Employee Benefits
Elms College offers comprehensive benefits to our eligible faculty and staff. The following is a summary of the benefits that are currently available. Additional benefits and more detailed information is available in the Human Resources folder on the college's shared (J) drive (restricted to Elms employees). Benefits are subject to change. Questions concerning employee benefits may be directed to human resources at 413-265-2365.
Insurance & Flex Spending Plans
Health Insurance
Full-Time Employees - the college offers group health insurance through Health New England www.hne.com Coverage takes effect on the 1st of the month following 30 days of continuous, full-time employment. Employees may choose between an HMO plan or a PPO plan for single, double, or family coverage.
- Single coverage = employee
- Double Coverage = employee + spouse, or employee + dependent child under age 26
- Family coverage = employee + spouse and/or dependent children under age 26
Eligible employees can enroll upon hire, during the annual open enrollment period (April), or when a qualifying event occurs. Co-payments, maximums, deductibles and out-of-pocket expenses are on a plan year basis. The employee and employer share in the cost of the premium. The plan year begins on July 1 and ends on June 30.
Both group health plans (HMO and PPO) include a college-sponsored Health Reimbursement Account (HRA) that pays for eligible in-network deductible expenses in excess of $500 per member to a maximum of $1,500 per individual and $3,000 per family during the plan year.
The health insurance plan also includes prescription drugs. Tiered co-pay amounts are based on: Generic, Preferred (no generic available), and Non-Preferred (generic available), and also on whether the drugs are purchased through a retail pharmacy or through mail order. The mail order drug service program is WellDyneRx: www.mywdrx.com.
Dental Insurance
For full-time employees, the college offers group dental insurance through Blue Cross Blue Shield Dental. This is a PPO, open access dental plan that allows you to use any dentist even if he or she isn't part of the Blue Cross Blue Shield network. Employee pays 100% of premium cost. Coverage takes effect on the 1st of the month following 30 days of employment. Eligible employees can enroll upon hire, during the annual open enrollment (late April), or when a qualifying event occurs. If you don't enroll upon hire, the following restrictions apply for first two years: Year 1–only preventative procedures are paid. Year 2–only preventative and basic procedures are paid.
Flexible Benefit Plan
Employees who work a regular schedule of 17.50 hours or more per week (i.e., 50% time or greater) are eligible to participate in the college's flex benefit plan which includes:- Health Flexible Spending Account (HFSA)
- Dependent Care Assistance Program (DCAP)
Employees estimate how much money to put in their account(s) for the plan year that starts July 1 and ends on June 30. Maximum for HFSA and DCAP are $2,500 per year. You can make an election of either/both plans: upon hire, during the annual open enrollment (late April), or when a qualifying event occurs. Your full allocation is available to you on the first day of the plan year (July 1). Deductions cannot be changed unless there is a qualifying event during the plan year. Same sex spouse and domestic partners are ineligible as family members.
Group Term Life Insurance
Full-time employees are eligible for this benefit on the first day of the month following 90 days of continuous full-time employment. Coverage, which also includes accidental death and dismemberment (AD&D) insurance, is provided by The Standard. The benefit amount is equal to 1X base annual salary up to a maximum of $300,000. Group term life insurance and AD&D insurance are paid 100 percent by the employer.
Short Term Disability Insurance
Full-time employees are eligible for short-term disability insurance on the 1st day of the month following 90 days of continuous, full-time employment. Coverage is provided by The Standard. Income replacement of 60 percent of the first $ 3,333 of your pre-disability earnings up to a maximum of $2,000 on the eighth day of disability. A seven-day waiting period is required. STDI is paid 100 percent by the employer.
Long Term Disability Insurance
Full-time employees are eligible for long-term disability insurance (LTDI) on the 1st of the month following 90 days of continuous, full-time employment. Coverage is provided by The Standard. Income replacement of 60 percent of first $ 16,667 of your pre-disability earnings up to a maximum of $ 10,000 on 91st day of disability. LTDI is paid 100 percent by the employer.
Voluntary Life Insurance
Full-time employees and regular part-time employees who work a regular schedule of 17.50 hours per week (i.e., 50% time or greater), may sign up for additional term life insurance provided by the Principal Financial Group. You may elect coverage for yourself plus your spouse and/or children. Rates are based on age and smoking status. Payments are made through payroll deduction. Employee pays 100% of premimum cost which are reasonably priced. Coverage may be elected in increments of $10,000 to a maximum of $500,000. Portability: If you leave employment with the college, you may continue your coverage at the same group rates you had as an active employee. Those who elect the voluntary life insurance will also enjoy additional benefits such as EAP services through Magellan Health Services, and free Will Preparation and Identity Theft Services.
