Employee Benefits

Disability Income

Comprehensive short-term and long-term disability income plans are provided at the employer's expense for permanent employees who are members of the Teacher's and State Employees' Comprehensive Major Medical Plan and meet certain state service requirements. For additional information refer to The Guilford County Schools Personnel Handbook and The NC Benefits and Enrollment Manual.

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Employee Assistance Program

The Guilford County Schools Employee Assistance Program offers free confidential psychological assistance to employees and their immediate family members through age 26. Counseling for up to five (5) free sessions (per year) is available. The assistance is provided by Cornerstone Psychological Services. CPS offers a broad range of psychological services including problem assessment, consultation, brief and longer-term psychotherapy and, when appropriate, referral to appropriate community resources. CPS clinicians are trained professionals, and are licensed in North Carolina to provide psychological and counseling services. The team is experienced in dealing with a broad range of behavioral, emotional, psychological, relationship, and medically related problems including:

Depression
Anxiety
Alcohol/substance abuse problems
Child and adolescent problems
Work related problems

To schedule an appointment call Cornerstone Psychological Services at 336-540-9400.

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Cafeteria (Flexible) Benefits (MARK III)

Permanent full-time employees may participate in our Section 125 Flexible Benefits Plan. This plan offers employees an opportunity to save money by paying for non-reimbursed medical expenses, dependent care expenses, alternate dental, vision, supplemental hospital and cancer insurance. Supplemental disability insurance and Universal life insurance are offered only on an after-tax basis. The plan is administered by Mark III Brokerage Inc.

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Insurance

Health Insurance - NC Teachers' and State Employees' Comprehensive Major Medical Plan

NC Smart Choice Preferred Provider Organization Plans

Two types of health insurance are available: 1. the traditional indemnity plan, the NC Teachers' and State Employees' Comprehensive Major Medical Plan and 2. the preferred provider plans--NC Smart Choice Basic, NC Smart Choice and NC Smart Choice Plus. Employee coverage is available with premiums paid by the employer, with the exception of a small premium associated with the NC Smart Choice Plus plan. Optional premiums to cover spouse and/or children are available at additional costs.

NC Teachers' and State Employees' Comprehensive Major Medical Plan

Long Term Care - Prudential Insurance Company of America

Long Term Care Insurance can help cover the costs of custodial care that an eligible employee, spouse or dependent may need, including care received at home or in an assisted living facility. Enrollment is done directly between the employee and the Prudential Insurance Company of America. There is no payroll deduction only direct billing to the employee or directly to a personal bank account.

For additional information, call 1-800-284-9648 or visit online at www.prudential.com/gltc. Our group name is stateplan and our password is stateplanltc.

Term Life Insurance - Metropolitan Life Insurance

Basic life insurance of $5,000 is provided with premium paid by the employer. Optional employee and dependent coverage is available at minimal cost. Employees may choose additional coverage for themselves (from $10,000 up to $250,000), eligible children (up to $20,000) and spouse (up to $50,000).

Dental Insurance - GCS Dental Plan or MetLife Dental Plan

A GCS direct reimbursement plan for employees is provided with premiums paid by the employer. Dependent coverage is available at a minimal cost. Employees may choose an optional dental plan, MetLife Dental, by paying a portion of the premium.

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Leaves of Absence

Educational, medical, military, family medical, and parental leave (for birth, adoption or placement of a foster child), or any other reasons approved by the Superintendent and the Board of Education may be granted to permanent full-time and part-time employees.

Employees may obtain "Request for Leave of Absence" forms and/or the current Employee's Guide: Leaves and Absences from the office at their worksite or by calling the Benefits Office at 370-8348. For additional information, refer to the Employee's Guide; Leaves and Absences, Guilford County Schools Personnel Handbook, and the NC Benefits and Employment Manual.

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Leave Days

Annual Leave (Vacation)

Employees earn annual leave (vacation) on a graduated scale based upon total State of North Carolina service. Annual leave includes scheduled and unscheduled leave days. All unscheduled annual leave (vacation) must be approved by the immediate supervisor.

The rate of earnings is based on the length of total State service. Annual vacation leave shall be earned as follows:

Part-time employees (50% for classified employees and 53.3% for licensed employees) earn pro-rated annual leave.

Sick Leave

Sick leave is earned by all permanent employees at the rate of one (1) day for each monthly pay period they are working, or on paid leave for one-half or more of the work days in the pay period. Part-time employees (50% for classified employees and 53.3% for licensed employees) earn pro-rated sick leave.

Extended Sick Leave

Permanent full-time or part-time classroom teachers and media specialists, who are absent due to their own personal illness or injury in excess of their accumulated sick leave shall be allowed extended sick leave of up to twenty (20) workdays throughout the regular term of employment. Employees on extended sick leave receive full salary less the required substitute deduction. This deduction is mandatory whether or not a substitute is employed. The standard deduction is $50.00 a day.

