Employee News
Telling the stories of King County employees
Crossposted from Metro Matters King County Executive Girmay Zahilay announced that Metro will join other regional transit agencies to provide free rides this New Year’s Eve, Dec. 31. Riders can travel without paying fares on King County Metro, Sound Transit, Community Transit, Everett Transit, Pierce Transit and the Seattle Streetcar as part of their holiday celebrations. “Leaving the driving to us is becoming as great a New Year’s tradition as celebrating at the Space Needle,” Executive Zahilay said. “No matter where you plan to ring in the new year, you have access… Read More
Happy Holidays to all our employees and their loved ones. May you enjoy time together with joy and laughter. A special thank you to our employees who are working over the holiday. King County is grateful for your service.
Crossposted from DNRP Field Notes In a wide range of actions that include rapid levee responses, operating the Flood Warning Program, repurposing trails to assist emergency responders, preparing transfer stations for a surge in debris, and treating more than 2 billion gallons of wastewater, King County Department of Natural Resources and Parks employees continue to contribute to a coordinated emergency response to the historic storm. Read more.
Crossposted from DNRP Field Notes It was just after midnight Tuesday when Josh Kubo and Craig Garric – two members of King County’s Flood Patrol – were inspecting a flood barrier along the White River when water seeping through suddenly became a breach. As soon as the barrier collapsed, the crew members quickly adapted from monitoring to rescue. They reported the breach to the King County Flood Warning Center and then ran door to door in the middle of the night, guiding neighbors to an evacuation route. A King County Sheriff’s Office deputy… Read More
King County cares about the safety of our employees and provides a number of safety programs and resources to help you stay safe and informed. Who to contact In an emergency, call 911 first, then call Facilities Management Division (FMD) Security at 206-296-5000 when you are able. FMD Security Unit: Contact the Security Unit to seek assistance from FMD Security and report non-emergency incidents. Web: FMD Security Unit | Phone: 206-296-5000 | Email: FMD.Security@kingcounty.gov Click here to report a security incident to the Facilities Management Division Security team. Security Escort Program: Upon request, King County provides security escorts to employees in downtown Seattle to and from… Read More
The twice-weekly King County Employee Newsletter is developed by the Employee Communications Team, within the Department of Human Resources (DHR). This newsletter regularly updates employees with important, relevant information. Throughout 2025, the newsletter shared exciting highlights, employee spotlights, emergency and safety news, notices about benefits and retirement, learning and development opportunities, and other essential information. We are thankful to you, King County employees, for interacting with these stories, sharing ideas and opportunities to include, and encouraging others to engage with them. You inspire us to research, write, and develop meaningful, essential content… Read More
Jyoti Karna, intern at the Performance and Strategy (PSB) team, recently interviewed Evan Lewis and Rose LeSmith on the Fish Passage Restoration Program. The story highlights the incredible work underway to reconnect salmon to historic habitat by removing barriers like culverts and stream crossings across unincorporated King County – and the role monitoring plays in turning a long-term vision into a coordinated, measurable program. Read the full story here. Take a moment to check out this story and explore others in the Monitoring in Action section to see how King County programs are turning data… Read More
Crossposted from the DES Express More than 200 people attended a national convening in the Chinook Conference Center on Nov. 12, including about 100 attendees from across the country and an additional 100 King County employees. The event showcased leading practices in how local governments use data and evidence to advance equitable community outcomes. Read more.
Making Life Easier (MLE) provides resources to support the mental and emotional health of you and your household members, including during and after natural disasters, such as the flooding King County is currently experiencing. Employees and anyone residing in the employee’s home can call MLE at 888-874-7290 24/7 and reach a licensed counselor who can provide in-the-moment support over the phone and can connect you to work-life specialists who can help identify community resources for needs like housing, food, and personal care items. Read more.
Repair and resurfacing of the northbound lanes of the Ship Canal Bridge will continue next year. Revive I-5 construction will have long-term impact on travel. That means the public will need to find long-term solutions to how they travel to and through Seattle. During each lane closure or reduction, the express lanes will run northbound only, 24 hours a day. Express lanes are open to all. Be sure to observe all height restrictions and HOV-only signed ramps. 2026 dates to know Full closure as early as the weekend of Jan. 9 –… Read More
Please note most King County government offices will be closed Thursday, Dec. 25 for Christmas and Thursday, Jan. 1 for New Year’s Day. Metro buses will operate on Sunday schedule. For other transit holiday information, please see Metro holiday schedules. All County solid waste and transfer stations will be closed Dec. 25 and Jan 1. For garbage collection, please contact your hauler for details. District Court, Superior Court, and the Superior Court Clerk’s office will be closed Dec. 25 and Jan 1. For all other holiday closures and and service impacts, review the King County website.
