Full-Time Employee Benefits Summary

Medical Insurance

The City currently offers United Healthcare (UHC) to employees. The UHC is an PPO. Employees may elect to have their coverage effective the 1st day of  employment or otherwise during open enrollment. Open enrollment is held in May of each year with a July 1 effective date for coverage.

Currently, 85% of the premium is paid by the City for individual coverage, and 75% of the premium is paid by the City for family coverage.

Domestic Partner benefits available – same or opposite sex.

Dental Insurance

The City of University City offers a voluntary dental plan for employees through Delta Dental. Delta Dental offers over 700 network dental care professionals on its provider list. Employees may select the Low Option or High Option according to their needs. Out of Network dental care is also included with a lower percentage rate of coverage.

Section 125 Plan

Sometimes known as a Flexible Spending Plan, a Section 125 Plan allows you to pay for certain medical and dependent care expenses on a pre-tax basis. By paying these expenses with pre-tax dollars, you are taxed on a lower gross salary, thereby saving money that would otherwise be spent on federal, state, and FICA taxes.

Employee Educational Assistance

Tuition reimbursement is available to all full-time city employees. Up to $500 per fiscal year is available for courses and books directly job-related from accredited institutions for non-uniformed full-time employees. Tuition reimbursement is also available to uniformed employees.

Employee Assistance Program

A confidential counseling and referral service available to full-time employees and their dependents at no cost to employees. This service is paid entirely by the City. Contact Magellan at 1-800-523-5668.

Pension

The Non-Uniformed Employee Retirement Plan requires participation by all full-time employees of the City and Library. This is a defined benefit plan where employees contribute 3% of their salary to the plan. Vesting occurs after 10 years of service. Full retirement benefits may be received at age 65, or age 62 with at least 30 years of service. Full retirement benefits for vested employees are calculated as follows: Final average compensation (last 36 months) multiplied by 1.6% (the benefit factor) multiplied by years of service. Early retirement is also available and is actuarially calculated.

The Police and Fire Retirement Plan requires participation by all sworn officers of the Police and Fire Departments. This is a hybrid plan: defined contribution and defined benefit. Employees contribute 5% of their salary to the plan. Vesting occurs after 10 years of service. Full retirement benefits may be received at age 50 with 25 years of services. A full retirement benefit for vested employees is equivalent to the employee’s defined contribution account balance plus an offset defined benefit amount which is actuarially calculated.

401/457 Deferred Compensation Programs

As a public employee, you have a unique opportunity to supplement your retirement income. Utilizing the 401 or 457 retirement plan, you can invest through automatic payroll deductions. In a Section 457 deferred compensation plan and in many 401 defined contribution plans, you may save pre-tax dollars. Pre-tax contributions are funds contributed before federal, and in most cases state and local, income taxes are withheld. Your contributions and your earnings on them are not taxed while you let them grow, since they are retirement savings.

Life Insurance

The City of University City provides a $100,000 death benefit for each full-time employee, which is effective the first day of employment. Further details covered in the life insurance booklet.

Long Term Disability

Disability benefits of up to 67% of compensation are provided under an insured arrangement with the premium paid by the Pension Plans. Elimination period for this benefit is 90 days. Further details are covered in the Long Term Disability Insurance booklet.

Holidays

·         New Year’s Day (January 1st)

·         Martin Luther King, Jr. Day (Third Monday in January)

·         Presidents’ Day (Third Monday in February)

·         Memorial Day (Last Monday in May)

·         Independence Day (July 4th)

·         Labor Day (First Monday in September)

·         Veterans’ Day (November 11th)

·         Thanksgiving Day (fourth Thursday in November)

·         Christmas Day (December 25th)

Commissioned police personnel and dispatchers are receiving nine (9) personal days in lieu of holiday pay.

Vacation Leave

An employee must complete six months of continuous service from his/her hire date before vacation leave may be utilized. Vacation leave will be earned during this six-month period, but may not be taken. Vacation leave may be used only after earned. Vacation days for employees on a 40 hours per week work schedule are accrued monthly, and determined by the length of service as follows:

Years of Service

Annual Vacation

Number of Days

1 through 5

Three calendar weeks

15

6 through 10

Three weeks + 1 day

16

11 through 20

Three weeks + 3 days

18

21 and over

Four weeks + 4 days

24

Vacation leave is computed on a proportionate basis for eligible employees whose average workweek is more or less than 40 hours.

Sick Leave

Sick leave with pay shall be granted to all regular employees at the rate of eight (8) hours per month for each full month of service. Sick leave may be used only after earned. Sick leave is computed on a proportionate basis for eligible employees whose average workweek is more or less than 40 hours.

Family and Medical Leave

The Federal Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) provides up to twelve (12) weeks of unpaid, job protected family and medical leave to employees for qualifying family and medical reasons. Employees are eligible if they have been employed with the City for at least twelve (12) months and worked at least 1,250 hours during the twelve (12) month period preceding the FMLA leave request.

Injury Leave and Workers’ Compensation

The City’s Worker’s Compensation Insurance Company pays the medical and hospital bills for injuries sustained on the job. In the event of an in-service injury, the employee concerned may also receive up to forty (40) days of leave with full pay, if necessary, without sacrificing any sick leave.

Other Leave

Funeral Leave

In the event of a death in your immediate family, you will be entitled to a maximum of three (3) working days, with pay, to handle family affairs and attend the funeral. Shift duty fire personnel will be granted one shift off with pay. Immediate family is defined in this situation as: spouse, child, mother, father, sister, brother, in-laws, grandchildren, and grandparents.

Jury Duty

Employees are granted leave of absence with pay for required jury duty to an amount equal to the difference between his/her regular pay and the compensation received for jury duty.