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. 

Dear fellow King County employee, 

This month, we observe Domestic Violence Awareness Month in King County to raise awareness about the prevalence of domestic violence, signs of abuse, and how we can stop it. 

Shockingly, on average, nearly 24 people per minute are physically abused by an intimate partner in the United States – more than 12 million people each year – according to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence. This can be our family, friends, neighbors, work colleagues, and even ourselves.

If a person is an abusive relationship, whatever stage, they need to have people they can depend on for support. At King County, we are committed to supporting our colleagues who have experienced domestic violence or who are at risk of experiencing domestic violence and helping them access assistance and resources to stay safe. 

The County’s Domestic Violence in the Workplace policy encourages employees who have experienced domestic violence or those at risk of experiencing domestic violence to talk to their supervisor, a Human Resources representative, or the Employee Assistance Program (EAP) to get help. As trained and credentialed counselors, the EAP providers know that each domestic violence situation is different and that the individual facts should be considered to best assist an employee. 

In addition, our Leave for Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault or Stalking policy provides leave to employees experiencing domestic violence to address safety concerns, receive legal advice, attend legal proceedings, or receive counseling or other healthcare treatment. It also provides leave for employees to assist family members who are experiencing domestic violence with the same. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact your supervisor, a Human Resources representative, or the Employee Assistance Program. You can also find key contacts including services like counseling, crisis lines, and other resources in our Domestic Violence Resource Flyer. 

As a reminder, RCW 42.56.250(1)(i) provides an important protection for King County employees and their dependents who are survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, sexual abuse, stalking, or harassment. The law exempts public employees from having certain records such as their birthdate, job title, workplace address, work email address, work phone number, and bargaining unit disclosed under the Public Records Act, if they or their dependents are survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, sexual abuse, stalking, or harassment, and they provide certain documentation necessary under Washington State law. Please contact your HR Manager if you have any questions about the Public Records Act exemption or want additional information about qualifying for the exemption. 

Every person deserves to be safe and free of fear, to be treated with kindness, respect, and dignity. Thank you for doing your part in bringing awareness to the issue of domestic violence and supporting our colleagues with resources and care.  

Sincerely,

Whitney Abrams (she, her, hers)
Chief People Officer