Health Insurance
In order to provide options and flexibility for employees, the District
provides a cafeteria health plan. Employees are provided with a monthly
contribution in which to purchase health benefits including major medical,
prescription drugs, dental, vision, life and long-term disability insurance.
The District currently provides employees with both an HMO and a PPO
option. To ensure that our workforce stays healthy, employees are required
to enroll themselves in the plan. The remaining contribution may be used to
purchase dependent coverage, enhanced life insurance, enhanced long-term
disability insurance, or may be taken in cash. Through this plan, employees
have the opportunity to design a custom benefit package just for them and
their families.
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Tax Deferred Programs
Through an IRS 125 Plan, all District health insurance premiums are paid
with pre-taxed dollars. In addition, employees have the opportunity to
establish two extra tax exempt accounts – one for child care and one for
unreimbursed medical expenses. Upon your initial employment with the
District, and annually thereafter, employees have the opportunity to
designate the amounts they want contributed to each of these accounts. It is
a great way to save some money by lowering your taxable income!
The District also offers a voluntary deferred compensation plan.
Employees can shelter up to $15,500 per year in this savings plan. Our
current administrator, ITT Hartford, provides a wide variety of investment
opportunities, as well as on-line customer service for your convenience.
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Paid Leave Benefits
The District has an annual leave program which combines vacation and sick
leave. During the first year of employment, an employee accrues 160 hours of
paid leave. For each year of continuous employment, an employee increases
their leave accrual by 8 hours, up to a maximum accrual of 280 hours per
year. After an employee reaches a leave balance of 560 hours, hours
accumulated over 560 are paid off in cash.
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Holidays
The District observes 10 paid holidays per year: New Year’s day, Martin
Luther King Jr. Day, President’s Day, Memorial Day, July 4th,
Labor Day, Veteran’s Day, Thanksgiving Day, the Friday after Thanksgiving,
and Christmas Day. In addition, employees are provided with one floating
holiday to use anytime during the year.
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Retirement
District employees are members of the Kern County Retirement Association.
As a 1937 Act Retirement System, the Kern County Retirement Association has
reciprocity with most other public retirement systems. This benefit allows
employees to maintain credit in one retirement account while moving from one
public agency to another. The District currently contributes 28.77% of an
employee’s salary into their retirement account, while employees
contribute between 3% & 6% depending upon their age at the time they
enter the system. Employees are vested in the system after five years of
service and are eligible to retire at age 50.
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Alternate Transportation Incentives
In an effort to encourage employees to ride-share, take the bus, bicycle,
or utilize available alternate transportation methods, the District provides
preferred car-pool parking, secured bicycle storage, and a cash incentive to
those that use alternate transportation.
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Credit Union Membership
Voluntary membership in the Fresno, Kern, and Stanislaus County credit
unions is available to all staff. Services to members include loans,
checking accounts, savings accounts, direct deposit of paychecks, and
discounts on purchases and amusements.
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Flexible Work Schedule
The District operates a 9/80 work schedule. Work hours for District
employees are 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday. On the first
Friday of the two week pay period, employees work from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00
p.m. The second Friday of the pay period, employees are off and the District
offices are closed. This means that every other weekend is a three day
weekend!
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Employee Assistance Program
Because personal problems can effect anyone at any time, the District
offers you and your dependents the services of AVANTE , an Employee
Assistance Program. AVANTE is a short-term counseling, referral, and
follow-up service for those who need assistance in dealing with life’s
stresses. AVANTE services are free and confidential.
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