Employee News
Telling the stories of King County employees
Crossposted from King County Local Starting June 1, walk‑up permitting hours will double to four days a week at 919 SW Grady Way in Renton: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday: 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Wednesday: 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Technical experts are available on Thursdays for complex questions. Permitting staff are also at the Fall City Library the first Tuesday of every month, from 1 to 3 p.m. Customers can always: E-mail: PermitQuestions@kingcounty.gov Call: 206-296-6600
On Monday, June 1, the Facilities Management Division (FMD) will start a Walking Bus Pilot Program in the Downtown Seattle Core. The FMD Walking Bus Pilot Program pairs groups of King County Employees with an FMD Security Officer to escort them to public transit hubs in the Downtown Core at the end of the workday. To participate, please arrive at the designated departure location and time as described below, there will be a white sign clearly marked “Walking Bus” that indicates the meeting location at each building. The Walking Bus will make… Read More
Do your benefits ever feel like a puzzle that’s hard to put together? Many employees run into stress when trying to figure out their health insurance, whether it’s for physical, dental, or mental health. King County’s new Benefits Unlocked series is here to simplify that process. Join the Balanced You team’s Karla Clark and the Benefit team’s Matt Munson as they discuss topics such as finding a healthcare provider, understanding how to make changes, anticipating any costs, and more. Together, they will answer your questions and help you feel more confident using… Read More
Crossposted from the Metro Layover Employee Newsletter Metro’s Women in Rail Employee Resource Group (ERG) helped showcase careers in skilled trades at the 45th annual Washington Women in Trades Fair earlier this month at Seattle Center. Lead Track Maintainer Stephanie Forester, Lead Maintenance Service Center Worker Helen Nicdao, and Lead Facilities Electrician Erika Ruff staffed the Rail Division table, giving attendees a hands-on look at the equipment and work that keep Metro’s rail system running every day. This year, the group wanted the display to feel authentic to the work employees do… Read More
We invite employees to kick off Pride Month with King County Executive Zahilay at the King County Pride Flag Raising ceremony. All interested employees are welcome to attend with supervisor approval. Participation is completely optional. The event will include light refreshments and recognition of employees and community members whose leadership, advocacy, and service continue to strengthen and support LGBTQIA+ communities across King County. Monday, June 1, 2026 11 a.m. King County Administration Building Plaza
Yesterday, Executive Girmay Zahilay announced his sponsorship for new amendments to the ST3 system update plan that will advance critical transit projects in King County and improve accountability at Sound Transit. The Sound Transit Board is expected to vote on these amendments and updated plan on Thursday. In March, the Executive committed to regional collaboration to address the agency’s $34.5 billion funding shortfall while keeping projects affordable and moving forward. “Addressing a budget deficit of this size is incredibly challenging, and difficult decisions were always going to be necessary,” said Executive Zahilay. “Even so, we made meaningful progress to move all of King County’s projects forward, and… Read More
Are you noticing increased stress due to ongoing uncertainty? During times of change, it’s common to feel a mix of emotions – such as anxiety or frustration – alongside hope for what’s ahead. Mindfulness offers a way to pause during difficult feelings, notice what’s happening in the moment, and respond with greater calm and clarity. Balanced You and King County provide resources to help employees learn about and practice mindfulness skills. Read more.
Crossposted from Headwaters Each May, we celebrate American Wetlands Month to shine a light on these special ecosystems that provide clean water, flood protection, and critical habitat for plants, fish, and wildlife. This year also marks the 50th anniversary of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s National Wetland Inventory Program, a vital tool for tracking wetlands across the United States, including right here in King County. You can learn more about this work and check out status and trends in the NWI’s 50th anniversary Storymap. The NWI includes a wetland inventory that was developed by King County and adopted by… Read More
King County’s ultimate frisbee team is back for another summer season, with Wednesday evening games starting in June and running through mid-August. Players of all experience levels are welcome, including anyone brand new to the sport. It’s a great way to meet colleagues, get outside, and keep the momentum going after work hours. Interested? Reach out to Danny Arauz or Amelia Bahr for details.
Crossposted from Cultivating Connections Every May, the nation observes Older Americans Month (OAM) to recognize the contributions of older adults, highlight aging trends, and reaffirm our commitment to helping older adults thrive in their communities. The 2026 OAM national theme, Champion Your Health, focuses on prevention and wellness as cornerstones of healthy aging. It highlights the importance ofevidence-based approaches, caregiver roles, and community partnerships that empower individuals to lead healthy lives. Read more.
