Health and Wellness – Metro Employees https://employees.metrotransit.net Wed, 29 Apr 2026 19:18:44 +0000 en hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.0 2025 Metro Wellness Fair https://employees.metrotransit.net/wellness-program/wellness-fair/ Tue, 27 Aug 2024 22:35:55 +0000 https://employees.metrotransit.net/?page_id=1384

Wellness Fair Participant Information

Join us for the 2025 Metro Wellness Fair at Atlantic/Central Base (1500 6th Ave S, Seattle) on the following dates and times:

  • Tuesday, Sept. 23, 6 p.m. – 11 p.m. 
  • Wednesday, Sept. 24, noon – 6 p.m. 
  • Thursday, Sept. 25, 6 a.m. – 2 p.m.  

ACCESS & PARKING

  • Please wear your Metro employee badge for access to the Wellness Fair.    
  • During the hours of the fair, free parking will be available in the employee parking garage across the street from Atlantic/Central Base. Click here to view the map. Parking may be limited, employees are encouraged to use transit, if possible.  
  • The North entrance (on the Atlantic side) will be open during fair hours and will not require keycard access.    

COMPLIMENTARY SERVICES & OFFERINGS  

Onsite Flu Shot and COVID-19 Vaccine Clinic

Location: 2nd floor classrooms
Click here to schedule your appointment

Metro Wellness Program has partnered with Balanced You to offer flu shots and COVID-19 vaccines during this year’s Wellness Fair. Appointments are strongly encouraged, but you may also drop in if slots are available. Please bring your insurance information.

Available dates and times (while slots last):

  • Tuesday, Sept. 23, 6:30 p.m. – 9 p.m.
  • Wednesday, Sept. 24, 1 p.m. – 4 p.m.
  • Thursday, Sept. 25, 6 a.m. – 8:30 a.m.

Free Health Screenings (Blood pressure and A1c tests)

Location: 2nd floor classrooms
Registered nurses will provide blood pressure, blood sugar (A1c), and lipid profile testing, and can discuss your results.

Mini Mindfulness Workshops

Location: 2nd floor classrooms
Recharge with calming sessions, including a Sound Bath for deep relaxation and the STOP practice for quick stress relief.

Lipid Profile Testing

Location: 2nd floor classrooms
Check your cholesterol and triglyceride levels to stay informed about your heart health.

Retirement Planning Classes

Location: 2nd floor classrooms
Learn strategies for a secure and fulfilling future with guidance from expert instructors.

Nutrition Coaching

Location: 2nd floor classrooms
Get tips, resources, and programs to support your overall wellbeing.

15-minute Chair Massage

Location: 2nd floor Southend mini bullpen
Licensed massage therapists offer complimentary 15-minute chair massages. Relax, relieve tension, and recharge for a productive day!

Ergonomic & Injury Prevention Coaching*  

Ergonomists and Injury Prevention Specialists will be onsite to provide guidance on proper ergonomics, injury prevention, and early intervention. Learn how to adjust your bus seat, lift safely, or address early aches and pains.

Personal Training Services  

Personal trainers will be onsite to provide real-time fitness coaching and demonstrations.  

BENEFITS & PARTICIPATING ​PARTNERS 

The following wellness and benefits partners will have interactive information tables at this year’s fair. Stop by to learn more and ask questions about services available to you as a Metro employee:

  • Balanced You  
  • BBS Benefit Solutions  
  • Critical Incident Stress Management  
  • Dental (Delta Dental & Cigna)  
  • Employee Assistance Program (EAP)*   
  • King County Benefits & Retirement   
  • King County Deferred Compensation  
  • Making Life Easier (MLE) 
  • Medical (Regence, Kaiser Permanente, Dispatch Health)  
  • Metro Employees Recreational Activities Association (MERAA)  
  • Metro Equity Inclusion & Belonging Team*  
  • Metro Leadership Team  
  • Metro Safety, Security, & Quality Assurance Division 
  • Metro Transit Leave & Disability Services Team  
  • Internal Communications and Employee Engagement (Employee Art Program) *  
  • Securian (Life Insurance) *  
  • Speak Listen Communicate  
  • Youth Mobility Program   

*May not be in attendance for all hours. For specific times and days, contact metrowellness@kingcounty.gov.

