BENEFITS SUMMARY

Berkeley County Government is committed to providing a comprehensive benefits package to employees.  Eligibility for participation in these benefits is based upon status as a regular county employee whether it be full or part time. This brochure is designed to provide employees with an overview of County benefits as well as to act as a resource and quick reference guide.  The Human Resources Director is always available to answer questions and assist employees with participation in County benefits.  

Fiscal Year- The County’s fiscal year begins on July 1 and continues to June 30.

 Hours of Work-  The work week for County employees begins at 12:01 a.m. Saturday and ends at 12:00 p.m. Friday. The County’s regular core hours are either 8:00-4:00 or 9:00-5:00 depending on the department.

 Pay- All employees are paid bi-weekly. Automated direct deposit is available and encouraged.

 Probationary Period/At-Will Employment

There is a six (6) month probationary period at the time of hire. All County employees are considered at-will employees.

 Employee Assistance Program- This confidential assessment, referral, and counseling service is available at no cost to all employees.

 Drug Testing- All employees are subject to pre-employment and probable cause drug testing.  Employees whose positions are considered sensitive, or which require a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) may be subject to random testing.

 Pension Plans           A defined benefit retirement plan is provided for all regular County employees.  Employees are automatically enrolled in the plan and must participate as a condition of employment. The majority of support for the plan is provided by the County, however, employees are required to make a mandatory pre-tax contribution towards their benefit.  Retirement benefits are payable at normal, early or delayed retirement. Retirement benefits are also payable upon termination and in the event of death or disability.  See the Summary Plan Description (SPD) for details.

 Deferred Compensation          The County offers a Section 457 Plan.  Deferred compensation plans allow participants to save for retirement now and pay taxes later by contributing a portion of their salaries pre-tax to the plan.  Contributions are invested at the employee’s direction into one or more of the variety of investment options offered by the plan. The County does not contribute. There are no restrictions regarding when regular employees may enroll in the deferred compensation plan.  Deductions may be stopped at any time.  Also choices of investment options and contribution levels may be changed at any time.

             As a regular County employee, you are required to participate in the West Virginia Public Employees Retirement Plan.  This is a defined benefit plan and has a mandatory employee contribution.Employees may enroll in the following insurance programs.

Health Insurance            An excellent medical plan is offered which provides coverage for medical and surgical expenses, hospital and emergency care expenses, mental health expenses and prescription drugs.  The County and participants share in the cost of the health insurance with the employee being responsible for payment of the cost of dependent coverage. See the Health Insurance Summary Plan Description for details.

Dental Coverage    Coverage includes preventive care, crowns, bridges and dentures.  See the Dental Insurance Summary Plan Description for details.

Life Insurance (TERM)          Employees are insured for $30,000 in case of death and $60,000 for accidental death.  No employee contribution is required. Beneficiaries are designated at the time of enrollment and may be changed at any time. In addition, dependent coverage includes $5,000 for spouse and $2,000 for each eligible dependent child (6 months or over).

Supplemental Coverage  

A variety of supplemental, voluntary health care programs are available. Employees pay the total costs associated with these programs. Enrollment may be done within the first 30 days of employment or during the annual open enrollment period. Information and enrollment packages are available from the Human Resources Director. The supplemental benefits include:     

Personal Cancer Care

Provides various levels of coverage (depending on election) for cancer specific expenses related to hospital confinement, medical imaging, radiation and chemotherapy, immunotherapy. Cancer screening, etc.

Personal Accident Indemnity Plan

An accident-only insurance policy that provides coverage for emergency and follow-up treatment, hospitalization, hospital confinement and intensive care expenses for accident related occurrences.

Personal Sickness Indemnity Plan

Provides supplemental benefits for sickness related expenses incurred for physician visits, initial hospitalization, hospital confinement, major diagnostic exams, surgery, etc. 

NOTE: New employees have 30 days from the date of hire to enroll in the health/dental care plan.  The selection you make will be effective 30-60 days following your date of hire (You will be informed of the effective date at enrollment)  Open enrollment is held annually.

Personal Disability Income Protection

Provides various levels of short-term disability income (depending on enrollment) if an employee is suddenly unable to work due to a covered disability.

Personal Recovery Coverage:

Provides specified health event coverage for heart attack, coma, end-stage renal failure, stroke, paralysis, major organ transplant, coronary bypass surgery and major third degree burns.

Additional Life Insurance

Employees may select term life insurance, whole life or a combination of both to provide a personal level of coverage. Insurance amounts are available up to $100,000 ($50,000 for employees over age 50 years).

HIPAA          If a new employee declines enrollment because of other health insurance coverage, future enrollment may be possible for the employee and dependents provided that a written request is made within 30 days after the other coverage ends.  In addition, if an employee has a new dependent due to marriage, birth, adoption, or placement for adoption, the employee and eligible dependents may be enrolled in a plan provided that a written request is made within 30 days of the event. 

NOTE: Enrollment in elective benefits may be done during the annual enrollment period. The elective annual enrollment period may be different than the enrollment period for health, dental and life insurance. It is the employees responsibility to be aware of the scheduled open enrollment  meetings.

MISCELLANOUS MATTERS 

Tuition Reimbursement Plan-  

There is no formal tuition reimbursement program currently in place. County employees wishing to take advantage of continuing education programs or attend work related seminars/conferences should consult their Department Head.

Workers

Compensation-

All County employees are protected by Worker’s Compensation in the event of accident or death occurring in the course of employment. There is no cost to the employee for this protection. An employee must notify his/her Department Head as soon as possible in the event of a work related accident. In no event should an employee delay reporting a work related injury for more than 24 hours.

Annual Leave - Regular full-time employees accrue leave as follows:

Years of Service     Days per Month   Days per Year

        0 - 5 years            1.25 days              15 days

        5 - 10 years          1.50 days              18 days          

       10-15 years           1.75 days              21 days

       15 years plus         2.00 days             24 days                                                       

                                                                                                      

Annual leave may be used in minimum of 4 hour increments. A maximum of 30 days of unused leave may be carried over from one calendar year to the next.  Any excess over 30 days will be lost at the end of the calendar year.

 Sick Leave - Accrual rate is 18 days per year.  Sick leave is intended for bona-fide employee illness and may not be used for illness of an employee’s child, dependent, spouse, parent, or parent-in-law. Sick leave may be used in a minimum of 4 hour increment.  There is no limit on the amount of sick leave accumulated.  Unused sick leave may be used for additional credit in the pension plan at the time of retirement.  

Bereavement Leave - If there is a death in your immediate family (defined as mother, father, parents-in-law, spouse, child, brother, sister or grandparents), you are eligible for up to 3 days of paid bereavement leave, depending upon travel involved.

 Jury Duty - County employees are expected to fulfill their civil responsibility and participate in jury duty when called. If selected for jury duty the employee will receive their regular compensation without deducting accrued leave.

 Family Leave - A regular employee may be eligible to receive a total of twelve weeks of leave (paid or unpaid) during a twelve month period under certain conditions.

 Holidays - 12 paid holidays ( 14 in election year) are observed (New Year’s Day, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s Birthday, Presidents Day, Memorial Day, West Virginia Day Independence Day, Labor Day, Columbus Day, Veteran’s Day, Thanksgiving Day, Day after Thanksgiving, Christmas Day, Primary, and General Election Days as they may occur.)

 Note:  The County Commission may modify the leave schedule at any time as service delivery mandates.