Benefits

ARL's wellness initiatives are designed to encourage healthy lifestyles. Health and wellness programs help employees modify their lifestyles and move toward an optimal state of wellness. They can also produce organizational and employee benefits, such as lower healthcare costs, increased productivity, improved recruitment and retention, reduced absenteeism, and enhanced employee engagement. Health and wellness programs available to ARL employees include: a variety of health plans that help you and your family meet your health care needs; dental and vision benefits; a savings account for health care expenses; fitness programs; and a nursing mother's program.

As a permanent or term employee, you may elect health insurance coverage without a medical examination or restriction because of age, current health or preexisting conditions. You have 60 days from the date of your appointment to enroll. Once you elect your health insurance coverage plan, it will be effective at the beginning of the next pay period. You will not have coverage until you make the election; therefore, it is important you make your decision as soon as possible.

Work-life is the business practice of creating a flexible, supportive environment to engage employees and maximize organizational performance. Work-life programs are critical for the ARL community as we strive to maintain an excellent, engaged workforce. Participation in these types of programs can help employees to better balance competing work and family/personal or religious obligations, and may also increase employee productivity and morale. Key work-life programs offered to ARL employees include worksite health and wellness, workplace flexibilities, telework, dependent care, and a variety of clubs. ARL also offers on-site banking.

Army Fee Assistance Program
Need help finding and/or paying for child care? Army military and civilian employees who do not have access to an on-site child care provider may be eligible to participate in the Child Care Aware of America program. More information can be found at: http://usa.childcareaware.org/military-programs/military-families/army/

ARL offers a variety of leave options and workplace flexibilities to assist employees who need to be away from the workplace and better balance work and family obligations. These flexibilities include annual leave, sick leave, advanced annual or sick leave, leave under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), leave without pay, alternative work schedules, credit hours under flexible work schedules, compensatory time off and telework. ARL has a Voluntary Leave Transfer Program (VLTP), which allows an employee to donate annual leave directly to another employee who has a personal or family medical emergency and who has exhausted his or her available paid leave. ARL also offers developmental opportunities that provides career-enriching education or research experiences, and increases the participant's contribution to the goals and mission of the Laboratory.

ARL employees may contribute to a Thrift Savings Plan (TSP), which is a tax-deferred retirement savings and investment plan that offers Federal employees the same type of savings and tax benefits that many private corporations offer their employees under 401(k) plans. By participating in the TSP, ARL employees have the opportunity to save part of their income for retirement, receive matching agency contributions, and reduce their current taxes. The Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) is a retirement plan that provides benefits from three different sources: a Basic Benefit Plan, Social Security and the TSP. Two of the three parts of FERS (Social Security and the TSP) can go with you to your next job if you leave the Federal Government before retirement. The Basic Benefit and Social Security parts of FERS require you to pay your share each pay period. ARL withholds the cost of the Basic Benefit and Social Security from your pay as payroll deductions. After you retire, you receive annuity payments each month for the rest of your life.

ARL employees are eligible for numerous insurance and protection programs, including life insurance, long term care insurance, and death benefits available to your survivors. The Federal Employees' Group Life Insurance (FEGLI) Program, which is the largest group life insurance program in the world, provides group term life insurance and covers over 4 million Federal employees and retirees, as well as many of their family members. The Federal Long Term Care Insurance Program (FLTCIP) provides long term care insurance to help pay for costs of care when enrollees need help with activities they perform every day, or you have a severe cognitive impairment, such as Alzheimer's disease.

ARL employees are eligible for numerous insurance and protection programs, including life insurance, long term care insurance, and death benefits available to your survivors. The Federal Employees' Group Life Insurance (FEGLI) Program, which is the largest group life insurance program in the world, provides group term life insurance and covers over 4 million Federal employees and retirees, as well as many of their family members. The Federal Long Term Care Insurance Program (FLTCIP) provides long term care insurance to help pay for costs of care when enrollees need help with activities they perform every day, or you have a severe cognitive impairment, such as Alzheimer's disease.

You and your family may experience many changes during your lives that could trigger a change in your benefits. Common events may occur during or after your Federal career. Employee actions may need to be taken for insurance and savings programs, including health care benefits, dental and vision, health savings account, long term care, and life insurance. More information can be found on OPM official site at: https://www.opm.gov/healthcare-insurance/life-events/

ARL offers programs and flexibilities to best support employees who face both workplace responsibilities and the demands of caring for a loved one. Support for dependent needs, whether that be an adult dependent, a child or an elder, is available to ARL employees. Resources include help finding quality childcare and navigating the path of caring for aging parents or relatives with special needs. ARL employees are eligible for dependent care savings accounts used to pay for childcare or adult dependent care expenses that are necessary to allow you and your spouse, if married, to work, look for work or attend school full-time. College grants and scholarships to federal employees and their families are also available.