Employee News
Telling the stories of King County employees
Crossposted from the DES Express When an employee’s timecard isn’t approved during the regular payroll cycle, they’ve traditionally had to wait for a paper check – either mailed through the U.S. Postal Service or picked up in the Chinook Building downtown. To improve this experience, the Department of Human Resources (DHR), Benefits, Payroll, and Retirement Operations team (BPROS) partnered with several agencies, including the Business Resource Center (BRC), Treasury, and Finance, to launch a project to reduce paper checks and enhance customer service for the nearly 18,000 employees that work for King… Read More
Please note the following pharmacy updates and reminders for employees and family members enrolled in the KingCare and KingCare Select (Regence) medical plans. Consent now required for mail-order prescriptions. You can get a 90-day supply of many medications delivered to your home for the price of two monthly copays from Costco Mail Order Pharmacy. Washington state law (RCW 48.200.310), designed to increase transparency and protect consumers, became effective Jan. 1, 2026. In response, Costco now requires active verbal consent from a member before filling a mail-order prescription. You will receive either a text message or… Read More
Crossposted from the DES Express FMD would like to recognize and sincerely thank all women in FMD. Your collective efforts keep King County’s buildings safe and clean, ensure bills are paid, and continuous improvements are made as well as many more impactful contributions you all make across the division. Please take a moment to watch this video, which highlights the experiences of four FMD women leaders and shares what Women’s History Month means to them.
Crossposted from Tails from RASKC Renovations to the new Regional Animal Services of King County (RASKC) shelter location in Kent continue to move ahead on schedule. On April 2, members of the RASKC team met on-site with the county’s Facilities Management Division (FMD) and the design team to look at draft floorplans and get an idea of what the flow through the building will look like. They were joined by Winnie, a RASKC alumnus dog, who has become the project’s unofficial mascot. Read more.
Crossposted from Metro Matters Once upon a time, you could tell a tourist by the number of brochures they were juggling in their hands. The brochures are still there, giving you information on what you want to see and how you can get there, but instead of juggling sheets of paper, all you need is your smartphone! As Seattle gets ready to host soccer matches this summer, Metro has just introduced an easy and convenient way to get the information you need to use transit to get around the region. Introducing Metro’s SEA26 Soccer page! Read… Read More
King County employees can now take advantage of discounted opportunities at the Seattle Children’s Theatre. Receive 20% off each ticket for performances this season. Performances include Robin Hood and Billy Goats Gruff and Other Tales. Use discount code KING20. Purchase tickets here. Receive 15% off for upcoming summer camps held at Seattle Children’s Theatre offering engaging, hands-on experiences for young people to build confidence, creativity, and storytelling skills in a fun and supportive environment. Excludes partnership camps held offsite. Use discount code KING15. View available summer camps here. See all available discounts on the Employee Discount intranet… Read More
King County voters approved the Crisis Care Centers Levy in 2023. The Department of Community and Human Services (DCHS) initiative is making it easier for everyone in King County to get the specialized care they need in a moment of crisis, which includes having the 988 crisis line to call or text, trained crisis teams to respond in-person, a network of five Crisis Care Centers to go, and post-crisis teams to follow up. The first Crisis Care Center, Connections Kirkland, is now open. The next Crisis Care Center will open in Seattle, and future… Read More
King County Executive Girmay Zahilay has proclaimed April as Records and Information Management Month. This month-long observance promotes record keeping best practices, provides awareness of the records management profession, and highlights the benefits of proper records and information management on our daily operations. Rapid technological changes have transformed how King County conducts business, creating both challenges and opportunities for managing records and ensuring records remain accessible for as long as needed to support county business and comply with the law. King County employees create and receive thousands of records every day that are necessary for the delivery of essential county services and programs. As public… Read More
Crossposted from the DES Express You might remember the zebras that escaped while en route to Montana. Who helped corral them? Animal Control Officers from RASKC, along with others. They also help wrangle livestock and investigate reports of neglect, cruelty, and animal bites. In recognition of Animal Care and Control Appreciation Week (April 12-18), learn what Animal Control Officers (ACOs) and other employees at Regional Animal Services do and how they help the community. A cadre of employees supports ACOs’ work and the animals they care for: Animal Care Technicians provide the daily care… Read More
