SAMPLING OF BENEFITS - PART OF OUR COMMITMENT TO OFFER YOU A BETTER WORKING EXPERIENCE
The supportive culture at the U.S. Coast Guard is as
dynamic as our American role, as evidenced by our desirable benefits. As a
Civilian U.S. Coast Guard employee, you will receive many benefits that
are equal to, or better than, the comparable benefits package in private
industry. It's all part of our commitment to offer you a better working
experience. Below is a sampling of the benefits we offer.
PART-TIME EMPLOYMENT
Part-time employment may include Professional,
Administrative, Technical, Trades and Labor, Administrative Support, and
other occupations. When you work for the U.S. Coast Guard, you will
encounter daily challenges and opportunities that will build a solid
foundation for your future. You will also enjoy the latest and most
sophisticated computer, telecommunications, and data management
technology.
Some part-time positions may be eligible for a comprehensive benefits
package that includes health benefits, paid training, paid holidays, paid
vacations, and paid sick days.
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VACATION AND MORE
As a full-time government employee, you will earn 13 days
of annual leave each year for your first 3 years; 20 days of leave for
3-14 years of service; and 26 days for 15 years or more. You may carryover
up to 30 days (240 hours) of annual leave each year.
Prior government employment, including military service, may apply to your
leave accrual rate.
You will also earn 13 days worth of sick leave each year. There are no
limits on the amount of sick leave that can be accumulated.
We also grant excused absences (administrative leave), with supervisory
approval, for several situations including: voting; ceremonies and
official functions; funerals; blood donations; and other situations.
We participate in the Family and Medical Leave Act, the Family Friendly
Leave Act, Bone Marrow-Organ Donor Leave Program, and other leave-related
programs.
We wholeheartedly support the Uniformed Services Employment and
Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA). USERRA protects the job rights of
civilians who voluntarily or involuntarily leave their positions to
undertake military service.
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SAVINGS, 401-K & MORE
The Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) is a retirement and
savings program established by Congress to provide government employees
with the same or superior benefits similar to popular 401-K type savings
plans. Like 401-K plans, with the TSP, the amount of retirement income an
employee receives from the account will depend on a few factors: how much
the employee contributes during his/her working years, the agency matching
contributions, and the earnings on those contributions.
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RETIREMENT
Eligible employees hired after 1983 are automatically enrolled
in the Federal Employee Retirement System (FERS). FERS is a three-tiered
program that consists of a Government annuity, your Social Security, and
the TSP. In FERS, .8% of your basic pay is contributed each pay period to
your retirement annuity.
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HEALTH INSURANCE
As a permanent government employee, you, your spouse, and
your children are eligible for the Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB)
Program; one of the most flexible and affordable health insurance programs
available. You have a choice of several plans and options, including well
known Fee-for-Service and Point-of-Service Plans and HMOs. The Government
pays approximately 72% of the coverage, while the employee pays the
balance through payroll deductions. FEHB offers immediate coverage from
the effective date of enrollment without a medical examination or
restrictions because of age or physical condition.
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LIFE INSURANCE
As an eligible employee, you are automatically enrolled for
Basic Life Insurance with the Federal Employees Group Life Insurance (FEGLI).
Your benefit doubles if you are 35 or younger. You may also select
coverage for your spouse and children. The FEGLI Program offers low group
rates and convenient payroll deductions.
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LONG-TERM CARE INSURANCE
The Federal Long-Term Care Insurance Program is
designed to pay for your needs should you become disabled by an injury,
illness, or aging. This insurance makes payments towards many types of
long-term care including, but not limited to:
Nursing home care
Assisted living facility care
Formal and informal care in your home
Hospice care
Respite care
Employees, their spouses, adult children, employee's parents, and in-law
parents may be eligible to apply for this insurance program. Thanks to
negotiations by OPM and the enormous buying power of a group as large as
the Federal Family, you'll find the premiums very competitive and the
coverage among the most comprehensive available at any price. Your
premiums can change only with OPM's approval and only on a group basis.
There is no government contribution for this program; you will pay 100% of
the premium.
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EDUCATION
We encourage all employees to make the most of offered training,
educational, and professional development opportunities. Unique programs
are designed to give you the opportunity to gain academic experiences, to
work with highly-skilled professionals, and to meet the challenges the
U.S. Coast Guard addresses in the Department of Homeland Security.
Educational benefits include:
Tuition assistance
Computer training
Leadership and professional development training
Federal government training
Other education programs
AWARDS
The U.S. Coast Guard has many types of awards and incentives that
civilian employees may earn in the course of their career. The Civilian
Awards Program was developed to reward significant contributions made by
both individuals and groups of employees. Awards recognize outstanding
service, creativity in the workplace, commitment to customer service, cost
savings, and many other types of personal contributions. In addition to
the yearly performance awards that are linked to performance appraisals,
you can earn incentive awards that range from monetary awards to time-off.
Honorary awards are also available to recognize outstanding achievement,
and can also include monetary compensation.
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WORK-LIFE
We are committed to providing you with greater stability and
flexibility, and to help you achieve a better quality-of-life both
personally and in the workplace. As a U.S. Coast Guard civilian employee,
you can benefit from many available work-life and support programs.
The Employee Assistance Program is a toll-free professional counseling and
referral service designed to help with personal, job, or family problems.
It is free, voluntary, and confidential.
A myriad of health promotion programs are available to assist you in
seeking and maintaining a healthy lifestyle including: nutrition; physical
fitness; tobacco cessation; alcohol and drug abuse prevention and
education; stress management; prevention of disease and injury risk
education; and weight management.
Family Resource Specialists can provide referral services dealing with
scholarships, elder care, and family members with special needs.
Family Advocacy Specialists can provide referral services regarding family
violence situations.
In some locations, nursing mothers' rooms and on-site day care are
available.
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ADDITIONAL BENEFITS
As a Civilian U.S. Coast Guard employee, you are
eligible for other benefits such as:
Worker's Compensation Program
Fitness centers (in many locations)
Morale activities
Discount ticket programs
Flexible work schedules
Telework
Mass transit subsidies
Tuition assistance (you may be eligible after 90 days of civilian service)
TELEWORK
U.S. Coast Guard offers the opportunity for telework in some
positions. This alternative work arrangement enables you to conduct all or
some of your work away from the primary workplace. This concept can be
applied to a variety of work experiences. Your work location might be your
residence, a telework center, or another acceptable location.
Telecommuting schedules may be fixed or on an occasional basis. The way we
see it, telework can benefit both the agency and the employee in a number
of ways including:
Increasing employee productivity
Optimizing technology use
Attracting and retaining skilled employees
Improving quality of work life
Reducing commuting time and expenses
Accommodating people with disabilities
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FLEXIBLE SPENDING ACCOUNTS
As an eligible employee, you have access to the
Federal Flexible Spending Account Program, also known as FSAFEDS. FSAFEDS
lets you set aside pre-tax money from your paychecks to pay for a variety
of health and dependent care expenses. The result can be a savings of up
to 40% on services you routinely pay for out-of-pocket.
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