Payroll & Employee Benefits

Permanent full-time and part-time employees earn annual vacation leave. To earn vacation leave in a given month, employees must be working or on paid leave during one-half or more of the workdays in a monthly pay period. Eligible part-time permanent employees earn leave equal to their percentage of full-time employment.

State regulations and policies established by local school systems govern when vacation leave may be taken. Unused vacation leave can be accumulated and a maximum of 30 days carried forward to the next fiscal year which begins on July 1st. On June 30th of each year, any accumulated days of vacation leave in excess of 30 days are converted to sick leave days.

When employees transfer among local educational agencies, vacation leave will also be transferred. Vacation leave may be transferred to a state agency if that agency is willing to accept it. Employees leaving the public schools will be paid for up to 30 days of accumulated leave. In case of death, the employee’s estate will receive payment for any accumulated vacation leave up to 30 days.

Vacation Leave Accrual Rates

Monthly Full-Time Accrual Rates

Permanent full-time and part-time employees who are working, or are on paid leave for one-half or more of the workdays in a monthly pay period, earn sick leave at the rate of one day per month. Eligible permanent part-time employees earn sick leave equal to their percentage of full-time employment. Sick leave may be granted for the following:

• Personal illness, injury, or other temporary disability
• Illness in the employee’s immediate family that necessitates the employee’s attendance
• Death in the immediate family
• Medical appointments

Sick leave may be accumulated indefinitely and is transferable among local school systems, and may be transferred to a state agency, community college or technical institute if the receiving agency is willing to accept the leave. Upon retirement, accrued sick leave may be applied toward creditable state service. If an employee separates from service prior to retirement, the sick leave balance will be held for 60 months (63 months for 10 and 11-month employees).

Certified teachers and instructional support in permanent positions, who require a substitute will earn two days of personal leave over the 10-month school term. When entering personal leave in AESOP, the employee must state a reason for the absence in "Notes to Administrator" to avoid incurring a charge. If no reason is stated, the employee will be charged the full cost of the substitute. Personal leave in excess of 5 days rolled over to sick leave on June 30. This leave is transferable amongst the NC State school systems. Personal leave cannot be advanced and is granted upon authorization of an employee's immediate supervisor. This type of leave is not normally provided on the first day of school, required teacher workdays, or the last day before or after a holiday or scheduled vacation day. In special situations, supervisors may approve leave which does not conform to these stipulations.

Only employees classified as nonexempt under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) who work more than 40 hours in a work week are eligible for overtime pay. Compensatory time in lieu of overtime pay may be given if agreed to by the employee and employer prior to the performance of the work. Compensatory time is calculated at the rate of one and one-half hours for each hour of overtime worked (holiday pay and leave pay are not time worked). Compensatory time may be accumulated to a maximum of 240 hours. When the maximum is reached, additional overtime work must be paid. If a non-exempt employee terminates employment, he/she must be paid for any unused compensatory leave. Compensatory time must be used before all other types of leave (annual, sick, and bonus).

Option 1:  Access frontline through ClassLink or login through the website using your Frontline ID and PIN number. You will be prompted with a calendar to choose your date, time, etc. If you need a substitute, you can assign one at the time of the absence OR you can let ESS find a substitute.

Options 2:  Call the the automated system at (800) 943-3767 and type in your ID and PIN. Or contact Rachel Nicholson with the specifics of your absence.

• If less than 3 days after the absence, contact Rachel Nicholson to enter your absence.
• If more than 3 days after the absence, contact your bookkeeper for assistance.

Dental benefits are offered through a self-insured plan based on the 80^th percentile of usual and customary. Employees are responsible for fees in excess of usual and customary. This plan allows you to use any dentist or specialist you choose. Claim payments may be paid to you or your dentist.

The dental benefits are offered through Superior Vision. Two plans are offered:
Plan 1: Exam & Materials
Plan 2: Materials

Superior Vision

Medical Reimbursement

A Health Care Flexible Spending Account (HCFSA) can be used to reimburse eligible health care expenses not reimbursed under any other plan. Covered expenses are for you and/or your tax dependents; including adult children through age 26:

• Reimburses eligible health care expenses not covered or reimbursed by other insurance.
• Covers expenses for your and/or your tax dependents; including adult children, through the end of the calendar year in which they turn 26.
• $2,500 maximum is NOT a household limit – your spouse can have a separate Health Care FSA.

Dependent Care Reimbursement

A Dependent Day Care Flexible Spending Account (DCFSA) can be used to reimburse daycare services provided to your children under age 13, as well as for an incapacitated child, parent or spouse. You are eligible if you are a single working parent, you have a working spouse, your spouse is a full-time student for at least five months during the plan year while you are working (refer to the IRS earned income limits for specific contribution levels), or your child, spouse or dependent parent is disabled and unable to provide for his or her own care.

• Reimburses eligible day care expenses for your:
  
  • children UNDER age 13
  • dependents on your federal tax return who are incapable of self-care
• You (and your spouse, if married) must be:
  
  • working,
  • looking for work (with income during the year), or
  • attending school full-time
• $5,000 maximum IS a household limit
  
  • includes child care subsidy amounts and other FSA dependent day care accounts
  • $2,500 maximum if married filing separately

Interactive Medical Systems

Cancer

Colonial Life’s Cancer Assist plan helps employees protect themselves and their loved ones through their diagnosis, treatment and recovery journey. This individual policy pays benefits that can be used for both medical and/or out-of-pocket, non-medical expenses traditional health insurance may not cover.

Medical Bridge Indemnity Benefits

Colonial Life’s hospital confinement indemnity insurance plan can help protect you against those out-of-pocket expenses related to a covered accident or covered sickness. The Hospital Confinement benefit is paid when any covered person is confined in a hospital or in an observation unit for at least 20 continuous hours.

Disability Benefits

Colonial Life’s Income Protection for School Personnel in North Carolina was designed especially to supplement existing state plans in North Carolina and help protect your paycheck. Benefits are payable for a covered sickness or injuries from a covered accident. You're eligible for most benefits from the first day of your covered accident (including weekends, holidays and summer vacation) with no waiting period. You're paid regardless of any other benefits you may have including sick days or workers comp. You can keep your policy at no increase in premium should you leave, change jobs or retire. Optional life insurance coverage to you and your dependents. Waiver or Premium is included. Normal pregnancy is covered the same as any other covered sickness

Accident Benefits

Colonial Life's Accident Insurance is designed to help you fill some of the gaps caused by increasing deductibles, co-payments and out-of-pocket costs related to an accidental injury. The benefit to you is that you may not need to use your savings or secure a loan to pay expenses. Plus you'll feel better knowing you can have greater financial security.

Group Critical Care Benefits

This cancer and specified disease coverage from Colonial Life & Accident Insurance Company offers the protection you need to concentrate on what is most important—your treatment, care and recovery.

Life Insurance

The last thing you or your family should have to worry about is the financial cost of losing a loved one. Funeral expenses, medical bills and taxes are just the tip of the iceberg. How would they cover ongoing living expenses such as the mortgage, healthcare and utilities? Plan for the future with Colonial Life’s Life insurance. Colonial Life offer’s Term Life, Universal Life, and Whole Life benefits options.

COLONIAL LIFe