Benefit Impacts of Position Changes
West Virginia University offers the opportunity to explore flexible work options,
including
voluntary work-time reduction, but it's important to understand how changes
in a position can impact employee benefits. Changes that reduce a position's work hours or appointment length may
have an impact on the salary, leave eligibility, and other benefits for that position,
even when an employee's title is unchanged. Faculty
staff, and
WVU Research Corp employees may experience different impacts.
This page is intended as a general resource for those exploring a reduction
in work hours or appointment length, and is not all-inclusive. Additionally,
benefit impacts may change based on plan design changes. Employees should
reach out to their
HR Partner
with additional questions regarding their pay, leave, and benefits.
Staff Position Changes
|
|
Reducing Work Hours or Effort, Remaining Benefits-Eligible |
Reducing Appointment Length, Remaining Benefits-Eligible |
Reducing Work Hours or Effort and/or Appointment Length, No Longer Benefits-Eligible |
| Salary/Pay | Reduced | Reduced | Reduced |
| Health Insurance | Reduced pay may effect health insurance premiums, deductible, and out-of-pocket maximums. See the PEIA Shopper's Guide for details. | Reduced pay may effect health insurance premiums, deductible, and out-of-pocket
maximums. See the
PEIA Shopper's Guide for details. Additional premium monies (escrow)
will be collected from pay to cover benefits premiums when off-contract.
|
Employee may continue to be eligible for Employee and Employee + Children coverage for a period of time based on the Affordable Care Act. Spousal coverage would not be available. COBRA is also available. |
| Life Insurance | No change | No change in eligibility or actual premiums. Additional premium monies (escrow) will be collected from pay to cover benefits premiums when off-contract. | Eligible only if enrolled in WVU's Affordable Care Act health coverage or COBRA. |
| Flexible and Optional Benefits | No change in eligibility. Reduced salary may reduce premiums for long and short term disability, depending on plan. Contact Shared Services for questions regarding disability benefits. See FSA and HSA details below. | No change in eligibility. Per-pay premiums may increase based on fewer pays. Reduced salary may reduce premiums for long and short term disability, depending on plan. Contact Shared Services with questions regarding disability benefits. See FSA and HSA details below. | Not eligible. Some benefits may be extended via COBRA. Contact Shared Services for questions regarding disability benefits. |
| Flexible Spending Accounts - Medical and Dependent Care | Contributions will remain unchanged. Reducing hours is not a qualifying event to reduce contributions. | Amount of contribution per pay will increase as number of pays per year is reduced. Reducing hours is not a qualifying event to reduce contributions. | Not eligible, but may be extended via COBRA. |
| Health Savings Account | Employee may change contributions at any time (PEIA Plan C participants only). | Employee may change contributions at any time (PEIA Plan C participants only). | Not eligible, but employee retains account and funds accrued. |
| Retirement Eligibility | No change | No change | Employee may lose retirement eligibility. |
| Retirement Accounts | 401(a) contributions reduced. Supplemental retirement contributions should be reviewed. | 401(a) contributions reduced. Supplemental retirement contributions should be reviewed. | Not eligible for 401(a). Remain eligible for 403(b) and 457(b); contributions should be reviewed. |
| Paid Holidays | Eligible | Eligible | Not eligible |
| Annual Leave | Accrual and accrual maximum prorated. | Accrual and accrual maximum prorated. | Not eligible. Remaining annual leave balance may be paid out in a lump sum. |
| Sick Leave | Accrual prorated | Accrual prorated | Not eligible |
| Sick Leave Conversion | If eligible prior to position change, employee remains eligible. | If eligible prior to position change, employee remains eligible. | Not eligible |
| Years of Service - Longevity | Prorated (not one year for one year). Visit the Longevity Knowledge Base Article for additional details. | Prorated (not one year for one year). Visit the Longevity Knowledge Base Article for additional details. | Not eligible. Visit the Longevity Knowledge Base Article for additional details. |
| Years of Service - Retirement | Continue to earn retirement YOS. | Continue to earn retirement YOS. | Not eligible |
| Governor's Award | No change | No change | Not eligible |
| Dependent Education Scholarship | Eligible | Eligible | Not eligible |
Faculty and FE/AP Position Changes
|
|
Reducing Work Hours or Effort, Remaining Benefits-Eligible |
Reducing Appointment Length, Remaining Benefits-Eligible |
Reducing Work Hours or Effort and/or Appointment Length, No Longer Benefits Eligible |
| Salary/Pay | Reduced | Reduced | Reduced |
| Health Insurance | Reduced pay may effect health insurance premiums, deductible, and out-of-pocket maximums. See the PEIA Shopper's Guide for details. | Reduced pay may effect health insurance premiums, deductible, and
out-of-pocket maximums. See the
PEIA Shopper's Guide for details. Additional premium monies (escrow)
will be collected from pay to cover benefits premiums when off-contract.
