Understanding Job Benefits packages

1. Understanding Job Benefits packages Office of Experiential Learning & Community Engagement

2. Objectives • Understand general benefit terminology to be able to discuss with a human resources representative at your placement site • Knowing different job benefits and how they fit your needs now and in the future • Develop criteria for deciding if a benefit package offered is right for you

3. Understanding and Evaluating a Benefits Package

4. Before we begin: • Since the content in the following slides is very complex in nature this should provide a general overview to have a basic understanding of the options you will be presented with in your first professional job offer. To make the most of this lecture, review all content and schedule a time to meet with the HR representative at your placement site to gain more insight regarding how this effects you.

5. A Review A good benefits plan can include many additional perks that offer true tangible gains in relation to the competition. Following are some basic elements of benefit plans and what you should look for:

6. General Coverage What you should know: • Are there any monthly or per-pay-period costs for the overall benefit plan? • This will make an immediate impact on your take home pay, although it is usually a pre-tax deduction • Who is covered? • Does it cover only you or your entire family or future family • When does each component actually begin? • On the first day, after thirty days, after one year? • Are the benefits taxable? • Some benefits are taken pre-tax or taxed in the future • Are benefits “cafeteria style”? • You can pick and choose which benefits you will enroll in • Can you add benefits at a later date? What restrictions are involved?

7. Health Insurance Health insurance is a very important benefit. If you don’t have it, a minor injury or illness could cost you thousands of dollars, setting you back for a lifetime! Be sure to read over your plan in detail.

8. Health Insurance Medical Insurance Standard HMO (Health Maintenance Organization) – This type of plan will provide you with a list of “in-network” doctors. If you visit doctors outside of your network you will be responsible for the cost. You will select one of your doctors as your PCP who is required to provide you with referrals to other doctors and specialists in order for those visits to be covered. An HMO is generally less expensive but more restrictive. Standard PPO (Preferred Provider Organization) – Under this plan, you don’t have to choose a main doctor nor do you need referrals for specialists. Also, your insurance company many provide you with a list of network doctors but you are not limited to these doctors for insurance coverage. A PPO is the most flexible but also the most expensive. Standard POS (Point of Service Plan) – This plan falls in between an HMO and a PPO. They vary but are some sort-of combination of both plans. For example, you may still need a PCP to refer you to other doctors or specialists (like an HMO), but you may have the freedom to see doctors outside your network (like a PPO). Price and flexibility or moderate and vary with each plan.

9. Health Insurance Dental Insurance Consider whether preventive care (exams, cleaning, X-rays, etc.), surgical care (root canals, etc.), and orthodontic care (braces, etc.) are covered and to what extent (deductibles, co-pay, annual limits, and lifetime maximums). Vision/Eye Care Insurance A great benefit if you need it. A great benefit even if you don’t currently need it (most will need it eventually). Evaluate what expenses are covered, what the deductibles are, and what the annual limits and lifetime maximums are. Many companies now offer an “up to” amount of annual coverage which can include exams, eyeglasses, contact lenses, and even disposable lenses.

10. Retirement Plans 401k Plans Start your 401k early and MAX it!!! On your first day of work, you’ll be asked the percentage of your paycheck you’d like to invest in your 401k. It is not an investment itself, rather a place to keep your mutual funds. It allows your money to grow tax-free until you take it out. This enables it to grow at a much faster rate. And, since this percentage comes directly out of your paycheck, you never miss it.  However, you generally cannot take money out of your 401k until you’re 59 ½ (when it will get taxed). This is not necessarily a bad thing though. Matched 401k Your company may even offer to match your 401k. This means that they will “match” the amount of money you put into your 401k every year. For example, if you add $200, then they’ll add another $200. Essentially, you’re getting a raise… without doing any additional work! Roth 401k With a Roth 401k, you get no tax deduction for your retirement savings, but all the money that comes out at the other end is tax free. For a lot of upper-income taxpayers, the Roth version is the better deal. For more information, check out this site: http://www.forbes.com/forbes/2006/0130/091.html

11. Additional Retirement Options IRA A retirement savings plan that allows individuals to contribute toward an account on a tax-deferred basis. The contributions and earnings are taxable as income only when withdrawn or paid out after retirement. Roth IRA An IRA consisting of already-taxed dollars. Withdrawals are not subject to tax regardless of gains, and there is no requirement for mandatory withdrawals. Pension Plans The ultimate yawner benefit for twenty-somethings, these can and will make a difference to you later in life. Usually the company puts an amount into an account that silently accumulates for you over time. An excellent benefit that many companies are either cutting back or replacing with 401(k) plans.

12. Develop Your Own Criteria Start thinking about what medical insurance and retirement plan suits you best. Review information related to each type of plan to determine the best fit Medical Insurance Retirement Plans

13. Paid Time Off Vacation Consider how many days are allowed in your first year, when they begin accumulating, when they may be used (can days be taken before they are earned?), how many days are allowed in future years, and the maximum number of days. The standard vacation policy may start with one to two weeks per year (prorated from the hire date), then additional days or weeks based on years of service. Some companies, however, do not provide any vacation during the first year. Note also whether vacation days accumulate according to the calendar year or work year (based on your date of hire). Example: Employees working full-time (37.5 hours per week, 52 weeks per year, i.e., 1950 hours a year) accrue 10 days of vacation per year. Vacation time is accrued at a rate of one day per month and is not accrued in December or June. After two years of service, full time staff accrue 15 days of vacation per year at a rate of 1.5 days per month and not accrued in December or June.

