Quick Summary of Benefits Available to University Employees
Employees have a wide variety of benefits available to them while working at the University of Oregon. This summary is intended to give you a quick overview of the benefit programs. If you have questions, feel free to contact Human Resources at 541-346-3085. More detailed information about each benefit is available on the Human Resources web site at: http://hr.uoregon.edu/benefits/
Domestic Partner Insurance Coverage
Employees who participate in a medical and/or dental plan offered by the Public Employee's Benefit Board (PEBB) are eligible to enroll their domestic partners and children. Life and accidental death and dismemberment coverage is also available for domestic partners. You can obtain a Domestic Partner Information on the web at, http://hr.uoregon.edu/benefits/domestic.html. For more information or questions contact Human Resources at 541-346-2956 or you can contact PEBB at 1-800-788-0520. You may want to take a look at the list of frequently asked questions and obtain a copy of the Affidavit of Domestic Partnership to determine whether you are eligible to cover your domestic partner.
Employee Benefit Fund
The Employee Benefit Fund, which is administered by Human Resources, was established in 1978 when additional funds became available to the university from vending machine receipts. The goal of this fund is to develop the university's human resources through staff development and employee recognition. An employee may apply for reimbursement from this fund of up to $200 per fiscal year for job related training and development activities. The fund is intended to supplement state money, not replace it. Employees must be at least half-time to access the fund. For more information, please refer to the guidelines and the form. If you have questions, call Judy Gates at 541-346-2952.
Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
The University of Oregon contracts with Cascade Centers, Inc. to provide a comprehensive employee assistance program for eligible employees, their dependents and household members. The services are at no cost to eligible employees and include short-term professional counseling and assessment, child-care and elder-care resource and referral, legal and financial consultations, a listening library, 24-hour crisis counseling and an interactive website offering wellness information tailored to employee needs and interests. Cascade Centers is located off campus and offers complete confidentiality. More information about the program is available form Human Resources, 346-3159. Call Cascade directly at 1-800-433-2320 to schedule an appointment.
Holidays (Classified Employees - SEIU)
The following legal holidays are observed by classified employees (SEIU) at the University of Oregon: New Year's Day, Martin Luther King, Jr.'s Birthday, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, the day after Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve Day and Christmas Day. In addition, a special paid day can be used on the workday before or after Christmas or before or after New Year's Day. Holidays that fall on Saturday are observed on the preceding Friday; those falling on Sunday are observed the following Monday. Holidays that occur during vacation time or sick leave are not charged against such leave.
Holidays (Unclassified Employees)
The following legal holidays are observed by unclassified personnel: New
Year's Day, Martin Luther King, Jr.'s Birthday, Memorial Day, Independence
Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, the day after Thanksgiving and Christmas
Day. Holidays that fall on Saturday are observed on the preceding Friday;
those falling on Sunday are observed the following Monday. Holidays, which
occur during vacation or sick leaves, are not charged against such leave.
In addition, the governor of Oregon has the authority to declare a "Governor's
Holiday". When this happens, the president usually uses discretion to require
that unclassified employees use this holiday in connection with the Christmas
and New Year's holidays.
Insurance Coverage
Insurance coverage is not automatic. To obtain coverage in the Public Employee Benefit Board (PEBB) sponsored state plans for UO employees, online enrollment or an application form for the plans elected must be completed and submitted as soon as employment begins. Detailed information for new hires is available in the benefits section of Human Resources, 346-2956 and on the web. Employees who are expected to work half-time or more for a period of at least 90 days are eligible to enroll in:
- a medical plan
- a dental plan
- short-term disability
- long-term disability
- accidental death and dismemberment
- life insurance
- spouse/partner life insurance
- life insurance for dependents
- healthcare flexible spending accounts
- dependent care flexible spending account
The medical (includes vision), dental and $5,000 basic life insurance coverage is fully paid for .50 FTE or more unclassified, and full time classified employees and their eligible family members.
Part time classified employees will receive a prorated state contribution for medical and dental coverage.
Long Term Care Insurance
PEBB Long Term Care (LTC) Insurance, available through UNUM, is one of the ways you or your family members can pay for long term personal care, which can be very expensive. Long-term care is not one service but many different services available to help people with chronic conditions compensate for limitations in their ability to function independently. Long term care services may include help with the activities of daily living, home health care, respite care, adult care, care in a nursing home and care in an assisted living facility. You can contact Human Resources at 346-2956 for an Enrollment Packet. Contact UNUM at 1-800-227-4165 if you have questions about the Long Term Care coverage.
Personal Leave (Classified Employees - SEIU)
After the completion of six (6) months of service, regular status, full-time classified employees (SEIU) shall be entitled to 24 hours of personal leave with pay each fiscal year. Part-time, seasonal and job-share employees shall be granted such leave on a prorated basis if it is anticipated that they will work 1,040 hours for the fiscal year. Should any employee fail to work 1,040 hours for the fiscal year, the value of the personal leave time used may be recovered from the employee. Personal leave shall not be cumulative from year to year nor is any unused leave compensable in any other manner. The personal leave hours may be used by an employee for any purpose he/she desires, and may be taken at time mutually agreeable to the Agency and the employee.