403(b) Retirement Plan
The college offers a voluntary, 403(b) Annuity contract retirement plan through TIAA CREF to all employees, regardless of the number of hours worked. You may begin participating in the 403(b) plan upon hire by completing the TIAA-CREF Plan enrollment forms and filling out a Salary Deferral Form (available on the college's shared drive) to have your 403(b) contributions made through payroll deduction on a federal tax deferred basis. Participating employees are immediatly eligible for the college match. TIAA contact information: www.tiaa.cref.org or 1-800-842-2252.
Leave Time
Sick Leave
Regular, benefited full-time and regular part-time staff are eligible for sick leave time after completing 30 days of continuous employment. Full-time staff accrue sick time at 1¼ days per month. Regular part-time staff accrue sick time in proportion to their full-time equivalent (FTE). Maximum sick time accrual for full-time 35-hour per week positioni is 420 hours. For sick time accruals for faculty, refer to the Faculty Handbook.
Personal Time
Regular, benefited, full-time staff are awarded two (2) Personal Days each fiscal year on July 1st. Regular part-time staff receive personal time in proportion to their FTE. Non-benefited and temporary/casual staff, and faculty, do not receive personal time. Personal time must be used within the fiscal year (July - June) in which it is awarded and cannot be carried over into the next year. Personal time may be used in whole days or as little as half-hour (30 minute) increments. New staff who begin working between July 1 and December 31 receive two personal days: one day of personal time following 60 days of employment and a second personal day after 120 days of employment. Those hired between January 1 and March 31 will receive 1 personal day following 60 days of employment.
Vacation Time
Awarded July 1 to regular, benefited, full-time, 12-month staff, and regular part-time staff. Vacation time must be used within the fiscal year in which it is awarded (July–June). Vacation time is awarded in proportion to the employee's FTE. Casual and temporary staff, and staff on 9 or 10 month appointments, and faculty, do not receive vacation time. New staff hired between July 1 and December 31 will receive one week of vacation following 90 days of employment and a second week after 180 days of employment. Staff hired between January 1 and March 31 will receive one week of vacation following 90 days of employment.
Holidays
Regular full-time and part-time employees are eligible for paid holidays immediately upon hire:
- New Year's Day
- Martin Luther King Day
- President's Day
- Good Friday
- Easter Monday
- Memorial Day
- Independence Day
- Labor Day
- Columbus Day
- Veterans Day
- Thanksgiving (3 days: Wednesday - Friday)
- Christmas Recess (week between Christmas and New Year's)
Tuition Waivers
Full-Time Employees
Following six months of employment, the employee, his or her spouse and qualified dependents (as defined by IRS guidelines), are eligible for a tuition waiver for undergraduate courses taken at Elms College. The waiver applies to tuition only; the employee is responsible for paying the cost of books, room, board, fees, etc.
Part-Time Employees
Following six months of employment, part-time employees who work at least 20 hours per week are eligible for a tuition waiver for undergraduate courses at Elms College. Eligible part-time employees may take up to 12 credits in a year (defined as Sept 1- August 31).
Tuition Benefit Programs
The college offers a variety of tuition assistance programs for the dependent children of full-time Elms College employees. See program list on the Human Resources website:
http://www.elms.edu/-About-/Administrative_Offices/Human_Resources/Tuition_Assistance_Programs.xml
Other Benefits
Parking
Free parking is available to all full-time and part-time employees of the college. A valid Elms College parking sticker should be displayed on the driver's side rear window.
BJ's Membership
All full-time employees are eligible for a BJ's membership at a reduced fee.
Maguire Center
All faculty and staff are eligible for a free individual membership to the Maguire Fitness Center. A free membership for family members is extended to full-time faculty and staff. Family means spouse and qualified dependent children (defined by IRS guidelines).
Pet Insurance
Through our membership with the Chicopee Chamber of Commerce, Elms employees can purchase pet insurance provided by Aetna at a discounted price. Informational brochures are available in Human Resources.
Verizon Wireless
Verizon Wireless employee discounts are available on calling plans, phones, devises, and accessories. Go to the Verizon store by copying the link below and pasting it in to your web browser, then enter Profile ID: 1729296 to get the discount.
https://www.verizonwireless.com/b2c/store/controller?item%
Computer Purchase
Through the college's computer purchase program, you can order a Dell or Apple computer for personal use at a discount. For more information, go to:
Software is also available for purchase at a discount from the Elms College Bookstore.