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Employee Benefits
Insurance
The Town provides group health and hospitalization insurance for regular full-time and part-time employees*. Employees may purchase dependent coverage through the Town’s group health plan, but the employee assumes the majority of the cost for dependent coverage.
* Benefits for part-time employees are pro-rated based on a 40-hour work week.
The Town provides dental coverage for regular full and part-time employees*. Dependent coverage is available, but the employee assumes the entire cost for dependent coverage.
* Benefits for part-time employees are pro-rated based on a 40-hour work week.
The Town provides a separate vision policy for regular full and part-time employees*. Dependent coverage is available, but the employee assumes the entire cost for dependent coverage.
* Benefits for part-time employees are pro-rated based on a 40-hour work week.
The Town provides a life insurance policy of one times salary with a minimum of $25,000 to all regular full-time and part-time employees. In addition, after completing one year of employment, a death benefit is provided through the North Carolina Local Government Employees’ Retirement System. The payment equals the highest 12 months of salary in a row during the 24 months prior to death, but no less than $25,000 and no more than $50,000. In addition, employees may purchase supplemental term and whole life insurance coverage through UNUM.
* Benefits for part-time employees are pro-rated based on a 40-hour work week.
Paid Leave
Paid vacation is granted to all regular employees. The vacation earning rate for full-time employees working 40 hours per week is as follows. Leave earning is pro-rated for employees working more or less than 40 hours per week.
| Years of Service | Hours Accrued Per Year |
|---|---|
| Less than 2 years | 80 |
| 2 through 4 | 96 |
| 5 through 9 | 120 |
| 10 through 14 | 144 |
| 15 through 19 | 168 |
| 20 plus | 192 |
Full-time employees earn 96 paid sick leave hours per year which are pro-rated for employees working more or less than 40 hours per week. Sick leave hours are accrued each pay period an employee works. The Town accepts a transfer of all sick leave balances from previous employers when the employee is an active member of the Local or State retirement system.
The Town provides up to 3 days (24 hours) of paid leave to employees who have experienced a death with an immediate family member.
Employees who have completed one year of service with the Town are eligible for eight weeks of paid parental leave for the purpose of bonding and caring for a newborn or a child placed for adoption / foster care or guardianship within 12 months of the qualifying event. Paid parental leave is not charged to vacation or sick leave and runs concurrently with Family Medical Leave.
Employees who have completed one year of service with the Town of Apex and who qualify for Family Medical Leave are eligible for up to three (3) weeks of Paid Caregiver Leave to care for an immediate family member with a serious health condition. Paid caregiver leave is not charged to vacation or sick leave and runs concurrently with Family Medical Leave.
Exempt employees may earn up to a maximum of 40 hours of “professional leave” for hours worked in excess of their normal work schedule.
Retirement
Each employee who is expected to work for the Town more than 1,000 hours annually will join the North Carolina Local Government Retirement System when eligible as a condition of employment, starting the first day of employment. A six percent (6%) employee contribution is deducted from pay for the retirement plan. An employee becomes vested in the retirement plan after 5 years of contributing service.
The Town contributes five percent (5%) of salary toward the NC 401K Supplemental Retirement Plan for each employee. Employees are immediately vested in the 401K plan. Employees may elect to make voluntary contributions to this plan or to a 457 Deferred Compensation Plan.
Holidays
Full and part-time employees receive 13 paid holidays per year. Employees required to work a holiday are provided with holiday premium pay for all hours worked.
Police and Fire employees working a shift schedule receive holiday pay for every holiday the Town observes, regardless of whether they work the holiday or not. Shift employees who work on a holiday will receive time and a half for all hours worked on the holiday, in addition to the holiday pay for that day.
Regular employees who have completed the new hire probationary period will receive one (1) paid floating holiday per fiscal year that may be used for personal reasons such as: religious observances, parent-teacher conferences or to supplement vacation, sick and holiday leave.
Other Perks
All employees have the option of joining the North Carolina Local Government Employees’ Credit Union. In order to retain membership in the Credit Union, employees must have a minimum of $25 on deposit.
The Town offers longevity pay to recognize and reward the total years of service as a regular employee. Longevity pay is a lump sum payment given once a year. Payments are made in the following amounts:
| Years of Service | Longevity Amount |
|---|---|
| 2 through 4 years | $100 |
| 5 through 9 years | $300 |
| 10 through 13 years | $500 |
| 14 through 19 years | $600 |
| 20 plus years | $700 |
The Town provides a variety of ways to recognize and show appreciation to employees throughout the year. All regular full and part-time employees are eligible for the Town’s “Gotcha,” “On-the-Spot,” and “Employee of the Year” awards, where they can be recognized by their coworkers and supervisors for going above and beyond and exhibiting our Peak Principles of Performance, Empowerment, Accountability, and Knowledge. Employees also receive a $10 gift card on their birthday, and special gifts for reaching years of service milestones.
Tuition assistance is available to those employees who have completed the initial probation and wish to further their education and training. Employees may receive financial assistance up to $2,500 per fiscal year for courses relating to their present job or to a future position with the Town of Apex.
Voluntary Benefits
The Town of Apex provides employees and family members with confidential counseling to help resolve problems that may impact their work or personal lives. This is a free service.
The Town offers employees the option of participating in flexible spending accounts for IRS-qualifying medical and dependent care expenses.
Employees may voluntarily purchase short-term disability insurance through UNUM. The short term disability plan covers injuries and illnesses which occur outside the workplace. Employees receive a benefit amount of 60% of their salary, up to $700 per week. Benefits begin after a 14-day waiting period and may last for up to 24 weeks.
WORKERS COMPENSATION
All Town employees (full-time and part-time) are covered under the North Carolina Worker’s Compensation Act. This act covers those employees who suffer injuries as a result of an accident while performing duties. Responsibility for claiming compensation under the Workers Compensation Act is on the injured employee, and such claims must be filed by the employee with the North Carolina Industrial Commission within two years from the date of injury.