FREE FOOD & SMOOTHIES 

Location: 1st floor lunchroom 
Stop by the Feedback Table (next to the Welcome Table) to get your food ticket and enjoy smoothies, lunch, or dinner.

Food service schedule (2025):

  • Tuesday, Sept. 23: 6 p.m. (dinner)
  • Wednesday, Sept. 24: 12 p.m. (lunch)
  • Thursday, Sept. 25: 6 a.m. (smoothie service) and 11 a.m. (lunch)

Service is first come, first served, while supplies last. Limit one meal per person. Halal, vegetarian, and gluten-free options will be available. For dietary restrictions, please check with the food vendor before consuming.

GIVEAWAYS 

Pick up a Metro Bingo Card and Map at the check-in/check-out area when you arrive. Follow these steps to enter the giveaway:

  1. Visit at least five different tables and collect a stamp on your Metro Bingo Card at each stop.
  2. Return to the Feedback Table next to the Welcome Table on the 1st floor, provide feedback, and submit your stamped Metro Bingo Card to be entered in the giveaway drawing.

Winners will be notified after the Wellness Fair concludes. The Wellness Team will contact winners directly.

Note: Attending the Wellness Fair is optional, and employees will not be paid to attend outside of regular work hours. If attendance conflicts with your schedule, coordinate with your supervisor. For questions, email metrowellness@kingcounty.gov.

]]> Mental health https://employees.metrotransit.net/wellness-program/mental-health/ Tue, 13 Feb 2024 00:04:20 +0000 https://employees.local/?page_id=603

Mental health & stress

Protect yourself and others

Do you know someone in crisis?

Call the Crisis Connections line available 24/7 at 866-427-4747 if you or someone you know is in crisis.

Learn about Crisis Connections

Get mental health care and support

Mental health is an important part of overall health and well-being. It affects how we think, feel, and act. It also helps determine how we handle stress, relate to others, and make healthy choices.

Kaiser Permanente members

To get matched with a mental health specialist in your area or help you find addiction treatment, call 1-888-287-2680 between Monday – Friday from 8am to 5pm.

If you need help after hours, call the consulting nurse line at 1-800-297-6877. The nurse can evaluate your symptoms, provide recommendations about next steps, or page an on-call psychiatrist.

Learn more at Kaiser
Downloadable PDF

Regence BlueShield members

Call customer service at 800-376-7926 for help finding a qualified therapist or other health care provider.

Quartet is an online service that can match you with a mental health provider who fits your needs.

Find a provider on Quartet

Need help understanding your benefits?

Contact KC.Benefits@kingcounty.gov or 206-684-1556 weekdays from 9 am to 4 pm

King County Benefits
]]> Flu shots https://employees.metrotransit.net/wellness-program/flu-shots/ Tue, 30 Jan 2024 06:33:33 +0000 https://employees.local/?page_id=392

Flu shots

Protect yourself and others

Protect yourself and others

Flu vaccine is a covered preventive service. No prescription is needed.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that everyone six months and older get a flu vaccine each season. The flu vaccine is the number one way to protect yourself and your family, friends, and co-workers from getting the flu this season.

If you missed the opportunity to get a flu shot at work, here are some tips for getting your free flu shot through your pharmacy or doctor’s office.

Kaiser Permanente

Doctor’s office or clinic

Flu vaccinations are available at all Kaiser Permanente medical offices.

Make an appointment or walk-in M-F between 8:30 am and 5 pm. Please note that some offices are closed at lunch.

Find a Kaiser location

Pharmacies

Pharmacies that contract with Kaiser Permanente may offer flu vaccinations at no charge to members; ask at the pharmacy if you will need to pay.

