King County, the Seattle Building and Construction Trades Council, and the Western States Regional Council of Carpenters have renewed a Master Community Workforce Agreement (MCWA) for another five years. First signed in 2020, the MCWA is a comprehensive pre-hire collective bargaining agreement that serves as a standard Project Labor Agreement. It sets basic terms and conditions of employment on the county’s public works construction projects. The MCWA acts as the mechanism for implementing the county’s highly successful Priority Hire Program, which prioritizes local workers from economically distressed areas on construction projects. “This… Read More

Meditation and mindfulness are techniques used to reduce stress by encouraging a heightened sense of awareness and focused attention. Both approaches share many of the same tools to promote mind and body practices that increase calmness and physical relaxation and enhance overall well-being. There are several meditation and mindfulness resources available for King County employees. Balanced You encourages you to explore these resources to find ones that work for you. Making Life Easier (MLE) Toolkit This meditation toolkit from Making Life Easier (MLE) includes tips sheets, guided videos and audio exercises, and additional resources. Read more.

Regence BlueShield and Providence Swedish and PacMed reached a contract agreement late Friday, March 28, 2025. Services provided by Providence Swedish and PacMed providers, clinics, and facilities will continue to be considered in-network by Regence. If you are enrolled in a Regence medical plan and you see a Providence Swedish or PacMed provider, there will be no disruption to your coverage or benefits. For more information, see the Regence News post. If you have questions, please call Regence BlueShield at 800-376-7926 or contact the King County Benefits team at 206-684-1556 or email KC Benefits.

If you still have funds remaining in last year’s Health Care or Day Care Flexible Spending Account (FSA), take the following steps to get reimbursed for expenses incurred in 2024. Check your FSA balances – Go to Navia Benefits and log in as a participant. Learn about eligible expenses incurred Jan. 1—Dec. 31, 2024 – Health Care FSAs cover a variety of medically necessary expenses for you and your eligible family members, including deductibles, coinsurance, and copays, and other Eligible Health Care Expenses. Day Care FSAs cover a range of services for your child, disabled spouse, or dependent parent… Read More

Balanced You Conversations is a series of talks about important topics related to overall health and well-being. Karla Clark, Employee Health & Wellness Educator with the Balanced You team sits down with Matt Munson, King County Benefits Navigator. They discuss the work Matt does to help educate all King County employees about their benefits and the options they have, the importance of having a primary care provider, and some of the things he likes to do outside of work. “I’m always available to talk to employees about the available benefit options and… Read More

All King County employees are invited to learn more about digital accessibility in the free course: “Beyond Compliance: Building an Accessible and Inclusive King County,” now available in the NEOGOV Learn catalog. Developed in collaboration with the Office of Equity, Racial, and Social Justice (OERSJ) KCIT, this 45-minute online training is designed to foster a deeper understanding of disability rights, digital accessibility standards, universal design, disability etiquette, and proactive accommodations. This is an introductory course and applicable to all county employees, regardless of their current learning level. Digital accessibility is crucial to ensure… Read More

King County has launched a new Employee Intranet homepage, along with an intranet site and updated public-facing pages for the Department of Human Resources (DHR). These changes centralize all employee information into a single portal, accessible only to King County employees, while also making it easier for residents to find what they need on kingcounty.gov. New pages: King County Employee Intranet homepage (SharePoint) Department of Human Resources Intranet (SharePoint) Department of Human Resources public webpages On March 11, KCIT will change the quick link in all Executive branch employees’ “Favorites” menu to the new King… Read More

King County employees and family members enrolled in Kaiser and Regence medical plans have access to telehealth services that allow you to virtually access board-certified, trained medical providers from your home, using a tablet, smart phone, or personal computer. Read this blog for more information on how to access telehealth care for both Kaiser Permanente and Regence members. Supervisors: Here is a printer-friendly PDF with primary care provider resources to post at your worksites for employees who do not have access to email.

Preventive Care is a term that means routine health care services, such as check-ups, screenings, and tests, to prevent illnesses and health problems. Examples of preventive care include cholesterol tests, checkups with your Primary Care Provider (PCP), and colon cancer and breast cancer screenings. Preventive care is important even if you don’t feel sick. While preventive screenings among employees and their family members have started to increase since the COVID-19 pandemic began, many preventive screening services are below already-low 2019 levels. King County health plans report many preventive screenings for women and… Read More