Benefits at a Glance

Eligibility

Effective Date

Cost

Comments

Unicare State Indemnity Plan, Indemnity Plus Plan, Community Choice Plan PPO or HMO

*Benefitted employees: all full-time and at least 50% part-time employees

First day of the month following 60 days of employment or two calendar months, whichever is the lesser

75%-80% paid by the university and 20%-25% by the employee (pre-tax earnings)

Choice of one plan; all health insurance plans include a $5,000 term life insurance policy

Disabled Child Insurance

All children with a physical and/or mental disability who are age 19 or over and are incapable of self- support and whose parent carries health insurance through the university

Month child with the disability reaches age 19

No additional charge

Same level of coverage as parent.

Dependents Aged 19-26

IRS-eligible dependents are covered for GIC health insurance up to age 26, provided correct paperwork is filled out in a timely manner (for example, mandatory re-enrollment on 19^th birthday)

Eligibility

Effective Date

Cost

Comments

Basic Life Insurance

*Benefitted employees

First day of the month following 60 days of employment or two calendar months, whichever is the lesser

75%-80% paid by the university and 20%-25% paid by the employee  

$5,000 term life insurance and $5,000 accidental death and dismemberment insurance; coverage extended to employees not enrolled in a health insurance plan

Optional (Additional) Life Insurance

*Benefitted employees

First day of the month following 60 days of employment or two calendar months, whichever is the lesser

Paid by employee

Term life insurance purchased at group rates up to eight times annual salary.

Eligibility

Effective Date

Cost

Comments

*Benefitted employees

First of the month following 60 days of employment

Paid by employee

Up to 50% of monthly base salary beginning on the 91st day of disability

Eligibility

Effective Date

Cost

Comments

*Benefitted employees

Varies according to plan

Paid by employee and the university to Health & Welfare Funds; varies according to plan

Coverage varies according to fund.

Eligibility

Effective Date

Cost

Comments

*Benefitted employees hired prior to age 65, with an appointment of six months or longer

Date of hire

Paid by employee (pre-tax earnings)

Compulsory program in lieu of Social Security. Employee contributes 9% of total gross salary, plus an additional 2% of salary over $30,000, which allows for a pension upon retirement at age 55 with the equivalent of 10 years of full-time service or at any age with the equivalent of 20 years of full-time service. SERS allows faculty members to "buy into" the system for certain periods (up to 10 years) of instructional service in a publicly supported educational institution in another state.

Eligibility

Effective Date

Cost

Comments

Full-time teaching faculty, chancellor, vice chancellors, deans, senior administrators and president of the university

Date of hire
Note: Implementation for vice chancellors, deans and senior administrators is pending; contact Human Resources for more information.

Employee/employer contribution

Defined contribution plan offered in lieu of State Retirement Plan; member contribution rate same as State Plan plus Commonwealth contribution of 5%.

Eligibility

Effective Date

Cost

Comments

*Benefitted employees

Within 60 days of employment

Minimal administrative fee paid by employee

Program designed to allow payment of up to $5,000 per year for child care or other dependent care expenses with pre-tax earnings

Eligibility

Effective Date

Cost

Comments

*Benefitted employees

Within 60 days of employment

Minimal monthly administrative fee paid by employee

Program designed to allow payment of up to $5,000 per year to help employees to save federal and state taxes on non-covered health-related expenses, such as physician office visits and prescription drug co-pays

Eligibility

Effective Date

Cost

Comments

All employees

Upon arrangement with private company

Paid by employee

Optional program that allows through payroll reduction the sheltering from federal taxes of up to 20% of gross salary to a maximum of $16,500 per year.

Eligibility

Effective Date

Cost

Comments

All employees

Upon arrangement with Great West Financial Services

Paid by employee

Optional program that allows through payroll reduction the sheltering from federal taxes to a maximum of $16,500 per year

Eligibility

Effective Date

Cost

Comments

All employees

Upon employment

Paid by university

Coverage for medical expenses and partial compensation for loss of salary due to absences arising from work-related injuries or occupational diseases

Eligibility

Effective Date

Cost

Comments

Determined by Massachusetts Division of Employment Security

Upon employment

Paid by Commonwealth of Massachusetts

Unemployment benefits based on average weekly wage and number of dependents, predicated on reason for separation

Eligibility

Effective Date

Cost

Comments

*Benefitted Employees

Upon employment

Paid by university

Thirteen paid holidays per year for full-time employees; part-time employees are entitled to pro-rata holiday benefits. Faculty members are paid for holidays that fall during the university's academic year only.

Eligibility

Effective Date

Cost

Comments

*Benefitted employees

Immediately

Paid by university

Vacation leave is accrued based on collective bargaining agreements and non-unit personnel policies

Eligibility

Effective Date

Cost

Comments

*Benefitted employees

Immediately upon hire unless hired after the last day of the payroll month of September

Paid by university

Personal time is awarded based on collective bargaining agreements and non-unit personnel policies; employees hired between the first day of the calendar year and the last day of the payroll month of September are awarded personal time on a pro-rata basis.

Eligibility

Effective Date

Cost

Comments

*Benefitted employees

Immediately

Paid by university

Sick leave accrual is based on collective bargaining agreements and non-unit personnel policies.

