Employee News
Telling the stories of King County employees
Rhonda Lewis was unanimously selected by the King County Council for an interim appointment to District 2. She becomes the first Black woman ever to serve on the Council, and creates the first majority of women in the Council’s history. At the same meeting, the Council unanimously approved Executive Zahilay’s slate of nominations to the Sound Transit Board of Directors. Read more.
With rain and flooding continuing to cause hazardous travel conditions across parts of King County, here are some resources to help you stay informed and safe on your commute. WHERE TO GET OFFICIAL INFORMATION King County Emergency News: kcemergency.com River levels, flood conditions, and sandbag resources and distribution: flood.kingcounty.gov, or call the King County Flood Warning Center, 206-296-8200 or 1-800-945-9263 Road closures and travel impacts: MyCommute (King County) and WSDOT King County My Commute Transit service impacts: King County Metro and Sound Transit Schedules and maps – King County, Washington, kingcounty.gov. Emergency alerts: ALERT King County sign-up ALERT King County – King… Read More
King County employees can take advantage of a 25% discount to several upcoming performances at the famed 5th Avenue Theatre. Elf – The Musical: Nov. 28 – Dec. 28, 2025 Monty Python’s Spamalot: Feb. 4 – 15, 2026 Jesus Christ Superstar: May 2 – 17, 2026 View more information and purchase tickets here. See all available discounts on the Employee Discount intranet page.
Crossposted from Metro Matters Winter season has arrived and King County Metro’s tools will help you stay informed so you can travel safely. Know before you go Visit MetroWinter.com for tips on traveling during winter weather on bus, Access paratransit, streetcar, the King County Water Taxi or Metro Flex on-demand services. There are eight languages offered on the webpage including English, plus additional languages via the Google Translate tool. What’s a snow route? If buses can’t travel their regular routes due to roadway conditions, they might switch to alternate streets called snow routes. Preview snow routes for your favorite bus routes. Updates will be… Read More
Regional Animal Services of King County (RASKC) wants to give YOU a gift this holiday season! Now through Dec. 31, you can adopt a cat or dog from RASKC for just $30 – the cost of a King County pet license. There are dozens of dogs, cats, and other furry friends waiting for you at the King County Pet Adoption Center, 21615 64th Ave. S. in Kent. You can also see all the adorable adoptable animals online anytime at kingcounty.gov/AdoptAPet.
By the RISE Leadership Team On Dec. 3, King County employees from across the organization came together for Mosaic of Us, a vibrant community building gathering that honored the immigrant, refugee, and multicultural communities who enrich our workplaces, strengthen our teams, and call King County home. Hosted by the Refugees and Immigrants Support and Empowerment (RISE) employee resource group, the event uplifted the voices of immigrant and refugee employees and celebrated the strength of our diverse workforce. Held at the Central/Atlantic Bus Base, the event opened with a warm welcome from Executive Girmay Zahilay,… Read More
Crossposted from the Department of Adult and Juvenile Detention newsletter For Dr. Ben Sanders, becoming a family physician was an early calling inspired by his childhood doctor. But the circumstances that led him to practice medicine inside a jail — and serve as Jail Health Services’ long-time medical director — were an accident born out his own family’s needs and a fortuitous, if not entirely forthcoming, job advertisement. As he prepares to retire from his 24-year career, Dr. Sanders reflects on his career, people who supported him most along the way, and what… Read More
Crossposted from KC Emergency News The Puget Sound region is bracing for intense rain this week, formerly known as a “Pineapple Express.” Now called “atmospheric rivers,” these are long, narrow bands of moisture from the tropics filling area rivers, which have and may again send some of them over their banks. With the rain expected to persist, the National Weather Service in Seattle has issued flood warning and watches and wind advisories throughout the week. Read more.
With cooler temperatures and rainy weather upon us, King County wants to help you stay safe at work, at home, and on your commute. If you work on site, please be prepared for inclement weather. 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, food, water, and a flashlight. Read more.
