Sciencenter



Appendix B

Sciencenter Employee Benefits Program Summary

PLEASE NOTE: This description of benefits is a summary. A complete description of benefits can be found in the documentation supplied by the vendor of each benefit. In the event of discrepancies between this document and vendor-supplied descriptions, the terms set forth in the vendor-supplied descriptions govern.

As a regular full-time (40 hr/wk) or part-time (20-39 hr/wk) employee, as defined in the Sciencenter Staff Handbook, you are eligible for the employee benefits as described below. The term "wages" refers to hourly compensation, while the term "salary" refers to annual compensation.

MANDATORY BENEFITS (Required for all employees in New York State)

Social Security: Federal Insurance Contributions Act (FICA)

We contribute on your behalf to Social Security, the federally sponsored retirement program. The amounts change periodically but are always a percentage of your wages or salary. Currently, the amount contributed by the Sciencenter is 7.65%. By law, a similar amount is also deducted from your wages or salary and forwarded to the federal government on your behalf. The retirement benefits are paid to you at ages specified by federal law, and the amount you will receive depends on your lifetime total earnings. Benefits may also be paid to your surviving spouse and/or children who have not reached the age of 21.

Workers' Compensation Insurance

As a Sciencenter employee, you are covered by Workers' Compensation insurance from your first day of employment. This state-administered program provides benefits for work-related injuries and illness. If you sustain a work-related injury or illness, you should report it promptly to the Director of Finance and Human Resources and obtain the appropriate claim form. Coverage is provided for incurred medical expenses and two-thirds (2/3) of your lost wages (subject to a maximum established by law) resulting from the work-related injury or illness.

New York State Unemployment Insurance

In the event that you are laid off, you are covered by Unemployment Insurance, with benefits specified by the existing New York State laws. Unemployment insurance is designed to help you if the Sciencenter were to eliminate your position because of a re-organization or work slow-down. The premium is paid by the Sciencenter on your behalf. Unemployment insurance does not cover you if you should be terminated for cause (i.e., because of theft, malfeasance, etc.).

DISCRETIONARY BENEFITS (Benefits that are not required by law but are offered or provided by the Sciencenter to its employees to enhance our working climate)

Health Insurance

We offer a health insurance program for full-time employees (pro-rated for part-time employees who work at least 20 hours per week). The Sciencenter’s share of the health insurance costs are as follows:

1. Individual (Sciencenter pays 90% of the premium cost)

2. Family (Sciencenter pays 65% of the premium cost)

3. A self-insurance component of our plan covers much of the cost of the deductible for each staff member as well as other costs.

Currently, we offer a group health insurance program as a participating employer through Support Services Alliance (SSA). Under the terms of this program, if you work more than 20 hours per week at the Sciencenter, you are required to purchase your health insurance through this program unless you are covered under another program.

Flexible Spending Account

In addition to a health insurance program, we also offer a Flexible Spending Account (FSA) program. Our FSA plan allows you to set aside pre-tax dollars to cover medical costs not covered by insurance, such as dental costs, certain medications, etc.

You may allocate money from your salary to a FSA to pay for health care and/or dependent/child care costs with before-tax dollars.

For example, if you are in a 40% tax bracket (combined NYS and federal), you must earn $100 to pay for $60 of medical or child care expenses (after tax). By signing up for an FSA, you need to earn only $60 to pay for those same expenses.

Retirement Account

The Sciencenter offers a 403(b) retirement plan through Vanguard Group. All contributions made by you and the Sciencenter, plus interest and dividend income, grow tax-free until you retire.

Eligibility: Following successful completion of the 12-month qualifying period, the Sciencenter contributes 2% of your gross salary to a 403(b) retirement program through the Vanguard Group starting at the beginning of the next full quarter (Jan 1, April 1, July 1, or Oct 1). For example, if your hire date was March 31 or April 1, we will begin depositing 2% of your salary into your retirement account the following year in the quarter beginning April 1. If your hire date was April 2, your benefits would begin the following year in the quarter beginning July 1.