If you get a vaccination at a non-Kaiser Permanente facility and need to pay for it, submit a claim for reimbursement.

Reimbursement form

KingCare

Regence BlueShield & CVS Caremark

Doctor’s office or clinic

Use your Regence card. If you need help finding an in-network provider or understanding your coverage, visit the member portal at Regence.com or call 1-800-376-7926.

Regence Member Portal

Pharmacies

Use your CVS card. Most pharmacies will bill CVS directly. If you need help, the back of your CVS card has a member service phone number, as well as a special number the pharmacy can call.

]]> Wellness Program https://employees.metrotransit.net/wellness-program/ Fri, 26 Jan 2024 22:10:33 +0000 https://employees.local/?page_id=357
Metro Wellness Logo

Wellness Program

The Metro Wellness Program is dedicated to enhancing employee wellbeing at Metro.

The program focuses on comprehensive wellness: physical, emotional, occupational, social, spiritual, and intellectual wellness. It is employee led and incorporates employee feedback.

May is Mental Health Month 

May is a time to prioritize mental health, build supportive connections, and focus on your overall wellbeing. 

Throughout the month, explore resources available to you as a King County employee, and take time to find what helps you feel your best. Join a Metro Wellness outreach event to connect with Wellness Champions, learn about available supports, and pick up mental health awareness items (while supplies last). A Making Life Easier representative will be available at select events. Click here to find an event near you. 

How do you fill your cup? 
There’s no one-size-fits-all approach to mental wellbeing. Try simple strategies like taking a walk, journaling, listening to music, connecting with others, or pausing for a quick reset—and build a toolbox that works for you. 

We’re also collecting ideas from employees on how they “fill their cups,” which will be turned into a visual summary to share across sites this summer. Want to contribute? Email metrowellness@kingcounty.gov to share how you fill your cup and support your wellbeing, and we’ll include your input.  

Stop by our final event on Wednesday, May 20 at Atlantic/Central Base (1500 6th Ave S., Seattle) to see a live graphic notetaker in action. 

Gratitude Graffiti 
Take a moment to recognize a colleague this month. A quick note, message, or conversation of appreciation can go a long way in boosting someone’s day. 
Click here for ideas and templates to get started. 

Our vision

A happy, healthy, and engaged workforce that thrives in a workplace where employee wellbeing is prioritized.

We work to accomplish this by:

  • Bringing awareness and access to the health and wellness resources available through outreach, events, and engagement, including our annual Metro Wellness Fair
  • Offering support, education, and awareness on relevant health and wellness topics specific to Metro, such as injury prevention and emotional wellbeing
  • Partner with leadership and decision-makers to ensure the wellness of employees is prioritized

We can assist with:

  • Injury prevention education (handouts, FitKits, etc.)
  • Requesting a seat cushion (bus operators only)
  • Connecting you with King County wellness resources and programs
  • Wellness orientations
  • Workgroup specific wellness programs, services, or trainings
  • Recommendations on wellness needs, culture, and environment

Your Metro Wellness Team

Leslie Monteiro, Wellness Program Administrator

Shab Ghaibi, Wellness Program Manager

Dre Austin, Wellness Program Manager

For questions, comments, or feedback, email us at MetroWellness@kingcounty.gov.

Wellness Partners and Resources

King County Benefits and Retirement Page

King County provides comprehensive benefits and services to eligible employees, retirees, and their dependents through strategic planning, negotiation and implementation of benefit programs.

Benefits, Payroll and Retirement Operations is here to help you with your medical, vision, and dental plan options; life and disability insurance; medical and dependent care reimbursement accounts; leave programs; payroll; and retirement planning.

Learn more

Balanced You

Balanced You aims to educate and equip employees with the information they need to effectively utilize their benefits and find balanced in life and work.

Offers include onside activity centers, fitness center discounts, online mindfulness and fitness classes, worksite flu shot clinics and more.

