Remote work became the norm for much of the Washington state workforce in 2020. That summer, the Department of Enterprise Services’ leadership development team converted our Leading Others course from in-person to a blended virtual instructor-led training (VILT) with eLearning. We initially experienced some of the disadvantages of VILT: Unstable…

It’s hard to believe that just a few years ago, on-site in-person courses were common, and in many settings, they were the norm. I feel a sense of nostalgia for the moments before the class begins — people streaming in, one by one or in small groups, hot drinks in…

In-person instructor-led training (ILT) and virtual instructor-led training (VILT) took a hit during the COVID-19 pandemic. As organizations have looked for new and different ways to deliver training, eLearning has gained more popularity. eLearning can take on many different forms. It is generally asynchronous learning, allowing you to learn on…

This is a part of our featured story series “We Are DES.” These stories will introduce you to an individual at DES and the work they do to help fulfill the DES mission — you’ll also learn some fun details about how they spend time outside of work. Name: Craig…

Name: Vaughn Valentine Division: Business Resources Job title: Envelope Machine Adjuster What year did you start at DES? 2012 What year did you begin working for Washington state? 2012 In two sentences or less, describe what you do at DES. I set up machines to produce various sizes of envelopes…

Name: Antoinette Wynne Division: Contracts & Procurement Job title: Language Access Analyst What year did you start at DES? 2020 What year did you begin working for Washington state? 2020 In two sentences or less, describe what you do at DES. I manage the language access statewide contracts for authorized…

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are traumatic events or situations that happen during childhood and lead to long-term stress. This means that even if your current situation is trauma-free, past trauma can still impact you today. Understanding ACEs can help you recognize how trauma from your past may affect your thoughts…

A trauma-informed approach to supervision can make the difference when fostering healthy interactions in the workplace. In this article, we look at recognizing and understanding trauma-driven behavior, and fundamentals of trauma-informed approaches to communications and collaboration. What is trauma? According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), trauma occurs when

Name: Kevin Battin Division: Buildings & Grounds Job title: Construction and Maintenance Superintendent 3 and Grounds Shop Supervisor What year did you start at DES? 2007 What year did you begin working for Washington state? 2007 In two sentences or less, describe what you do at DES. I manage the Grounds…