King County employees are entrusted to act with honest, fair, and responsible use of public resources. Our conduct must uphold public trust and withstand public review. To reinforce these standards, the Code of Ethics was recently revised to clarify reporting requirements related to potential conflicts of interest. A conflict of interest may occur when personal interests, or the interests of someone close to you, a former employer, a vendor, or a future employer, could influence, or appear to affect, your ability to make fair and honest decisions.

When you become aware of a potential conflict of interest, you are required to disclose it in writing to your supervisor immediately. This proactive step helps us address concerns promptly and protects you, the County, and public trust.

The Ethics Program welcomes ethics questions and concerns. Email us at Program.Ethics@KingCounty.gov. We are an advisory office that helps employees understand and navigate compliance with the Code of Ethics. Thank you for your continued dedication to upholding our ACTIVATE values.