Personal Leave

Personal leave is earned only by permanent full-time or part-time classroom teachers and media specialists. Personal leave is earned at the rate of .20 days for each full month of employment not to exceed two (2) days per year. Part-time classroom teachers and/or media specialists employees (53.3%) earn pro-rata personal leave.

Personal leave may be accumulated for a maximum of (5) days. Thereafter earnings will cease to be accumulated until the balance is reached below (5) days by employee's use.

All personal leave must be authorized by the immediate supervisor. Employees using personal leave receive full salary less the required substitute deduction. The deduction is mandatory whether or not a substitute is employed.

For additional information on the use of leave days please refer to the Employee's Guide; Leaves and Absences, Guilford County Schools Personnel Handbook, and the NC Benefits and Employment Manual.

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Longevity

All permanent full-time or part-time (20 hours per week or more) employees who have at least 10 years of total qualifying state service are eligible for longevity payments.

Longevity pay is automatic. Longevity is paid annually the last working day of the employee's anniversary month. Upon separation for any reason, longevity is paid on a prorated basis.

The amount of annual longevity pay is a percentage of the employee's annual rate of pay on the employee's anniversary date. The annual rate of pay does not include bonuses, or pay for extra duties. The percentage is determined by the length of total state service as follows:

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Retirement

All permanent full-time employees are required to join the Teachers' and State Employees' Retirement System. Eligible employees contribute 6% of their gross salary (pre-taxed) to the Retirement System. The Guilford County Schools also makes a contribution as established by the North Carolina General Assembly for each permanent full-time employee. Monthly benefits at retirement are based upon the employee's average salary, years of state service, and/or age at retirement. After five (5) years of creditable service an employee is considered "vested" and may be eligible for benefits from the retirement system.

The Guilford County Schools Benefits Department conducts "Retirement Seminars" at various times during the year. These seminars are designed to answer questions regarding retirement and explain the retirement process. If you are planning retirement, call the Benefits Office at 370-8165 to request the Guilford County Schools Retirement Booklet. The booklet provides information and the forms for a Retirement Estimate and a Retirement Application Packet. To schedule an appointment to retire call 370-8165. The Retirement Application Packet must be completed and brought to your appointment. This paperwork may not be completed more than ninety (90) days prior to your retirement date. All retirements are effective the first of the month.

For additional information concerning retirement, visit the NC State Retirement System.

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Workers' Compensation

Employees are entitled to worker's compensation benefits if, while carrying out activities for the benefit of their employer, they suffer an injury by accident, a "specific traumatic incident," resulting in a hernia or back injury, or an "occupational disease." An "accident" is an interruption of the regular work routine and the introduction of unusual circumstances, such as a slip, trip, fall, or other unusual activity, likely to result in unexpected consequences. A "specific traumatic incident," as defined by our courts, includes "injuries that occur during normal work activities." The claimant need not show "an instantaneous occurrence," or "an external cause or unusual conditions." However, "injuries that occur gradually, over long periods of time, are not specific traumatic incidents." If the work-relatedness of a hernia is disputed, an employee must show that the hernia appeared suddenly following an accident and did not exist prior to the accident or incident. All injuries must "arise out of and in the course and scope of" the covered employment to be compensated.

Occupational Disease

Generally, an employee is entitled to benefits for disability due to a condition to which the employment significantly contributed, or if the employment was a significant factor in causing the disease's development, and if the employment exposed the worker to a greater risk of contracting the disease than the public generally. Where an employee is exposed to the same injurious agent at the place of business of more than one employer, the claim should be filed with the employer on whose premises he/she was last injuriously exposed. For additional information call the Ombudsman at 1-800-688-8349.

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Savings Bonds

All permanent employees are eligible to purchase United States Government Savings Bonds through after-taxed payroll deductions. Information may be obtained at Treasury Direct or the Benefits Department

Supplemental Retirement Income of NC 401(k) Plan

All full-time employees are eligible to participate in the state sponsored 401 (k) Plan available through payroll deduction and is adminstered by Prudential Retirement. For additional information call 1-866-627-5267 or visit Prudential's Web site.

457 Deferred Compensation Plan

All permanent employees are eligible to participate in the State of North Carolina 457 Deferred Compensation Plan administered by Great-West Life/Benefits Corp. A 457 plan is similiar to a 403(b) plan where contributions are made through payroll reduction, occur on a pre-tax basis and accumulate tax-deferred until withdrawn. The minimum monthly contribution is $20. For more information call 1-888-600-2763.

State Employees' Credit Union

All employees, except individuals employed through contracted services, may join the North Carolina State Employees' Credit Union. Upon obtaining membership, the employee's spouse, children, and parents may become members. In addition, substitutes paid by Guilford County Schools are eligible to obtain membership in the credit union. Information may be obtained at their Web site, from the credit union locations in Greensboro and High Point, and from the Benefits Department.

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