Sick Leave Every
full time employee receives 4 hours of accrued paid sick leave per pay period regardless of the number of years they have worked for a federal agency.
Commuter Benefits Program
The U.S. District Court has set up this program to assist employees with the cost of commuting to and from work. Employees are able to pay for certain parking and transit expenses incurred using pre-taxed money. Employees may set up a Parking Reimbursement Account or a Mass Transit Account. Employees may set aside a maximum amount per month toward parking and transit expenses according to the Internal Revenue Code.
Life Insurance
All new employees are automatically enrolled in the Basic Option of the Federal Employees Group Life Insurance Program
http://opm.gov/insure/new_employ/index.asp unless the employee opts to waive insurance entitlement. If an employee waives their insurance entitlement and later decides to participate in the plan, the employee must wait until an Open Enrollment period and obtain a physical from a certified physician before becoming eligible for enrollment. The life insurance plan also offers employees the option to enroll in 3 additional levels beyond the Basic level: Standard, Additional, and Family. The Government pays one third of the cost of the employee's Basic term life insurance.
Retirement Program
Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS)
All eligible employees hired after December 1983 participate in the Federal Employees Retirement System. This program is comprised of three components: Social Security Benefits, an Annuity, and the Thrift Savings Plan. The Basic Benefit and Social Security parts of FERS require an employee hired after January 1, 2014 to pay their share each pay period: 4.4% of gross pay to the Basic Benefit Plan and 6.2% to Social Security. However, there are some exceptions in which an employee would pay 0.8% or 3.1%. The rest of the FERS program is dedicated to the Thrift Savings Plan.
Thrift Savings Plan (TSP)
The Thrift Savings Plan is similar to the private sector's 401(k) plan in that it allows all eligible federal employees to participate in this defined contribution retirement savings and investment plan. It also offers savings and tax benefits. Employees may enroll in the Thrift Savings Plan immediately upon joining the U.S. District Court.
The Government will match employee contributions immediately after the employee begins employment with the U.S. District Court and enrolls in the Thrift Savings Plan. The first 5% an employee contributes to the TSP is matched by the Government at a total of 4%. The Government will also contribute an automatic 1% to an employee's TSP account. Employees do not need to contribute any money to their TSP account to receive the automatic 1% contribution. However, these 1% contribution funds are subject to a 3 year vesting period.
10 Federal Holidays
Each year the U.S. District Court observes a minimum of 10 paid holidays. These holidays are:
- New Years Day, January 1st
- Martin Luther King Day, 3rd Monday in January
- Washington's Birthday, 3rd Monday in February
- Memorial Day, Last Monday in May
- Independence Day, July 4th
- Labor Day, 1st Monday in September
- Columbus Day, 2nd Monday in October
- Veterans Day, November 11th
- Thanksgiving Day, 4th Thursday in November
- Christmas Day, December 25th
Additional Benefits
There are a few other generous programs available to employees in addition to the programs listed above. Employees enter these other programs as private consumers. These benefits include:
- Long Term Care Insurance
- Opportunity to join the Credit Union
- Long Term Disability Insurance
- Child Care Facilities
- Health Club Membership
- Employee Assistance Program
- Occupational Health Center
- Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program
Transit Voucher
At the end of each month, budget permitting, U.S. District Court employees receive a transit voucher.
Please contact Human Resources for any questions at (312) 435-5599.
