Section 192-4-009 - Compensation And Benefits009.01.PAY PERIODS. NCBVI employees are paid on a bi-weekly pay cycle. It is critical to notify the Personnel Officer of any change of address. Deductions for employees paid every two weeks are done in two equal amounts each month. For these bi-weekiy paid employees, there are two pay cycles during the year when there are no deductions except for federal and state withholding taxes, Social Security, credit union, and retirement contributions.009.02.LEAVE. State of Nebraska employees are eligible for various types of leave. The NAPE/AFSCME labor contract and state Rules and Regulations provide detailed information about the types of leave, provisions for requesting leave, and specific dates of established holidays.009.03.INSURANCE.009.03A.LIFE INSURANCE. Full-time employees, excluding temporaries, of NCBVI receive a $20,000 Basic Life term insurance policy at no cost to them. Employees who work at least half time and are less than full-time may enroll in the optional Basic Life ($20,000) but will be required to pay a portion of the state's premium contribution. Optional Life Insurance for employees and dependents is available at the employees' expense. 009.03A1. The choice for the Optional Basic Life and Optional Life Insurance plans needs to be made within the first 30 days of employment. Coverage becomes effective the first of the month following 30 days of employment.009.03B.HEALTH INSURANCE. State employees who work half-time or more are eligible for medical and hospitalization coverage under a group program. Temporary employees may be eligible for health insurance participation. This coverage can include single, partial or full family coverage. Employees have several plans to choose from and costs differ according to the coverage chosen. 009.03B1. Employees who choose to participate in the State of Nebraska health insurance plan must enroll within the first 30 days of employment. Coverage begins the first day of the month following 30 days of employment. 009.03B2. When an employee ends employment with the state, he/she may be able to continue health insurance coverage for a period of time. If this option is chosen, the individual will be responsible for the total premium.009.03C.DENTAL INSURANCE. State employees who work half-time or more and live or work in areas where there are contracting dentists are eligible to enroll in a voluntary dental plan under a group program. Temporary employees may be eligible for dental insurance participation. There is no state contribution for this insurance.009.03D.VISION INSURANCE. State employees, excluding temporaries, who work half-time or more and live or work in areas where there are contracting eye doctors, are eligible to enroll in a voluntary vision insurance plan under a group program. There is no state contribution for this insurance.009.03E. LONG TERM DISABILITY INSURANCE. State employees who work half-time or more are eligible to enroll in a voluntary long-term disability plan under a group program. Temporary employees may be eligible for long-term disability insurance participation. There is no state contribution for this insurance.009.04.FLEXIBLE SPENDING. State employees, including new hires but excluding temporaries, may voluntarily elect to set aside an amount from their paycheck that is not taxed. The Department of Administrative Services Employee Benefits Division administers this flexible spending account under Internal Revenue Service Code Section 125. The money set aside in this plan can only be used toward medical and/or dependent care expenses. Contact the Personnel Officer for more information.009.05.RETIREMENT. The State of Nebraska offers a retirement plan for the purpose of providing lifetime benefits in recognition of service to the state. Employees, other than temporaries, who are 30 years of age and have two years of continuous service must participate in the plan. Any employee who has attained the age of 20 and has a total of twelve months of service may elect voluntary participation. As a member of the Retirement System, employees contribute 4.33% of their salary. When the contribution reaches $ 864.00 for the year, the contribution rate increases to 4.8%. The state matches the contribution at 156%. The benefits under the plan are in addition to any supplemental benefits received from Social Security.009.06.DEFERRED COMPENSATION. A deferred compensation plan is available to permanent state employees. Under the provision of this voluntary supplemental retirement plan, employees may request the state to defer payment of a portion of their income to a later date. The taxes normally due now on the money are deferred until retirement when most participants would be in a lower tax bracket. The deferred income is invested at the direction of the participant in a fixed stock, bond, money market or several other available investment options. Any investment gains remain in the annuity account and are not reportable for federal or state income tax purposes.009.07.EMPLOYEE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (EAP). The state offers confidential short-term counseling and referral services through a statewide employee assistance program (EAP). All permanent employees and their dependent family members or family members residing with them may receive assistance in dealing with issues such as stress, chemical dependency, emotional difficulties, marital complications, and difficulties at work. Initial visits with the EAP are covered at no cost to the employee. Fees for services beyond and outside of the EAP contract are the responsibility of the employee. 009.07A. The office hours of the EAP are flexible so employees are encouraged to make appointments during non-work time. If an appointment during the work schedule is needed, the employee will be allowed to use Sick Leave.009.07B. The EAP is also available to supervisors when working with an employee who has unsatisfactory job performance, attendance or other issues. If a supervisor refers an employee to the EAP, the employee may use work time and any information shared with the counselor will be kept confidential unless the employee signs a release.009.08.TRAINING AND TUITION ASSISTANCE.009.08A.TUITION ASSISTANCE POLICY. Employees of NCBVI are eligible for tuition assistance on a first-come, first-served basis, (per semester) within existing NCBVi allocated funds, under the following guidelines. 