Employee News
Telling the stories of King County employees
Crossposted from Metro Matters ORCA is making the Regional Day Pass fare permanent, creating more affordable and accessible transit for riders across the region. This price change, approved by the ORCA Joint Board, saves money and enhances convenience for customers who use multiple transit services in a single day. Effective March 1, 2025, the new ORCA Regional Day Pass will be available for just $6 for adult riders, and $2 for ORCA LIFT and RRFP senior and disabled cardholders, providing unlimited rides on participating transit services for one day for the cost… Read More
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
Crossposted from the DES Express The airport held a refresher defensive driving course to help both new and tenured employees reduce the chance of accidents and enhance safety while operating vehicles and equipment at the airport. Just in time, course materials included winter driving safety tips as well as defensive driving. A second training is in the works for a future date at the airport to be scheduled. Pictured: The King County International Airport Maintenance team, above, spent part of a sunny January day polishing their defensive driving skills on the airfield.
King County Executive Dow Constantine has declared March as Women’s History Month in King County. He urges all county residents to honor the contributions by women to their families, workplaces, and communities. He also acknowledges the importance of this year’s theme. “The National Women’s History Alliance chose the 2025 theme “Moving Forward Together! Women Educating & Inspiring Generations” to celebrate the collective strength and influence of women who have dedicated their lives to education, mentorship, and leadership,” he said. View the official proclamation here.
Every year, NEOGOV, an online human resources management platform, acknowledges employees or organizations who have used it to further creative change within their company. In 2024, Sarah Buelow, NEOGOV Supervisor within the Department of Human Resources (DHR), received the Trailblazer Award at the 2024 Ignite! Conference, for going above and beyond in embodying a drive for innovation, passion, and dedication. Sarah has ensured that King County has been a sought-out beta tester and early adopter for a variety of enhancements to all of the modules in the platform. This has allowed King… Read More
One of our core King County values is We are responsible stewards – of our finances, our resources, our environment, our heritage, and our future. This value means that we are also responsible for the stewardship of King County government across the executive branch. Last November, King County Executive Dow Constantine announced that, after four terms, he will not seek re-election in 2025. The crucial work of King County employees continues and remains as important as ever. As Executive Constantine wrote in his Nov. 12 employee announcement, “While we have seen much success,… Read More
King County employees can now take advantage of discounted tickets to the Washington Spring Fair. The Spring Fair is April 10-13 and 17-20. To purchase tickets, visit thefair.com/corporate, click the “Buy Tickets” button, and enter access code king25. Tickets are only available Feb. 26 through April 20, 2025. See all available employee discounts on the Employee Discount webpage.
Crossposted from the DES Express Weina Dai, DVM, joins Regional Animal Services of King County (RASKC) on March 2 as their newest veterinarian. She comes to King County from Evergreen Avian and Exotics Animal Hospital (Kirkland) and Cat Care Clinic (Bellevue). She also brings experience in a small animal emergency specialty clinic in Illinois, a wildlife internship at Washington State University/PAWS (Progressive Animal Welfare Society) and small animal medicine. “After an extensive year-long search, we are thrilled to welcome Dr. Dai to Regional Animal Services of King County,” said Tim Anderson, interim… Read More
Crossposted from Metro Matters It takes a lot of people to keep a transit system running smoothly across 150 routes and over 300,000 boardings a day. Bus drivers are the most visible part of any transit system, but there are people behind the scenes who are just as vital in the day-to-day operation of King County Metro. Their responsibilities include training operators, planning the routes that run throughout the region, and literally being the “traffic controllers” who keep track of the buses on their daily runs. Read more.
