EMPLOYEE BENEFITS

EMPLOYEE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM

        The administration of the City wants all employees to be fully informed on policies and procedures affecting them and to provide every opportunity for employees to express opinions, to discuss their problems and misunderstandings, and to seek information they feel they need.

        All levels of management, to the best of their ability, will inform, listen to and counsel with employees on all matters affecting them. Management recognizes the right of the employee to discuss problems without fear of retribution or prejudice. Employees desiring information or wishing to discuss a problem may contact their supervisor, department head, or personnel department, who will make every effort to assist them.

        The City also has available for our employees an Employee Assistance Program. This information will be issued to you along with your Drug Free Workplace Manual. All employees will receive an I.D. Card for this program.

INSURANCE PLANS

        All full time permanent employees are provided with health and life insurance after satisfactorily completing six (6) months probation period. Disability insurance is provided after eighteen (18) months service.

HEALTH INSURANCE

        The premium for single employee coverage is paid in full by the City. Employees desiring coverage for their spouse and/or dependent children may purchase it through payroll deduction. Details of the benefits are outlined in the group insurance booklet that is provided at the time the employee is included in the plan. Employees with questions or problems concerning their health insurance should contact the Personnel Office.

OPTIONAL DEPENDENT COVERAGE PROGRAM

        Employees may elect to join this plan as a full time employee. Any employee who elects to become a member of this plan shall receive a credit toward the cost of dependent health insurance coverage that sum of money equal to forty-eight (48) hours of pay at their regular hourly rate of forty (40) hours per week employees, payable by the city in equal installments beginning October 1st of each year that the employee is a member of the plan. Employees electing coverage under this plan shall earn sick leave at the rate of eight (8) hours per quarter.

LIFE INSURANCE

        The premium for each employee is paid by the City. A benefactor is named by the employee at the time you are included in the plan. Life insurance is based on your rate of pay.

    Below $7.22         -$5,000

    $7.22-$9.61         -$7,500

    $9.62 & above     -$10,000

    Police & Fire         -$5,000

    Division Heads       -$10,000

    Department Heads -$Salary

ACCIDENT & SICKNESS DISABILITY INSURANCE

        The premium for each employee is paid by the City. This benefit is paid to you in the event your are said to be totally disabled by a Medical Doctor after completion of eighteen (18) months of employment. Total disability means you are unable due to sickness or injury, to perform the main duties of your regular occupation. Total disability which is the result of a pregnancy or it's complications is payable on the same basis as any other sickness. If you engage in employment for wage or profit, you are not TOTALLY DISABLED.

        Payment of weekly benefits will begin on the fourteenth (14) day of your sickness and will pay twenty (20) hours per week at your current salary. Payment of weekly benefits will end on the last day total disability ends, with a maximum period of twenty-six (26) weeks paid to you.

RETIREES HEALTH COVERAGE AND DEATH BENEFIT

         The City will provide health insurance benefits for employees who retire at the conclusion of ten years' continues full-time employment with the City Of Bartow as follows;

        The City will furnish health insurance coverage to supplement Medicare at City expense for an employee retiring on or after his 65th birthday. Medicare coverage will be the primary insurance. The retiree may obtain health insurance benefits for eligible dependents through the City's group insurance plan at the retiree's expense.

Individuals retiring before reaching the age of 62 may purchase health insurance through the City's group plan at retiree's expense as provided by COBRA for longer periods with approval of the City Manager.

        An employee that retires with ten (10) years of service will receive a one thousand dollar ($1,000) death benefit payable to their designated beneficiary upon their death.

RETIREMENT PROGRAM

        Effective October 01, 2002 all general employees will participate in a mandatory General Employees Pension Plan. A mandatory contribution is required for all employees. The percentage of the contribution may or may not change from year to year. The Police and Fire departments have retirement plans as outlined in the Florida Statutes.

        The City provides a deferred compensation plan through Hartford Insurance Company, which permits a portion of your salary to be withheld and invested for payment to you at a later date. Neither the deferred amount nor earnings on the investments are subject to current federal income taxes. Taxes are paid when the deferred income is received by you, presumably at retirement when you are in a lower income bracket. 

        The maximum contribution may not exceed the maximum contribution allowed by federal law.  Withdrawal of these funds prior to retirement must be approved by the City Manager and in the event of an extreme emergency as defined by the Internal Revenue Code.

HOLIDAYS

        There are ten (10) paid holidays for full time City employees. These holidays shall be:

                New Year's Day                Martin Luther King Day

                Labor Day                         Good Friday

                Thanksgiving Day               Memorial Day

                Day after Thanksgiving        Independence Day

                Christmas Eve                    Christmas

PERSONAL DAYS

        Each full-time employee shall receive two (2) Personal Days each October 1 that must be taken by September 30th of each year. Personal days are not available to employees who have not completed their probationary period.