14. Paid Time Off Holidays There are six holidays that nearly every US Company celebrates along with others that many companies observe as well. Many companies will offer six or more “set” holidays plus one or more “floating” holiday that can be used at the employee’s discretion. In this case, these floating holidays usually end up being treated much the same as vacation days. Most Companies Offer Some Companies Offer

15. Paid Time Off Sick/Personal Days While many companies have moved away from having a designated number of sick days for salaried staff (which encourages the more slack employees to take them in spite of lack of actual illness, since they are already enumerated), some companies still provide for a certain number of personal days. Depending on the restrictions, these may be treated as pseudo-vacation days. But remember that when you take time off work to visit your sick Aunt Martha in Idaho, it will likely be applied against this time allocation. Overtime/Travel Premiums/Comp Time Paid overtime really makes a difference when you’re working fifty to sixty hours per week. While salaried employees are usually not paid overtime, some companies will compensate for time above and beyond an expected standard (usually forty hours per week). This can take the form of overtime or bonus pay, a premium above and beyond standard pay for hours worked at out-of-town locations, and/or comp time (which converts extra hours worked into extra time off).

16. Additional Benefits Tuition Reimbursement An especially important perk if you plan to pursue an advanced degree during your evening and/or weekend hours. Consider what types of coursework are covered, the tax impact of the benefit (usually the IRS will consider the benefit tax free only if you are studying within your current field), how the benefit is paid (some companies pay 100 percent for an “A,” 75 percent for a “B,” etc.), and the yearly maximum. Expense Reimbursement Almost all companies will pay you for authorized direct business-related costs that you incur. However, how that cost is calculated often differs, with you picking up the difference. For example, using your car for business travel (above and beyond your standard commute) might be covered at anywhere from eight cents to sixty cents per mile. That ends up being quite a difference if you are racking up the miles. Also, items such as business entertainment may only be reimbursed up to 80 percent. So if your job requires incurring business expenses, know what will be covered and to what extent.

17. Additional Benefits Parking/ Commuter Cost Reimbursement This often overlooked perk can amount to a great deal over time, especially if you will be working in one of the high-cost parking (and living) cities such as New York, Chicago, or Los Angeles. This $50–$100/month tax-free benefit can easily amount to $1000– $2000/year in salary equivalence. Some companies in high traffic/smog congestion areas will provide company van service, a car pooling allowance, or commuter train/bus allocations to encourage their employees to use environmentally friendly means of transportation. Mobile Phone Reimbursement Does your new job require you to carry a mobile phone? If yes, they may also offer to pay your mobile phone bill. This can be another substantial perk, especially when you have been picking up the entire bill on your own. Some companies will only pay a certain amount or ask you to account separately for personal minutes.

18. Additional Benefits Health Clubs As part of the trend toward taking care of all of your worldly existential needs, some companies now offer free or reduced-rate memberships in health clubs. Some larger companies even offer on-site facilities so that you can work out in the morning, at lunch, or after work without having to leave the company location. It is a nice perk, depending on whether the facilities meet your personal needs. Employee Assistance Program Some companies have a formal program designed to aid employees in need of assistance. While this can sometimes be for mainstream needs (such as financial planning and tax assistance), it can also include drug/alcohol counseling and other types of crisis support. Just one more way to let you know that you are not on your own when you are in need of help.

19. Additional Benefits Dependent Care As companies adjust to the work force of this decade and beyond, they are examining the role of providing dependent care for their employees. This can include providing on-site child care facilities or allocating specified amounts for child care and elder care. Some companies, while not paying directly for these costs, will offer programs for allocating funds for these expenses from pretax funds. Although this benefit may not mean much to you now, probably one of the very best benefits to have is the ability to drop off your kid(s) next door to work in the morning, have lunch with them, and take them home with you in the evening—welcome to parenting in the new millennium.

20. Additional Insurance Life Insurance Although you are likely not planning your funeral arrangements yet, this benefit will become increasingly important as you add loved ones to your life. In the meantime, it may cover the basic expenses in the event of unexpected tragedy. Some companies will also allow you to purchase additional blocks of term insurance, although often at or above the going market rate. It is usually better to purchase additional insurance separately, but evaluate the costs—especially if the rates offered will remain stable for the duration of your employment. Accidental Death Insurance As if it somehow matters how you die, some companies pay more if your death is of a more spectacular nature. If they offer it for free, take it. Don’t buy additional amounts.

21. Additional Insurance Disability Insurance One of those benefits you will never ever care about until you need it. Disability insurance is usually divided into short-term disability (which can sometimes include an allocation for sick pay and usually includes initial disability coverage from 90 days to a year) and long-term disability (which usually kicks in after 90 days to a year). Note the percentage amount of salary paid, how that percentage may change over time, and what that percentage is based on. Also note how any variable pay components may be covered. Business Travel Insurance Another variation on the accident insurance theme. Companies sometimes provide their employees with insurance to cover accidental death or dismemberment while traveling on business. Again, if they offer it for free, take it.

22. Develop Your Own Criteria Create your list of criterion of additional benefits by choosing the benefits you feel are a priority and you would require.

23. Benefits Packages Podcast: http://katchoo.mts.uri.edu/users/oiee/ Please listen to Laura Kennerson, Director of Human Resources at URI. The above podcast is meant to compliment this lecture, not replace it. Enjoy your lecture AND this podcast!

24. NEXT… Please refer back to your assignment schedule and forum discussion schedule to see what else you need to accomplish this week!