Key Facts: Salaried Employee Benefits
Listed below is a summary of benefits that are available to full-time salaried employees of the Science Museum of Virginia (SMV). These benefits are subject to legislative, contractual, and policy changes. For more information, please contact Human Resources at (804) 864-1400 ext. 1510 unless otherwise indicated below.
Insurance, Flexible Benefits, and Retirement Programs
Health Benefits
The Commonwealth of Virginia provides eligible employees and their dependents with health insurance coverage through the Anthem COVA Care Plan. COVA Care "basic" coverage includes in-network medical, dental, and wellness benefits as well as participation in a three-tier prescription drug benefit program. Co-payments, co-insurances, and deductibles apply to plan benefits. For optimum benefit coverage, participants must seek care from physicians and facilities in the Anthem BlueCard Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) network, which is accessible statewide as well as nationally and internationally. Participants may select additional options (at additional costs) for out-of-network coverage; expanded dental coverage; and dental, vision and hearing coverage.
Health insurance coverage is not automatic upon employment:
- New employees may enroll in one of the coverage plans available through Anthem COVA Care within 31 days of employment.
- Coverage begins the first of the month following receipt of enrollment forms.
- An employee hired on the first workday of the month may have coverage effective the first of that month, provided his/her enrollment form is received on the first workday. If the enrollment form is not received on the first workday, coverage will be effective the first of the month following receipt of the enrollment form.
- Coverage is available only to new employees who have been on the SMV payroll for a minimum of 16 calendar days.
Flexible Benefits Program
Employees who are eligible to participate in the state's health insurance plans also may participate in the Flexible Benefits Program, which includes the Dependent Care Reimbursement and Medical Reimbursement Accounts.
These reimbursement accounts provide tax-savings opportunities, which allow participants to set aside before-tax money to reimburse themselves for eligible dependent care expenses or for out-of-pocket medical costs that are not reimbursed by an insurance plan. Employees may enroll (1) in the Dependent Care Reimbursement Account within 31 days of employment; and (2) in the Medical Reimbursement Account within 31 days of completing 6 months of employment.
Employees continue participation in the reimbursement accounts by re-enrolling each spring for the next plan year.
Virginia Retirement System (VRS)
New full-time and part-time classified employees automatically become members of the Virginia Retirement System (VRS) upon employment. The University makes the total contribution - there is no deduction from the employee's paycheck. Employees are vested (which means they are eligible for a retirement benefit) after five years of membership. Average final salary, years of service, and age at retirement determine the retirement benefit. Participants are eligible for full retirement benefits at age 50 with 30 years of service or at age 65 with 5 years of service. Reduced retirement benefits are available as early as age 50 with 10 years of service or age 55 with 5 years of service. Normal retirement age is 65.
Virginia Sickness and Disability Program (VSDP)
New full-time and part-time classified employees automatically participate in the Virginia Sickness and Disability Program (VSDP) upon employment. VSDP provides sick leave, family and personal leave, short-term and long-term disability benefits, and long-term care coverage. Length of state service determines the amount of leave accruals and disability income replacement. Short-term disability coverage provides 100%, 80%, or 60% of income replacement for up to six months after a seven-calendar-day waiting period. Long-term disability insurance provides 60% of income replacement after the six-month short-term disability period ends.
Basic Group Life Insurance
Employees receive group term life insurance coverage at no cost and no medical examination is required. Coverage is twice the employee's annual salary (with the salary rounded to the next thousand) for natural death and four times the annual salary for accidental death. Minnesota Life Insurance Company underwrites the policy, which VRS administers.
Optional Group Life Insurance
Employees may purchase additional life insurance coverage at one, two, three, or four times their salaries. Coverage also is available for the employee's spouse and/or children. The guaranteed issue amount of personal coverage is up to $250,000; the guaranteed issue amount of coverage for a spouse is one-half of the employee's salary. New employees may enroll in the optional life program within 31 days of employment. If a new employee wishes to enroll in coverage above the guaranteed issue amount, he/she must complete a health status form within 31 days of his/her hire date and have the insurance company approve the enrollment.
Long-Term Care Insurance
Long-term care insurance is an optional insurance plan that helps employees pay for personal care when they can no longer perform two or more activities of daily living (for example, bathing, dressing, eating, continence, transferring, toileting). This optional plan provides a per-day dollar reimbursement benefit for nursing home and home care. For more information, visit Aetna's website at http://www.aetna.com/group/commonwealthva/ or call 1-800-537-8521.
Deferred Compensation Plan (DCP)
The Deferred Compensation Plan (DCP) [457 Plan], sponsored by the Virginia Retirement System (VRS) and administered by Great West, provides employees with the opportunity to save for retirement by investing a portion of their before-tax earnings. Any money contributed, subject to legal limitations and interpretations, comes out of the employee's paycheck before federal and state taxes are calculated. The maximum amount a participant may contribute each year is set by Internal Revenue Service (IRS) requirements. Various investment fund plans are available. Employees interested in participating in the DCP should visit the state's website at https://www.vadcp.com/ for more information or call Great West at 1-866-226-6682.
Workers' Compensation
Employees may be eligible for coverage under the Virginia Workers' Compensation Act for accidental injuries or if they contract occupational diseases while performing official job duties. Employees should report injuries to their supervisors or department heads and should complete an accident report form within 24 hours of their injuries. Failure to report an accident or injury could result in a loss of benefits. Filing a claim does not automatically provide workers' compensation coverage. Call Human Resources (804) 864-1400 Ext. 1510 with questions or to request more information.
