Thurston County dismisses discrimination claim by road worker following investigation
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Thurston County road worker concerns
Current and former Thurston County road workers publicly accused management of creating a toxic work environment and failing to address their concerns in 2025.
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An investigator did not find “sufficient evidence” that a Thurston County road worker experienced discrimination or harassment by management as the worker alleged earlier this year, according to an executive summary.
The county published the summary, dated May 29, in a frequently asked questions section of their Public Works website that’s titled, “What is Public Works leadership doing about recent complaints about the workplace environment published in local news.”
“The investigation is complete and found no evidence of discrimination or harassment,” the section reads. “The investigation noted the potential for unconscious bias, which Public Works is actively addressing through training.”
The findings in the summary almost entirely pertain to specific allegations made by one employee. The summary does not explore wider worker concerns in the county’s Roads Operations division, which is responsible for maintaining the safety and reliability of over 1,000 miles of roadway.
Current and former road workers began publicly complaining about Roads Operations management in January. The next month, current workers approved a no-confidence vote in their management, citing poor treatment, excessive turnover and other issues.
The Olympian first published an article on Feb. 9 that detailed workers’ allegations of a toxic work environment and discrimination. Many specifically blamed the leadership of Roads Operations Manager Mike Lowman and Supervisor Nick Bemis.
The day after the article published, Public Works Director Karen Weiss informed staff that the county had contracted with an outside investigator. The county agreed to pay D Diamond Consulting, a Seattle-based firm, up to $12,000 to investigate employee claims, Clerk of the Board Amy Davis previously said.
Weiss previously declined to elaborate on the scope of the investigation. The summary now shows that the investigation was limited to claims a single worker shared in a January letter to the Board of County Commissioners.
The investigator reportedly interviewed the complainant, their supervisor and manager and 17 other employees in the Roads Operations Division.
The Olympian has submitted a public records request for a copy of the full investigation.
What does the summary say?
The worker, who is Hispanic, said Lowman and Bemis treated him differently than other workers and he was inhibited from taking training required to earn a promotion, according to his letter and the summary.
In one instance, the worker said he was treated differently for going to get coffee in a county vehicle. The investigator found he was disciplined because he lied about his whereabouts and other vehicle safety issues, rather than his brief absence.
In another instance, the worker said he was treated differently for swearing, which road workers often do throughout the day in the office and out in the field.
Lowman reportedly told the worker he was going to be issued a memo for verbally abusing another county employee. However, that employee told the investigator that they did not believe the swearing was directed at them.
Rather than issue the memo and impose discipline, Lowman eventually coached and counseled the worker. The investigator then listed three other occasions since 2021 where white workers were disciplined for situations that involved swearing.
With respect to the training, the investigator reported that Bemis, Lowman and about half of the witnesses stated there were “legitimate business reasons” for why the worker was not promoted.
The other half of witnesses said Bemis and Lowman seemed to have some “unconscious bias” towards the worker. They also said the worker has the ability to do the job “if given a fair chance to succeed.”
Every witness except Lowman and Bemis said they knew the worker is Hispanic, according to the summary.
The investigator found it was not credible that Lowman and Bemis would not know the worker is Hispanic. The worker reportedly perceived this lack of knowledge as disrespectful.
A former employee told the investigator that Lowman once commented on the Complainant’s physical appearance and that comment “came across as racist.”
Lowman reportedly acknowledged his comment but denied saying or implying that “someone who looked liked like that should be arrested.”
“Although unconscious bias toward [Complainant] may be present, there is not sufficient evidence to establish that Mr. Bemis and/or Mr. Lowman violated Thurston County’s Policy 16.1 prohibiting discrimination, harassment, and/or retaliation,” the summary reads.
What does the county have to say about this?
The Olympian has asked Public Works Director Karen Weiss to comment on the summary and the state of working conditions in the roads division, but did not receive an immediate response.
The FAQ section states that Public Works began a “process of continuous improvement” before the investigation began.
“Thurston County Public Works has been and remains committed to leadership development training for managers, positive workplace culture training for staff, listening sessions, staff surveying, and other actions to standardize our operational procedures and enhance safety,” the section reads.
The county says it requires all supervisors, managers and staff to respond to discrimination, harassment and retaliation complaints by sending them immediately to the Human Resources department to “respond with appropriate measures.”
“Every complaint is taken seriously, and we provide employees with multiple methods to report a concern or complaint both verbally and in writing,” the section reads. “Collective bargaining agreements also provide a process for elevating complaints.”
The roads workers union, Washington State Council of County and City Employees AFSCME Council 2, AFL-CIO, informed Weiss about the no-confidence vote in March.
At the time, Michael Rainey, president and executive director of Council 2, said the union held the vote and sent the letter due to a “critical breakdown” in the relationship between employees and management.
The Olympian has asked Rainey to comment on the outcome of the investigation and status of the union’s relationship with the county.
Among the workers’ concerns has been management’s inability to recruit and retain workers. They said high-turnover, decreased morale and increased workloads began shortly after Lowman became Roads Manager in 2021.
The county’s FAQ section says the Road Operations division is budgeted for 66 full-time employees and had 19 vacancies as of May.
This story was originally published July 5, 2025 at 5:00 AM.
