Employee News
Telling the stories of King County employees
The next payday will be on Thursday, July 30, which will also be the third payday of the month. If you view your paystub in PeopleSoft, you may see that the net dollar amount of your July 30 paycheck is larger because not all deductions are taken out. For example, supplemental insurance premiums, Benefit Access Fees, and Employee Giving donations will not be deducted from this check. Please note, Deferred Compensation contributions are now deducted every pay period—even on three-payday months. To make changes to your Deferred Compensation Plan, contact T. Rowe Price at… Read More
Do you have a vote plan? Research shows that voters who make a plan to vote are more likely to follow through and make their voices heard. Take a moment today to consider things like where you’ll vote, what pen you’ll use (pro tip: any color is fine!), and what resources you’ll use to research your choices. Visit kce.wiki/VotePlan to download a Vote Plan template. If your Vote Plan includes using a drop box, you’ll be glad to know there are now more than 90 official ballot drop boxes around the county, including brand new… Read More
To celebrate Disability Pride month, the King County Disability Equity Network (KCDEN) gathered reflections from employees living with hidden and visible disabilities about how their disabilities are an asset in the workplace, and how those attributes allow them to effectively serve King County residents. In part three of a multi-part series, KCDEN is sharing these first-person experiences to highlight the contributions of employees with disabilities. Because disability status is often stigmatized, the thoughts are shared anonymously and have been edited for brevity and clarity. ‘My disability is an asset at work because it allows me… Read More
Crossposted from the King County Sheriff’s Office employee newsletter The King County Metro Bicycle Emphasis and Enforcement Squad (BEES) are responsible for providing policing of King County Metro’s bus system and routes throughout the county. During the FIFA World Cup match days in Seattle, the BEES patrolled routes downtown and around the stadium. Check out this video featuring the BEES in action, put together by KCSO digital and media engagement specialist Marcus Mathisen.
Recently, King County Executive Girmay Zahilay announced the steering committee for the housing revenue workgroup, a cross-sector group charged with exploring dedicated funding to address the region’s housing and homelessness crisis. The committee held its first meeting earlier this month. Established through the Breaking the Cycle Executive Order, the steering committee will evaluate the feasibility of a new revenue source to support the building, siting, preservation, maintenance, and operations of emergency shelter and affordable housing in King County, including the potential for the first-ever countywide housing levy. The committee will regularly engage with service providers as well as private sector partners, philanthropy,… Read More
King County Elections is hosting multiple Accessible Voting Events around the county this election season. These events are open to all and are especially intended to support voters with disabilities or who need additional assistance. In partnership with local libraries and other community groups, these events will have trained Elections staff and accessible voting units to assist voters. At these events, voters can also register to vote or update their voting address, get a replacement ballot, use an accessible voting unit, and ask questions of staff. View the full schedule of Accessible… Read More
Employees can take advantage of a discount for single day admission to the Washington State Fair and upcoming concerts, Sept. 4-27. Enjoy games, rides, music, and more. Purchase tickets here, using coupon code 26king. Learn more here. The Seattle Seahawks are excited to offer King County employees, family, and friends the opportunity to purchase tickets at a discounted rate for a few upcoming fall games. Purchase tickets here. Sunday, Oct. 4 at 1:25 p.m. Seattle Seahawks vs Los Angeles Chargers, priced $153 Sunday, Nov. 8 at 1:25 p.m. Seattle Seahawks vs Arizona Cardinals, priced $133 Sunday,… Read More
FOX13 Seattle recently shared an article about scammers using AI images of lost pets to target King County residents. Regional Animal Services of King County (RASKC) was featured in the article, warning owners to remain skeptical and verify the claim with the shelter in-person first. The article quotes Cameron Satterfield, Communications Manager with King County Department of Executive Services, explaining a recent situation with a pet owner. “We were actually approached by a resident of King County [who] came into the shelter and said that he had gotten this text from somebody that showed pictures… Read More
Crossposted from the DES Express King County Personal Property Surplus will close its warehouse from Monday, Aug. 10 through Friday, Aug. 14 for an internal warehouse re-reconfiguration. They will be closed to all “shoppers” while they create a better and more efficient space in the warehouse, located at 5810 7th Ave. South. Surplus will still take deliveries that week. The warehouse is normally open from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. with a break from noon to 1 p.m. for lunch. Please contact Surplus at 206-477-0889 or KC.Surplus@kingcounty.gov if you have any questions.
