9: Your Benefits

• 9.1 Employee Benefits at George Washington University
• 9.2 Child Care, Child Care Counseling Services, and Elder Care Services
• 9.3 Disability Insurance
• 9.4 Workers' Compensation
• 9.5 Unemployment Compensation

The University offers a competitive benefits package. Many of these benefits are provided at no cost to you. However, some plans require you to contribute financially in order to participate
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The information in this handbook summarizes benefits available to regular employees at the time of its publication. Except as specifically noted or defined by contract provisions, this information also applies to researchers and employees in collective bargaining units. Detailed information about these plans is included in plan documents and brochures or is available through the Benefit Services of Human Resource Services. In addition, summary information about employee benefits and inks to benefit providers are located on the Human Resource Services Web site at http://www.gwu.edu/~hrs.
Please note that the University makes benefits available to same-sex domestic partners of regular employees. The domestic partner must be registered under the process provided by the University on the Human Resource Services website.

The University reserves the right to modify or discontinue its benefits program in whole or in part at any time. If there is any inconsistency or ambiguity between the terms of the individual certificates or group insurance contracts and this document, the terms of the contracts/certificates control. You should carefully review the benefit plan documents, including any restrictions, limitations, exclusions, applicable co payments and deductibles, and tax implications before enrolling in any benefit plan.

9.1 Employee Benefits at George Washington University
Regular full-time and regular part-time employees are eligible for university benefits.  Regular full-time positions usually last more than six months and are generally scheduled an average of 40 hours per workweek (also can be scheduled between 35 and 40 hours per week).   Regular part-time positions are anticipated to last for a minimum of one fiscal year (July 1 – June 30) and are scheduled to work more than 14 hours and fewer than 35 hours per workweek.  Regular part-time employees are eligible for benefits, prorated to the number of hours they are scheduled to work per workweek divided by 40.

Information about most benefits offered to you by the George Washington University can be found on the Benefits Administration Website.

Information about the university’s parking and commuter benefits (and other payroll issues) can be found on the Payroll Services Website.

Information about work-life balance, health and wellness, and employee recognition programs and benefits are available on the Colonial Community website.

 

9.2 Child Care, Child Care Counseling Services, and Elder Care Services

Several services are available to assist regular employees with resources and counseling for child care and elder care needs.
Bright Horizons Children's Center provides daycare services for children from the age of six weeks through six years of age. The center provides quality day care and excellent teacher-to-child ratios. It is conveniently located at 2033 K Street, adjacent to the Foggy Bottom campus. The center also provides periodic seminars on a variety of relevant child care issues.
Child care counseling and referral services, along with elder care and other work-life balance referral services, are available through the university’s partnership with LifeCare. The program is available 24/7 at no cost to employees.
Information about these and other work-life benefits can be found on the Colonial Community website.

 

9.3 Social Security

You must have a valid Social Security account number to be employed at the university. You are covered by the provisions of the Old Age, Survivor, Disability Insurance Act of 1935, as amended-commonly referred to as Social Security. The University and its employees are required to make tax contributions toward Social Security benefits in accordance with current federal regulations.
You can receive Social Security retirement benefits in addition to any benefits received through participation in the University's retirement plans. Social Security disability benefits are also administered by the Social Security Administration and are a factor in determining benefits provided by the university's long-term disability benefits plan.

9.4 Workers' Compensation

The University maintains Workers' Compensation Insurance coverage for employees who sustain an injury or illness compensable under the District of Columbia Workers' Compensation Act of 1979. The university pays the full cost of the workers' compensation insurance. All workers' compensation claims are subject to evaluation and investigation by the university and its insurance carrier. If you are injured while performing university duties, you must report the injury promptly to your immediate supervisor and to the university department of Risk Management or the Medical Center department of Environmental Health and Safety Management. More information is available on the University's Risk Management website.

 

9.5 Unemployment Compensation

University employees are covered in accordance with applicable unemployment compensation laws and regulations that also govern eligibility for unemployment benefits. All forms or contacts related to unemployment compensation claims should be delivered or referred to Human Resource.