Medical Insurance
You have a choice of six medical plans: Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Michigan; DMC CARE (PPO); Blue Care Network (HMO); Health Alliance Plan (HMO); Total Health Care (HMO) and Community Blue (PPO). The university provides a generous subsidy for employee and dependent premiums.
For new hires, coverage begins on the first of the month following or concurrent with your date of hire assuming Total Compensation and Wellness receives all completed forms within 30 days of your hire date. Our annual Open Enrollment period for the medical plans is in late fall with the new coverage beginning January 1.
Vision benefits are a part of the benefit package for certain employee groups. The vision coverage includes benefits for eye exams, glasses and contacts. The program features a $10 co-pay for the exam and a $10 co-pay for lenses and frames. Also included in the plan are discounts on laser surgery, sunglasses and other vision accessories. For more information on the vision plan, click here.
If you are covered by other health insurance, you may be eligible for a $100 per month cash in lieu of the medical insurance benefit. For members of the Graduate Employees Organizing Committee (GEOC) the cash in lieu of medical insurance benefit is $60 per month. A voluntary vision program that is 100% employee paid is available to Wayne State non-represented employees and employees represented by the P&A union who are not currently participating in a Wayne State University medical plan.
View the current rate schedules.
Life Insurance
Eligible employees are covered by a group term life insurance policy with The Hartford. The university pays for one-time salary basic coverage (minimum of $25,000). Supplemental coverage is available at one-time salary, two-times salary and three-times salary with a maximum death benefit of $750,000. Life insurance coverage amounts start to decrease on a graduated scale beginning at age 70. Our life insurance policy has an accidental death and dismemberment feature and includes a host of other services like travel assistance, will preparation, etc.
For new employees, if Total Compensation and Wellness receives completed forms within 30 days of the date of hire, coverage begins on the date of hire. Otherwise, coverage begins on the first of the month following receipt of the completed form.
These policies come with portability and conversion options upon termination of employment.
Dependent Life Insurance: You also have the opportunity to purchase term life insurance for your spouse and dependent at a group rate. The levels of coverage are: $10,000 per child and $20,000 for you spouse (including same-sex domestic partners).
Dental Insurance
Eligible employees have comprehensive dental coverage with the Delta Dental Plan of Michigan. For new hires, coverage begins on the first of the month following or concurrent with your date of hire assuming Total Compensation and Wellness receives your completed form within 30 days of your hire date.
The university pays the entire premium for all employees and their eligible enrolled dependents.
Retirement Program
Eligible employees may participate in the university’s voluntary tax-deferred 403(b)-retirement plan with TIAA-CREF and/or Fidelity Investments. As a defined contribution retirement plan, your retirement benefits are based on the amount you and the university contribute and the performance of the investments you select.
Upon attainment of age 26 and after completion of two years service (half time or more) employees become eligible for the university’s contribution. The waiting period for the university's contribution may be waived with previous eligible service.
All contributions are fully and immediately vested. This means you own the funds in your account including any university contributions regardless of your age or length of service at Wayne State University.
Eligible employees may participate in the retirement plan upon appointment even if not eligible for the university contribution.
Long-Term Disability Insurance
The long-term disability (LTD) plan provides a monthly income benefit equal to a percentage of your monthly wage base. Benefits commence after six months of permanent and total disability and are offset by other income benefits associated with your disability including but not limited to Social Security Benefits and Worker's Compensation. The university subsidizes the medical insurance for persons receiving LTD benefits. The university covers the cost of any existing life insurance coverage. The Hartford contributes up to 15% of your last day of work salary to the retirement plan for employees enrolled in the retirement plan on their last day of work.
The monthly income benefit equals 66-2/3% of your monthly wage base not to exceed a maximum benefit of $7,000 per month for most employee groups.
For most employee groups, long-term disability insurance coverage is effective on the first of the month following one year of 1/2-time or greater service. This waiting period may be waived with proof of prior employer group long-term disability coverage.
Tuition Assistance
We encourage employees to further their education by offering tuition assistance for courses offered at Wayne State University. During the academic school year (Fall, Winter and Spring/Summer terms) eligible employees can take the greater of two classes or six credit hours per term for two terms and the greater of one class or four credit hours for one term. Employees represented by P&A can take two classes or six credit hours per term. New employees must be on the payroll on the last day of Open Registration to register for a particular term. Employees must successfully complete the course and remain on the payroll for the entire term. Not available to AAUP-AFT faculty members.