Learn more

Employee Assistance Program

Free counseling and coaching on work-related topics including conflict with co-workers, stress, and opportunities in the workplace.

Learn more

Making Life Easier (MLE)

Access support through a network of affiliate providers for personal counseling, legal and financial services, childcare and adult/elder care services.

Learn more

Omada®

King County employees covered under either the Regence BlueShield or Kaiser Permanente plan have access to a digital wellness program called Omada—at no cost to you.

As a CDC-recognized lifestyle program, Omada supports you and eligible covered family members in achieving your goals toward healthy weight and reducing your risk of certain chronic diseases like diabetes.

Learn more

WeightWatchers (WW)

King County pays for half the membership dues for WW (Weight Watchers reimagined) for employees and their benefits-eligible spouses and state-registered domestic partners.

Learn more

Employee Resource Groups (ERG)

Metro’s ERG groups, also known as affinity groups, focus on brining employees together based on shared identity, experience, and/or structural oppression to develop community and shared solutions.

Affinity groups address racism and other forms of oppression to advance King County’s equity and social justice goals.

Learn more

Quit tobacco

The sooner you quit, the more you can reduce your chances of getting cancer and other diseases. Explore the resources available through your health plan to help you quit tobacco.

Learn more

Emotional Wellbeing

Emotional Wellness plays a vital role in overall health and wellbeing and impacts how an individual feels about oneself and life. It also affects our capacity to empathize, communicate effectively, and form meaningful connections with others.

By investing in emotional wellness, we not only enhance our individual quality of life but also contribute to stronger, more resilient communities.

group, therapy, counseling-2351896.jpg

Emotional Wellness Resources

Employee Assistance Program (EAP) 

EAP is a safe place to go when you want confidential support to improve your work life or handle difficult workplace situations. The EAP is staffed by licensed counselors.

Phone: 206-263-8733
Email: HRDEAP@kingcounty.gov 

Making Life Easier (MLE)

MLE provides free counseling and support services for personal matters to all King County employees, their dependent family members, and anyone living in an employee’s home (family or roommates). Contact MLE 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Phone: 888-874-7290
Website: KCMakingLifeEasier.com (Username: King County)

Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM)

CISM is a Metro peer-support team made up of ATU 587 members who provide debriefing and support following critical incidents to any transit employee requesting assistance. Call to schedule a debriefing.

Phone: 206-718-9734

Other Resources

Activity centers

Workout at work

King County’s Balanced You manages Activity Centers in several Metro worksites. These convenient spaces are for employees to get moderate levels of physical activity.

Find an Activity Center

Workout at home

Balanced You, in partnership with Vivecorp, is offering free, live, virtual exercise classes and on-demand workout videos.

Explore virtual classes

Lactation Rooms

All King County employees who have lactation needs have access to all of these rooms for up to 2 years following the birth of their child/children. The rooms are outfitted with a keypad door lock. For an access code, contact Transit Disability Services, your manager, Chief, HR or any administrator.

Metro is currently reconfiguring and upgrading these spaces to comfortably accommodate multiple employees who need to use the room at the same time.

Contact us at TDS@kingcounty.gov.

LocationAddressRoom
Atlantic/Central Base1500 6th Ave S, Building 2A
Seattle, WA 98134		Room 2021
Bellevue Base1790 124th Ave NE
Bellevue, WA 98005		2nd floor
Near the wellness rooms and restrooms
East Base1975 124th Ave NE
Bellevue, WA 98005		Room 107
King Street Center201 S Jackson St
Seattle, WA 98104		8th floor
North Base2160 N 163rd St
Shoreline, WA 98133		Near Conference Room 1
Ryerson Base1220 4th Ave
Seattle, WA 98134		Room 204
South Base12100 E Marginal Way S
Tukwila, WA 98168		Room 107
Operations901 5th Ave
Seattle, WA 98164		Room 126

Lactation Room FAQs

What must Metro provide to workers who need to express breast milk in the workplace?

