TOWN OF CHAPEL HILL

FULL-TIME EMPLOYEE BENEFITS

(37 ½ hours or more per week scheduled)

1.  ANNUAL LEAVE:  12 to 26 days of annual leave may be earned depending on the length of Town service.  Accrual rate changes occur on      anniversary dates.  Maximum leave accumulation is 30 days (240 hrs).  Once a year, any annual leave over maximum accumulation is transferred to sick leave.  See below for the number of days associated with different lengths of service.

Years of service	0 to 1	2 to 4	5 to 9	10 to 14	15 to 19	20 or more
Days Earned	12	14	17	20	23	26

2.   SICK LEAVE:  One day earned per month.  No maximum accumulation.  Upon retirement, each 20 days of sick leave benefits will be applied to one month of retirement service credit.

3.  HOLIDAYS:  11 days per year.  New Year’s Day; Martin Luther King’s Birthday (3^rd Monday in January); Good Friday; Memorial Day; July 4; Labor Day; Thanksgiving (Thursday and Friday); Christmas (Three working days).

4.  FUNERAL LEAVE:  3 days per calendar year granted each January; non-cumulative from year to year.

5.  CIVIL LEAVE:  An employee called for jury duty or subpoenaed as a government witness shall be granted leave with pay and may keep any fees received.

6.  MILITARY LEAVE:  An employee who is a member of an Armed Forces Reserve Organization or the National Guard will be granted two calendar weeks of Military Leave per calendar year for required military training.  The leave is not charged as annual leave, but any salary payment which the employee receives from the military is deducted from regular salary paid by the Town. (An employee using Military Leave may maintain his or her regular salary or the military pay if higher, but not both).  The same provision applies to the first six months of call-up to active duty.

7.  SOCIAL SECURITY:  Social Security and Medicare are deducted from paychecks.  The total is 7.65%

8.  PARKING is provided free of charge to employees at or near their worksites.

9.  LONGEVITY PAY:  The Town recognizes length of service with an annual longevity payment based on the following schedule: (Longevity payments for part-time employees are proportional to the hours worked)

Years of Service	Longevity Payment
5 to 9.99 years 10 to 14.99 years 15 to 19.99 years 20 to 24.99 25 and over	$500 $650 $800 $1000 $1200

10.  EMPLOYEE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM:  Provides free, absolutely confidential counseling (up to five visits per issue) and referrals for employees and their families.  Counseling or assistance is not limited to specific areas: it may include family, drug or alcohol abuse, health, money, personal problems, etc.  The Town contracts with Human Resource Consultants, P.A. to provide this service.  Telephone numbers for Employee Assistance are: (919) 929-1227 or 1-800-640-0735.

11.  TUITION ASSISTANCE:  Available to employees who have completed their probationary period.  Provides full or partial reimbursement of tuition costs for courses taken during an employee’s non-working hours which improve abilities to perform current job or which help prepare for promotion.  $500 limit per fiscal year.

12.  WORKERS’ COMPENSATION INSURANCE and Workers’ Compensation Salary Supplement:  After 2 full work days following the day of the accident, the Town provides full salary coverage for up to one year for employees unable to work due to on-the job accidents.  All related medical expenses are paid.

13.  CREDIT UNION:  Employees may join the North Carolina Local Government Employees’ Federal Credit Union.  The initial cost to join is $25.00 in a savings account.  Payroll deduction for savings and Credit Union loans is available.  The Credit Union has branches in Chapel Hill, Carrboro, Raleigh and Durham, and ATM’s in many additional areas.

14.  RETIREMENT:  Employees are required to participate in the NC Local Governmental Employees’ Retirement System.  There is a 6% pretax deduction each pay period.  This is an excellent retirement system; service credits may be transferred to other local governments or the state and military, out of state and federal service may be purchased. 

15.  DEATH BENEFIT:  An employee with one year or more of service time in the NC Local Governmental Employees Retirement System is covered by a death benefit paid to his or her beneficiary.  It is equal to the employee’s last 12 months salary, up to $20,000.  This coverage may also be extended to a former employee who dies within one year of his or her last work date.  Additional benefits may be available to law enforcement officers who die in the line of duty.

