Benefits Information
The Commonwealth provides a full range of benefits for permanent employees.
These benefits include health insurance, life insurance, workers' compensation,
retirement (including State, Public School and TIAA-CREF), deferred
compensation, tax sheltered annuity, savings bonds, tuition account program and
a leave program. Public School and TIAA-CREF retirement plans as well as the tax
sheltered annuity program are exclusive to the Department of Education.
Permanent employees may choose a benefits package that may include the choice
of a Point-of-Service program (POS), Health Maintenance Organization (HMO), or
Preferred Provider Organization (PPO). Coverage is available on the first day of
employment and includes a contribution payment of 2% of gross biweekly pay
towards health care coverage. An additional payroll contribution may be deducted
for certain medical plans and additional dependents. There are no pre-existing
clauses applied to any of the medical plans. Also included is a Mental Health
benefit.
Supplemental benefits include prescription drug coverage, dental plan, vision
plan, and hearing aid reimbursement plan. Supplemental benefits have a six-month
waiting period for eligibility from the first day of employment. For further
information on health care options and benefits, please visit
www.pebtf.org
Employees earn annual leave based on years of service with the
Commonwealth up to a maximum of 26 days of annual leave per year for
employees with more than 25 years of service. Newly hired employees earn either
7 or 10 days of annual leave, with the higher number of days earned by newly
hired management employees. All Commonwealth employees, regardless of service
time, earn 13 days of sick leave annually. Employees are paid for 11
holidays annually. Employees also earn from 1 to 4 personal days a year,
with the maximum amount earned during the third and subsequent years of
employment.
Employees are provided with term life insurance coverage equal to the nearest
$1,000 of annual salary up to a maximum of $40,000, with an additional $10,000
work-related accidental death benefit.
Other benefits include a blood bank, credit union, Family Care Account
Program for child or elder care, Family Care Leave Without Pay with Benefits,
Sick Leave Without Pay with Benefits, Social Security, and State Employee
Assistance Program (SEAP). Direct deposit of pay is mandatory.