Metro is required to provide a reasonable amount of break time and a space to express milk as frequently as needed by the lactating employee, for up to two years following the birth of the employee’s child, per Washington State law. The frequency of breaks needed to express breast milk as well as the duration of each break will likely vary. The provided space cannot be a bathroom, and it must be shielded from view and free from intrusion by coworkers or the public.

Does the break time have to be paid break time?

Yes and no. Operators will be paid for the time taken to express milk as outlined in the lactation accommodation process. However, employees will not be paid for any break time for lactation beyond the paid break periods as prescribed in your union contract and Personnel Guidelines.

Does Metro need to create a permanent, dedicated space for use by lactating mother employees?

No. A space temporarily created or converted into a space for expressing milk or made available when needed by the lactating employee is sufficient provided that the space is shielded from view, and free from any intrusion from coworkers and the public. However, given Metro’s large workforce and commitment to supporting families, Metro has chosen to designate permanent lactation rooms.

What are some of the lactation room use guidelines?

Lactating employees may access the lactation room only for the purpose of expressing, storing and collecting breast milk. Please limit use of the space to activities associated with expressing milk only. It is the responsibility of everyone using the lactation room to maintain a clean room and refrigerator so that it is ready for the next person. Please label the milk with your name and date and remove stored milk at the end of your work day. Please notify Transit Facilities if the room needs attention.

Who has access to the rooms?

All employees who have lactation needs will have access to the rooms. Additionally, cleaning staff will also access the rooms to maintain the space.

Do I need an access code or key?

Yes. The rooms are all outfitted with a keypad door lock. For the access code, please reach out to anyone in Human Resources, Chiefs, administrators, dispatchers, or Transit Disability Services. The same access code can be used at all of Metro’s designated lactation spaces.

Does the space have a breast pump I can use?

No. Metro does not provide breast pumps in our lactation rooms. Please bring your own pump and supplies.

Is there a refrigerator for storing milk?

Yes. Each room has a refrigerator for the sole use of storing milk and pump parts. Please be sure to label the milk with your name and date and remove the stored milk at the end of your work day.

Who should I contact if the room needs cleaning or attention?

Please notify the Transit Facilities team through a work order request (F:\SharedData\Forms\WorkRequestForm20160311.doc), calling 206-477-3900, or emailing PowerandFacilities.WorkCenter@kingcounty.gov.

What is in the room?

Each room has a table and chair(s), access to outlets, and a refrigerator.

How do I request help for additional support?

Metro is committed to creating time and space to support employees during this period of transition. If you anticipate additional support to meet your pumping needs, please fill out the Lactation Accommodation Request form and submit it to the Transit Disability Services Team (TDS@kingcounty.gov). A member of the Disability Services Team will work with you and your manager or chief to make a plan.

What is a lactation accommodation?

A lactation accommodation is a process to ensure that lactating employees are given the opportunity to continue in their current position while balancing their lactation schedule. Once a Lactation Accommodation request form is submitted, the Transit Disability Services team will notify your superintendent and chief about the need for accommodation. The TDS team will schedule a time for you and your chief to meet and go over your pumping needs and create a plan that will support your ability to continue to perform your job while balancing the need to pump.

Will an accommodation for my lactation needs affect my pick seniority?

The lactation accommodation should not affect your pick seniority. During pick, employees should take their lactation needs into account when selecting future assignments.

Who do I reach out to if the accommodation plan is not working?

Reach out to your manager or chief and/or a member of the Transit Disability Services team if the lactation accommodation plan is not working. Your supervisor and the TDS team will work with you and your chief to determine if there is another accommodation that will support your needs.

Do I need to tell my chief or supervisor that I am lactating?

No. You do not need to tell your chief or supervisor that you are lactating if you do not want to. However, if you need a lactation accommodation, your chief will be informed as they will need to work with you, your worksite and the Transit Disability Services team to come up with a lactation accommodation plan.

Calendar

]]>