Employee News
Telling the stories of King County employees
Crossposted from the DES Express Carol Basile has accepted the newly created role of Public Finance Officer (PFO) for King County. This new position manages the county’s $5 billion debt and $11 billion investment functions and is part of the Finance and Business Operations Division (FBOD) management team. “We created this position to ensure we have the appropriate leadership influence and oversight to manage our complex and rapidly expanding debt and investment programs,” said Ken Guy, FBOD director. “Carol is perfectly suited to step into this role given her financial and accounting… Read More
Open Enrollment is just around the corner—Nov. 1–15. Many employees will have some significant benefit changes for next year. Look for information mailed recently to your home address and use the following resources to learn about your benefit choices for 2025. Go to the Open Enrollment web page. Find everything you need in one place, including links to resources and detailed information. Look for the Open Enrollment mailer sent to your home address: Regular Employee Mailer, Transit ATU 587 Employee Mailer, Deputy Sheriff Employee Mailer. Sign up for an Open Enrollment Learning Session hosted by your King County… Read More
King County employees can purchase discounted tickets to Decision Day/Rivalry Night, where the Sounders FC are taking on the Portland Timbers with the potential of knocking them out of a playoff spot. This opportunity is a “thank you” from the Sounders to employees who selflessly serve our communities. The game is Saturday, Oct 19, at 6 p.m., with gates opening at 4:30 p.m. It will be held at Lumen Field, 800 Occidental Ave S, Seattle, WA 98134. Purchase tickets at this link, and for more information, view this flyer. See all available employee discounts… Read More
Within King County, there are three different programs organized within the Department of Executive Services, Records and Licensing Services (RALS) that provide services related to county records: Records Management Records Center Archives Records Management The countywide program that provides resources on how to manage public records over time. The Records Management Program provides guidance on records retention, provides training and guidance on records topics, and supports Content Manager (the countywide records management system). Records Center The warehouse facility where physical county records are stored while they are still within their retention period and still… Read More
Crossposted from DES Express To help the county reduce greenhouse gas emissions in county transportation, Fleet Services has begun transitioning county diesel vehicles to “renewable diesel.” “We took our first deliveries at our first two locations,” on October 2, said Chauntelle Hellner, director of Fleet Services. The Renton fueling station received 9,000 gallons and the Black Diamond location received 3,000 gallons. “We’re on the road. It’s in the works,” she added, explaining that other county facilities with diesel will transition to renewable diesel, or R99. Read more.
The King County Employee Giving Program (EGP) helps enrich communities and provides opportunities for people to thrive. The EGP’s Annual Giving Drive is a way for you to support a variety of causes ranging from arts, culture, and humanities to racial and social justice, and everything in between. If you are unsure where to start or what cause or organization to support, no problem. We aim to make it easier and more accessible for you to give because we know that small acts add up to big impacts! You can find EGP… 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 DES Express Silvana Vasquez, data analyst at King County International Airport and aspiring pilot, is featured in a new book, the fourth edition of “Latinas in Aviation.” Silvana attended the launch of the book in Maryland in September. “I feel so honored and so lucky that I am able to be part of this,” Vasquez said. “All the profit they make off the books go to scholarships for girls that want to become pilots.” Read more.
In October, King County celebrates the contributions made by people with disabilities, and how disabilities, both visible and non-apparent, enhance our workforce, our communities, and our country. On Oct. 8, King County Councilmember Claudia Balducci honored the contributions of individuals with disabilities by proclaiming October as National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM). A job is so much more than a paycheck. It enables a person to contribute to their community, fulfill their potential, and build meaningful connections with those around them. King County’s Supported Employment Program has been creating significant employment opportunities for those with… Read More
Today King County conducted a test of KCInform, King County’s employee alert and warning system as part of the annual Great Washington ShakeOut drill to test earthquake preparedness. The test was an opportunity to practice using the system and identify potential improvements. As part of the test, we discovered that not all county employees received the test alerts. These gaps in the recipient list have now been identified and rectified. For more information about KCInform, please visit the KCInform website and watch this short video.