To allow for system maintenance, the PeopleSoft system will not be available the weekend of July 24-27. During this planned outage, the Business Resource Center (BRC) will apply vendor updates and maintenance. This work will begin on Friday, July 24 at 3 p.m. and is scheduled to be completed by 6:30 a.m. on Monday, July 27. The system will not be available for access by any County staff during this outage window. There will be a communication sent out to all County staff when the system becomes available. We realize that this outage… Read More
Crossposted from DNRP Field Notes Mo McBroom — appointed by King County Executive Girmay Zahilay in May to serve as the interim Director of the Department of Natural Resources and Parks after serving year six years as Deputy Director — reflects on her journey from a successful advocate in the state’s environmental movement to leading one of the nation’s largest metropolitan natural resource agencies.
Crossposted from the King County Sheriff’s Office employee newsletter The King County Sheriff’s Office (KCSO) Air Support Unit was recently featured in an industry publication called Vertical Plus magazine, profiling the team and a collaboration with the Spokane Regional Air Support Unit during the World Cup Matches. “We’re covering the stadium and all of the transit routes in and out of the city, but we also then have to respond to all of the patrol calls throughout the entire King County region and remain ready to support our tactical teams,” KCSO Sgt. Eric Gagnon told Vertical… Read More
Crossposted from the DES Express Ken Guy, Director of the Finance and Business Operations Division (FBOD) in the Department of Executive Services, has received the Outstanding Public Service Award from the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA). Guy was the only recipient from Washington among 49 people selected for the award this year. “This recognition award from the GFOA was unexpected and deeply appreciated,” Guy said. “As I have often said to colleagues, I work with great teams in FBOD and they make my job rewarding and enjoyable every day. That’s why I feel like… Read More
As government employees, managing records is a job requirement for each of us. It is not just a role assigned to admin folks; it is a part of all jobs, including those at every level of county government. It is for that reason that each of us should be managing our records throughout our employment, and not just at the end. Employees who are supervisors are also responsible for records that were not managed by their direct reports, and should encourage their staff to manage their records over time. This could include periodically identifying and deleting transitory records, periodically… Read More
Crossposted from King County Parks This time of year is made for getting outside. With so many people enjoying King County’s parks and trails during the summer, it’s more important than ever that we all do our part to keep these spaces safe, welcoming, and enjoyable for everyone. Two of the biggest ways you can help? Slow your roll and leash up your pup. This summer, King County Parks and partner organizations are teaming up to promote safe, enjoyable experiences across the region. You might see staff out on the trails offering friendly reminders, answering questions, and even rewarding great trail etiquette. Be sure to give them… Read More
Do you enjoy running? Hiking? Camping? Questionable decisions that somehow turn into great stories? Then Ragnar trail runs might be for you! We’re putting together a team of King County employees for the Ragnar Trail Rainier Relay held Friday, Aug. 21 to Saturday the 22, where teammates take turns running beautiful trail loops, cheer each other on, hang out at camp between runs, and prove that a little dirt, a few hills, and not much sleep can still equal an amazing weekend. No, you don’t have to run a marathon! Ragnar is a relay, so… Read More
Crossposted from King County Local King County is starting work on its next update to the Comprehensive Plan (due in 2029), and we’re inviting the public to help shape what’s included. A draft scope of work is now available for review. This document outlines the topics that could be included in the midpoint update, the plan for environmental review, and how community members can get involved throughout the process. For this 2029 Midpoint Update, the county is proposing to focus on three major areas: Climate Change and Resiliency Shorelines Housing The scope of work… Read More
Your ballot is in the mail. If you haven’t received your ballot by Monday, July 20, give King County Elections a call at 206-296-VOTE. Not sure if you’re registered? Visit VoteWA.gov to register or update your registration information. Vote early! As soon as you’ve made your choices, make a point to return your ballot as soon as possible. Voting early means you can rest assured your ballot is on time and your voice will be heard. For more information about King County Elections visit kingcounty.gov/Elections.
Crossposted from Cultivating Connections King County Department of Community and Human Services (DCHS) seeks to create a vibrant, inclusive, and resilient region where all individuals and communities are safe, connected, housed, healthy, and empowered to succeed. For newly arrived immigrant, refugee, and asylee neighbors, navigating the complexities of a new place can be daunting—especially when facing systemic barriers and the evolving challenges of federal civil immigration enforcement. To meet these urgent and shifting needs, King County DCHS is proud to announce the distribution of $2 million in emergency support funds to address emerging needs among immigrant, refugee, and asylee communities in King County. This… Read More
To celebrate Disability Pride month, the King County Disability Equity Network (KCDEN) gathered reflections from employees living with hidden and visible disabilities about how their disabilities are an asset in the workplace, and how those attributes allow them to effectively serve King County residents. In part two of a multi-part series, KCDEN is sharing these first-person experiences to highlight the contributions of employees with disabilities. Because disability status is often stigmatized, the thoughts are shared anonymously and have been edited for brevity and clarity. “My disability is an asset at work because I am a… Read More