The University of North Carolina at Charlotte

EMPLOYEE BENEFIT INFORMATION
FOR PERMANENT SPA STAFF MEMBERS

Health Insurance

Your choices for health insurance coverage are:

·        The Teachers' and State Employees' Comprehensive Major Medical Plan (Indemnity Plan), or

• One of three Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) Plans

·        Smart Choice Basic PPO

·        Smart Choice Standard PPO         

·        Smart Choice Plus PPO     

Any health insurance election you make in a given plan year may be changed during the next annual enrollment period. Typically open enrollment is conducted in March for coverage to begin in July.

If you are a university employee working 30 hours or more per week in a permanent, probationary, or time-limited position for nine months or more per year, the University pays most or all of the employee’s individual premium.  The effective date of coverage for a newly hired employee is the first of the month after the date the enrollment form is signed.

NCFlex Program

NCFLEX offers eight pre-tax benefits:

·        Health Care Flexible Spending Account,

·        Dependent Day Care Flexible Spending Account,

·        Vision Care plan,

·        Voluntary Accidental Death and Dismemberment insurance,

·        Cancer Insurance

·        Term Life Insurance and

·        Dental plan.

All NCFLEX benefits operate on a calendar year basis – January 1 through December 31.  Employees are eligible to participate in NCFlex if  they are a University employee working 20 or more hours per week in a permanent, probationary or time-limited position.  If employees enroll during annual enrollment, their participation is effective January 1.  A newly hired employee’s participation begins the first day of the month after they enroll online at www.ncflexonline.org

Pre-Tax Savings
There are three pre-tax savings plans currently being offered. These are commonly referred to by the IRS code provision numbers governing them:  Section 401(k), Section 403(b), and Section 457 plans. When you elect to participate in any of these plans, you contribute money on a pre-tax basis. This lowers the amount of taxes you are currently paying while allowing you to save money for retirement.

College Foundation of North Carolina

North Carolina's 529 plan can help make college more affordable.

Accessible - Just about anyone can open an account.

Affordable - You decide how much you can contribute and how often.

Comprehensive - Choose from a variety of investment options.

Flexible - Use the money to pay expenses at virtually any college anywhere.

Tax Free - Account earnings are free of federal and North Carolina income taxes when the money is used to pay for qualified higher education expenses. NC taxpayers may be eligible for a state income tax deduction for contributions to NC's 529.

Tax Deduction - See the Program Description for details on types of withdrawals and tax implications.

Questions? Please call toll-free at 800-600-3453 from 8am-8pm Eastern Time Monday-Thursday and 8am-5pm Eastern Time on Friday.

Post-Tax Voluntary Benefit Programs

You may also participate in the following post-tax benefit programs through payroll deduction:

·        Automobile Insurance - is available at discount rates. Coverage and premiums vary, depending on the number of vehicles and persons insured, amount of coverage elected, insurance points, and so on. You may enroll at any time, and premiums are paid through payroll deduction.

·        Homeowners, Renters and Personal Property Insurance - is available at a cost determined by the amount of coverage elected, type of construction, fire protection provided and other variables. You may enroll at any time, and premiums are paid through payroll deduction.

·        Voluntary Post-Tax Group Life Insurance- is available to you and your eligible dependents. You pay the full cost of any coverage you elect.

• Long Term Care Insurance – is available to cover expenses for you or your family member’s future care including, but not limited to nursing home, home health care, hospice, respite and an assisted living facility.

• Savings Bonds- Can be purchased through payroll deduction on an after-tax basis.

·        Pre-Paid Legal- Members have access to professional legal counsel not only for traditional legal problems, but for everyday events such as:

·         buying a house or a car

·         creating a will

·         handling a problem with an insurance company

·         dealing with identity theft...

Education
Employees may take up to three courses per year tuition-free once they have completed probation.  One course may be taken per semester during the fall semester, the spring semester, OR one summer session.  Employees may NOT take a course during each summer session.  For more information about this policy, please see University Policy #2 Tuition Privileges for Certain Faculty and Staff.

Vacation
Full-time (30 or more hours per week) SPA Staff accrue 11 ¾ - 25 ¾ days per year based on years of service.  Part-time SPA staff (20-29 hours per week) are granted leave on a pro-rata basis.

Sick Leave
Full-time (30 or more hours per week) SPA Staff accrue sick leave at a rate of 8 hours per month or 96 hours per year. Part-time SPA staff (20-29 hours per week) are granted leave on a pro-rata basis.

Holidays
Eleven or 12 days per year.

Leave
You may take Family and Medical Leave for personal or family illness requiring your attention after one year of employment.

Disability Coverage
Permanent, full-time employees are eligible for short-term disability after one year of service and for long-term disability after five years of service. There is no cost for this coverage. Disability supplements are available via payroll deduction.

Retirement
All full-time employees (30 or more hours per week) contribute 6% of pre-tax income to the Teachers’ and State Employees’ Retirement Systems (TSERS), which is a defined benefit plan. Participation is mandatory. Participants become vested after 5 years of contributory service.

Direct Deposit
Available for most banks.

Credit Union
A full-service credit union is located adjacent to campus.

Facilities
The University library, pool, tennis courts, and other athletic facilities are available. Student Activity membership is available with cost depending on level of membership. Several cafeterias are located on campus. Some facilities listed above are also available to family members/domestic partners.

Parking
You may check with Parking Services for current rates and locations by calling (704) 687-4276, or visit www.uncc.edu/parking.

Pay Dates
Pay dates are semi-monthly on the 15^th and the last day of the month.

This information is only a summary of the University’s benefits. To learn more about benefits, portfolios are provided. Also, if you have any specific questions, you should contact the Benefits Office. When you arrive on campus, a Benefits Orientation will be scheduled.

Benefits Office Phone:

Eric Lanier, Benefits Director, (704) 687-2208

Joy Finney, Benefits Counselor, (704) 687-2892

Gina Ewart, Benefits Representative, (704) 687-4271

This document updated 6/5/2007

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