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Full-Time Regular Employees
The City’s benefits package includes:
Paid Time Off
Paid holidays as specified by the City Council
- New Year’s Day
- Martin Luther King Jr. Birthday
- Good Friday
- Memorial Day
- Juneteenth
- Independence Day
- Labor Day
- Veterans Day
- Thanksgiving – two days
- Christmas – three days
Vacation
The City of Raleigh provides paid vacation for you to be away from work for rest and relaxation. As a new hire, you can accrue one day per month. Accrual increases as years of service increase. You can begin to accrue on the first day of the month following 30 days of employment, then on the first day of each month thereafter.
You are required to complete six months of service before vacation leave will be granted.
Vacation Accrual Schedule is shown below for years of service:
- 0 – 2 years | (1 day/month = 12 days/year)
- 3 – 9 years | (1.25 days/month = 15 days/year)
- 10 – 14 years | (1.5 days/month = 18 days/year)
- 15 – 19 years | (1.75 days/month = 21 days/year)
- 20 + years | (2 days/month = 24 days/year)
Note: Employees may accrue up to 50 days. Any vacations accrued over 50 days are automatically converted to sick leave.
Sick Leave
The City provides sick leave for you, which is earned at the rate of one day per month (12 days per year), beginning the first of the month following completion of 30 days of employment.
Petty Leave
As a City employee, you earn 12 hours of petty leave per year. Petty leave can be used for attending to personal matters which usually cannot be transacted outside of office hours, such as medical appointments, etc., not to exceed four hours in one day.
Health Benefits
Medical Coverage
For many employees, one of the most important decisions you make is selecting the medical plan option that is best for you and your family. The City provides you with the choice of two medical plan options (Blue Options PPO Plan A and PPO Plan B), administered by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of N.C. When you enroll in medical coverage, prescription drug coverage is included.
- Plan A: The City pays a significant portion of your and your dependents’ premiums under Plan A.
- Plan B: The City pays the full cost of individual coverage and a significant portion of your dependents’ premiums under Plan B.
Note: The City offers a wellness incentive on medical insurance premiums for employees who complete the requirements of the Health Risk Screening/Assessment and Tobacco Attestation each year.
Coverage for new employees is effective the first day of the month following your date of hire. Premiums for the plan are paid through payroll deductions on a pre-tax basis. We offer the following levels of coverage to cover yourself and your eligible dependents:
- Employee only
- Employee and child
- Employee and children
- Employee and spouse
- Family
Dental Coverage
Good dental care is an important part of your overall health care. The City provides you with dental coverage and pays a significant portion of the cost for you and your family. Coverage for new employees is effective the first day of the month following your date of employment. Premiums for the plan are paid through payroll deductions on a pre-tax basis. We offer the following levels of coverage to cover yourself and your eligible dependents:
- Employee only
- Employee and child
- Employee and children
- Employee and spouse
- Family
Life Insurance Benefits
Group Term Life/Accidental Death and Dismemberment Insurance
An important concern for most employees is providing economic security for your family in the event of your death or accidental dismemberment. All regular employees are provided basic life insurance and accidental death and dismemberment in an amount equal to one times their base annual salary, up to a maximum of $250,000. The coverage is effective the first day of the month following your date of hire. The City pays the full premium cost for Basic Life/AD&D insurance for you.
Voluntary Term Life Insurance
You may purchase additional Voluntary Life for yourself through payroll deductions in the amount of one, two, and three times your base annual salary, not to exceed $400,000. You may apply for as much as $125,000 without medical evidence of insurability if you elect it within 31 days of your initial eligibility.
Dependent Life Insurance
You may also purchase Dependent Life coverage for your spouse or dependent children. You may purchase coverage for your dependents in the amount of $2,500 or more through payroll deductions.
Whole Life Insurance
To provide additional life insurance for yourself, you may purchase Whole Life Insurance. Whole Life Insurance is permanent insurance that supplements your term life insurance. Coverage includes a long term care rider, which allows you to access a death benefit for long term care and home health care needs. Guaranteed issue coverage premiums range from $3 to $25 per week.
Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs)
Flexible Spending Accounts are another valuable feature of the City’s Benefits package. A Flexible Spending Account (FSA) is a tax-free account that allows you to pay for essential health care expenses that are not covered, or are partially covered. Expenses include medical/ dental/ vision expenses, child/dependent care expenses, or monthly parking fees. The City has established medical, dependent care, and parking “reimbursement” accounts so that employees may pay for these expenses on a pre-tax basis.
Disability/Accident/Critical Illness
Disability Income Plan
You may purchase short-term disability insurance to replace a portion of your income if you are unable to work due to an off-the-job accident, illness, surgery, or pregnancy. You may enroll in this voluntary payroll deduction plan, which provides up to 60% of your income up to a maximum monthly benefit of $5,000 if you are unable to work.
Accident Insurance
You are eligible to enroll in this voluntary payroll deduction plan, which may supplement your health insurance providing 24-hour coverage for accident-related injuries. Coverage provides lump-sum payments directly to employees for accident related injuries including, but not limited to, broken bones, cuts, burns, eye injuries, ruptured discs, etc. An annual wellness (health screening) benefit is included.
Critical Illness
You are eligible to enroll in this voluntary payroll deduction plan, which provides a lump sum payment if you are diagnosed with a covered critical illness. You may purchase coverage for your spouse. Each dependent child is covered at 50% of the amount of coverage you purchase at no additional cost. A wellness (health screening) benefit is available.