|
Employee may continue to be eligible for Employee and Employee + Children coverage for a period of time based on the Affordable Care Act. Spousal coverage would not be available. COBRA is also available. |
| Life Insurance | No change | No change in eligibility or actual premiums. Additional premium monies (escrow) will be collected from pay to cover benefits premiums when off-contract. | Employee eligible only if enrolled in WVU's Affordable Care Act health coverage or COBRA coverage. |
| Flexible and Optional Benefits | No change in eligibility. Reduced salary may reduce premiums
for long and short term disability, depending on plan. Contact
Shared Services for questions regarding disability
benefits. See FSA and HSA details below.
|
No change in eligibility. Per-pay premiums may differ based on
fewer pays. Reduced salary may reduce premiums for
long and short term disability, depending on plan. Contact
Shared Services for questions regarding disability
benefits. See FSA and HSA details below.
|
Not eligible. Some benefits may be extended via COBRA. Contact
Shared Services for questions regarding disability
benefits.
|
| Flexible Spending Accounts - Medical and Dependent Care | Contributions will remain unchanged. Reducing hours is not a qualifying event to reduce contributions. | Amount of contribution per pay will increase as number of pays per year is reduced. Reducing hours is not a qualifying event to reduce contributions. | Not eligible but may be extended via COBRA. |
| Health Savings Account | Employee may change contributions at any time (PEIA Plan C participants only). | Employee may change contributions at any time (PEIA Plan C participants only). | Not eligible, but employee retains account and funds accrued. |
| Retirement Eligibility | No change | No change | Employee may lose retirement eligibility. |
| Retirement Accounts | 401(a) contributions reduced. Supplemental retirement contributions should be reviewed. | 401(a) contributions reduced. Supplemental retirement contributions should be reviewed. | Not eligible for 401(a). Remain eligible for 403(b) and 457(b); contributions should be reviewed. |
| Paid Holidays | Eligible | Eligible | Not eligible |
| Annual Leave | Accrual and accrual maximum prorated for 12 mo. faculty. Less-than-12 mo. faculty are not eligible. | Not eligible. If applicable, remaining annual leave balance may be paid out in a lump sum. | Not eligible. If applicable, remaining annual leave balance may be paid out in a lump sum. |
| Sick Leave | Accrual prorated for 12 mo. faculty. Less-than-12 mo. faculty are not eligible. | Not eligible | Not eligible |
| Faculty Service Conversion | If eligible prior to position change, employee remains eligible. | If eligible prior to position change, employee remains eligible. | Not eligible |
| Annual Increment (Longevity Pay) | Not eligible to earn years of service credit or receive the annual payment. Visit the
Longevity Knowledge Base Article for additional details.
|
Eligible to earn years of service credit and receive the annual payment if FTE remains at 1.0. Visit the Longevity Knowledge Base Article for additional details.
|
Not eligible to earn years of service credit or receive the annual payment. Visit the Longevity Knowledge Base Article for additional details. |
| Years of Service - Retirement | Continue to earn retirement YOS. | Continue to earn retirement YOS. | Not eligible |
| Governor's Service Award | No change for 12 mo. faculty. Less-than-12 mo. faculty are not eligible. | Not eligible | Not eligible |
| Dependent Education Scholarship | Eligible | Eligible | Not eligible |