Crossposted from the DES Express Fleet Services, which manages the county’s surplus goods, is launching a new inventory management system called Rheaply that will include an online marketplace to make it easy to request surplus items. The initial rollout of the new system in the coming months will be for departmental surplus coordinators, who order items and request surplus goods. Later this year, it will be available for all county employees to request free surplus items for business use. “We have an internal marketplace where folks can peruse to find items that… Read More
Crossposted from the DES Express Tenaya Scheinman, former attorney for the King County Inquest Program in the Department of Executive Services, was sworn in on May 1 as a judge for the King County Superior Court. She has been an attorney for the Inquest Program since 2024, presenting evidence to juries investigating the facts and circumstances of deaths involving law enforcement. She also served as a judge pro tempore in King County District Court, Snohomish County District Court and Edmonds Municipal Court. Scheinman was appointed by Gov. Bob Ferguson to fill a… Read More
The King County 2026 Better Government: Customer Focus Survey launched today for employees in all departments, except District Court, Superior Court, Council, and the Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, and employees in Short-Term Temporary positions (STTs), Interns, and anyone with less than 3 months of tenure. This is your opportunity to share feedback to help the County better support you in providing the best possible service to our community. We want to hear from you so we can learn what matters most in helping you serve the public effectively. Your responses will help us identify strengths and opportunities to ensure King County continues to… Read More
Crossposted from Tails from RASKC Until now, most of the work being done at the new Regional Animal Services of King County (RASKC) shelter location has been focused on the interior of the building. Recently, the county’s Facilities Management Division (FMD) worked with a local landscaping company to revitalize the exterior landscaping, opening multiple parking spaces, public walkways, and an entry point to the nearby Green River Trail that had been overrun by weeds and overgrown trees. When the new facility officially opens, the public will be able to park their cars… Read More
Crossposted from the DES Express Due to heightened security measures in downtown Seattle during the World Cup matches in June and July, vehicle and pedestrian access to buildings near Lumen Field – including King Street Center – will be significantly restricted. Even on non-match days, expect large crowds and extra traffic that will make travel through the area difficult. To ensure you receive timely check payments during the event, the Payables Team highly recommends minimizing or eliminating your need to pick up checks. For employees who still wish to pick up checks in person,… Read More
Crossposted from Medium King County Superior Court has selected Robert E. Gant MA, LMHC, as the Director of Juvenile Court Services. Robert has served as a Juvenile Court Services Manager since joining the Court in 2019 and was Acting Director in 2021. “Robert’s work is characterized by the collaboration and clarity necessary to ensure Juvenile Court delivers programs that are effective, strategic, and promote equitable outcomes,” said King County Superior Court Chief Administrative Officer Linda K. Ridge. “We are grateful for his leadership and longstanding commitment to serving youth and families in… Read More
Crossposted from the DES Express King County’s Harborview Construction and Infrastructure Division (HCID) was pleased to welcome County Executive Girmay Zahilay to Harborview Medical Center on May 4 to view the current geotechnical drilling taking place on campus and learn more about the project. Over the last month, HCID has been conducting geotechnical drilling at various locations across campus, drilling up to 150 feet down to better understand soil conditions in preparation for constructing new facilities for patients and staff. The samples will inform the design of the new patient tower to… Read More
Employees can now take advantage of additional discounts to performances of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child for Broadway at the Paramount Theatre. Discounted tickets for the 2026-2027 season are available for purchase here. HomeStreet Bank is now officially Mechanics Bank and has continued to offer King County employees banking and mortgage benefits. As part of the Mechanics Bank Affinity Program, employees can access down payment assistance, rate reductions on select consumer loans, and much more. For more information, view this flyer or visit their website. See all available discounts on the Employee Discount intranet page.
Crossposted from the DES Express E-Procurement (powered by Oracle) is rolling out a new log-in page as soon as May 23 to make systems more secure. The Procurement and Payables (P&P) team is working closely with Oracle to determine a specific date for the change and to provide information to help suppliers and employees navigate the new log-in page. After the upgrade, the new Company Single Sign-On option for King County users will appear as “Sign in with KC Identity…” at the bottom. When you select that, you will be logged into… Read More
We’re excited to introduce the new and updated Employee Experience page, your hub for understanding and strengthening Employee Engagement at King County. On this page, you can explore what engagement means and why it matters, how we measure it, and how your feedback directly shapes improvements through Action Planning. As a reminder, another opportunity to share your voice is coming soon with the Better Government Customer Focus survey, which launches on May 26. Your feedback is essential—it helps leaders refine processes, build better programs, and strengthen how we serve our community. Surveys aren’t just about gathering information; they’re about taking… Read More