Employee News
Telling the stories of King County employees
Crossposted from the DES Express Did you know that the Department of Executive Services’ (DES) own Fleet Services Parts and Materials (formerly “Stores”) offers individual employee “GO Kits” for emergencies? The red backpacks contain three separate kits for survival, personal hygiene and first aid. The disaster backpacks contain enough supplies to last three days in case of an emergency, such as water and snacks. The DES Director’s Office recently ordered kits for each employee in the office. “I was providing emergency preparedness training to the Director’s Office and our staff expressed an interest in… Read More
King County employees have a biweekly payroll schedule and get paid every other Thursday. Most months have two paydays, but some months have three and Jan. 30, is the third payday of the month. This year, there are 27 paydays. If you view your paystub, you may see that the net dollar amount of these “third” paychecks is larger because not all deductions are taken out. For example, Deferred Compensation, supplemental insurance premiums, Benefit Access Fees, and Employee Giving donations are not deducted from these checks. While you are in in PeopleSoft, it’s… Read More
The first application period for the 2025 Professional Development Scholarship Program opens Jan. 27 through Feb. 28 for training that begins in 2025. The Scholarship Program is a benefit offered as part of the 2025 Coalition Labor Agreement and is only open to employees represented by one of the unions in the Coalition. The Scholarship Program is part of the County’s commitment to Investing in YOU and is designed to assist eligible employees with their professional development by providing financial assistance towards obtaining training, certificates, degrees, licenses, and certifications. To learn more, please visit our… Read More
The nomination period for the Executive’s Best-Run Government Awards is Jan. 13 through Feb. 21. The annual awards honor Executive branch employees and teams for their exceptional contributions in leadership, innovation, and performance. Any King County employee can nominate a team or individual for an Innovation or Leadership Excellence Award. This is an opportunity to recognize outstanding project teams and leaders who: Create value for the customer Deliver measurable improvement results Apply innovative solutions for achieving results Nominate someone and learn more information here.
Crossposted from the DES Express Much like pilots of the Navy’s Blue Angels, operators of King County International Airport’s snow removal equipment assemble regularly for drills. They practice their formations, with snow plow blades tipping like wings, swiveling during turns. Each huge Multi-Tasking Equipment (MTE) lines up behind and to the side of the one in front, plow blades overlapping just a bit, so they can most efficiently remove snow when it arrives for real. “We’re practicing the route as if there was snow on the ground,” said MTE Operator Kyle Renner…. Read More
Crossposted from Cultivating Connections King County Executive Dow Constantine announced $26 million in funding for nine affordable housing developments that will generate 848 new homes, 66 renovated rental units, and 25 new home ownership units across King County over the next five years. The investments prioritize affordable housing for people with the lowest incomes, people experiencing or at risk of homelessness, and locations close to public transit. King County’s Housing Finance Program (HFP) – managed by the Department of Community and Human Services through its Housing and Community Development division – invests in affordable housing development and preservation throughout the… Read More
Throughout the last several years we’ve seen an ongoing trend of lots of turnover – many employees are retiring or transferring to different positions, and many new employees are coming onboard. These transitions are a great time to be thinking about our important records. Did you know that there is an Executive Policy that requires that all employees leaving their county positions perform certain steps with their records? Did you know that other people (such as Supervisors) also have certain responsibilities and steps in that process as well? The good news is that we have resources… Read More
Kaiser Permanente has phased out the Active&Fit Direct program and has introduced a new program called One Pass Select by Optum. The Optum One Pass Select program is available to Kaiser Permanente members only. This subscription-based fitness membership and well-being network is designed to support a healthier lifestyle. Members have unlimited access to all gym locations available within a selected plan, extensive digital resources, and more. The Active&Fit Direct program is now available to Regence members only. If Kaiser Permanente members signed up for the Active&Fit Direct program prior to Jan. 1,… Read More
Oral health is an important part of overall well-being. That’s why King County offers comprehensive dental care for employees and their family members. Most King County employees have access to two dental plan options: Delta Dental PPO and Cigna Dental HMO (offered only to the Regular & Transit ATU 587 employee benefit groups). These plans cover a wide range of services, including preventive care, diagnostic services, and restorative treatments. Preventive services—such as routine cleanings, exams, and x-rays—are key to maintaining oral health. These regular check-ups help catch issues such as cavities or… Read More
On Tuesday, Jan. 14, King County employees and community members came together to honor our nation’s foremost human rights leader and King County’s namesake, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The annual celebration was at the Ikea Performing Arts Center in Renton. The celebration focused on the theme Dedication to Community, and the accompanying quote by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.: “All labor that uplifts humanity has dignity and importance and should be undertaken with painstaking excellence. Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, ‘What are you doing for others?’” The program featured… Read More
Crossposted from DES Express Danielle Hinz started in her role as Finance and Business Operations’ new deputy director on January 6, returning to King County after a hiatus working at Amazon. “You will find that Danielle is a seasoned and mature leader who excels at building relationships,” said Ken Guy, FBOD director. “She is also a strategic and visionary thinker who knows how to achieve results in collaboration with others.” Read more.
