Featured Headlines
Holiday travel? Metro will help you get there
Emergency exercise tests communications ahead of World Cup
King County Wins 2025 Geospatial Professional Network Award for Innovative AI-GIS System
Recognizing the service of Metro veterans
News
Introducing Michael Bailey, the new Adult Services Division Director
Crossposted from Cultivating Connections King County Department of Community and Human Services (DCHS) warmly welcomes Michael Bailey as the new director of the Adult Services Division (ASD). Michael brings more than 15 years of experience leading health and human service organizations, advancing economic mobility efforts, supporting aging adults, and co-creating community-led programs. Michael has a strong commitment to collaborative problem-solving and strategic initiative implementation that enhances service delivery, improves access points, and fosters inclusive and equitable practices within government organizations. Read more.
Be prepared for cold temperatures, snow, and icy conditions
Extremely cold temperatures, snow, and possible freezing rain are forecast for our region this weekend and into next week. Please be prepared for slippery conditions, possible commute delays, and impacts to business operations. If you work on site, please be prepared for snow and icy conditions. Accumulated snow may create hazardous conditions, so exercise caution and take extra precautions as needed. Have a plan for your commute, dress warmly, and let safety be your guide when making commute decisions. If you drive, have an emergency kit in your vehicle, including extra clothing,… Read More
Cybersecurity training due Jan. 31, 2025
All employees and vendors with access to King County systems must complete Cybersecurity Training by Jan. 31, 2025. Log in here to complete your assigned training with our education partner, KnowBe4. Training takes about 60 minutes. Annual security training is an important activity that safeguards King County systems, and the number of employees who complete training each year impacts our insurance rates. Thank you for doing your part to protect King County! For assistance, contact the KCIT Helpdesk
King County makes historic investment in expanding and supporting the local behavioral health workforce
Crossposted from Cultivating Connections Today King County Executive Dow Constantine announced the county’s largest-ever investment in the behavioral health workforce, a crucial step towards meeting the growing need for mental health and substance use care. King County is awarding $12 million to help 37 behavioral health providers support, retain, and recruit employees, strengthening the local workforce, with an additional $4.8 million to expand the SEIU Training Fund’s apprenticeship program. Supporting behavioral health workers is a key part of the Crisis Care Centers initiative, which was overwhelmingly approved by voters in 2023. The… Read More
New way to access your employee information
New tools for getting King County news, resources, and Human Resources information are now available to County employees. The new employee-only Intranet Homepage and Department of Human Resources (DHR) intranet sites, and new public-facing DHR pages on kingcounty.gov are live. Links to the new sites are below: King County Employee Homepage: kc1.sharepoint.com Department of Human Resources Intranet: kc1.sharepoint.com/sites/DHR-intranet Department of Human Resources public webpages: kingcounty.gov/en/dept/dhr Please familiarize yourself with these new resources and update your list of “favorite” links (bookmarks). For easy access, a shortcut button was added on Jan. 27 to Executive Branch desktops which… Read More
Remaining focused on our True North, values, and the work that unites us
In Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. County, we lead with our values and True North – from investing in historically marginalized and oppressed communities to implementing laws that ensure all people here are honored, respected, and treated with dignity. We recognize that our greatness has come from our diversity, and that our prosperity is a result of embracing and supporting all who call our county home. King County will continue to be a welcoming place for ALL people, including immigrants and refugees, recognizing the vital contributions to our region’s cultural and economic… Read More
Seattle Mariners and UW Husky discounts
King County employees can take advantage of a new discount to three Mariners games in May, August, and September. These discounted tickets are available for the seating options below. Purchase tickets and view more information here. The deadline to purchase all tickets is 5 p.m. the day before. Saturday, May 31 vs. Minnesota Twins, $32 Main Level or $19 View Level ticket. Saturday, Aug. 23 vs. the A’s, $41 Main Level or $19 View Level ticket. Saturday, Sept. 13 vs. Texas Rangers, $32 Main Level or $19 View Level ticket. Discounted tickets to… Read More
Recognizing Metro’s Operators of the Month, November-December 2024
Crossposted from Metro Matters They produce TV shows for their community and enjoy playing and watching soccer. They love to barbecue and go out to eat. One taught music in Amsterdam, another was inspired by bus rides to school to become a bus driver. Those who ride with them say they “made my afternoon,” are “very inspiring,” and is “the best driver I ever met.” They are operators with 200 years of professional driving experience! The operators on your bus are as unique as you, and all of them love driving and giving back… Read More
Local funding working to prevent human trafficking in King County
Crossposted from Cultivating Connections January is National Human Trafficking Prevention Month. During the month of January, governments, anti-trafficking organizations, law enforcement, survivor advocates, community leaders, and community members come together to raise awareness about human trafficking, to educate the public on how to identify and prevent human trafficking, and to protect and empower survivors of all forms of human trafficking. Human trafficking impacts the health and well-being of individuals, families, and communities. Around the world, including the United States, it is estimated that 27.6 million people, adults and children, are subjected to human trafficking. Human trafficking… Read More
King County employee discounts for Husky basketball
Husky basketball is excited to offer local Washington government employees discounted tickets to four exciting games this year. This special offer is exclusively available to you as a local Washington government employee. Join us as Coach Sprinkle, Great Osobor and the Dawgs take on Purdue, UCLA, Northwestern, Rutgers and Indiana this season. For general assistance in purchasing additional seats, season tickets or group outings contact Group Sales Account Executive Andy Reed at (206) 543-7020 or areed4@uw.edu. To purchase discounted tickets, click here. Discounted tickets are available for the following games: UW vs UCLA, Jan…. Read More
Revive I-5: Find Your Way webinar series
Starting in March, the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) will begin a three-year project to rehabilitate and preserve I-5 through Seattle. The project will require sections of I-5 to be reduced to two lanes for up to nine months each year, starting with Northbound construction along the aging Ship Canal Bridge. This preservation project is critical for keeping people and goods moving safely for decades to come. Commute Seattle, a transportation news blog, is here to help businesses and destinations find their way through this construction period with the Revive I-5 webinar series. Tune… Read More
Is your office prepared for emergencies?
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
Jan. 30 is the third payday of the month
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
First 2025 Professional Development Scholarship launches Jan. 27
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
Submit nominations for the Executive’s 2024 awards
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.
Airport employees prepare for snow
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
$26 million in affordable housing investments awarded, creating 939 homes across the region
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
Records Management Reminder: Required Steps when Exiting Employment
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
Active&Fit Direct change and new Optum One Pass Select program
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
Employee dental plans provide free checkups
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
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