Employee News
Telling the stories of King County employees
King County Executive Dow Constantine has proclaimed the month of May as Jewish American Heritage Month in King County. “Jewish immigrants to America, since their first arrival to our shores in the 16th century, have played a central role in the creation, growth, freedom, prosperity, and strength of the United States of America,” Executive Constantine states in his Proclamation. “Since 2006, the month of May has been celebrated as Jewish American Heritage Month, pursuant to a bipartisan resolution of Congress.” Executive Constantine also recognized the significant contributions Jewish Americans have made “to… Read More
The Washington Women in Trades Job Fair held recently at the Seattle Center brought together a diverse array of talented individuals in the trades industry. The event served as a platform for showcasing the exciting career opportunities available at King County, while highlighting the county’s support for diversity and innovation. The job fair was a vibrant gathering, where attendees had the chance to connect with skilled professionals and explore various career pathways. From carpentry to electrical work, participants engaged with representatives from different trades, gaining insights into the industry’s latest trends and… Read More
King County is celebrating National Correctional Officers and Employees Week, which started on Sunday and runs through May 11. King County’s corrections officers and juvenile detention officers perform a critical role in managing people during the most turbulent and vulnerable times of their lives—when they are accused of compromising the safety and wellbeing of the community, resulting in their incarceration. The professionalism and persistence of these employees should make us all proud. They show courage, sacrifice, and resolve that demonstrates commitment and dedication to public safety, while also ensuring that people in… Read More
May is Mental Health Month, dedicated to prioritizing our well-being and promoting open conversations about mental health. At King County, we recognize the importance of mental health and the impact on our personal and professional lives. To support this, King County Executive Dow Constantine has proclaimed May as Mental Health Month. Read the full proclamation below.
In honor of the invaluable contributions and leadership of American Asians, Native Hawaiians, and Pasifika peoples to every facet of culture and business in the region, King County Executive Dow Constantine has proclaimed May as American Asian Native Hawaiian Pasifika Heritage Month. Read the full proclamation below.
By Whitney Abrams, Chief People Officer May is Mental Health Month, a time dedicated to prioritizing our well-being and promoting open conversations about mental health. At King County, we recognize the importance of mental health to our overall health and well-being and we champion each other in support and recovery. We know the impact mental health challenges have on our personal and professional lives. It’s real. And many of us feel these challenges, either personally, or with our loved ones, every single day. This year’s theme from Mental Health America, “Where to… Read More
There are over 100,000 people in the US in need of a kidney transplant*. Unfortunately, only about 17% receive a transplant annually. This is a story about two King County employees who decided to share one of theirs, and as a result, helping to dramatically change the lives of people in need of a working kidney. When Lynda Kamrath, IT Manager for the King County Sheriff’s Office (KCSO), found out that her partner, Gary, was diagnosed with Stage 4 kidney disease, she decided she would get tested to be a donor as… Read More
People of Arab descent have woven their rich culture and traditions into the fabric of our communities, enhancing the diversity and strength of King County, contributing significantly to our economy, culture, and community through their roles in medicine, law, business, education, technology, government, military service, and more. In recognition of these contributions and their influence on our community, King County Executive Dow Constantine has proclaimed April as Arab American Heritage Month. Read the full proclamation below.