Leaves
These and other employee leave policies are described in more detail on-line at http://www.dhrm.state.va.us/genlbenefits/leavesofabsence.html.
Annual Leave
Employees accrue annual leave at the end of each completed semi-monthly pay period. To earn leave, the employee must work the entire pay period or be on approved leave with pay for the time not worked. Employees with less than five years of service accrue four hours of annual leave each semi-monthly pay period. The amount of annual leave that employees can earn increases with additional years of service up to a maximum of nine hours each pay period. Employees who work 80% - 99.9% full-time equivalency earn a pro-rated amount of annual leave. The maximum annual leave balance carry-over from one calendar year to the next varies with length of service. The maximum payment for unused leave upon employment termination also varies with years of service.
VSDP Sick Leave
Employees enrolled in the Virginia Sickness and Disability Program (VSDP) are credited with sick leave upon hire and then annually on January 10 of each calendar year. Employees may use this leave for absences due to personal illnesses and injuries and for preventive, well-patient doctor visits. New full-time employees hired between January 10 July 9 are credited with 64 hours of sick leave upon employment; employees hired between July 10 and January 9 are credited with 40 hours of sick leave upon employment. Unused sick leave balances do not carry over to the next year, and the Museum does not pay employees for these unused leave balances when they separate from employment.
Personal and Family Leave
Employees enrolled in the Virginia Sickness and Disability Program (VSDP) are credited with personal and family leave upon hire and then annually on January 10 of each calendar year. Employees may use this leave for absences due to their own illnesses and injuries or for any other personal or family reasons when they give reasonable notice to their supervisors. New full-time employees hired between January 10 and July 9 are credited with 32 hours of personal and family leave upon employment; employees hired between July 10 and January 9 are credited with 16 hours of personal and family leave upon employment. Unused personal and family leave balances do not carry over to the next year, and the University does not pay employees for these unused leave balances when they separate from employment.
Family and Medical Leave
The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) provides employees with paid or unpaid leave for medical reasons for up to 12 workweeks (480 hours) in the calendar year. Requested leave may be taken all at once or intermittently, if medically necessary, for:
- prenatal care, the birth and/or care of a newborn child;
- placement of a child for foster care or adoption;
- care of the employee's spouse, child, or parent with a serious health condition; and
- the employee's own serious health condition (including medical appointments for on-going treatment of chronic conditions).
An eligible employee must have been employed by SMV or the state for at least 12 months (not consecutively) and must have worked at least 1,250 hours during the 12-month period immediately preceding the leave request. Health insurance coverage continues during this time provided the employee also continues to pay his/her health insurance premium. The employee generally returns to the same or equivalent position at the conclusion of the family and medical leave. For additional information, contact Human Resources at (804) 854-1400 Ext. 1510.
Holidays
SMV observes 12 holidays each year, for which eligible employees are paid. Employees who work on a holiday accrue holiday leave, which must be used within one year of accrual. Copies of the holiday schedule are available from the employee's supervisor or department or from Human Resources.
Community Service Leave
Full-time employees (with or without children) accrue 16 hours (2 days) of community leave each calendar year to meet with public or private school officials about their children, to attend school functions in which their children are participating, to perform school-approved volunteer work in a public school, or to participate in volunteer community service organizations.
Additional Benefits
Wellness Program
CommonHealth is an employee health improvement program available to Commonwealth of Virginia employees as a part of their state benefits package. Through CommonHealth, participants are able to identify potential health risks and learn how to make positive lifestyle changes to reduce or eliminate those risks and start them on the way to wellness. CommonHealth is offered to all Virginia state employees who work at participating agencies and their covered family members over the age of 18 living in their homes.
Employee Suggestions Program (ESP)
The Commonwealth of Virginia's Employee Suggestion Program encourages employees to share information learned through experience or creative thinking by recommending ways to improve the efficiency and productivity of their organization or in the successful operation of Virginia government. Suggestions are evaluated and implemented if appropriate. Employees whose suggestions are accepted will be recognized and may receive an award of money or extra time off from work. Call Human Resources at (804) 864-1400 ext. 1510 for more information.
Credit Union
The Virginia Credit Union (VACU) is a non-profit financial institution to which full- and part-time employees are eligible for membership at any time by completing a membership application and depositing a minimum pre-established amount into a regular savings account. Services include checking and saving accounts, Christmas and vacation clubs, mortgage and other loans, certificates of deposit, individual retirement accounts (IRAs), etc. Contact the Credit Union at (804) 323-6000 for more information and forms or visit the website at www.vacu.com/.
Savings Bonds
United States Savings Bonds are free from state and local income tax, and federal taxes are deferred until the bond is redeemed or stops earning interest after 30 years. Employees may purchase bonds at any time through payroll deduction.
Direct Deposit Program
Direct Deposit is available and encouraged for all Science Museum staff. After completing a form during orientation, the employee's paycheck is deposited automatically into the financial institution of his/her choice on payday.
Museum Membership
Staff members at the Science Museum receive a complimentary membership for themselves and their families. Membership entitles staff members and their families to:
- Free admission to the exhibit areas
- Free admission to the Virginia Aviation Museum at the Richmond International Airport
- Free admission to the Danville Science Center in Danville, Virginia
- Free tickets to the Ethyl ImaxDome Theater; films and planetarium shows
- Free admission to 250+ science museums in the US and abroad
- 10% discount in the museum store
- Invitations to members events
- Free issues of Quest, the members' newsletter