By Whitney Abrams, Chief People Officer

This article is written for employees of King County. The resources listed are only available to employees of King County.

Tuesday, Nov. 5, is Election Day and many Americans are waiting anxiously for the results. According to a recent survey by the American Psychological Association (APA), more than two-thirds of U.S. adults say the 2024 U.S. presidential election is a significant source of stress in their life.

This can be a time with a lot of uncertainty, stress, and anxiety and it is important that we take care of our emotional and mental well-being.

King County offers a range of benefits and services that are there for King County employees and their families. Employees have access to many services through our comprehensive benefits package, including Making Life Easier (username: King County) and the Employee Assistance Program. Both resources are free and confidential. Our Employee Resource/Affinity Groups are a safe place you can go to talk to people with shared interests, issues, and backgrounds.

We encourage employees to support one another and give each other grace, and please feel free to speak with your supervisor or manager about any concerns. Personal networks are an important source of support, so consider reaching out to family members, friends, colleagues, or faith–based organizations for connection and emotional support.

We are also committed to providing a safe, welcoming, respectful, and inclusive workplace culture. As an organization we value the wide range of perspectives and beliefs that our employees bring to King County. We also value and respect the peaceful expression of political views and people exercising their First Amendment rights, and employees are encouraged to participate in the political process on their own time and outside of the workplace.

With different perspectives and beliefs come different opinions and points of view, and it is important that comments made during workplace discussions are always civil and respectful. There is no room for any type of harassment or discrimination at King County and our Nondiscrimination, Anti-Harassment and Inappropriate Conduct Policy and Political Campaign Related Activity and Use of County Resources Policy make this clear.

In times of uncertainty, the work we do remains guided by our values and True North – Making King County a welcoming community where every person can thrive. Take comfort in the value and impact of your work. People rely on us for a range of vital services and this work will continue, regardless of the election result.