Reduced Tuition for Spouse/Dependent Children
The reduced tuition program helps you to finance the Wayne State University education of your family members. A 50% reduction in WSU tuition costs is available for your dependents under age 26, your spouse or same-sex domestic partner. The dependent tuition benefit does not cover the registration fee or the omnibus fee. This benefit does not apply to medical school or law school and is applied after any grants and scholarships. You must be on the payroll the last day of Open Registration for your spouse/dependent to qualify for this benefit for a particular term.
Flexible Spending Accounts
This program allows employees to set aside dollars on a before-tax basis to pay for unreimbursed health care and dependent care expenses. Employees represented by the AAUP-AFT, Local 517-M, the International Union of Operating Engineers, P&A, Public Safety Officers, Local 1497 and all non-represented employees are eligible. Eligible employees must have one year or more of service as of January 1 and be employed 50% time or more. The enrollment period is during November with the benefit beginning on January 1.
Same Sex Domestic Partner Benefits
Employees represented by the AAUP-AFT, Staff Association and Professional & Administrative unions; the Graduate Employees Organizing Committee and all non-represented employees may add their same-sex domestic partner to their medical and dental plans. Eligible employees may also take advantage of the reduced tuition benefit for your partner.
Employee Assistance Program
The Employee Assistance Program (EAP) provides a confidential service for employees and their families to receive assistance with personal issues. Examples include: marital or family conflict, alcoholism, drug abuse and much more. Our EAP handles all concerns that affect the "quality" of people’s lives.
With our EAP, you also have access to LawPhone, which makes it easier to get the legal and financial help you need. You have access to a national network of 10,000 lawyers with experience in almost every area of the law, including divorce, child custody, adoption, bankruptcy, estate planning, taxes and even traffic violations.
The university contracts with Value Options to provide these confidential and professional counseling services. The telephone number is 1-800-852-0357.
Holidays
Employees receive paid time-off for eight national holidays: New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, the day after Thanksgiving and Christmas Day. In addition, most employees receive the days between Christmas and New Year’s as time-off with pay.
Vacation
Paid vacation-time benefits accrue based on years of service or job classification. Most job classifications become eligible for vacation time-off after either four or six months of employment. Vacation time accrues every pay period. Employees are referred to their labor contract/non-represented employee manual for the specifics of their entitlement.
Pay During Illness, Short-term Disability, Special Needs and Jury Duty
Paid time-off is available to eligible employees for: illness, short-term disabilities, special needs and jury duty. Eligibility and benefits vary by job classification. Employees are referred to their labor contract/non-represented employee manual for the specifics of their entitlement.
Social Security
Upon employment, you receive matching contributions from the university to fund your Social Security benefits. Currently, the FICA --- Federal Insurance Contributions Act --- portion of the match is 6.2% on the first $90,000 (in 2005). Another 1.45% of all your pay goes for the hospital insurance portion of Medicare, known as Part A.
Worker's Compensation
Upon employment, the university funds the cost of your protection for on-the-job injuries.
Credit Union
Participation in the Michigan First Credit Union (MFCU) is available to university employees. MFCU provides a complete array of financial services and payroll deduction services.
U.S. Savings Bonds
The university makes it possible for you to invest regularly in savings bonds through its payroll savings plan. Contact the National Bond and Trust Co. at 1-800-321-8024 for forms and information, or visit www.savingsbonds.gov.
University Events and Facilities
Employees have access to the many activities, programs and facilities offered by the university. Employees can attend musical and theatrical performances; lectures and other university-sponsored events free of charge or at reduced rates. University facilities such as libraries, bookstore, and athletic facilities are also open to employees.
Employee Discounts
There are a host of discounts on a variety of products (including automobiles), services, and entertainment available to Wayne State University employees.
Eligible Employee Groups
Includes the following employee groups: Faculty and Academic Staff represented by the American Association of University Professors-American Federation of Teachers Local 6075 (AAUP-AFT); non-represented clerical and technical staff; Staff Association Local 2071; American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Local 1497 (AFSCME); International Union of Operating Engineers Local 547 (IUOE); Service Employees International Local 517M (SEIU); Police Officers Labor Council (Public Safety Officers); Hotel Employees and Restaurant Employees Local 24 (HERE); Professional and Administrative Staff Local 1979 (P&A); Graduate Employees Organizing Committee (GEOC) and non-represented executive, administrative and professional staff. Employees in other classifications like technicians, part-time faculty and student assistants are not covered by these benefit plans.