2022 Employee survey participation continues to grow

The 2022 Employee Survey, open until Friday, March 25, continues to gain responses, with some divisions already over 50 percent. View the participation rates data here on the survey website to find out how your department is doing.

The survey is a great opportunity to let County leaders what is going well and where we need to improve. Remember that changes happen from your suggestions.  

The survey — which can be taken on your work computer or a mobile device — will take no more than 15 minutes and can be done during work time. Your responses are 100% anonymous and cannot be traced back to you. The survey is available in English, Spanish, Vietnamese, Chinese, Amharic and Somali.

All employees are eligible for the employee survey, except the following:

• Employees in Superior Court, District Court, and Prosecuting Attorney’s Office
• Employees who are interns or short term temporary (STT)
• Employees who have not worked at the county for at least 3 months prior to the survey period (for 2022, employees must have started before December 7, 2021 to be eligible).

For FAQs and more information about the survey visit www.kingcounty.gov/employeesurvey.

Updated mask requirements for employees now in effect

New mask requirements for Executive branch employees came into effect March 12, with masks now optional for most employees with some important exceptions.

Masks are now optional in all settings, including public-facing spaces, except on public transportation and in congregate settings and health care facilities, such as detention facilities and public health clinics, where masks will continue to be required. Click here for details. 

Womxn’s History Month Panel, March 30, will focus on “Resilience, Power and Healing”

Over the past several years, we have witnessed women here and throughout the world step into their power and demonstrate an incredible amount of resilience in the face of complex challenges. For each person, that power and resilience has looked different—including caregiving, running for office, advocating for their community, just trying to make it through day-to-day, and everything in between.

Councilmember Jeanne Kohl-Welles, along with the King County Equity and Social Justice Legislative Branch Team and the King County Women’s Advisory Board, invite employees to a panel event celebrating Womxn’s History Month, themed “Resilience, Power and Healing.” The event will be moderated by Councilmember Jeanne Kohl-Welles and livestreamed on Facebook and King County TV, and King County Council Chair Claudia Balducci will provide welcoming remarks.

The event will be held Wednesday, March 30 from 11:45 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. and will include panelists:

• Karen Arlette Gamez Lopez, Immigrant Rights Advocate and Community Organizer
• Commissioner Toshiko Hasegawa, Port of Seattle Position 4
• Cherryl Jackson-Williams, Family and Community Engagement Advocate
• Councilmember Sarah Perry, King County Council District 3
• Victoria Santos, Director of Strategic Development and Wellness Initiatives and co-founder of the BIPOC ED Coalition of Washington State

For more information, please contact Lorena Gutierrez Perez at Lorena.GutierrezPerez@kingcounty.gov.

Special campaign to support people affected by war in Ukraine

The King County Employee Giving Program has set up a special campaign to support the people affected by the war in Ukraine.

Between now and 5 p.m. March 28, King County employees can convert accrued vacation leave and/or earned compensatory time – a minimum of four hours to a maximum of 40 hours – into cash donations to one or all of these organizations:

• Global Impact - Ukraine Response Fund #3500
• Médecins Sans Frontieres / Doctors Without Borders #4172
• Ukrainian Community Center of Washington #9385

In addition to leave and compensatory time, one-time payroll donations, e-check, or credit card are also accepted. Prosecuting Attorney's Office employees can donate by one-time payroll donations, e-check or credit card, but may not donate leave or compensatory time.

This special campaign will be open through March 28 at 5 p.m.. Please use this form to contribute and find answers to your questions here.

Transit Appreciation Week: Recognizing those who get you from place to place

Cross-posted from Metro Matters

March 14-18 is Transit Appreciation Week, a time for recognizing and celebrating everyone who contributes to the operation of one of the best transit systems in America — Metro! The week culminates with the celebration of Transit Operator Appreciation Day on Friday, March 18.

Transit Operators — bus drivers — are the most visible faces seen every day, but Metro's regional mobility system has more than 5,100 people working to get passengers where they need to go comfortably and safely 24/7, every day of the year. Whether a daily rider, or a user one of the mobility options for a trip to the store, a medical appointment, or a night on the town, all Metro employees work together to get passengers where they need to go.

Click here to read the full story. 