Cross-posted from the Sheriff’s Newsletter When he was 18 years old, Dylan Centanino-Sweers began volunteering as a Special Olympics coach. Through this opportunity, he found a passion for working with the athletes and building relationships in the community. Now, as a deputy at the King County Sheriff’s Office (KCSO), he’s able to see two things he values come together. “Given the challenging nature of our job and sometimes inherent negativity in the police profession, I hold on to the sheer positivity that the athletes exude when they compete in their events,” said… Read More
On February 27, 2024, King County Metro welcomed the newest division to the agency, the Safety Security and Quality Assurance division (SSQA). Safety has always been a priority at Metro but that scope has increased dramatically throughout the years. To understand what community’s priorities are related to safety Metro conducted community engagement, gathered feedback on fare enforcement, centered youth voices, and more. To operationalize community feedback and uphold the values of safety and equity, the SSQA section transitioned into a division. “Creating this division is a bold move to elevate Metro’s values… Read More
Whether it is directly or indirectly, the work of all King County employees is in service to the residents of King County. So it should be no surprise that many County employees bring an attitude of service to their personal lives as well. One such example is Rafael A. Munoz-Cintron, a Paralegal in the Prosecuting Attorney’s office. A former Senior Airman in the Air Force serving during Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm, Rafael now volunteers representing The American Legion from Washington state. “The American Legion is the only Veteran Service Organization taking a… Read More
This month, both the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the Washington State Department of Health (DOH) updated their COVID-19 guidance and removed the five-day isolation requirement for people who test positive for the virus. Under the updated guidance, people who test positive for the coronavirus should stay home and away from other people until their overall symptoms are improving and they are fever-free for at least 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication. After returning to normal activities, they should wear a well-fitting, high-quality mask for five days when they… Read More
Check out the educational opportunities below to help you learn about—and prepare for—retirement. Please note, attendance at retirement classes is strictly voluntary, on your own time, and non-work related. The following 90-minute online classes are provided by your King County Retirement Team. To register, use the links below, 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. For additional information, visit the King County Retirement page, read the Retirement Guide, or contact Carmen Johnson, retirement navigator. Your PERS Pension:… Read More
Interviewing for a new job can be nerve racking and take up a lot of personal time. King County Metro’s new creative way of transforming the hiring process provides a much more user-friendly and efficient approach to both the candidate and the employer. Despite many hiring efforts, there have been more than 40 open mechanic positions in the Vehicle Maintenance Division of King County Metro for multiple years. Now, those open positions are all filled in large part due to the new hiring fairs hosted by Metro. On October 31 – November… Read More
In 2021, King County began to identify a trend showing the overall number of qualified job applicants significantly decreasing while the number of open vacancies were increasing. At the same time, HR professionals were transitioning to new roles or departing the County as part of an industry-wide trend largely tied to burnout. This resulted in prolonged vacancies in key recruiter positions, which in turn slowed the recruiting and hiring process. To better understand this challenge, HR Managers were surveyed in early 2022 to obtain insight and feedback on their recruitment needs and… Read More
King County is building a welcoming, inclusive workplace culture where every employee feels supported, respected, and valued. Actively seeking to learn and understand employees’ experiences and perspectives is crucial to this effort and central to our We Respect all People value. Since 2015, our primary tool for organization-wide employee feedback has been the annual Employee Engagement Survey. While this anchor survey has been useful in providing a once-a-year check-in with employees, we have learned that a 70-question annual survey is no longer an industry best practice. Furthermore, our current survey tool is… Read More
The new Refugees & Immigrants Support and Empowerment (RISE) affinity group recently hosted a Connect & Celebrate event to launch the first resource group for King County employees identifying as immigrants and refugees (I&R). This gathering marked the beginning of a series of opportunities for I&R employees to meet and network with each other, share their experiences, and find resources to support their personal and professional growth. The goal is to strengthen I&R voices in the workplace. During the Connect & Celebrate event, participants shared childhood memories of growing up in different… Read More
King County Executive Dow Constantine has declared March as Women’s History Month in King County and encourages all county residents to honor the contributions by women to their families, workplaces, and communities. In his Proclamation Executive Constantine said, “despite the innumerable contributions women have made and continue to make, too little is taught or even known about the enormous impact women have on our collective national history.” The Proclamation also acknowledges the National Women’s History Alliance’s theme “Women Who Advocate for Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion” and recognizes “women throughout the country who… Read More
If you still have funds remaining in last year’s Health Care or Day Care Flexible Spending Account (FSA), be sure to get reimbursed for expenses incurred in 2023. Here’s how: Go to Navia Benefits and log in as a participant. Health Care FSAs cover a variety of medically necessary expenses for you and your eligible family members, including deductibles, coinsurance, and copays, and other Eligible Health Care Expenses. Day Care FSAs cover a range of services for your child, disabled spouse, or dependent parent that allow you to work, such as day care, preschool, day camps, before… Read More
King County Executive Dow Constantine has selected Monisha Harrell to serve as the Director of the Office of Equity, Racial and Social Justice (OERSJ). In this role, Monisha will oversee OERSJ’s crucial work of advancing and embedding all of our King County values – with a particular focus on “We are racially just” – across our operations to build a truly fair, racially just, and equitable community and workplace. She will support OERSJ in advancing equality and protections for LGBTQ+ people, ensuring access and equity for people with disabilities, and the completion… Read More