Fourth Avenue entrance to King County Courthouse to close June 15, Third Avenue entrance will reopen 

Starting June 15, the Fourth Avenue entrance to the King County Courthouse in downtown Seattle will be closed for necessary repairs, and the Third Avenue entrance will reopen to resume serving as the primary access point to the building moving forward.

Employees, jurors, and other visitors to the Courthouse Building should allow additional time to gain access and clear security screening on Third Avenue during this transition. Temporary signage will be installed to provide directions to users of the building. King County employees will still be able to access the Courthouse Building through the Administration Building and Goat Hill Garage tunnels. Read more.

Printable safety resources one-pager now available

Our top priority is your safety and security at work, and we are continuing to partner with law enforcement, community, and other governments to ensure a safer, more welcoming environment in and around our facilities.

We have put together a one-page document with several contacts and resources to help every King County employee feel safe and secure in and around our facilities. It contains phone numbers for emergency and non-emergency services as well as information on safety programs and resources available to county employees. Download it here.

For more information on employee safety programs and resources, see the Future of Work Personal Safety at Work intranet page (employees only) and the Safety at Work page.

Enjoy King County parks this summer

Summertime in the Pacific Northwest is always exciting! We've weathered months of rainy, dark days and can finally can enjoy the lush green and sun we've been waiting for. Enjoying nature is an important act of self-care; fresh air and sun can boost your mood and relieve stress.

The huge amount of green space in the King County parks system makes nature accessible to everyone. And Trailhead Direct is an easy way to use public transportation to take you directly to hiking trails. Explore the King County Parks and find one near you using the ParkFinder website.

More hot weather on the way

Hotter than normal weather is forecast for our region. Here are some tips from Public Health – Seattle & King County to help you manage the heat:

• Check on at-risk friends, family and neighbors.
• Stay cool. Read more.

Gender Inclusion in the Workplace Team receives 2022 Innovation Award for People

The Department of Human Resources (DHR) and Gender Inclusion in the Workplace Team has been honored with the Innovation Award for People. This award, part of King County Executive’s Performance Excellence Awards, is one of the of five Innovation Awards highlighting department teams whose projects, improvements, and ingenuity deliver exceptional, measurable results. “We solve problems” and “We drive for results” are core values at King County, and these award recipients met challenges in creative and impactful ways.

King County employee engagement surveys found that gender diverse employees felt less engaged, less safe, less well-being, and less belonging compared to all employees. Watch the video to learn how DHR led a multi-pronged approach to bring about changes in policy, training, processes, and facilities to create a more respectful, supportive, and welcoming environment for gender expansive people. View the award announcement and watch the video here.

Local Services welcomes Sara Estiri to lead Community Needs List program

The Department of Local Services welcomes its newest Project Manager – Sara Estiri!

Sara will lead the Community Needs List program, which is a way for residents to share what their communities need in terms of improvement from a planning standpoint. Read more.

Second Professional Development Scholarship Program application period now closed

The second application period for the Coalition Labor Agreement Professional Development Scholarship is now closed as of June 4. Awardees for this period will be notified via email no later than July 21, 2023.

The scholarship is part of the County’s commitment to Investing in YOU, and is designed to assist employees represented by a union in the Coalition of Unions with their professional development by providing up to $3,000 in financial assistance towards obtaining training, certificates, degrees, licenses, and certifications.

For more information go to the Professional Development Scholarship website or email ScholarshipFund@kingcounty.gov.

Employee discounts for Six at the Paramount theater July 12-23

Six is a musical comedy, retelling the lives of the six ex-wives of Henry VIII. King County employees are eligible for discounted tickets to this Broadway production at the Paramount theater.

• July 12-23. Click here for tickets. Use promo code: SEATICKETS.

To view all available employee discounts, visit www.kingcounty.gov/employeediscounts.

Featured Job: Crisis Services Data and Evaluation Lead (PPM III)