You many contribute to your retirement account with pre-tax income through our payroll deduction plan.

Eligibility: These contributions may start on the first day of work. You may make contributions to your retirement account beginning with your first day of work.

Disability Insurance

If you become disabled (such as through illness or other covered disability, including pregnancy) and you are unable to work for more than one week, you can be covered under the Sciencenter's disability insurance. This plan pays up to 60% of your gross salary for as long as you are disabled – potentially for life.

To be eligible for coverage, you must fill out an insurance form and name a beneficiary in the event of your death. There may be some limitations, based on your current state of health. For additional details, please see the Director of Finance and Human Resources.

In the event of a long-term disability, your benefits will be adjusted annually for changes in the cost of living. Your benefits may be reduced by the extent to which you are still able to work, even if you are not able to return in your pre-disability capacity.

Life Insurance

The Sciencenter provides $25,000 of Life Insurance to all eligible employees. You must name a beneficiary to receive benefits in the event of your death. Your beneficiary can be anyone, but if you name your children, consider naming "all surviving children" so that future children will not lose their share should you die before having added them as named beneficiaries.

Accidental Death and Dismemberment Insurance

The Sciencenter provides $25,000 of supplemental insurance to compensate you or your named beneficiaries for accidental death or the loss of one or more limbs as a result of a job-related accident. Specific guidelines apply to what constitutes a covered loss, and a number of exclusions apply.

Professional Travel and Training Allowance

Salaried employees are eligible for up to $500 annually for approved expenses incurred in attending professional conferences, training sessions, or conducting Sciencenter business. You must get prior approval from the Deputy Director for travel for which you wish to be reimbursed. Travel that is necessary for your work and that is specifically approved by the Executive Director is not subject to this $500 limit.

Time Off

You are eligible for paid time off as described below, with the approval of your manager. Always notify other staff when you are planning to take time off. Time off is pro-rated for part-time staff.

4. Vacation: Full-time employees are eligible to receive 10 paid vacation days (80 hours) per year for the first three years of employment, and one additional day per year with each succeeding year to a maximum of 15 total vacation days after eight years of employment. For additional information, please refer to the Sciencenter Personnel Policies. You may carry over a maximum of five unused vacation days to the following year. You will be paid for any accrued vacation time if you leave the Sciencenter.

5. Holidays: Full-time employees are eligible for nine paid holidays, including New Years Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and six discretionary days. You may not carry over unused holidays to the following year. You are not paid for holidays not taken if you leave the Sciencenter.

6. Personal Leave: You are eligible for 12 personal leave days per year for illness, family health care, personal business, funerals, or other pressing personal reasons. You may not carry forward any unused personal leave days to the following year. You will be paid at the end of the year for any unused personal leave days.

Mileage Reimbursement

Normally, the cost of incidental travel using a personal vehicle for Sciencenter business is reimbursable only if you travel outside of Tompkins County.  However, you may apply to your department head or the Deputy Director for reimbursement for types of certain in-county travel if it includes:

• Regular, repeated trips to conduct Sciencenter business (e.g., for program delivery or delivering promotional materials)

• Tasks for which your particular vehicle is desirable (e.g., using your truck to move exhibits or transport large materials).

To obtain reimbursement for such travel, submit your request with documentation of the mileage on a regular expense form. Alternatively, you may estimate your anticipated travel and request an advance, in which case you must document your mileage before additional funds will be advanced. If approved, advances are issued quarterly, with additional payments as needed.

All approved travel using your personal vehicle normally will be reimbursed at the standard rate established each year by the Internal Revenue Service. Exceptions may be made for low-mileage trucks or other special cases.

Effective Date and Accrual of Benefits

All benefits become effective January 1 for the calendar year but are “earned” during the course of the calendar year. They are subject to annual review for the following year by the Board of Trustees each fall.

If you use benefits that you have not yet earned and then leave the Sciencenter (e.g., you use 100% of your vacation time or medical benefit in January but resign in February), then you will owe any benefits not yet earned back to the Sciencenter when leaving.

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