Employee News
Telling the stories of King County employees
Crossposted from Tails from RASKC Scammers are contacting owners of lost pets in our area, claiming their pet has been found needing surgery and demanding immediate payment. Some are using AI-generated images of an animal in surgery as “proof.” These are scams! Regional Animal Services of King County (RASKC) will never ask you for payment by phone or text to treat your sick or injured pet! Do not send money, provide bank or card info, or use payment apps. If you think your lost pet is in our shelter, visit kingcounty.gov/LostAPet or stop by in person weekdays from noon… Read More
The King County Deferred Compensation Plan helps employees save for retirement through automatic pre-tax and post-tax contributions. The plan is governed by a nine-member board of current and retired King County employees with the assistance of an independent financial consultant. The board monitors fund performance, ensures effective and inclusive communication, makes plan policy and design decisions, and ensures compliance with King County’s Strategic Plan for Equity and Social Justice. The King County Employees Deferred Compensation Plan Board meets on the second Wednesday of every month and all employees and participants are welcome to attend… Read More
King County’s current IT service management system, Cherwell, will soon be replaced by a new system called Neurons. As part of the cutover, Cherwell will go offline the evening of Aug. 14, creating a temporary ticketing blackout from Friday, Aug. 14 to Sunday the 16. During this time, employees will not be able to submit new tickets or view existing tickets. After‑hours support will still be available for urgent IT issues. All tickets submitted before Aug. 14 will be automatically moved into Neurons and will be available again when the new system launches on Monday,… Read More
Overdose is the leading cause of preventable injury death in King County, but an easy-to-use nasal spray (naloxone) can save lives. When someone is overdosing, you can be the difference, and you don’t need to be a doctor to help. King County employees are permitted to carry and administer naloxone while on the job, if they so choose. Here’s your guide to finding naloxone in King County and Washington and how to access overdose prevention training. For those who can, King County encourages accessing naloxone over the counter or through pharmacies with… Read More
Crossposted from Cultivating Connections The legislation reflects extensive community engagement, modernizes one of King County’s most important behavioral health investments, and renames it the King County Behavioral Health Bridge. Executive Girmay Zahilay transmitted legislation to the King County Council that would guide one of the County’s largest local investments in behavioral health through 2034, reflecting extensive community engagement to better address the county’s most pressing behavioral health needs. Read more.
Team, Every day across King County, important decisions are being made, milestones are being reached, and people are doing incredible work to serve our communities. Staying informed about that work, and the priorities guiding it, helps us stay connected as one organization. That’s why I’m excited to introduce the Executive’s Corner, a new space on the employee intranet where you can find news, announcements, and updates directly from me and the Executive Office. Whether you’re looking for the latest announcements from the Executive Office, information on our Executive Orders, news releases, leadership information, video messages, or… Read More
We’re celebrating 250 years of the red, white, and blue! Adopt any dog or kitten from Regional Animal Services of King County (RASKC) for just $50 through July 31. See our selection of adoptable pets here, or visit us at the King County Pet Adoption Center, located at 21615 64th Ave. S. in Kent. Adoption hours are noon to 5 p.m. weekdays, and noon to 4 p.m. weekends. See all the adorable adoptable pets we have waiting for you at kingcounty.gov/AdoptAPet.
Each email has unique metadata, including some data we do not even see when viewing our emails in Outlook. When emails are viewed as part of a thread or chain, some of that metadata for the previous emails can be lost. It is for that reason that state guidance and case law requires that we manage each email, even if the text of those emails are included in a single thread or chain. The exception to that is are emails that are transitory and can be deleted at any time. For more information, review the Email… Read More
We’re halfway through 2026, and it’s a good time to check your Flexible Spending Account (FSA) balances and take steps to make sure you spend your remaining funds before the end of the year. Here’s some additional reminders: Health Care FSAs Use Health Care FSA funds to purchase summer-related items such as sunscreen, first aid kits, and prescription sunglasses. Schedule any necessary back-to-school check-ups and sports physicals if you have children. Many over-the-counter items are FSA-eligible, such as pain relievers, cold and allergy medicine, antacids, and feminine care. See the complete list… Read More
King County is seeing an increase in automated “meeting bots” attempting to join Microsoft Teams meetings—sometimes without the meeting organizer’s knowledge. These bots can pose a serious security risk; unauthorized bots may record, transcribe, or export meeting content to external systems, potentially exposing confidential information. Microsoft Teams now detects many external bots and places them in the meeting lobby, clearly marking them as automated participants. However, human approval is still required: someone in the meeting must choose whether to admit or block the bot. What you should do: If you see a… Read More
Today, King County Executive Girmay Zahilay announced a one-year lease agreement with CREATE48 Media Network for the use of Harbor Island Studios, supporting the region’s growing film industry, strengthening the creative economy, and expanding job opportunities for local filmmakers, creatives, and production professionals. “Harbor Island Studios has been a unique public asset that supports King County’s film industry and creative economy. I’m glad we were able to find a nonprofit partner to continue momentum for the community while we work with stakeholders to develop a long-term strategy that supports access to affordable film and production space in our region,” said Executive Zahilay. “We’re excited that CREATE48 Media Network will… Read More
Crossposted from Field Notes Five years after the Pacific Northwest Heat Dome that led to 34 heat-related deaths in King County, our staff continues to work with partner agencies and communities to better prepare our region for extreme heat. Guided by King County’s Extreme Heat Mitigation Strategy, we’ve made progress on multiple fronts to help people stay safe and promote more equitable access to healthy tree canopy. Read more.