16.  DISABILITY INSURANCE:  Permanent employees are covered on short-term and long-term disability insurance.  After a 30-day absence, disabled employees have the guarantee of up to 50% of their income through this insurance.  Coverage is provided through Aetna Life and Casualty Insurance Company.

The following benefits are optional and paid for by the employee.  Please check yes or no depending on your wish to participate in each program.

Y    N

 17.  SUPPLEMENTAL RETIREMENT/INCOME PLAN (401-K):  The Town makes a contribution equal to 5% of your salary to an account in your name with the State’s 401-K program.  You can also make voluntary contributions which are federal and state tax deferred.  The program offers a variety of investment options. The program is administered for the State by Branch Bank and Trust Company. (BB&T)

18.  YMCA MEMBERSHIP:  You can purchase annual memberships to the Chapel Hill-Carrboro YMCA at a 10% savings and through payroll deduction.

19.  AUTOMATIC PAYCHECK DEPOSIT:  Employees may have their paychecks automatically deposited at banks or credit unions of their choice.  Deposits may be divided between two different institutions or accounts. 

20.  HEALTH INSURANCE:   The Town offers employees a choice of Health Maintenance Organizations (HMO’s).  HMO insurance is effective on the date of hire and there is no deductible.  The Town pays all of the cost for a full-time employee’s coverage and part of the cost to cover family members.  The employees’ costs are:

TYPE OF COVERAGE	PAY CYCLE	CIGNA
Employee only	Weekly Bi-weekly	No cost No cost
Employee/Children	Weekly Bi-weekly	27.84 55.68
Employee/Spouse	Weekly Bi-weekly	40.29 80.58
Family	Weekly Bi-weekly	57.55 115.11

21.  DENTAL INSURANCE:  Employees may purchase dental insurance through payroll deduction.  Open enrollment for the dental plan (Kanawha) occurs each November.

22.  LIFE INSURANCE: The Town pays in full for $20,000 of individual term life insurance.  Employees may opt to double this amount for $1.75 weekly or $ 3.50 bi-weekly.  Employees are covered double their insured amounts for accidental death or dismemberment.  $5000 of like insurance is available for family members at the employee’s expense.  The cost is $.43 weekly or $.86 bi-weekly.  Additional spouse coverage of $10,000 is included for $.66 weekly or $1.32 bi-weekly.

23.  VOLUNTARY SHORT TERM DISABILITY:  New employees may purchase supplemental disability insurance through payroll deduction with no pre-existing conditions or required evidence of insurability up to 30 days from hire or first eligibility.  The insurance is inexpensive, covers up to 25% of salary up to $400 per week and goes into effect after the first 14 days of non-job related disability. 

24.  FLEXIBLE COMPENSATION (“IRS 125”):  You can take home more pay by paying premiums for health, dental, and term life insurance through pre-tax dollars.  Employees with six months of regular full or part time service by January 1 can also set up a spending account to pay for unreimbursed medical expenses through pre-tax dollars.  Any regular full or part time employee may set up a dependent care spending account.  You’ll save about $.25 - $.30 for each dollar set aside through these programs.  Enrollment for this program is in the fall each year.

25.  UNIVERSAL LIFE INSURANCE:  You have the option to purchase (through payroll deduction) additional life insurance, with Occidental Life which builds cash value.  You can take this policy with you when you leave Town employment.  The rates for this policy depend upon your age and the amount of coverage.  Dependent coverage is also available.

26.  DEFERRED COMPENSATION (“457”):  The Town provides employees the option of participating in this long-range supplemental retirement program.  Contributions to your deferred compensation account are not taxed; taxation is deferred until you begin withdrawing from your account normally at retirement.  We have an excellent deferred compensation plan, sponsored through ICMA (International City Management Association’s Retirement Corporation – a national non-profit organization).

27.  SAVINGS BONDS:  You may also purchase U.S. Savings bonds through payroll deduction. 

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EMPLOYEE SIGNATURE                                                                                                                                  DATE

FULL TIME BENEFITS UPDATED: MAY 2003