VACATION

        Vacation time shall be accrued on a per pay period basis in the following amounts:

            During the first five (5)  years of continuous service ---   80 hours per year

           After five (5) years of continuous service  --- 120 hours per year

           After sixteen (16) years  continuous service ---  160 hours per year

SICK LEAVE

         Sick leave shall be accrued at the rate of  (8) hrs. per month for all general employees Police and Firefighters shall accumulate sick leave as defined in each union contract. City shall notify each employee of the amount of accrued sick leave on the bi-weekly pay checks. Pregnancy shall be treated as any other illness.

        If an employee either retires or resigns with a minimum of seven (7) completed years of continuous service with the City of Bartow and has a minimum of one hundred and sixty (160) hours accrued sick leave, he shall be paid for accrued sick leave upon resignation or retirement at the following rates:

            7-15 years completed service             30% of accrued sick leave

            16-20 years completed service            40% of accrued sick leave

            Over 20 years completed service        50% of accrued sick leave

CATASTROPHIC LEAVE

        An employee electing the Optional Dependent Coverage Plan shall receive 240 hours of catastrophic sick leave which could be available to them if the following conditions are met.

        Catastrophic sick leave shall be used solely for non-work related injuries or illnesses.

        Catastrophic sick leave may not be used for the first seven (7) days of illness or injury. If the illness or injury results in an absence of fourteen (14) days, the catastrophic sick leave may be applied from the commencement of the illness or injury.

        Catastrophic leave shall be used only if the employee exhausts his existing sick leave accumulation.

        Verification of illness or injury by a physician is required.

ELECTION TIME OFF

        Employees are expected to make arrangements to vote outside of their regular working hours if possible. Employees who are required to be on duty during the entire time the polls are open may be granted not more than one hour by the City in which to vote. If more time is required, employees should arrange to vote by absentee ballot or to take the necessary annual leave.

FUNERAL LEAVE

         Each employee shall be allowed three (3) days funeral leave in the event of a verified death in the family. In the case of a funeral held outside of the state, this time may be extended to a maximum of five (5) days at the sole discretion of the City. Death in the family shall be defined as the death of a spouse, child, mother, father of the employee or employee's spouse, grandmother, grandfather, grandchild, brother or sister of employee or employee's spouse. Funeral leave shall be for the purpose of attending the funeral of the deceased and shall be denied to any employee who without cause, approved by the City, fails to attend the funeral. Funeral leave for death of other members of the employee's household may be allowed from accumulated sick leave not to exceed three (3) days.

LINE OF DUTY INJURY PAY

        The City agrees to pay the following compensation to any employee in the line of duty in accordance with the following definitions, terms and conditions:

        Compensation shall be payable with respect to disability as the result of injury to an employee where such injury is incurred in the line of duty.

    An injury shall be deemed to have been incurred in the line of duty if and only if such injury is compensable under the Florida Workmen's Compensation Law. All injuries must be reported to your immediate supervisor at the time it happens and within twenty four (24) hours of the time of accident or injury.

        The amount of compensation paid shall be the amount required to supplement funds received from the Florida Workmen's Compensation Law and any other disability or other income plan provided by the City, either by law or by agreement, to the point where the sum of the supplement herein provided and all other payments herein described equal the employee's weekly wage at the time of the injury.

        No compensation shall be allowed for the first seven (7) days of disability; provided, however, that if the injury results in disability of more than fourteen (14) days, compensation shall be paid from the commencement of the disability.

        The term disability means incapacity because of the line of duty injury to earn in the same or any other employment the wages which the employee was receiving at the time of injury.

        It is the intent to provide supplemental compensation for line of duty injuries only, and shall not be construed to provide compensation i the event of death or injury incurred in any manner other than in the line of duty. In the event of any dispute or disagreement concerning the interpretation of the terms, then the decisions concerning definition of those terms under the Florida Workmen's Compensation Law shall control.

        The maximum period for which payment may be made shall be thirteen (13) weeks from the date of injury for each injury, including recurrences thereof. No payment made by the City during said period shall be charged against any sick leave which the employee may have accrued. Injuries which occur off the job are subject to the sick leave policy and available sick leave time or annual leave time.

EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE

        The City will reimburse an employee for schooling that the employee has completed with a passing grade and considered beneficial in the performance of your job. This is subject to the City Manager's approval before the class has begun on all courses.

MEETINGS

        The City may grant employees leave with pay to attend professional and technical conferences, short courses or other meetings when such attendance is deemed to be in the best interest of the City of Bartow.

SERVICE AWARDS

        Service awards are presented for full time continuous service with the City. You will receive your first award after five years of employment; thereafter, they are presented at five year intervals up to thirty five years' service. These awards are symbols of dedication and public service.

GIFT CERTIFICATES

        The City distributes gift certificates to employees during the Christmas holiday season to purchase a turkey or ham, which is a welcome benefit at this particular time.

CREDIT UNION

        The Imperial Polk Employees Credit Union is available to all City employees. It provides the employee the opportunity to save and make payments on loans through payroll deductions. The credit union office may be contacted for details.