Sheriff's Office team effort shuts down fentanyl trafficking organization

Over the past several months, the King County Sheriff's Office Precinct 4 Special Emphasis Team (SET) has been conducting a long-term conspiracy investigation involving a fentanyl trafficking organization. This case is a great example of seamless collaboration to keep our communities safe.

Read more about the entire operation here. 

Preparing your pet for post-pandemic life 

Cross-posted from Tails from RASKC

Pets are a big part of many peoples’ lives. While some families have had cats or dogs for years, others took advantage of the extended time at home during the COVID-19 pandemic to adopt a new furry friend. However, as pandemic restrictions ease and more people return to work and other activities outside the home, the newfound time alone can be stressful for our pets.

Here are a few tips adapted from the American Veterinary Medical Association and Dr. Patricia B. McConnell, a certified animal behaviorist, to help ease the transition to the “next normal.”

As a reminder, pets are not allowed in King County buildings. Service animals and Therapeutic Assistance animals are allowed as long as owners comply with the policy found here. 

Read the full article here.

Latinx Affinity Group survey

The King County Latinx Affinity Group Leadership Team developed a short survey to better understand the needs of King County Latinx employees. Survey results will help define Latinx Affinity Group priorities and activities.

King County employees who identify as Latinx, or of Latin American origin or descent, are encouraged to complete the survey by 5 p.m. on March 28. Responses are anonymous and the survey should only take 5-10 minutes to complete. Click here to begin the survey.

If you have questions about the survey, please contact Melissa Aguilar at MariaS@kingcounty.gov.

Datathon: Explore King County’s Data Tools – The Power of Power BI and ESRI 

Did you know that King County’s data tools Power BI and Esri can work together to make fantastic maps and data presentations? See how Metro Transit has leveraged Power BI dashboards to track performance management and provide rich interactive data visualizations for the public to view progress over time…and how your team can, too. Find out how KCIT can help your team publish data, or set up an automated schedule maintained by KCIT.

King County’s user-friendly tools can provide better data analysis on any budget, for any level of expertise. In this Datathon session, you’ll take an amazing journey into the wonderful world of spatial data visualizations, and how learn how you can get started creating Power BI dashboards. This session is open to all King County employees.

• Friday, March 18 from 1 to 2 p.m. Register here.

Learn how to boost your retirement savings

You are invited to learn more about saving for retirement with the King County Deferred Compensation Plan. The following education sessions are coming up that offer retirement planning tools and strategies for saving, so that you can create the retirement you want.

Financial Wellness for the Future: March 18 and March 31. This 30-minute live webinar will identify five practical, actionable strategies and best practices that can help strengthen your long-term financial health. Click here for details and to enroll. 

Saving for Retirement  Deferred Comp Basics: April 6 and 7. In this 30-minute live webinar, you will learn the basics of retirement savings and valuable tips developed by T. Rowe Price that can help you make the most of your retirement savings plan. Click here for details and to enroll.

Drop-in Q&A Sessions: March 30 and April 13. Unlike a webinar session, drop-in sessions offer a live discussion driven by questions from King County employees. Drop in at your convenience to ask questions. Click here for details and to enroll.

For more information about Deferred Compensation Plan education, go to the Deferred Compensation web page. If you have any questions, please contact KC Deferred Comp.

Upcoming Mindfulness Events

Take a holistic approach to your well-being with these upcoming programs.

Mindful Communication - When we communicate mindfully, every interaction is fresh with opportunity and open to discovery. Mindful Communication helps us break down the complex process of communication, increase awareness of what's really going on, and bring greater clarity and kindness to our interactions

• Tuesday, March 22 from 2 to 4 p.m. Register here.

Mindful Parenting - We'll bring the lens of mindfulness to bear on what some say is the "world's hardest job", helping you meet the joys and challenges of parenting.

• Monday, March 28 from 2 – 4 p.m. Register here.

See the full mindfulness class schedule here.

Administrative Professionals Day is April 27

Save the date: Wednesday, April 27 is Administrative Professionals Day.

Register to attend the virtual recognition and celebration of administrative professionals. Event details will be provided. All King County employees are invited to attend.

Check out previous AP Recognition Day events and much more on the Administrative Professionals Stream channel.

Featured Job: Equity and Social Justice Director