Employee News
Telling the stories of King County employees
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
Crossposted from Metro Matters They cook and also love Volkswagens. They travel and enjoy weightlifting. They golf, snowboard, play soccer and enjoy walks. Their riders say they are: “super cheerful and considerate,” “exceptionally courteous, especially to elderly passengers,” and an “incredibly kind and friendly driver who makes the commute better.” They’re operators with close to a combined 250 years of transit driving experience who enjoy meeting with their riders and giving back to their communities. Meet your Operators of the Month for March and April 2026. Read more.
King County Executive Girmay Zahilay appointed Matt Smith to serve as the Director of the King County Department of Human Resources (DHR), pending Council confirmation. Smith will lead the department which supports King County’s workforce of more than 18,000 employees. “Matt Smith is an accomplished leader who shares my belief that an organization’s greatest strength lies in its people,” said Executive Zahilay. “He has a deep understanding of human resources strategy, leadership, and labor and employment law. I look forward to Matt’s leadership to advance King County’s priorities and to support our talented, innovative, diverse, and inclusive workforce that aims to make a difference in their communities and the lives of the… Read More
On July 8, King County, Plymouth Housing, and the City of Kirkland celebrated the grand opening of Sheila Stanton Place, a new permanent supportive housing community providing 101 homes for adults exiting homelessness. Developed through the King County Department of Community & Human Services’ Health Through Housing initiative and operated by Plymouth Housing, the community combines affordable housing with on-site services designed to help residents maintain stability, improve health, and build meaningful connections in the communities where they live. Sheila Stanton Place is the result of years of collaboration between King County, Plymouth Housing, the City of Kirkland, service providers, faith leaders,… Read More
Executive Branch employees can now purchase basic IT accessories directly at KCIT’s walk‑up windows at King Street Center (2nd floor) and the Chinook Building (7th floor). This quick, convenient option is designed for urgent needs—like a broken headset or a misplaced charger—for purchases under $200. To buy an item, simply tell the KCIT staff at the window what you need and provide your POETA number. You’ll receive your accessory on the spot, and billing will occur at the end of the month. Employees in DNRP or DLS Roads should check with their… Read More
When it comes to planning for the unexpected, one of the simplest and most meaningful steps you can take is designating beneficiaries for your financial and insurance benefits. As a King County employee, you have life insurance, accidental death and dismemberment (AD&D) insurance, a deferred compensation plan, and a state retirement plan. Keeping your beneficiary information up to date for these benefits ensures that your wishes are honored and your loved ones are protected. If you haven’t reviewed your beneficiary information recently, consider setting aside a few minutes to check and update… Read More
Interested in leasing or purchasing an e-bike? The King County Employee Transportation Program (ETP) is accepting applications for an e-bike subsidy program with lease to own options (up to 12 month lease subsidy with credits that can be applied towards purchase). Multiple vendors and e-bikes are available from Ridepanda, Rybit, Wombi. Apply here at tinyurl.com/kcebikes. Spaces are limited, but if selected, you will receive a follow up email with concierge support to help identify which bike and vendor may work best for you. Options to purchase during or at the end of your lease will… Read More
Crossposted from DNRP Field Notes King County, in a partnership with Eastside Fire and Rescue and King Conservation District, developed a customized toolkit to help residents better prepare their homes and communities for increased wildfire risks. The new Wildfire Ready Toolkit is tailored to the specific conditions King County communities face, featuring customized actions to help reduce risk and build resilience. Climate, forestry, and emergency management experts at King County worked with local partners and first responders to develop the toolkit, based on the wildfire action plan created by the California Department of Forestry… Read More
An update to PeopleSoft will be made on Monday, July 27. When employees login to PeopleSoft, they will notice the new homepage design with an updated color scheme and navigation options. Check out the video below on the updated way to navigate PeopleSoft, or look over this helpful training document to learn more about the new changes. For other PeopleSoft resources, visit the PeopleSoft Knowledge Center. For help with any technical issues after the update, employees should first clear their browser cache using these instructions. If issues persist, please submit a help ticket at helpdesk.kingcounty.gov.
King County’s Employee Assistance Program (EAP) and Making Life Easier (MLE) went through a refresh on July 1, 2026. This was the result of feedback from employees, supervisors, leaders, and HR staff. Watch this video to learn more about the refresh. The following changes took place on July 1: Making Life Easier: 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. Read… Read More
Crosssposted from the King County Sheriff’s Office Newsletter Sheriff Patti Cole-Tindall and Support Services Division Chief Cheol Kang recently had the pleasure of meeting with Consul General Eunji Seo from the Republic of Korea’s Seattle consulate. The visit was a wonderful opportunity to exchange ideas and discuss ways we can continue strengthening safety and support for the Korean community throughout King County. The conversation was engaging, collaborative, and forward-looking — exactly the kind of partnership that helps our communities thrive. Consul General Seo presented Sheriff Cole‑Tindall with a beautifully crafted tray designed… 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 one 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’s made… Read More
Crossposted from the Department of Adult and Juvenile Detention Employee Newsletter Meet some of the caseworkers who monitor clients on supervised release. July offers a special chance to recognize these professionals and more than 90,000 of their community corrections peers throughout the country. National Pretrial, Probation, and Parole Supervision Week runs July 19 to 25. King County’s Community Corrections Division has plannned an appreciation event from noon to 1 p.m. on July 20. It’s in room 123 of the Chinook building, and everyone is welcome to join. Read more.
We appreciate every employee who took part in the recent Better Government: Customer Focus survey. Your feedback will help us better understand how to support employees so they can more effectively serve our customers. While the Employee Engagement team is heads down in data analysis and reporting, check here for a quick look at what’s ahead, and to learn about employee engagement, action planning, and more: Employee Engagement intranet page.
Crossposted from Cultivating Connections The King County Department of Community and Human Services (DCHS) is moving the Sobering Center from the Yesler Building to the downtown Administration Building on a temporary basis. Effective this month, the new site will provide a safe location with an improved layout for clients and staff. Pioneer Human Services, the County’s longtime sobering center operator, will continue providing the essential onsite services needed for this specialized setting. Part of the County’s crisis services available to residents, the Sobering Center provides a safe space for people to sleep off the effects of acute alcohol or drug… Read More
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