Summary of King County Benefits

King County provides benefits to eligible employees (Career Service and TLT employees working 20 hours/week or the equivalent of half-time or greater) effective on the first calendar day of the month following the month in which the employee is hired; except if the employee's hire date is the first calendar day of the month, benefits begins on the day of hire.

More information about employee benefits is available on the county’s website at: http://www.metrokc.gov/employees/benefits/default.aspx

County Paid Benefits — no employee contribution toward cost of benefit is required

• Health Insurance (choice of several plans)
• Dental Plan
• Vision Plan
• Life Insurance — lump sum equal to annual base salary
• Accidental Death and Dismemberment (basic and enhanced)
• Basic Long Term Disability (LTD) — replaces 60% of earnings after 180-day waiting period
• Bus pass and other alternative transportation incentives
• Employee Assistance Program
• Making Life Easier Program

Retirement: Employees are covered under retirement plans provided through the Washington State Department of Retirement Systems and are covered by Social Security.

Holidays: 10 paid holidays per year plus 2 additional floating holidays administered through the vacation plan.

Vacation with Pay:

• Hire date through end of year 5: accrual at 12 days per year (available after first 6 months of employment)
  
• Beginning of year 6: accrual at 15 days per year
• Beginning of year 9: accrual at 16 days per year
• Beginning of year 11: accrual at 20 days per year
• Beginning of year 17: accrual at 21 days per year
• Beginning of year 18: accrual at 22 days per year
• Beginning of year 19: accrual at 23 days per year
• Beginning of year 20: accrual at 24 days per year
• Beginning of year 21: accrual at 25 days per year
• Beginning of year 22: accrual at 26 days per year
• Beginning of year 23: accrual at 27 days per year
• Beginning of year 24: accrual at 28 days per year
• Beginning of year 25: accrual at 29 days per year
• Beginning of year 26: accrual at 30 days per year

Sick Leave is accumulated at the rate of one day per month. There is no restriction on the amount of sick leave that can be accumulated and carried over to subsequent years. At retirement an employee will be paid 35% of their unused, accumulated sick leave. Non-represented employees and employees in certain bargaining units will receive this benefit as a payment to a VEBA account, which pays for post-retirement health benefits on a pre-tax basis.

Other leaves include:

• Bereavement leave (up to 3 days/year)
• Military leave
• Family medical leave
• King County medical leave
• Jury duty leave
• Organ donor leave
• Executive Leave (for eligible FLSA-exempt employees)

Voluntary Benefits — available at employee option and at employee expense

• Deferred Compensation Plan (no employer match) IRS 457 Plan
• Enhanced Long Term Disability — reduce waiting period/increase monthly benefit
• Additional Life Insurance — 1 to 4 times your base annual salary for yourself and 50% of your enhanced amount for your spouse/domestic partner; and $10,000 for each child
• Additional Accidental Death and Dismemberment coverage for employee and family
• Credit Union membership
• Flexible Spending Accounts – Health and Dependent Care
• HRA Voluntary Employee Beneficiary Association (VEBA) Trust upon retirement

NOTE: This is a general description of the benefits offered through employment with King County, and every effort has been made to ensure its accuracy. If any information on this document conflicts with the provisions of a collective bargaining agreement, the CBA prevails. Also, in the event of any incorrect information in this document, applicable laws, policies, rules, collective bargaining agreements or official plan documents will prevail.

Updated: December 19, 2006