Crossposted from Metro Matters By Tamar Zere, Metro Equity, Inclusion and Belonging Manager As we near the end of Black History Month, I want to take a moment to reflect on and honor the profound impact, influence and achievements of African Americans whose contributions have shaped the course of American history and continue to drive the ongoing fight for justice and equity. Each year, the Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH), founded by historian Carter G. Woodson, selects the Black History Month theme to spotlight essential aspects of Black… Read More
Crossposted from the DES Express The newly renovated floors at Harborview Medical Center’s Maleng Building, featured at a Jan. 15 ribbon-cutting, exceeded expectations for equity during construction. The two floors provide 40 new single patient rooms, including 20 intensive care rooms. The Finance and Business Operations Division’s (FBOD) Business Development and Contract Compliance (BDCC) set a goal of 25% minority- and women-owned business (M/WBE) participation. The project exceeded expectations with 29% M/WBE spend. Workforce goals were also surpassed, with 22% of labor hours performed by state-registered apprentices and 38% by priority hire… Read More
Employee discounts through TicketsatWork. King County employees can find discounted tickets through TicketsatWork for the Universal Epic Universe theme park, opening May 22, 2025, at Universal Orlando Resort. Select multi-day tickets are on sale now. TicketsatWork is updated daily with seasonal offers and exclusive savings on everything from home entertainment to your everyday needs. Visit ticketsatwork.com/tickets and use the company code KingCounty to begin receiving discounts and extra special offers on your go-to brands and most-loved experiences, including brand new offers on cruises, just in time for spring travel. See all available employee discounts on the Employee Discount webpage.
Oral health is an important part of your overall health. Choosing a dentist you trust and who is conveniently located is essential for maintaining your oral health through preventive health visits. Furthermore, by choosing a dentist and visiting them this year, you may save money on dental care next year! King County offers two dental plans to most employees. Visit this page for important details about how the plans work. And read below to learn how to find a dentist that meets your needs. Read more.
Crossposted from Metro Matters Their story begins in back in 2003, when Darryl and Cheryl Estes were both King County Metro operators working out of Atlantic Base in Seattle. “We were both new trolley operators at the time, and both of us were also new fulltime operators,” recalled Darryl. “We were in the (same) room at the base and had to wait there a long time. At one point as we chatted, I thought ‘maybe she likes me.’ I asked if I could buy her some coffee.” Cheryl wasn’t too sure at… Read More
Crossposted from the DES Express Congratulations to Emergency Management, winner of the year’s coveted Crystal Cup for the 2024 King County Employee Giving Program (EGP). The Crystal Cup is awarded to the division with the highest EGP participation rate in the Department of Executive Services each year. Emergency Management recaptured the cup from Fleet Services with a 50 percent participation rate. “Earning the Crystal Cup takes dedication,” said Lorraine Patterson-Harris, Director of DES. “Winning divisions emphasize engagement over the size of individual contributions, connecting employees with organizations that align with their values…. Read More
Crossposted from the DES Express Regional Animal Services of King County (RASKC) needs more dog foster parents, especially people who are skilled at handling dogs with behavior issues. One of the most valuable ways to volunteer with RASKC is to open your heart and home on a temporary basis to an animal that is waiting to be adopted. Your home might be the perfect place for these animals to receive the one-on-one comfort and attention they need. Fostering is a great way to involve the whole family or household in volunteering. RASKC… Read More
When you need health care quickly, it can be difficult to know where to go. Life-threatening illnesses and emergencies necessitate a trip to the emergency room. However, emergency rooms may not be necessary in other medical situations. With the long waits and expensive costs at the ER, it’s important to know there are other ways to get care that can save you time and money. Read more.
Crossposted from the King County Sheriff’s Office newsletter Last Tuesday, the King County Sheriff’s Office was proud to be invited to participate in the Annual Criminal Justice Career Fair at Seattle University. This event provided a valuable opportunity for networking, collaboration, and career exploration for those interested in law enforcement and public service. With 22 agencies from local and federal law enforcement, social service providers, and co-responders, there was a very strong turnout of both students and Seattle U alumni. Read more.
Crossposted from Metro Matters Ten years ago, Taniya Lake had little time for dating, thank you very much. She was a high school senior, enrolled in the Running Start program at Green River Community College, busy with homework for her courses there and at Auburn Mountain View High School. Not to mention all her volunteering and senior year activities. Even so, it was a bummer she seldom got to talk to that cute guy she met the first day of class at her King County Metro bus stop at the college, because… Read More
Various groups and communities have been targeted by executive orders and policy directives recently issued by the federal administration. Guided by our values and True North, King County will continue to provide county services and programs that support all communities and all people, including immigrants and refugees, women, transgender people, LGBTQ+ people, people of all racial identities, people with disabilities, and people of every religion, or of no religion. We are steadfast in our commitment to our employees. There are many services and resources offered by King County and organizations in the community… Read More