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Thurston County provides a comprehensive benefits
package to all regular employees. The following is a brief summary of available
benefits offered to county employees. Benefits are subject to change and may
differ according to collective bargaining agreements. Plan documents and
eligibility requirements are provided upon hire. This information is subject to
change at anytime.
Health Care Benefits:
Thurston County provides fully paid medical, dental, vision and
life insurance coverage for all regular full-time employees enrolled in the
County’s standard plans. For regular part-time employees, who work less than 75%
of an FTE, the county pays a pro-rated portion of the cost for medical, dental,
vision and life insurance.
Medical
Thurston County provides medical benefits through the Washington State’s
Public Employees Benefits Board (PEBB). Plan availability is based on county of
residence. Each year the County determines the standard and non-standard plans.
For standard plans, the County pays the full employee premium.
Dental
Dental plans are provided through the Washington Counties
Insurance Fund (WCIF). Employees have the opportunity to choose between two
plans, Washington Dental Service, a preferred provider plan or Willamette
Dental, an HMO plan.
Vision
Thurston County employees have Vision Service Plan coverage through the
Washington Counties Insurance Fund (WCIF). Employees also have additional vision
coverage through their medical plan.
Life Insurance
The County provides each regular, full-time employee with a basic, term life
plan of $36,000 life insurance and $36,000 accidental death and dismemberment
(AD&D) coverage. Additional voluntary, supplemental life insurance and AD&D
insurance is available as a payroll deduction.
Dependent Coverage
Eligible dependents may be added to all coverage listed above. Depending
upon the bargaining unit, the County pays up to a specific maximum amount toward
dependent coverage with the employee paying any amount above the County maximum
contribution.
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Pension Plans:
Retirement
Eligible Thurston County employees participate in the Washington State
Department of Retirement Systems’ pension plans (PERS, PSERS, or LEOFF). With
the exception of PERS plan 3, all of these plans are “defined benefit” plans
with retirement benefits based on your average compensation and earned service
credits. PERS Plan 3 is a hybrid plan incorporating both “defined benefit” and
“defined contribution” elements. These plans are funded by both employer and
employee contributions.
Deferred Compensation
The County offers three voluntary deferred compensation plans for employees
who would like to set aside additional deferred tax dollars into a retirement
savings plan. Deferred compensation plans are 457 plans as defined by IRS
regulations.
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Holiday and Leave Programs:
Paid Leave
Thurston County offers two leave plans, Alternative leave and Traditional
leave. In the Alternative Leave program, leave is accrued monthly and may be
used for vacation and/or sick leave purposes. Employees in the Traditional Leave
program accrue both sick leave and annual leave each month.
Thurston County Observed Holidays
Ten paid holidays are observed by Thurston County. Regular employees receive
one floating holiday and one Community Service Day each calendar year.
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Other County Paid Benefits:
Long Term Disability (LTD)
The county’s long term disability plan provides a monthly benefit of 60% of
your monthly base salary up to $6,000 per month after a waiting period of 90
days of disability.
Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
Employees
and immediate family members are eligible to receive
confidential,
professional counseling assessment and referral services through First Choice
Health. The employee assistance program can assist and respond to all kinds of
requests for counseling assessment and life concerns, such as, relationship
concerns, family problems, alcohol and drug abuse problems, financial crisis,
identification theft, general stress, caregiver burnout, depression, etc.
Services are available 24-hours per day, 7-days per week.
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Additional Voluntary
Benefits:
Flexible Spending Account (FSA)
Employees can take advantage of Section 125 flexible spending accounts for
out-of-pocket health care and daycare expenses. Section 125 FSAs allow you to
pay for allowable health-related and/or dependent care expenses with pre-tax
dollars.
Electronic Payroll Savings with TreasuryDirect
County employees can invest in TreasuryDirect electronic savings bonds (Series I
and EE) by requesting a payroll deduction. Monthly deductions are forwarded to
the Federal Reserve, which enables employees to buy and redeem electronic
savings bonds directly from the United States Treasury Department.
Additional Benefits
The County also offers direct deposit, credit union memberships, a Commute Trip
Reduction Program, and other miscellaneous benefits.
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