Retention Bonuses Headed To King County Childcare Workers

SEATTLE — Seattle and King County will pay out retention bonuses to thousands of childcare workers after nearly 90 percent of those who were eligible applied to receive funds. In a news release, Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell's office said more than 12,000 workers would receive a combined $7 million, with individual providers receiving between $400 and $500.

Officials said the one-time payments are a direct response to several challenges childcare workers face, especially during the pandemic, including taking on extra responsibilities, facing inequities and being at a higher risk for COVID-19 exposure. According to a 2020 analysis, childcare providers in Washington make $9 an hour less than the median worker, amounting to minimum wage.

"Child care workers are essential to a healthy, thriving region, providing critical services to families and communities every day," said King County Executive Dow Constantine. "We are committed to access to affordable child care and respectful wages for child care workers, and these investments provide the necessary support to ensure both. We're grateful for our partnership with Mayor Harrell and the City of Seattle and will continue to collaborate on ways we can invest in this workforce."

King County is providing $5 million for the payments funded by the voter-approved Best Starts for Kids levy, and Seattle is contributing $2.4 million from its JumpStart payroll tax revenue. Workers can expect to see the payments arriving through September. Officials said all childcare staff working at state-licensed facilities were eligible to receive the payments.

"Child care workers have served on the frontlines of our pandemic to ensure our city’s kiddos are cared for and safe, and that working families can continue to balance work and childcare," said Seattle Councilmember Teresa Mosqueda. "Despite being in one of our state’s most underpaid professions, child care workers continue to show up for our community when we need it most. Thank you to all those who serve and to our community partners who have made these payments possible."

On top of the retention payments, Seattle childcare facilities were also eligible for "stabilization grants" to support business needs, covering expenses like cleaning supplies and payroll costs. City officials said 631 facilities received a combined $1.1 million in grants.