Benefits reminders

By Anne Bromley

From time-off to fee hikes, several facets of benefits are affecting U.Va. employees.

Employees will get an extra eight hours off, with the “float time” added to compensatory leave, as a result of Gov. Mark R. Warner giving state employees Christmas Eve day off. The University had already scheduled that day as a holiday.

In another matter, the open enrollment period ends Dec. 6 for those employees who would like to make changes to certain benefits, such as flexible spending accounts and family insurance coverage.

The following changes take effect Jan. 1:

• Employees in the old sick leave plan will be switched to the Virginia Sickness and Disability Program, unless they opt out of VSDP by Nov. 30. (Note: Nov. 30 is a Saturday; Nov. 28 and 29 are U.Va. holidays.)

• Health insurance premiums will rise in 2003. The cost for a single employee will go up to $17 per month; for an employee plus one dependent, the total will be $108; family coverage will go up to $206; and two employees on one plan (double state) will pay $110.

For details about benefits, see http://www.hrs.virginia.edu/.