Crossposted from Metro Matters They play the sax and swim. Collect coins and travel. Garden and produce music. For the people who ride with them they are: “professional and respectful to all the passengers,” treated a passenger who collapsed on the bus with “with so much kindness and dignity” and after helping a rider recover their wallet, had the rider say: “I can’t tell you how much I appreciate his help!” They’re operators with nearly two centuries of transit driving experience who enjoy meeting with their riders and giving back to their communities. Meet your Operators of the Month… Read More
The Department of Community and Human Services (DCHS) has made significant progress in their response to last summer’s audit. DCHS recently completed one of the 10 audit recommendations and is actively making progress on all nine others. This includes launching an annual Anti-Fraud Training for all departmental staff, implementing new policies and procedures around contract management, and offering new contract and fiscal management trainings to contracted providers. Additionally, DCHS completed a risk assessment of the hybrid payment model and is boosting collaboration with Public Health – Seattle & King County. This progress is a testament to DCHS’… Read More
Crossposted from DNRP Field Notes King County Executive Girmay Zahilay joined partners for a tour of a unique capital project that is transforming the 1,000-foot-long Wilburton Trestle in Bellevue – the longest wooden trestle in the Pacific Northwest – into a trail bridge for the emerging 42-mile Eastrail. Crews are now installing the 20-foot-wide trail surface, railing, and three expansive viewing platforms atop the 122-year-old trestle. They are also replacing deteriorated wood and hardware while reinforcing the pillars with modern safety upgrades that will make it more resilient during earthquakes. Once complete next year, the 100-foot-tall Wilburton Trestle is expected to be among the most popular segments of Eastrail, offering scenic views of the Bellevue skyline with connections to other regional trails and Sound Transit’s Wilburton… Read More
Seattle Storm is excited to offer King County employees, family, and friends the opportunity to purchase tickets at a discounted rate for a few games. Purchase tickets here. June 12 at 7 p.m. Seattle Storm vs Golden State Valkyries Sept. 12 at 7 p.m. Seattle Storm vs Dallas Wings See all available discounts on the Employee Discount intranet page.
This year, not a single King County jurisdiction filed a ballot measure for the April Special Election, which means there will not be an election this month. King County Elections will see voters again for the August Primary. Ballots for that election will be mailed on July 15! For more information visit kingcounty.gov/elections.
Crossposted from Clean Water Stories If you hike to the top of the Power Quality Facility at West Point Treatment Plant on a clear, sunny day, you’re rewarded with a panoramic view of shimmery Puget Sound. Turn around, and you’ll see something just as striking: a sea of 140 solar panels. This 80-kilowatt AC solar array helps power the facility’s lighting and HVAC system. And now, clean energy investments like this one are delivering another impressive benefit — real savings for residents in our service area. Read more.
The King County Immigrant and Refugee Commission (KCIRC) is seeking dedicated individuals who bring a strong commitment to supporting immigrant and refugee communities to fill five open positions on the commission. The application is open until April 30, 2026. Apply here: King County Immigrant and Refugee Commission online application “Now more than ever, it’s critical that local leaders are hearing directly from immigrant and refugee communities about their needs and challenges so we can work together on solutions,” said Executive Girmay Zahilay. “The King County Immigrant and Refugee Commission plays an important role in shaping policy and outreach at the county…. Read More
Crossposted from Metro Matters Seattle is going to be part of one of the largest sporting events in the world, with hundreds of thousands of soccer fans coming from every corner of the earth to cheer for their favorite teams and players. King County Metro has a vital role in getting people to the Seattle Soccer Stadium for this international tournament. We’ve been actively preparing over the last 18 months to meet the moment. Strong coordination is critical for an event of this scale. Metro will be boosting bus and water taxi… Read More
The Healthy Worksite Summit, hosted by the Association of WA Cities, is the Northwest’s premier training event dedicated to making workplaces healthy places. Attendees represent both large and small organizations from the public and private sectors. The Balanced You team has attended the Healthy Worksite Summit for several years as participants and speakers. This year, Karla Clark, Employee Health and Well-Being Project/Program Manager III, who has served on the Summit’s planning committee for three years, partnered with Junelle Kroontje, Employee Social Impact and Well-being Manager, and Leslie Monteiro, Wellness Program Manager at… Read More
The King County Sheriff’s Office (KCSO) Motor Unit is made up of six officers from the contract cities of Sammamish, SeaTac, and Maple Valley. Originally formed in 1911, the KCSO Motor Unit has a rich history in motor unit development and training in the Pacific Northwest. They do everything from traffic stops to escorting the Blue Angels. “One of the unique things about being assigned to motors is the opportunities we have to get out and ride eight feet away from the President’s limo as we’re cruising down I-5, or be asked… Read More
Additional discounted games in April are now available for King County employees to attend. Purchase tickets here. See all available discounts on the Employee Discount intranet page.