Needing to burn off stress? Movement helps
Stress has a way of building up in our bodies and minds. If you’ve been feeling tense or weighed down, moving your body can be one of the fastest ways to release it. Regular physical activity has been shown to reduce stress, ease symptoms of anxiety and depression, and boost energy and focus. Balanced You and King County make it easier to fit movement into your day with resources designed to support you. Read more.
Mental health resources for King County employees
As we begin Mental Health Month, Balanced You reminds King County employees of the many resources available to support you and your loved ones. Making Life Easier (MLE): Free crisis or short-term counseling, daily living support, and online tools for managing stress, available to employees and household members. Mindfulness classes and videos: Resources you can join from anywhere for a reset or a moment of calm. Mental Health First Aid: Training to help employees recognize when coworkers may need support and respond with confidence. Insurance-based mental health providers: Long-term counseling and psychiatric care available through your health plan. Movement… Read More
Mental Health Month: Caring for ourselves in a time of change
As we recognize Mental Health Month, I want to take a moment to acknowledge the importance of well-being in our lives and in our work. Mental health is a shared human experience. Many of us are balancing responsibilities at home, at work, and in our communities while navigating stress, uncertainty, and change. That reality is part of what makes this work, and our commitment to one another, so important. Every day, across King County, you show up to serve our residents and communities. Whether you are supporting someone in crisis, helping a… Read More
Making Life Easier: Quick support when you need it
Are you feeling overwhelmed by stress and crunched for time? You’re not alone. Many of us juggle busy schedules and competing demands, leaving little room to pause and recharge. Making Life Easier (MLE) offers free, easy-to-access resources designed to support you and your household members in the moment, without fuss. Learn more.
2026 Professional Development Scholarship opens on June 1
On June 1, the Professional Development Scholarship Program will open to employees represented by one of the unions in the Coalition, in addition to non-represented employees. The Scholarship Program is designed to assist eligible employees with their professional development by providing financial assistance towards obtaining training, certificates, degrees, licenses, and certifications. The second application period for the 2026 Professional Development Scholarship Program opens June 1 through July 10, 2026, for training that begins in 2026. Applicants should visit the scholarship intranet site to familiarize themselves with the revised application submission process, rating criteria, and frequently asked questions…. Read More
How past trauma and current stressors interact: A conversation with the Employee Assistance Program
Mental Health Month begins on Friday, May 1. Look for additional information throughout May about the benefits and resources we offer to support King County employees’ mental health and well-being. Many people feel stretched by the pace of work, family responsibilities, and the uncertainty happening in the world right now. According to King County Employee Assistance Program Manager and counselor Miguel Messina, it makes sense that current stressors feel heavy on their own. For some people, those stressors can also stir up older experiences that were never fully resolved. “If you’re feeling… Read More
Find a Walk Partner for safety in numbers
The Walk Partner program is now live on RideshareOnline.com. With Walk Partner, you can match yourself with other people to walk to and from King County buildings. In addition to talking to your friends and co-workers to see if they could walk with you, RideshareOnline.com is a great tool for matching yourself with other walkers. How to use Rideshare Online Create an account (or sign in if you already have one). “Add a trip“ in your Ride Match / My Trips section. Instead of using your home and work address, enter where you would be walking… Read More
Using sick leave to volunteer helps employees make a difference in our community
This week, April 19–25, is National Volunteer Week and King County’s Employee Giving Program offers a unique way for employees to convert up to three instances of sick leave each year to volunteer in their community. The volunteer program allows all employees covered by the Coalition Labor Agreement with the King County Coalition of Unions, other collective bargaining units that have ratified this option, and all non-represented employees to use up to three instances of sick leave per year for volunteer service at a local school or participating Employee Giving Program nonprofit. “Volunteering is one way we… Read More
Collaboration improves payroll processes, pays employees faster
Crossposted from the DES Express When an employee’s timecard isn’t approved during the regular payroll cycle, they’ve traditionally had to wait for a paper check – either mailed through the U.S. Postal Service or picked up in the Chinook Building downtown. To improve this experience, the Department of Human Resources (DHR), Benefits, Payroll, and Retirement Operations team (BPROS) partnered with several agencies, including the Business Resource Center (BRC), Treasury, and Finance, to launch a project to reduce paper checks and enhance customer service for the nearly 18,000 employees that work for King… Read More
Prescription reminders for employees on Regence medical plans
Please note the following pharmacy updates and reminders for employees and family members enrolled in the KingCare and KingCare Select (Regence) medical plans. Consent now required for mail-order prescriptions. You can get a 90-day supply of many medications delivered to your home for the price of two monthly copays from Costco Mail Order Pharmacy. Washington state law (RCW 48.200.310), designed to increase transparency and protect consumers, became effective Jan. 1, 2026. In response, Costco now requires active verbal consent from a member before filling a mail-order prescription. You will receive either a text message or… Read More
Employee News 