3.02.17 - Employee Benefits

Policy Title: Employee Benefits

Impact: Benefits Eligible Employees

Responsibility: Human Resources

Effective Date: 03/22/00

Last Update: 01/19/22

Relates to Procedure: 3.02.17.01 and 3.02.17.02

Legal Citation(s):

I. Policy Narrative

North Idaho College demonstrates a commitment to attracting and retaining qualified employees by offering a competitive employee benefits package. 

The core benefits for benefits eligible active employees include the following:

• Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance
• Flexible Spending Account (FSA) – medical and dependent care
• Life and Accidental Death & Dismemberment (AD&D) insurance
• Short-term and Long-term Disability insurance
• Tax-advantaged medical accounts (may include: Health Reimbursement Account (HRA), Health Savings Account (HSA))
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Wellness program
• Retirement Plans
  • Public Employees Retirement System of Idaho (PERSI)– Idaho Statue 33-107A
    • Classified employees
  • Optional Retirement Plan (ORP)
  • All other benefits eligible employees
• Paid Leave Benefits

The benefits listed above are in addition to applicable required state and federal benefit programs such as unemployment insurance, social security, COBRA, and workers compensation.

Procedure Title: Employee Benefits

Impact: Staff

Responsibility: Human Resources

Effective Date: 03/22/2000

Revised Date: 11/2/2021

Reviewed Date:

Relates to Policy: 3.02.17

Legal Citation(s):

Information on employee benefits can be found on the Human Resources portal site in MyNIC

I. Core Benefits for Benefits Eligible Active Employees

Program benefits, costs, and coverages vary, are set annually, and are communicated to employees during open enrollment.

II. Miscellaneous Benefits

1. Tuition Waivers
   1. NIC Tuition Waivers
      1. Employee tuition is waived for up to 8 credits per semester. Employees are responsible for any course or miscellaneous fees.
      2. Spouse and dependent tuition is waived for up to 12 credits each Fall & Spring semester and 8 credits for Summer semester. They are responsible for all fees (general fees, course fees and miscellaneous fees).
      3. After registering for classes, waivers must be submitted online at least 3 business days prior to the start of the term.
   2. Reciprocal tuition waivers may be available through other Idaho higher education institutions.
   3. Human Resources authorizes waivers for one semester at a time and may be renewed if the individual maintains satisfactory academic progress and is in good standing in the college.
      
      
   4. If the employee terminates employment prior to the end of the fourth week of the semester, the waiver will be automatically revoked and the employee will be charged for tuition and fees as per the college's tuition and fees schedule.
      
      Additional information on tuition waivers can be found on the Human Resources internal portal page in MyNIC.
2. NIC Sponsored Event Admission
   
   • Free admission to selected college events will be provided for benefits eligible employees and their immediate dependent family members.
   • Selected college events include all intercollegiate athletic events, musical concerts, drama events, and convocations. This benefit does not apply to events that are hosted by the college, but involve sponsorship or cooperative agreements with other participating organizations.  Examples of events not covered by this benefit are Regional Athletic Tournaments, events hosted by outside entities, and other similar events.
   • Immediate family members are defined as related individuals who are currently living in the household of the employee. Single employee members are entitled to sponsor one guest for admission to a college event under the terms of this procedure.
   • In all cases, ticket office staff may request that the employee provide an employee identification card
   • Violation of these procedures may result in the withdrawal of the admission privilege.
     
     
3. Lifetime Parking Pass

After twenty years of benefits eligible service, employees will receive a free, lifetime NIC parking pass.

Procedure Title: Retiree Benefits

Impact: Benefits Eligible Employees

Responsibility: Human Resources

Effective Date: 08/2021

Revised Date:

Reviewed Date:

Relates to Policy: 3.02.17

Legal Citation(s):

Information on employee retirement benefits can be found on the Human Resources portal site in MyNIC

I.  Benefits at retirement

At retirement, employees who are at least 55 years of age and have completed a minimum of five years of benefits eligible service at NIC may be eligible to use a portion of their sick leave to pay for continued medical and dental insurance, or a Medicare MedAdvantage or Supplemental plan through NIC for themselves and eligible dependents.