Crosposted from Metro Matters This week we will solemnly mark the anniversary of the murder of King County Metro Transit Operator Shawn Yim. Among other ceremonies, we will honor Shawn on Thursday, Dec. 18, by pausing service twice for a moment of silence and remembrance. All of Metro continues to mourn the loss and honor Shawn’s memory. Shawn was a kind and dedicated public servant, beloved by his family and friends, and was funny, warm and thoughtful to his colleagues and riders. Read more.
All King County employees are required to complete annual cybersecurity training by Jan. 30, 2026 (even if you took it last year). This includes contractors with access to King County systems. An email from King County’s vendor KnowBe4 was sent Aug. 4 to all employees with links to annual cybersecurity training, with periodic reminder emails for those employees who haven’t completed the training. This is not a phishing attempt. Please check your inbox for the email “King County Cyber Security Awareness Training” from kc-knowbe4@kingcounty.gov. Cybersecurity training is an important safeguard that helps protect vital King County… Read More
Beginning Jan. 1, 2026, your King County Employees Deferred Compensation Plan deduction frequency will change from 24 pay periods per year to 26 pay periods per year. This means your annual Deferred Compensation contribution will be spread over more paychecks, as follows: If you contribute a flat dollar amount from each paycheck Your total annual contribution to your Deferred Compensation Plan will increase as your deduction schedule increases from 24 to 26 pay periods. Be sure to review your contribution amount to ensure it aligns with your retirement savings goals. Example: Your annual… Read More
Each January, certain members of Public Employees’ Retirement System (PERS) Plan 2 have the opportunity to make a permanent transfer to PERS Plan 3. If you are an active PERS Plan 2 member who began service before Sept. 1, 2002, and you will earn service credit in January, you are eligible to transfer to Plan 3. Use the resources on the Department of Retirement Systems website to help you decide if transferring to Plan 3 is right for you. To transfer from Plan 2 to Plan 3, complete a Member Transfer form and return it by… Read More
The Employment Security Department recently announced that premium rates for the Washington Paid Family and Medical Leave program will be changing next year. Beginning Jan. 1, 2026: The premium rate will increase from 0.92% to 1.13% of your gross wages. Employers will pay 28.57% of the total premium and employees will pay 71.43%. This is a slight change from 2025 when the ratio was employer 28.48% and employee 71.52%. The Washington Paid Family and Medical Leave program is funded by mandatory premiums collected from employees and employers in Washington state. By law,… Read More
Crossposted from King County Local Road Services Division crews with the Department of Local Services have been monitoring and responding to roadways and bridge conditions in unincorporated King County throughout this historic storm. Heavy rainfall and flooding have overwhelmed roads and bridges across the region. As Western Washington braces for another atmospheric river next week, the impacts from this week’s extreme weather are far from over. In other words, expect continued road closures as conditions change. (At the time of this blogpost, nearly 30 roads in unincorporated King County were closed, with… Read More
In a wide range of actions that include rapid levee responses, operating the Flood Warning Program, repurposing trails to assist emergency responders, preparing transfer stations for a surge in debris, and treating more than 2 billion gallons of wastewater, King County Department of Natural Resources and Parks employees continue to contribute to a coordinated emergency response to the historic storm. King County Executive Girmay Zahilay on Friday hosted Gov. Bob Ferguson’s press briefing at a levee along the Green River where DNRP’s Flood Patrol discovered a sinkhole that could have potentially caused… Read More
Crossposted from Clean Water Stories When a powerful atmospheric river settled over King County this week, the Snoqualmie Valley experienced some of the most significant impacts. Floodwaters quickly covered rural roads around Carnation, cutting off access to neighborhoods, farms, and the Carnation Treatment Plant. Inside the plant, Wastewater Operator Tyler Stiltner suddenly found himself on an island. Surrounded by rising water and unable to leave, he became the only person able to keep the facility running while the storm intensified. His experience offers a firsthand look at what it means to protect… Read More
Experience the magic of Cirque du Soleil ECHO, where poetry, stagecraft, daring acrobatics, and cutting-edge technology come together to explore the delicate balance between people, animals, and the world we all share. This 20th Big Top show offers bold new visuals, a unique aesthetic, and vibrant characters that bring a universe of color and wonder to life. Discounts are available for performances at Marymoor Park, Jan. 30 – Mar. 15, 2026. Use this link to save up to 20% using this link for select seats/dates. VIP Packages and groups of 10+ save 25% +… Read More