BENEFITS
Eligibility:
Employees who are regularly scheduled to work 30 or more hours per week (on a continuous
basis) are eligible for HEC benefit plans. Insurance costs, if any, are pro-rated for these part time staff.
New hires are eligible for our benefit plans on their 91st day of employment. In addition, HEC offers an annual open enrollment period, which eligible employees can enroll onto the insurance plans offered by HEC. Eligibility to enroll at other times due to qualifying events, is possible.
Insurances:
HEC offers, and contributes to, a portion of the premiums for health and dental insurance.
HEC offers and pays 100% of the cost of group life insurance, accidental death and dismemberment insurance, and long-term disability insurance.
The Consolidated Omnibus Reconciliation Act (COBRA):
COBRA provides for the continuation of health and dental insurances when an employee
would otherwise lose existing health/dental coverage due to an employment separation or other qualifying reason. COBRA benefits are administered through a third party administrator.
Supplemental Insurances:
HEC offers supplemental life insurance, guarantee issue, up to $200,000, accidental death and
dismemberment, and short-term disability, available at the employee’s cost.
Retirement 403(b)
HEC offers a retirement plan to help employees save for their retirement. Employees are able to
join and make contributions upon hire. HEC may make a discretionary contribution.
For more information regarding your benefits, please contact Human Resources or refer to the
Benefit Guide located in the Human Resources Folder on HECNet.
WORKERS’ COMPENSATION
HEC provides workers’ compensation insurance for all employees. WC covers employees who have sustained an injury in the course of their employment.
Employees are required to file an ART form with their supervisor and the WC Administrator within 24 hours of the occurrence of any injury or physical assault sustained on the job (in addition to the appropriate student incident report paperwork). Failure to do so may result in a negative outcome to an employee’s claim and may result in disciplinary action.
Injured employees must report to the nurses’ station for evaluation and, if necessary, referral from the Worker’s Compensation Administrator to an outside medical provider.
Full time staff who have completed their probationary period will be compensated by HEC at the rate of 60% of their hourly rate for normally scheduled work hours that would have occurred in the first five calendar days of lost time, one time per year, due to injuries on the job. Otherwise employees may use benefit time starting with Long Term Illness, then Sick, then Vacation hours, to supplement the above payment, but cannot exceed 40 total hours in a week. HEC will pay a maximum of 5 days for lost time from multiple incidents, in a 12-month period.
The physician who treated the employee for the injury and HEC’s occupational health provider must clear all employees, by providing a fitness for duty note, to return to work, who have been absent from work due to an injury.
When an employee is receiving Workers’ Compensation benefits and is eligible for FMLA, HEC
will hold the position for the duration of FMLA, subject to applicable requirements of that law.
If the employee is eligible for modified duty, HEC will support modified duty up to 45 days per a rolling 12 month period (either single occurrence, or the sum of days from more than one modified duty situation). Modified duty is not guaranteed and will depend on availability of modified duty work. Slight modifications of the 45-day maximum will be considered if supported by medical documentation and does not otherwise pose an undue financial or operational hardship to HEC.
Employees will not be paid for overtime when they are in the Emergency Room or doctor’s appointment if hours exceed their regular shift.
If You are Out on Worker’s Compensation:
If you are receiving workers’ compensation benefits from the insurance company and are no longer receiving a check from HEC, you are responsible for paying your share of your medical insurance premium, if you are also on approved FMLA leave.
Employees receiving workers’ compensation benefits who are not receiving a check from HEC, do not earn sick or vacation time. They will be responsible for medical and dental insurance premiums per the rules of FMLA and COBRA.
If you are not eligible for FMLA or you are unable to return from FMLA, you will be offered health insurance at 100% cost (plus administrative fees) through the COBRA option.
If You are Eligible For and Have Been Offered Modified Duty:
HEC will make every effort to accommodate employees who have sustained an injury while in the scope of their duties for a total of forty-five (45) calendar days per calendar year. (see General Policy, #7).
Any aggravation of pre-existing injuries will also be capped at forty-five (45) calendar days per calendar year. While on light duty, their weekly hours will not exceed forty (40). This 40 hours includes any benefit time the employee may have used that week such as holiday or vacation pay.
Any employee who is working in a restricted capacity will accrue sick and vacation leave at their normal rate and will continue to pay their regular % of insurance premiums(s).
At the discretion of the Worker’s Compensation Administrator and Program Director, overtime may not be available for thirty (30) days from the release of the employee to full duties. While we will make every effort to find modified duty work for staff who are injured, we cannot promise that we can accommodate all modified duty requests.
If you choose not to work modified duty, you must use your LTI, then sick, then vacation hours
– worker’s compensation will not pay your benefits.
EDUCATIONAL SUPPORT (Tuition Assistance Program)
All full and part time staff with benefits are eligible to apply for tuition assistance after one year of employment with HEC. Teachers may apply for assistance during their first year of employment. Teachers are limited to 12 credits each year, and all other staff are limited to 3 credits per semester. Educational Support policy, reimbursement procedures, maximum amount of reimbursement, application and sign off forms are available in Human Resources.
Staff are expected to commit to staying at HEC one year beyond the date of completion of the course, or they will be responsible for repaying HEC the amount reimbursed. Staff who resign or move to on-call status before the end of one year will be expected to reimburse HEC for the tuition or have it deducted from their paycheck as agreed upon at the time the application for tuition reimbursement was completed. This expectation does not, however, alter the at-will nature of employment at HEC.
DIRECT DEPOSIT
HEC offers a direct deposit plan for its employees. This plan allows employees to deposit their paychecks directly into the bank account(s), which they designate. Occasionally, due to technical problems or after a Monday holiday, money will not be deposited directly into your bank accounts until Wednesday (remember that HEC’s payday is Tuesday). HEC offers direct deposit as a service to you and will not be held responsible for penalties as a result of a late deposit into your account.
EMPLOYEE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (EAP)
HEC provides employees with free, confidential, personal counseling through an Employee
Assistance Program. Employees are introduced to this plan at New Staff Orientation, and EAP representatives visit each campus and can meet with staff on, or off, campus if necessary. Participation in this program is voluntary and confidential.
CREDIT UNION
All employees of HEC are eligible to participate in the Greylock Credit Union in Pittsfield, MA. Information may be obtained by calling (413) 443-5114.
WELLNESS PROGRAM
Wellness is a critical component of our overall commitment to employee health and well-being. With this in mind we have developed and implemented a comprehensive wellness program focusing on a variety of wellness initiatives. These initiatives may include health risk assessments, wellness expos, and a variety of employee-sponsored clubs such as biking, hiking, kayaking, yoga and more.
Our mission is to increase the knowledge, activity level, and commitment to foster a culture of personal health and well being in the Hillcrest Community.