Eligibility

Effective Date

Cost

Comments

Bereavement Leave

*Benefitted employees

Upon employment

Paid by university

Either 4 consecutive working days or 2 consecutive working days depending on relationship to deceased

Maternity & Adoptive Leave

*Benefitted employees

Consult applicable collective bargaining agreement or non-unit policy

Unpaid leave unless employee uses accrued sick, vacation, or personal days in accordance with collective bargaining agreements or non-unit policies

A leave of up to 12 weeks may be granted provided a 2-week notice of intended departure date and intent to return is given

Family Medical Leave

All benefitted employees who have worked for UMass Boston for at least 12 months and who have worked at least 1,250 hours prior to commencement of leave

As stated under eligible

Unpaid leave unless employee uses accrued sick, vacation or personal days in accordance with collective bargaining agreements or non-unit policies

A leave of up to 12 weeks during a 12 month period when an employee suffers a serious health condition or to care for an immediate family member with a serious health condition

Parental Leave

Refer to collective bargaining unit agreements and non-unit policies to determine eligibility

Refer to collective bargaining agreements and non-unit policies to determine effective date

Unpaid leave unless employee uses accrued sick, vacation, or personal days in accordance with collective bargaining agreements or non-unit policies

Leave is for the need to care for or make arrangements for the care of minor dependent child as defined in appropriate collective bargaining agreements or non-unit policies

Family Leave

Refer to collective bargaining unit agreements and non-unit policies to determine eligibility

Refer to collective bargaining agreements and non-unit policies to determine effective date

Unpaid leave unless employee uses accrued sick, vacation, or personal days in accordance with collective bargaining agreements or non-unit policies

Leave is for the need to care for or make arrangements for the care of family members as defined in appropriate collective bargaining agreements

Military Leave

*Benefitted employees

Upon employment

Paid by university

Paid military leave is granted to employees called to duty in the armed forces of the Commonwealth in the event of natural disaster or civil disturbance; unpaid leave for extended periods of active duty.

Reserve Leave

*Benefitted employees

Upon employment

Paid by university

Up to 17 paid working days per year for temporary reserve active duty for training in the Armed Forces

Court Leave

*Benefitted employees

Upon employment

Paid by university

Employees receive regular salary when called to serve jury duty or act as a witness on behalf of a governmental body, contingent upon remission of fees to the university

Eligibility

Effective Date

Cost

Comments

Tuition Waiver

All benefitted full-time employees, spouses/same-sex domestic partners, and dependent children (as defined in Trustee Doc. T96-129) and at least 50% part-time benefitted employees. See comments.

Upon employment
(must be employed as of the first day of the semester)

Provided by Commonwealth

Free tuition at any of the UMass campuses (except the Medical School); Part-time employees receive 7 tuition free credits per semester. Spouse and dependent waiver is not available to part-time employees.

Tuition Remission

All benefited full-time and at least 50% benefited part-time employees, spouses, and dependent children

After 6 months of full time equivalent service

Provided by Commonwealth

Full-time employees

    100% tuition remission at any Massachusetts state-supported college or university (MD program excluded); 50% remission for Continuing Education courses.

Eligibility

Effective Date

Cost

Comments

*Benefitted employees

Upon employment

N/A

Participation with most banks for direct deposit of paychecks into savings, checking, or NOW accounts

Eligibility

Effective Date

Cost

Comments

*Benefitted employees

Upon employment

N/A

The UMASS/Five College Credit Union, located adjacent to the Amherst campus of the university, and the State Employees Credit Union, located in downtown Boston, offer automatic payroll deductions for savings and loans

Eligibility

Effective Date

Cost

Comments

All full-time and at least 50% part-time benefitted employees

Upon employment

Paid by employee

Employees may purchase discounted auto and homeowner's insurance through payroll deduction over a 52 week period.

Eligibility

Effective Date

Cost

Comments

Benefitted employees

Upon employment

Paid by employee

Employees may enroll in direct deposit through treasury direct for the purchase of savings bonds

Eligibility

Effective Date

Cost

Comments

Benefitted employees

Upon employment

N/A

Access to extensive resources housed in main and departmental libraries upon presentation of university ID

Eligibility

                    Effective Date

           Cost

              Comments

Benefitted employees

               Upon employment

             N/A

     Fidelity                    

Eligibility

Effective Date

Cost

Comments

Benefitted employees

Upon employment

Paid by employee

Parking access with purchase of a semester, monthly, or multi-park pass

Eligibility

Effective Date

Cost

Comments

Benefitted employees

Upon employment

Paid by employee

 Benefits Strategies Administrator with a minimal monthly fee

Eligibility

Effective Date

Cost

Comments

All employees

Upon employment

Paid by employee. Individual or family annual memberships may be purchased or the facility can be used upon presentation of a valid UMass Boston I.D. and the payment of a per visit fee.

Forbes Clark Physical Education Center contains major athletic facilities available to all employees of the Boston campus and their immediate families. The center includes a gym for basketball, dance, volleyball, aerobics, and badminton; an ice-skating rink; swimming pool; weight room; and a fully equipped gymnastics room.

Beacon Fitness Center, with state-of-the-art equipment, is available to employees. Membership may be paid for through payroll deduction.