WA

Job Type: Regular, Full time, 35 hrs/week

Department: KCSC - Superior Court

Job Number: 2022-15168

Division: Court Operations Support Services

Closes: Feb. 9 at 11:59 p.m. Pacific time

King County Superior Court is seeking Realtime Certified Court Reporters to work for the court. Certified Computer Access Realtime Translation providers will be paid a premium when service is provided during proceedings.

Learn more about this position or view all available positions


King County Headlines

Scientists aboard King County’s research vessel deploy buoy in Puget Sound to measure underwater noise, a risk to southern resident orcas

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