King County offices are closed on Monday, Jan. 20 to observe the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day holiday. All offices will be back to normal schedule on Tuesday, Jan. 21. Click here for Metro Transit holiday bus schedules. If you have questions about your holiday schedule, please speak to your supervisor. Have a safe and healthy holiday.
Cirque du Soleil returns to Marymoor Park with KOOZA, a show that combines two circus traditions: acrobatic performance and the art of clowning. The show highlights the physical demands of human performance in all its splendor and fragility, presented in a colorful mélange that emphasizes bold slapstick humor. King County employees receive 20% off by using this link for select seats/dates. For VIP packages and groups of 10 or more people, contact Sales Manager Michael Ciaccia at Michael.Ciaccia@cirquedusoleil.com for details and added savings. See all available employee discounts on the Employee Discount webpage.
Your 2024 W-2 form is now available in PeopleSoft to view and print. ADP will mail a paper copy of your W-2 form by the January 31 IRS deadline to the address you had listed in PeopleSoft on Dec. 31, 2024. To view or print your W-2, log in to PeopleSoft, choose the Payroll tile, then go to “View W-2/W-2c Forms.” You can also access W-2 forms from any device by registering at the ADP website using these instructions: Access W-2s through ADP. Your Form 1095-C—Employer-Provided Health Insurance Offer and Coverage—will also be sent to your… Read More
Crossposted from Metro Matters A loyal friend. A kind and thoughtful operator. A devoted husband. Metro Operator Shawn Yim was all these things and more. Yim, 59, was killed in the line of duty on Dec. 18. Thousands of Metro and other King County employees, staff from transit agencies around the Northwest and Canada, dignitaries and members of the public participated in a citywide procession and attended the memorial service that followed. It was hosted by Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Local 587 at the Lumen Field WAMU Theater. Read more.
New data shows that King County continues to make progress towards its goal of a County workforce that truly reflects the communities we serve. Since 2016, King County has had the stated goal of ensuring its workforce is racially diverse and culturally responsive at all levels of the organization, consistent with the region’s demographics, with a particular focus on positions within the top 20 percent of pay. “King County is rapidly changing,” King County Executive Dow Constantine said. “More people are choosing to live and work here because of everything this region… Read More
Crossposted from Metro Matters King County Metro is planning a phased approach to returning to fare inspection. In the coming weeks, the agency is launching a multilingual communications and outreach campaign to raise awareness of this change and to let riders know they may be eligible for a reduced fare. Starting March 31, 2025, Metro’s Fare Resource Advocates will ask riders for proof of fare payment. The officers will offer friendly, verbal reminders to riders who did not pay. The Fare Resource Advocates also will provide information on the return to fare… Read More
Depending on the benefits you elected during Open Enrollment, you may notice differences in the deductions taken out of your paycheck. Benefit deductions for the new year always start on the first paycheck in January. For 2025, the benefit deductions began on the Jan. 2 paycheck. Those in the Regular Employee Benefit Group have premium share deductions for the Regence medical plans: KingCare PPO ($75 per month) and KingCare Select ($50 per month). Pre-tax deductions for employee premium shares are split evenly and deducted from the first two paychecks of every month…. Read More
Crossposted from Metro Matters A man described as an integral part of the Streetcar team has been named as the King County Metro’s Streetcar Employee of the Year. Mike Nicolay was selected for the honor by his colleagues, who say he is an invaluable resource to all whom he meets during his workday. “Mike Nicolay is the heart and soul of Streetcar for his behind-the-scenes administrative support of all employees across Streetcar and plays a critical role in keeping Streetcar running smoothly,” said Jeremy Valenta, Streetcar Director. “Mike is known by his… Read More
Mindfulness is the practice of being present and fully engaged with whatever we are doing at the moment—free from distraction or judgment. It is a proven method to reduce stress, improve focus, and enhance overall well-being. Balanced You partners with mindfulness providers CuriosityBased, SolJoy, and Mindfulness Northwest to offer classes to King County employees. The classes are open to all employees and each class is a one-time event. You can find the 2025 winter mindfulness schedule here. Supervisors: Here is a printer-friendly PDF with the Mindfulness winter 2025 schedule to post at your worksites for… Read More