Printer-friendly versionWork Schedule
Full-time employees work 37.5 hours each week (75 hours over a two-week pay period).
Three work schedules are available. The first is a “Traditional Schedule” working Monday through Friday. The second is an “Alternative Schedule” working longer hours Monday through Thursday in order to have every other Friday off. The third is a “Four Day Schedule” working longer hours Tuesday through Thursday with either every Monday or Friday off.
Work schedules are determined by the needs of the team, yet flexibility of work hours is available to employees.
Medical Insurance
Full-time and job share employees are offered medical insurance through Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama. Coverage begins the first of the month after work begins. For full-time employees, WMU pays 90% of the individual premium and 65% of the family premium. Job share employees share in 50% of the premium cost.
Life and Disability Insurance
Group term life insurance equal to two times the employee’s annual base pay (up to a maximum of $200,000) is provided.
Long-term disability benefits equal to 60% of the employee’s monthly income is also provided.
Coverage for each begins on the first day of employment and the premium is paid in full by WMU.
403(b) Retirement Plan
Employees may contribute to their retirement plan account through payroll deduction on a pre-tax basis (deferring federal and state taxes), and they are eligible for an employer match beginning on their first anniversary. The maximum matched contribution equals 5%.
Employees may choose from a variety of investment funds and have daily access to account information. After four years of employment, employees are fully vested.
For new employees with prior years of Southern Baptist Convention denominational employment, credit is given toward vesting and employer matched contributions.
Flexible Benefits
At the first of the month following employment, or on October 1 of any subsequent year, employees may elect to participate in WMU’s Flexible Benefits Plan. This plan allows employees to increase their spendable income and insurance benefits by decreasing their taxes. This may be accomplished in one of three ways:
- having employee-paid insurance premiums payroll deducted on a pre-tax basis,
- setting-up a flexible spending account to set aside funds to reimburse themselves for child care expenses,
- setting-up a flexible spending account to set aside funds to reimburse themselves for medical expenses not reimbursed by any other source.
Supplemental Insurance
- Cancer Insurance
- Dental Insurance
- Dependent Life Insurance
- Short-Term Disability Insurance
- Vision Insurance
- Voluntary Employee Life Insurance
Paid Leave and Holidays
Employees are eligible for two types of leave and nine paid holidays each year.
Because WMU recognizes that employees face time pressure demands between their work and family obligations, traditional types of leave have been combined into pools (or banks) called "Extended Leave" and "Annual Leave."
Employees are eligible for twenty-two and one half hours of "Extended Leave" immediately upon hire. Up to 1,000 hours may be accumulated and used as needed for long-term illness and bereavement.
Employees begin earning "Annual Leave" each pay period after having completed three months of employment. This leave is used for time away whether for personal business, pleasure, or short-term illness. The number of hours earned will increase with length of service.
The nine holidays observed each year are: New Year’s Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, the day after Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, and Christmas Day.
Other Benefits
- Business Casual Dress Monday through Thursday. Casual Dress on Fridays.
- Off-site Employee Assistance Program (a free and confidential counseling service available to employees and their family members).
- On-site Gift Shop (a 40% employee discount is available).
- Tuition Reimbursement (eligibility begins after the employee’s first anniversary).