1. The employee shall have been eligible to receive benefits from NIC for the entire one-year period prior to retirement.
   
   
2. The retiree may use his/her sick leave balance on account with PERSI beginning the first month after leaving NIC for medical and/or dental insurance or defer their sick leave balance until they reach age 65.
   
   
3. The monthly insurance premium is due to NIC by the 20th of each month preceding the month of coverage. If regular, on-time payments are not made, the retiree health insurance may be canceled and the retiree will not have the option of re-enrolling for NIC medical or dental insurance.  Notification will be sent to the retiree prior to any cancellation.
   
   
4. Retirees will be notified of plan and premium changes and may make changes to their elections during the annual open enrollment period.
   
   
5. The retiree (and dependents) may continue coverage on NIC’s retiree health insurance policy until the first day of the month in which the retiree turns 65, or until the retiree is eligible for Medicare, whichever occurs last.
   
   
6. Covered dependents who lose coverage due to the retiree turning 65, will be eligible for COBRA for up to 36 months.
   
   
7. If the retiree dies while on this coverage, the dependent(s) will be eligible for COBRA continuation coverage but will not be eligible to use any of the retiree’s remaining sick leave balance.
   
   
8. Any exceptions to the above will be considered as a separate case by the Chief Human Resources Officer.

II. Retiree insurance costs and sick leave usage

An employee’s sick leave balance may be used to pay for certain retiree benefits.  When an employee retires, NIC reports the unused sick leave balance to PERSI and calculates the dollar value of the sick leave. Idaho Statute 67-5333(2) limits the sick leave hours an employee can convert based on the employee’s years of service.

For the purpose of determining the monetary value of unused sick leave, employees can convert up to half their existing sick leave balance based on the following parameters:

• 5 years – half of your accrued sick leave up to a maximum balance of 840 hours (balance of 840 accrued hours = 420 hours converted).
  
  
• 5 years but less than 10 years – half of your accrued sick leave up to a maximum balance of 960 hours (balance of 960 accrued hours = 480 hours converted).
  
  
• 10 years but less than 15 years – half of your accrued sick leave up to a maximum balance of 1080 hours (balance of 1080 accrued hours = 540 hours converted).
  
  
• 15 years or more – half of your accrued sick leave up to a maximum balance of 1200 hours (balance of 1200 accrued hours = 600 hours converted)

Retirees who are under age 65 are eligible to remain on NIC’s medical and dental insurance. Insurance costs are based on the retiree’s cumulative years of benefits eligible service with NIC as follows:

• 5 years but less than 10 years – Retiree may remain on a NIC retiree medical and/or dental insurance plan(s) only until their sick leave balance has been exhausted. The retiree will be responsible for 100 percent of the cost of coverage for themselves and their eligible dependents. Once the retiree has exhausted their sick leave balance, they are no longer eligible to remain on the retiree plan(s).
  
  
• 10 years but less than 25 years – Retiree may remain on a NIC retiree medical and/or dental insurance plan(s) and will pay 100 percent of the cost of coverage for themselves and their eligible dependents. Once the retiree has exhausted their sick leave balance, they may remain on the retiree plan(s) and pay 100 percent of the cost of coverage.
  
  
• 25 cumulative years or more – Retiree may remain on a NIC medical and/or dental plan(s) and pay the active employee cost of coverage for themselves and their eligible dependents. NIC will continue to cover the employer portion of premiums.  Once the retiree has exhausted their sick leave balance, they may remain on the retiree plan(s) and pay the active employee cost of coverage. 

Retirees who are 65 years of age at retirement or turn 65 while using accrued sick leave must enroll in Medicare and may be eligible to use their sick leave balance to pay for a Medicare Supplement or MedAdvantage plan.