Retirement Plan (Classified Employees)
After six full months of employment, eligible classified employees are required to become members of the state's retirement system.The employee contribution (currently picked up by the UO) is six percent of gross salary. In addition, the University pays an employer contribution into an employer reserve account. The state's retirement plan also provides death and disability benefits. More information on the retirement program may be obtained from the benefits section of Human Resources, 346-2956 or on the web.
Retirement Plans (Unclassified Employees)
After six full months of employment, eligible unclassified employees are required to choose either the state's retirement plan or the Optional Retirement Plan offered by the Oregon University System (OUS). The employee contribution, which is paid by the University, is six percent of gross salary. In addition, the University pays an employer contribution. Vesting rights occur after an employee has participated in each of five calendar years or reaches normal retirement age. More information on the retirement program may be obtained from the benefits section of Human Resources, 346-2956 or on the web.
Sick Leave (Classified Employees)
All full-time classified employees will be credited with eight hours of sick leave for each full month of service. Employees are eligible to use accrued sick leave with pay immediately upon accrual. Part-time staff accrue sick leave on a pro rata basis. There is no limit to the amount of sick leave employees can accumulate. Unused sick leave is not paid out at termination.
Sick Leave (Unclassified Employees)
An unclassified employee is entitled to transfer in unused sick leave earned with any other agency of the State of Oregon and Oregon Health Sciences University (OHSU) including sick leave earned in classified service provided the break in service upon transfer does not exceed two years. All full-time unclassified employees will be credited with eight hours of sick leave for each full month of service, or two hours for each full week of service of less than one month. Part-time unclassified staff employed .50 FTE or more will be credited with a pro rata amount. No credit shall be given during periods of sabbatical leave, educational leave or leave without pay. There is no limit to the amount of sick leave employees can accumulate. Unused sick leave is not paid out at termination.
Unclassified employees are required to report sick leave use to their departmental offices on a monthly basis.
Staff Tuition Rates
Employees who are .50 FTE or greater (not temporary) may register for courses and receive staff tuition rates for a maximum of 12 credit hours. Employees who do not use this benefit may choose to transfer it to a qualified family member each term. Completed and approved Staff Tuition forms must be submitted to Human Resources by the deadlines designated for each term. Please be aware that educational assistance provided to family members enrolled in advanced degree programs or graduate level classes for credit will be included as taxable income. Regulations concerning the staff tuition eligibility are determined by the benefits section of Human Resources, 346-3159.
Tax-Deferred Investment Plans
There are two tax-deferred programs available to employees: the OUS Tax-Deferred Investment Program and the Oregon Savings Growth Plan. Employees may voluntarily elect to contribute (no employer contribution) to either or both of these plans. Contributions to these plans are made before federal and state taxes are imposed. The result is reduced taxable income. The money is taxable upon withdrawal. Contact the benefits section of Human Resources, 346-2967 for additional information.
Vacation (Classified Employees)
After serving six full calendar months, employees are eligible to use vacation leave banked during the first six months. Vacation leave is accrued as follows:
| Work Days for each 12 Full Calendar Months of Service | Hours Per Month | |
|---|---|---|
| After 6 months through 5th year | 12 |
8 |
| After 5th year through 10th year | 15 |
10 |
| After 10th year through 15th year | 18 |
12 |
| After 15th year through 20th year | 21 |
14 |
| After 20th year through 25th year | 24 |
16 |
| After 25th year | 27 |
18 |
A full-time employee working less than a full calendar month and part-time or seasonal employees shall accrue vacation leave on a prorated basis. Vacation hours may accumulate to a maximum of 250 hours.
Vacation (Unclassified Employees)
Eligible unclassified employees accrue vacation on a monthly basis, beginning the first of the month following date of hire or on the first of the month if an employee is hired the first working day of the month. Vacation accrues on the last day of the month and is available for use the first day of the next month. Eligible employees with a 12-month contract and 1.0 FTE accrue 15 hours of vacation per month; eligible employees working less than full-time will accrue vacation in proportion to their FTE. Vacation accrual is available for use six months after vacation accrual begins. There is a maximum accrual of 260 hours. The maximum number of hours that can be paid upon termination or transfer is 180 hours.
Unclassified employees are required to report vacation use on a monthly basis to their department.
Employees with nine-month appointments receive no vacation per se, although their appointments are not operative during the summer months.
Work and Family Services
Work and Family Services, a program of Human Resources, helps university families successfully manage the responsibilities of work, education and family life. The office coordinates information about campus and community child-care options, specialized educational and recreational children's programs, community resources for families and elder care, and university policies related to children and families. Consultations on parenting, child care and family issues are also available. For information or assistance, call 346-2962.