Crossposted from Headwaters It’s cold and dark when we head to the beach. The mussels in the trunk have been on the road and on ice all day. This morning, ecotoxicologist and shellfish chauffeur Jennifer Lanksbury picked them up from a partner in Penn Cove and now we’re squeezed between two deadlines: these native bay mussels (Mytilus trossulus) can only be out of the water for 12 hours, and they must go back in at exactly the right moment. The mollusks are key players in the Mussel Watch program, a regional effort led… Read More
Crossposted from King County Local On Jan. 1, 2026, the minimum wage will increase in unincorporated King County. The minimum wage is the lowest hourly wage an organization can pay an employee. It will increase from $20.29 an hour to $20.82 an hour, with exceptions for smaller businesses. The increase impacts employees and employers. Unincorporated King County is a wide and diverse area with a variety of workers and employers. To address this, the King County Council proposed a phase-in period for smaller employers based on the number of employees and the… Read More
Trying to balance everyday expenses while saving for retirement or big life purchases can feel overwhelming—especially if you’re living paycheck to paycheck without a clear plan. Financial stress doesn’t just impact your wallet; it can affect your health, relationships, and overall well‑being. That’s why taking steps toward financial wellness is so important. King County employees have a financial well‑being benefit through My Secure Advantage® (MSA). With MSA, you have access to tools and resources designed to help you better manage your money. From personalized coaching to budgeting support and planning strategies, MSA… Read More
My Secure Advantage (MSA) is a financial wellness program that provides King County employees with tools and coaching to help you reach your financial goals. The holiday season can bring extra expenses and maintaining financial wellness during this time is important. Balancing everyday costs with holiday spending helps reduce stress, protect long‑term goals, and keep the focus on enjoying time with family and friends. In this video, Balanced You’s Employee Health and Wellness Project/Program Manager III, Karla Clark interviews MSA Financial Advisor, Tiffany Willis about financial planning for the holidays and how to… Read More
With cooler temperatures and rainy weather upon us, King County wants to help you stay safe at work, at home, and on your commute. If you work on site, please be prepared for inclement weather. 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, food, water, and a flashlight. Read more.
King County has partnered with TicketsatWork, the nation’s leading employee perks and discount program — just in time for the holidays. From holiday shopping and travel to new local deals on groceries, restaurants, and everyday essentials, TicketsatWork helps you save more on what matters most. With new offers added every week, it’s your go-to resource for savings on: Holiday gifts and online shopping Local dining and grocery discounts Travel, hotels, and attractions Theme parks, movies, and entertainment Don’t forget to download the TicketsatWork App! Download the app and access exclusive employee discounts wherever you go. Get a… Read More
Crossposted from Metro Matters The King County Council adopted Metro’s 2026-2027 budget in November 2025. The budget adds more than 400,000 hours of Metro bus service and totals $4 billion across Metro’s operating and capital programs, including all of Metro’s modes of transit as well as safety, cleaning, and zero emissions, among other priorities. Read more.
On Wednesday, Nov. 26, his first full day in office, King County Executive Girmay Zahilay held a Regional Day of Service focused on food banks and food security across King County. He encouraged all King County residents to volunteer, donate, or find another meaningful way to support the work of our county’s food banks. This Regional Day of Service corresponds with one of Executive Zahilay’s “Four B’s” guiding his administration – “Boots on the Ground,” making King County government more visible, connected, and community-driven. Read more.
Crossposted from Metro Matters They enjoy taking photos, playing soccer and practicing peaceful martial arts. They travel and garden. There are ukulele, piano and guitar players and happy grandparents. Those who ride with them say one went the extra mile to return a lost phone: “I can’t tell you how happy I am to have it back, knowing it was safely with him the entire time.” Another rider talked about their ability to help a distraught passenger: “I was so impressed with her ability, in the midst of snow and ice and a schedule… Read More
Originally emailed to employees Nov. 25, 2025 I am honored to write to you for the first time as your King County Executive. Today, we launch a new chapter for King County. I look forward to this journey with you as we serve the people of our region. I’ve recorded a video introducing myself and thanking all of you here. Earlier today, I participated in two swearing-in ceremonies. The first was at NewHolly Gathering Hall and was a very personal event in the same community where I was raised. Around 200 community members… Read More
King County is updating its Local Food Initiative to address some of the most urgent challenges facing the local food economy, including access to hunger relief, rising farmland cost, a lack of food distribution infrastructure, and increasing threats from climate change. Since launching in 2015, the initiative has guided King County’s efforts to expand access to farmland for farmers, improve the farm-to-market pipeline to get more locally grown food to consumers, and ease access to healthy, affordable food in low-income communities. Read more.