Dear fellow King County employee, King County occupies the unceded ancestral lands of the Muckleshoot, Snoqualmie, Puyallup, Tulalip, and Suquamish Tribes, and those Coast Salish individuals who are not enrolled in a federally recognized tribe. It is home to a thriving Native American population from Tribal nations regionally, and across North America, whose rich traditions and ongoing achievements benefit all. Since 2022, we have officially recognized Indigenous Peoples’ Day as an observed and paid holiday in King County on the second Monday in October, and on Oct. 14 we will show respect for… Read More
When disasters happen, employees want to help. During the Annual Giving Drive we have all of our employee giving tools available to make it easier for employees to support disaster recovery and preparedness year-round. Relief and recovery efforts continue in the Southeast from Hurricane Helene and are beginning as the aftermath of Hurricane Milton is being assessed in Florida. Supporting disaster and emergency relief organizations provide critical services such as emergency shelter, food, medical care, and infrastructure repair to people in urgent need. Additionally, support not only addresses immediate needs but also fosters long-term… Read More
Tony Gomez, Manager of Violence and Injury Prevention in the Health Sciences Division of Public Health – Seattle & King County, received the Alex Kelter Vision Award at the national Safe States Alliance Annual Meeting. This award, the highest honor given by the SAFE States Alliance – the largest national non-profit dedicated to violence and injury prevention – recognizes Tony’s unparalleled contributions to public health in King County and Seattle. Over a distinguished 40-year career, Tony has been a pillar of strength and innovation, relentlessly pursuing equity and excellence to improve the health and well-being of the… Read More
Crossposted from Cultivating Connections Earlier this week King County Executive Dow Constantine and Minority Veterans of America celebrated the opening of Q’mmunity House today, the first transitional home in the country for LGBTQ+ veterans. Q’mmunity House will provide on-site holistic case management, connections to the veteran-serving community, and a safe, affirming, and supportive home for LGBTQ+ veterans experiencing homelessness in King County. The program fosters long-term stability and community connection by addressing the unique challenges faced by LGBTQ+ veterans who often experience higher rates of homelessness, discrimination, and other obstacles when accessing critical resources…. Read More
Crossposted from Keeping King County Green Whether you’re a DIY home repair expert, a vintage furniture aficionado, or just in the market for some lightly used plumbing fixtures, home reuse stores are an irreplaceable resource to find hidden gems at a reasonable price. They also give items ranging from lumber to lighting a second life, keeping valuable materials out of the landfill. This important waste reduction potential led King County’s Solid Waste Division to team up with Second Use, a local business that sells reclaimed building materials at locations in Seattle and Tacoma,… Read More
National Customer Service Week is Oct. 7-11 and an opportunity to recognize the hundreds of employees at King County who serve and support our customers every day. “We focus on the customer” is an Executive Branch core value. To standardize the customer service approach at King County, the Customer Service Playbook offers guidance and tips for employees who support customers, both internal and external. Providing exemplary customer service is what we aspire to at King County. It’s what we must do to make King County a welcoming community where every person can thrive. Thanks to… Read More
Crossposted from Metro Matters Earlier this month, Executive Dow Constantine proclaimed Sept. 15 – Oct. 15 as Latinx/Hispanic Heritage Month. We would like to take a moment to recognize this annual observance, which celebrates the cultural, educational, economic and political contributions of the Latinx/Hispanic communities across our region and country. National Latinx/Hispanic Heritage Month was enacted into law on Aug. 17, 1988, by President Ronald Reagan and is observed annually from Sept. 15 – Oct. 15, coinciding with the national independence celebrations of several countries. The Latinx/Hispanic community is the second-largest ethnic group… Read More
A message from Councilmember Jorge Barón and John Taylor, Director, Dept. of Natural Resources and Parks, 2024 Annual Giving Drive Honorary Co-Chairs. Dear fellow King County employee, As we enter the season of giving, we are excited to announce the start of our Annual Giving Drive, running from October 7 to November 22, 2024. This year’s theme, “Small Acts, Big Impacts,” perfectly captures the essence of how each of us can contribute to making our local, and global, community a place where everyone can thrive. By participating in the Annual Giving Drive, we can… Read More
Dear employee, King County released the Outside Employment and Volunteer Activities policy for employees in executive branch departments, offices, divisions, and agencies, including the Assessor’s Office and King County Elections. We are a large, diverse organization with employees who generously support their communities and organizations through volunteerism. We also recognize that there are employees who have outside employment. We acknowledge that employees and the County can benefit from employee involvement with outside organizations. The Outside Employment and Volunteer Activities policy reminds King County employees that they are responsible for meeting the job expectations and work requirements of their King County positions…. Read More
By Lauren Orichio, Supported Employment Program Manager October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month, and this year’s theme is Access to Good Jobs for All. One way King County creates quality employment opportunities for our community members with disabilities is through the Supported Employment Program, which helps departments to create new positions that meet workgroup needs and are tailored to people with developmental disabilities. The program is on track to meet all of its strategic plan goals, and it will take all of us coming together at King County to continue to… Read More