Retirement
N.C. Local Governmental Employees’ Retirement System (NCLGERS)
All regular full-time employees are covered under the North Carolina Local Governmental Employees' Retirement System (NCLGERS). As an employee, you contribute six percent of your annual salary on a tax-deferred basis. The City contributes a percentage of your annual salary to your retirement accounts.
Regular Full-Time Employees are eligible for a full unreduced retirement benefit after they:
- Complete 30 years of creditable service at any age
- Reach age 60 and complete at least 25 years of creditable service
- Reach age 65 and complete at least 5 years of creditable service
Regular Full-Time Employees are eligible for a reduced early retirement benefit after they:
- Reach age 50 and complete at least 20 years of creditable service
- Reach age 60 and complete at least 5 years of creditable service
Purchase of Creditable Service
Effective January 1, 2003 pre-tax money from an eligible retirement plan or IRA may be accepted via rollover on an in-service plan-to-plan transfer to purchase creditable service. This was approved in October 2003 by Prudential 401(k) and City of Raleigh Supplemental Retirement Plan.
What Does This Mean To You?
If you have withdrawn service, military service, or part time local service, etc., then you can use your funds from your Prudential 401(k) or the City of Raleigh Supplemental Retirement Plan to purchase this service by rolling over the funds.
How Can You Do This?
Contact Human Resources at 919-996-3315 to obtain the forms. You may also go to the following websites to download the forms
Supplemental Retirement Plans
To maximize your retirement income, all regular full-time employees may voluntarily participate in either the City's Supplemental Retirement Plan or the Supplemental Retirement Income Plan of North Carolina 401(K) Plan, or in both plans.
Supplemental Retirement Plan
Participation in this Plan is voluntary. Employees may contribute a minimum of 1.5 percent of their salary to receive the City's match of three percent, except for law enforcement officers. Contributions can be made on a tax-deferred or after-tax basis.
Supplemental Retirement Income Plan of N.C. 401(k) Plan
All regular full-time employees may participate in the Supplemental Retirement Income Plan of North Carolina 401(K) Plan. Participation is voluntary and officers may contribute up to a maximum level as provided by IRS regulations. Contributions can be made on a tax-deferred or after-tax basis.
The maximum contribution limits for both Plans are $17,500 in 2014.
Note: If you are age 50 or older, you may contribute an additional $5,500 in 2014.
Social Security
City employees are members of the Social Security System. The employee contributes 7.65 percent of their annual salary and the City contributes the same amount. Social Security benefits include retirement, disability payments, and survivor's insurance.
Other Important Benefits
Employee Health & Wellness Center
The City operates an Employee Health Center for its employees, that is used to treat job related injuries and illnesses which occur while employees are at work. All employees are required to have a pre-employment drug screening. Periodic health screenings that include vision, hearing, and blood pressure screening are provided and are also required for certain departments.
Wellness Program
The City provides a comprehensive and innovative wellness program called Wellness for Life. Our wellness program is designed to help employees prevent disease and illness by lowering health risks through education, adopting healthy lifestyles, increasing the use of preventative medical screenings, and preventative health care. Our program also provides management for employees with diseases through work sessions and customized health strategies.
Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
The City of Raleigh provides employees and family members with confidential counseling to help resolve problems that may affect their work or family life.
Credit Union
City of Raleigh employees are eligible to join the Local Government Federal Credit Union.
Worker's Compensation
All City employees are covered under the North Carolina Worker's Compensation Act. This act covers those employees who suffer injuries as a result of an accident while performing duties. It will pay medical expenses and a portion of the employee's salary if the individual is out of work as a result of a work related injury.
Tuition Assistance
The City offers a Tuition Assistance Program to those employees who wish to further their education and training. An employee may receive financial assistance up to $1,250 per fiscal year for courses relating to their present job or a future position with the City.
Firefighters
If you become a firefighter for the City, you are eligible for all of the benefits listed under the “Regular Full-Time Employees” section of this summary. However, the eligibility for a reduced early retirement benefit under the N.C. Local Governmental Employees’ Retirement System is different than the eligibility for a regular full-time employee. (See the below chart.)
N.C. Local Governmental Employees’ Retirement System (NCLGERS)
Firefighters are eligible for a full unreduced retirement benefit after they:
- Complete 30 years of creditable service at any age
- Reach age 60 and complete at least 25 years of creditable service
- Reach age 65 and complete at least 5 years of creditable service
Firefighter are eligible for a reduced early retirement benefit after they:
- Reach age 50 and complete at least 20 years of creditable service
- Reach age 55 and complete at least 5 years of creditable service
Police Officers
Law enforcement officers are eligible for all of the benefits listed under the “Regular Full-Time Employees” section of this summary except for the benefits shown as follows:
N.C. Local Governmental Employees’ Retirement System (NCLGERS)
Police Officers are eligible for a full unreduced retirement benefit after they:
- Complete 30 years of creditable service at any age
- Reach age 55 and complete at least 5 years of creditable service
Police Officers are eligible for a reduced early retirement benefit after they:
- Reach age 50 and complete at least 15 years of creditable service
Special Separation Allowance for Law Enforcement Officers
As a law enforcement officer, if you retire on a service allowance (i.e., 30 years of service at any age or age 55 with at least 5 years of service, you may be eligible for a monthly separation allowance payable until you reach age 62, or until you return to any employment with the local government if a LGERS retiree. Other conditions also apply. Contact Human Resources for details, since the City is responsible for making all determinations of eligibility and for making these benefit payments when you retire.
Temporary/Seasonal Employees and Interns
The City employs temporary and seasonal employees and interns who generally are scheduled to work on a short-term basis. However, if you are hired as a temporary or seasonal employee, or as an intern, you are not eligible for the City of Raleigh’s benefits package as described in this summary.