009.08A1.TUITION. Shall mean the expenses required for tuition costs only. Expenses paid for fees, books and other expenses are not considered a part of tuition.009.08A2.EMPLOYEE For purposes of this policy employee shall mean permanent in status, either full or part-time, excluding temporary, original probation or employees serving disciplinary probation.009.08A3.PASSING GRADE For purposes of this policy a passing grade will be a "C" or better for an undergraduate course, a "B" or better for a graduate course (or in accordance with the graduate degree program if different), or a pass in a pass/fail situation.009.08A4. Operational definitions for the course categories that can be approved at 100% are: Career related - shall mean any course taken which has direct relationship to a declared career path within NCBVI. Job-related shall mean any course taken that has direct relationship to the position the employee currently occupies.009.08B.APPLICATION PROCESS. When an employee applies for tuition assistance she or he must complete a Tuition Assistance Request form, attach a current class/course description, indicate the appropriate category for this course on the application, and submit it to his/her immediate supervisor for approval or denial within sixty (60) days prior to the beginning of the course. Additional levels of review are at the agency's discretion. Applications will be logged in a centralized data base and summary reports of all applications (both approved and denied) shall be made available at the Executive Director's request. Agreements made regarding work scheduling will be noted on the request form. Decisions to deny tuition assistance are final and non-grievable.009.08C. Tuition assistance requests that are approved may be paid at the rate of up to 100% depending on approval of the supervisor and Executive Director or Designee. Tuition assistance requests that are approved will be based on the actual attended accredited institution's current tuition cost not to exceed a maximum of up to 150% per credit hour of University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL) rate for graduate and undergraduate courses respectively. 009.08D. Full time employees will receive full percentages of assistance as indicated. Part-time employees will receive pro-rated amounts based upon a percentage of their allocated FTE.009.08D1. If the employee is eligible for tuition assistance through any other public or private source that will be noted by the employee on the Tuition Assistance Request form. The tuition assistance percentages outlined above will be applied to the remaining tuition cost. No employee will receive more than 100% of his/her course work reimbursed.009.08E. A maximum of up to 18 credit hours per fiscal year per employee may be approved, depending on funding availability, with applications only considered for approval if received within 60 days of the starting date of the course. Employees will note the number of credit hours on the Tuition Assistance Request form. Exceptions to the maximum must be approved by the Executive Director.009.08F. Tuition Assistance Request forms will be available through the NCBVI Business Office. The form can also be accessed on the W drive at: w:\forms-staff\tuition assistance form.009.08G.PROCEDURE FOR REIMBURSEMENT. When the employee has completed the course with a passing grade, he/she will submit an Expense Reimbursement Document for payment of the tuition costs. Attached to this document shall be copies of an itemized receipt for the tuition paid, grade report indicating a passing grade, and a copy of the prior approved Tuition Assistance Request form. 009.08G1. Employees should apply for reimbursement as soon as the course is completed. They must apply for reimbursement no later than 90 calendar days after the course is completed. Masters level classes are subject to income tax and the amount of reimbursement will be added to the employee's W-2 form.009.08G2. Failure to complete a course or receiving a less than passing grade, as defined above, voids approval of the Tuition Assistance Request.009.08H. NCBVI employees receiving tuition assistance are expected to continue employment with NCBVI for at least one year after completion of each course. Employees failing to do so must reimburse that state for the cost of academic support. The amount paid back to the state may be pro-rated proportionately if more than a year has elapsed since the start of a class but less than a year before its conclusion. Employees resigning their position before a year has elapsed since the end of the last course completed who fail to reimburse that state for academic support will leave in poor standing.009.09.CREDIT UNION. State employees, other than temporary, are eligible to join the Nebraska State Employees Credit Union (Credit Union). The Credit Union is a financial institution providing an opportunity to save regularly through payroll deductions. Credit Union members are eligible to borrow money for approved reasons at a reasonable rate of interest. Share draft accounts, which enable an employee to write "checks" on a savings account, are also available, as are traveler's checks and a number of other services. 009.10.EXPENSE REIMBURSEMENT. Reimbursements will be made only for travel or other actual expenses strictly essential to the transaction of official business.009.11.DISCLAIMER. Benefits are subject to change based on state negotiations with NAPE/AFSCME. Those listed are in place at effective date for 192 Nebraska Administrative Code Chapter 4. Beyond that date, the above text serves as examples of types of benefits that may be offered to NCBVI employees at any given time.192 Neb. Admin. Code, ch. 4, § 009
Amended effective 7/2/2019