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INCENTIVE PROGRAMS

In September 2000, the Commonwealth adopted a new compensation program that gives agencies several tools for rewarding employees' development and accomplishments. The program includes annual performance increases, in-range salary adjustments of up to 10% per year, and recognition awards of up to $1000 per year. There is also a service award program, an employee suggestion program, and additional incentives for employees in hard-to-fill positions. Incentive programs are subject to the availability of funds.

LEAVE

  • Annual Leave (Vacation) - Accrual is based on years of state service and is recorded at the end of each semi-monthly pay period. A maximum amount of accumulated leave may be carried over at the end of the leave calendar year, defined as January 10th to January 9th. Subject to the supervisor's approval, employees may use annual leave incrementally as soon as it is earned. The following chart explains the accrual rate and maximum carryover of hours for full-time employees.
    • Annual Leave Policy

    Years of Service Accrual Rate per Pay Period Total Hours Accrued per Year Maximum Leave Carryover
    Less than 5 years 4 hours 96 hours (12 days) 192 hours (24 days)
    5 years 5 hours 120 hours (15 days) 240 hours (30 days)
    10 years 6 hours 144 hours (18 days) 288 hours (36 days)
    15 years 7 hours 168 hours (21 days) 336 hours (42 days)
    20 years 8 hours 192 hours (24 days) 384 hours (48 days)
    25 years 9 hours 216 hours (27 days) 432 hours (54 days)

     

  • Family and Medical Leave - Eligible employees are provided with up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave due to the birth of a child, or for adoption or foster care of a child, or to provide care for a family member (child, spouse, or parent) with a serious health condition, or because the employee's own serious health condition makes him or her unable to do his or her job. In some cases, employees may be able to use their personal leave balances to receive pay during these periods. FMLA Policy


  • School Assistance Leave - Up to 8 hours of leave per calendar year can be used to participate in school activities, including performing volunteer work at schools. School Assistance Leave Policy

12 PAID HOLIDAYS

  • New Year's Day
  • Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
  • Memorial Day
  • Labor Day
  • Veteran's Day
  • Christmas Day
  • Lee-Jackson Day
  • George Washington's Birthday
  • Independence Day
  • Columbus Day
  • Thanksgiving (2 days)

 

 

 

 

 

VIRGINIA SICKNESS AND DISABILITY PROGRAM

Eligible state employees receive sick leave, family and personal leave, and short and long-term disability benefits. The program provides up to 10 days of sick leave and up to five days of family and personal leave per year, based on the employee's length of service (with no carry-over from year to year) and up to 125 workdays of short-term disability coverage. Income replacement levels during the use of short-term disability begin at 100 percent, reduce to 80 percent, then to 60 percent of salary. The number of days of income replacement at each level depends on the employee's length of state service at the time of disability.

After 125 workdays of short-term benefits, long-term disability begins with an income replacement level of 60% of salary.


HEALTH INSURANCE

A statewide plan with additional coverage options and a regional health plan serving Northern Virginia are offered to full-time classified employees, faculty and their dependents. The state pays a percentage of each employee's premium. Employees pay health care premiums with pre-tax dollars. The Commonwealth offers the following health plans:

  • Statewide - The following plan and options for additional coverage are offered by the Commonwealth throughout Virginia and administered by Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield. Worldwide coverage is provided as part of the plan through the Blue Cross and Blue Shield network.

    Statewide Plan:
    COVA Care Basic Plan - additional information

    Additional Coverage Options (with extra premium):
    COVA Care Basic plus:
    Out -of- Network
    Expanded Dental
    Out-of-Network and Expanded Dental
    Vision, Hearing and Expanded Dental
    Out-of-Network Vision, Hearing and Expanded Dental

  • Regional - The Kaiser Permanente HMO plan is available in the Northern Virginia area.

  • Flexible Reimbursement Accounts (FRAs) - The dependent care and medical care reimbursement accounts allow employees to be reimbursed for certain dependent care and medical expenses with pre-tax dollars.

  • Additional Health Insurance Information

WELLNESS PROGRAM

CommonHealth is an employee wellness program available to Commonwealth of Virginia employees as a part of their state benefits package. Through CommonHealth, employees are able to identify potential health risks and learn how to make positive lifestyle changes to reduce or eliminate those risks, and start them on the way to wellness. CommonHealth is offered to all Virginia state employees who work at participating agencies and their covered family members over the age of 18 living in their homes.

EMPLOYEE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM

All health plans offered to state employees and their dependents have employee assistance programs. Included are up to four sessions for such services as mental health, alcohol or drug abuse assessment, child or elder care, grief counseling and legal or financial services. Additional information


RETIREMENT PLAN

Membership in the retirement plan (defined benefit plan) is automatic and paid by the state. Employees become vested with the accumulation of five years of credited service. A vested member is eligible to receive a reduced retirement benefit at age 55 with at least five years of service. Employees can receive a reduced benefit as early as age 50 with at least 10 years of state service. Employees can retire with unreduced benefits at age 50 with at least 30 years of service or age 65 with at least five years of state service. The unreduced monthly retirement benefit is calculated as 1.7% times the years of creditable service, times the employee's average monthly salary during their highest 36 consecutive months of creditable compensation. Additional information

GROUP LIFE INSURANCE

Upon employment full-time classified employees automatically are enrolled in a group life insurance policy at no cost the employee. This plan provides natural death, accidental death and dismemberment coverage. Coverage is the equivalent of two times the employee's annual salary for natural death and four times the employee's annual salary for accidental death. Additional information

OPTIONAL LIFE INSURANCE

State employees are eligible to apply for optional life insurance coverage to enroll themselves, spouse, and/or eligible children. The employee pays the premiums. Additional information

DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLAN (457b)

This program is a voluntary retirement savings program available to full-time salaried employees through payroll deduction on a pre-tax basis. The current maximum annual contribution is 25 percent of salary or $8,500, whichever is less.

VIRGINIA CASH MATCH PLAN

This program is an employer-paid cash match program for qualified state employees who are making contributions to the Deferred Compensation Plan. The employer match amount is 50 percent of the employee's contribution to the Deferred Compensation Plan or $20 per pay period ($40 per month), whichever is less.


 TELECOMMUTING

This program allows agencies to designate employees to work in their homes or other alternate work locations. Additional information

EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE

Virginia State Government provides provisions for educational assistance. Such assistance varies
and is dependent upon the policies and procedures of individual state agencies.

 

 
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