Benefits Information

Summary of Benefits

Welcome to United Way of Metropolitan Chicago (UWMC).  We are pleased to have you join in our mission to improve lives by mobilizing caring people to invest in the community where their resources are needed the most.

As an employee of UWMC, your compensation is more than a paycheck.  You receive a competitive benefits package designed to meet the needs of today’s diverse workforce.  Below is a synopsis of the benefit packages available to all eligible employees.  During your orientation to UWMC, we will provide you with detailed information and Plan documents to assist you with enrolling in the benefits of your choice.  To assist you in preparing for your orientation, we have highlighted basic information that is important for you to know.

Medical Plan

UWMC Offers BlueCross and BlueShield of Illinois (BCBSIL) medical insurance to all eligible employees, spouses and or dependents. We offer three plan options for you to choose from:

BluePrint PPO and BlueChoice Select

Both plans offer access to a network of doctors, hospitals, and treatment facilities that have agreed to charge a lower, negotiated rate for care.  The main difference between the two plans is that the BlueChoice Select has a smaller network of providers.  There is a co-payment associated with this plan and you have the option of receiving care in or out-of-network.  When you visit an in-network provider, the plan covers more of your expenses.

Blue Advantage HMO

Both HMO plans consist of a network of providers that agree to charge negotiated rates for health care services.  The main difference between the two plans is the Blue Advantage HMO has a smaller network of providers.  These plans require that your care be coordinated through a Primary Care Physician participating in the HMO network.  When you receive care from an HMO provider, it is generally covered at 100% with no deductible.  All you pay is a co-payment.  To find a provider, please visit www.bcbsil.com.

Dental Plan

UWMC offers Guardian Dental Coverage to all eligible employees.  There are two plan options for you to choose from, a DHMO and a PPO plan.  The DHMO plan requires that your care be coordinated through a Primary Care Dentist participating in the HMO network. The PPO plan allows you to visit in-network and out-of network dental providers.  In-network providers will always cover more of the costs and reduces your out of pocket costs due to discounts.  Find out if your dentist is in Guardian’s network at www.guardianlife.com

Flexible Spending Account

Employees are eligible to participate in three types of Flexible Spending Accounts:  Medical Reimbursement, Dependent Day Care, and Commuter Reimbursement.  Employees are eligible to participate on the first day of the calendar month, 30 days from the date on which employment commences and are allowed a maximum election of $5,000 a year for health care expenses and $5,000 a year for dependent care expenses.

• A health care account allows you to pay for health care expenses not covered by your medical and dental plans.
• A dependent care account allows you to pay for charges that you incur for the care of your dependents up to age 13.

Commuter Reimbursement Account allows you to use pre-tax dollars to pay for parking and commuting expenses. These expenses are deducted from your paycheck before taxes lowering your taxable income so you pay less tax. Participants elect to have a specified amount of funds deducted from gross earnings each pay period. These pre-tax dollars are set aside in a Commuter Reimbursement Account to be reimbursed when a qualified expense is incurred. To be reimbursed, funds must’ve been contributed and the expense incurred. Participants can submit a claim form with their expense receipt or use their AmeriFlex Convenience Card to access funds. Eligible expenses are:

• Parking Expenses
• Transit Pass Expenses
• Commuter Highway Vehicle (Van-Pool) Expenses

The maximum amount you may contribute is $230/month for parking expenses and $120/month for Transit Pass Expenses and Commuter Highway Vehicle (Van-Pool) Expenses (combined total). Elections can be made every year and are locked in each year.  Expenses must be incurred in the current calendar year and reimbursement requested by the 15th of the third month after end of calendar year.

Bright Start Illinois’ 529 College Savings Plan

UWMC offers Bright Start, a Section 529 education savings program created and administered by the state of Illinois.  It allows you to save money toward your future student’s education in a Bright Start account and you pay no taxes on any earnings.

Life Insurance & Accidental Death & Dismemberment (AD&D)

UWMC provides you with basic employee term life insurance at two times your base salary rounded up to the next higher $1,000, subject to a maximum of $500,000 at no cost to you.

Long Term Disability (LTD)

Employees are eligible for Long Term Disability after 90 days of continuous service.  Employees who are disabled for more than 180 days because of injury or sickness are provided 60% of base monthly earnings to a maximum benefit of $6,000 per month in which an employee is totally disabled and absent from work.

Short Term Disability (STD) provided by Allstate

Allstate’s Short-Term Disability insurance policy provides you with options to help meet your income and financial needs. STD will be paid at approximately 60% of base salary for the 1st day due to an injury and 7^th, 14^th, or 30^th day due to a sickness. Under STD policy employees are eligible for pay for up to 180 days. Contact an Allstate Representative for more details.

Family Medical Leave (FMLA)

Eligible employees are entitled to up to 12 weeks of job-protected, unpaid family or medical leave due to the birth or adoption of a child, a serious health condition for a family member or serious health condition for yourself in a rolling 12 month period.

403(b) Savings Program–Thrift

The employer will match 50% of the employee’s contributions, up to a match amount equivalent to 6% of the employee’s salary. All employees are eligible regardless of age and service time with the exception of temporary employees and sponsored loaned executives. Each employee is eligible to make salary reduction contributions from $10.00 up to the maximum allowable by law. For the year 2011 this amount is 100% of salary up to $16,500.00. Employees over the age of 50 will be eligible to contribute an additional $5,500.00 catch-up contribution. All employer contributions are immediately 100% vested. All employee contributions plus interest are immediately 100% vested.

Vacation

New employees are eligible for 1 day of vacation on their first day of employment and will receive 1 day of vacation for each successive month of employment. Vacation is awarded based on years of service. Employees can carry over a maximum of 5 unused vacation days per year.

Sick Days

As of January 1^st, full-time employees receive 6 sick days.  Sick leave time is prorated if hired after January 1^st. Unused sick days may be carried over to the following year to a maximum of 12 days to coordinate with the organization’s short-term disability program.

Personal Days

Full-time employees receive 2 Personal Days on January 1^st.  Personal leave time is prorated if hired after January 1^st.

Holidays

UWMC provides paid time-off to all regular full-time and part-time staff.  (Holidays:  New Years Day, Martin Luther King Jr., Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, Day after Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day).

Bereavement Leave

In the event of the death of a member of the immediate family, as defined in the policy, leave may be granted from 3-5 days.

Employee Assistance Program

The Employee Assistance Program (EAP) provides all employees and their families with a source of outside professional counseling when experiencing problems of a personal or work-related nature.  This program is an immediate “barrier-free” access to professional counselors 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, toll free.

Jury Duty Leave

In the event you are summoned to jury duty, time off will be paid.

Military Leave of Absence

Employees who serve in the uniformed services are eligible for a military leave of absence. If you have questions or concerns, please feel free to contact the following members of the Talent Management Department:

• Sandra Kay-Weaver – Vice President, Talent Management - 312-906-2353 – Sandra.Kay-Weaver@uw-mc.org
• Verna Sutton – HR Generalist – 312-906-2352 – verna.sutton@uw-mc.org
• DeAngelo Jones – HR Representative – 312.906.2485 – deangelo.jones@uw-mc.org