The Disability Pride flag – Celebrating inclusion for all The King County Disability Equity Network (KCDEN) invites you to recognize Disability Pride. The Disability Pride flag was created in 2019 by disability rights activist Ann Magill. Initially, the flag featured a zigzag design. After receiving feedback from people with visual and other disabilities, the flag was revised in 2021. It is now comprised of 5 diagonal stripes of various colors on a faded black background. Each stripe represents an array of disabilities, including: Red for physical disabilities Gold for neurodiversity White for invisible disabilities and… Read More
Crossposted from Cultivating Connections After only a year in operation, Q’mmunity House is making a profound impact, achieving full occupancy by the end of its first year. As a first-in-the-nation transitional home designed to meet the unique needs of LGBTQIA+ veterans experiencing homelessness, the program provides on-site case management, essential connections to the veteran-serving community, and a safe, affirming environment. Read more.
Crossposted from Metro Matters Fireworks, parades, picnics and festivals on the Fourth of July weekend — there’s so much going on in honor of the country’s 250th birthday! Here’s some things to know before stepping onto transit on July 4 to get to your celebration. King County Metro buses are operating on a Sunday schedule on Friday, July 3, (a holiday for many workers) and will operate a regular Saturday schedule on Saturday, July 4. There are bus reroutes planned in several areas July 4 due to events, such as parades, fun runs and local festivals around… Read More
It is officially July, which means it is officially Disability Pride Month! From the ADA and Disability Equity Team to you, we hope you have a month full of accessibility, inclusion, and disability joy. The ADA team is part of the Executive’s Office and focuses on systemwide change to build a culture of inclusion, accessibility, and equity in every part of King County government. One of the ways the team is celebrating is by launching our new SharePoint site and resource hub. Here employees can learn more about our team, our work, get support for your department, and learn about… Read More
Historically, Making Life Easier (MLE) has focused on helping King County employees with home- and life-related stress and concerns. On July 1, MLE expanded its services to also help employees with workplace issues. This all-in-one counseling is provided by King County’s external vendor Curalinc. Also on July 1, King County’s Employee Assistance Program (EAP) changed its name to the Employee Assistance for Supervisors (EAS) and will provide resources to supervisors only. Supervisors will receive counseling, coaching, consulting, and training from the King County mental health professionals who worked with EAP. Click here to… Read More
Seattle will host its sixth and final match of the FIFA Men’s World Cup 2026 for a Round of 16 showdown at Lumen Field (referred to as Seattle Stadium for the FIFA World Cup) at 5 p.m. on Monday, July 6. On game days, street closures will go into effect four hours before kickoff and stay in place until approximately two hours after the end of the match. There will be significant security and crowd-control measures in place around the stadium, with no on-site parking at the stadium. Both King Street Center (KSC) and the Graybar… Read More
Employees can now take advantage of discounts available for Summit at Snoqualmie. Discounts are only available via online purchase through the online site with discount code. Discounts are not available for purchase at in-person ticketing locations. Scenic Ride discount: Take 20% off the day-of price, no matter when purchased. Bike Park Ticket discount: Take 20% off the day-of price, no matter when purchased. Click here to access these discounts and use discount code bpKingCoSum26. See all available discounts on the Employee Discount intranet page.
Crossposted from Tails from RASKC Regional Animal Services of King County (RASKC), the county’s Facilities Management Division (FMD), and the design team have reached an initial agreement on the new shelter site layout. Next, FMD will finalize design documents and meet with the City of Kent and King County Public Health to ensure that design decisions are up to code. The final design is expected to be approved by mid-summer. In the meantime, interior upgrades, electrical, and plumbing fixture replacements are ongoing. FMD has been working with a contractor to bring the… Read More