[Ord. No. 02-10 §§1 — 2, 7-23-2002]
A. 
Eligible employees at the City of Albany are provided a wide range of benefits. A number of the programs (such as Social Security, Workers' Compensation, State disability and unemployment insurance) cover all employees in the manner prescribed by law.
B. 
Benefits eligibility is dependent upon a variety of factors, including employee classification. Your supervisor can identify the programs for which you are eligible. Details of many of these programs can be found elsewhere in the employee handbook.
C. 
The following benefit programs are available to eligible employees:
1. 
Credit union.
2. 
Deferred compensation plan (optional).
3. 
Dental insurance (optional).
4. 
Health insurance.
5. 
Sick leave.
6. 
Holidays.
7. 
Jury duty leave.
8. 
Military leave.
9. 
Pension plan.
10. 
Supplemental medical coverage (optional).
11. 
Vacation benefits.
12. 
Vision care insurance (optional).
D. 
Some benefit programs require contributions from the employee but most are fully paid by City of Albany.
[Ord. No. 98-43 §§1 — 2, 11-3-1998; Ord. No. 02-10 §§1 — 2, 7-23-2002; Ord. No. 17-17, 8-15-2017]
A. 
Vacation time off with pay is available to eligible employees to provide opportunities for rest, relaxation and personal pursuits. Regular full-time employees are eligible to earn and use vacation time as described in this policy.
B. 
The amount of paid vacation time employees receive each year increases with the length of employment, beginning with a base of ten (10) vacation days, as shown in the following schedule:
1. 
Upon hire or official start date, the employee shall receive a prorated amount of vacation time at a rate of six and seven-tenths (6.7) hours for every month remaining in the benefit year. The employee will then receive a full ten (10) vacation days at the beginning of the next benefit year.
2. 
At the completion of their tenth (10th) year of service and on the anniversary date of their initial hire, the employee shall receive a prorated amount of vacation time at a rate of three and four-tenths (3.4) hours for every month remaining in the benefit year in addition to their normal accrual of vacation leave. The employee will then receive a full fifteen (15) vacation days at the beginning of the next benefit year.
3. 
At the completion of their twentieth (20th) year of service and on the anniversary date of their initial hire, the employee shall receive a prorated amount of vacation time at a rate of three and four-tenths (3.4) hours for every month remaining the benefit year in addition to their normal accrual of vacation leave. The employee will then receive a full twenty (20) vacation days at the beginning of the next benefit year.
C. 
For the purposes of this Section, the benefit year shall be designated as beginning on January 1 and ending on December 31. Prorated vacation time shall be calculated to include the entirety of the month in which the hire date or anniversary date occurs. An employee's benefit year may be extended for any significant leave of absence with the approval of the City Administrator.
D. 
Paid vacation time can be used in minimum increments of one-quarter (1/4) hour. To take vacation, employees should make a written request in advance to their respective department supervisor. Requests will be reviewed based on a number of factors, including business needs and staffing requirements. All requests will require final approval by the City Administrator.
E. 
Vacation time off is paid at the employee's base rate of pay at the time of vacation. It does not include overtime or any special forms of compensation such as incentives, commissions, bonuses or shift differentials. Once an employee begins vacation leave, they may not substitute sick leave during the period of vacation time already requested and approved.
F. 
As stated above, employees are encouraged to use available paid vacation time for rest, relaxation and personal pursuits. In the event that available vacation is not used by the end of the benefit year, employees will forfeit the unused time. In the extraordinary event that previously approved vacation time was revoked due to business needs or staffing requirements, the City Administrator may at their discretion extend the employee's benefit year.
G. 
Upon termination of employment, employees will be paid for unused vacation time that has been earned through the last day of work. However, if the City of Albany, in its sole discretion, terminates employment for cause, forfeiture of unused vacation time may result.
[Ord. No. 98-43 §§1 — 2, 11-3-1998; Ord. No. 02-10 §§1 — 2, 7-23-2002]
A. 
City of Albany will grant holiday time off to all employees on the holidays listed below:
1. 
New Year's Day (January first (1st)).
2. 
Presidents' Day (third (3rd) Monday in February).
3. 
Memorial Day (last Monday in May).
4. 
Independence Day (July fourth (4th)).
5. 
Labor Day (first (1st) Monday in September).
6. 
Thanksgiving (fourth (4th) Thursday in November).
7. 
Day after Thanksgiving (fourth (4th) Friday in November).
8. 
Christmas (December twenty-fifth (25th)).
9. 
Personal day (can be used at employee's discretion anytime during course of the year).
B. 
The Board of Aldermen have at their discretion the ability to issue additional days to employees as they determine (i.e., Christmas Eve, New Year's Eve, etc.)
C. 
The City of Albany will grant paid holiday time off to all eligible employees immediately upon assignment to an eligible employment classification. Holiday pay will be calculated based on the employee's straight-time pay rate (as of the date of the holiday) times the number of hours the employee would otherwise have worked on that day. Eligible employee classification(s):
1. 
Regular full-time employees.
2. 
Regular part-time employees.
D. 
A recognized holiday that falls on a Saturday will be observed on the preceding Friday. A recognized holiday that falls on a Sunday will be observed on the following Monday.
E. 
If a recognized holiday falls during an eligible employee's paid absence (such as vacation or sick leave), holiday pay will be provided instead of the paid time off benefit that would otherwise have applied.
F. 
If eligible non-exempt employees work on a recognized holiday, they will receive holiday pay plus wages at one and one-half (1½) times their straight-time rate for the hours worked on the holiday.
G. 
Paid time off for holidays will be counted as hours worked for the purposes of determining whether overtime pay is owed.
[Ord. No. 98-43 §§1 — 2, 11-3-1998; Ord. No. 02-10 §§1 — 2, 7-23-2002]
A. 
The City of Albany provides a comprehensive Workers' Compensation insurance program at no cost to employees. This program covers any injury or illness sustained in the course of employment that requires medical, surgical or hospital treatment. Subject to applicable legal requirements, Workers' Compensation insurance provides benefits after a short waiting period or, if the employee is hospitalized, immediately.
B. 
Employees who sustain work-related injuries or illnesses should inform their supervisor immediately. No matter how minor an on-the-job injury may appear, it is important that it be reported immediately. This will enable an eligible employee to qualify for coverage as quickly as possible.
C. 
Neither the City of Albany nor the insurance carrier will be liable for the payment of Workers' Compensation benefits for injuries that occur during an employee's voluntary participation in any off-duty recreational, social or athletic activity sponsored by the City of Albany.
[Ord. No. 98-43 §§1 — 2, 11-3-1998; Ord. No. 99-34 §1, 10-19-1999; Ord. No. 02-10 §§1 — 2, 7-23-2002]
A. 
The City of Albany provides paid sick leave benefits to all eligible employees for periods of temporary absence due to illnesses or injuries. Eligible employee classification(s):
1. 
Regular full-time employees.
2. 
Regular part-time employees.
B. 
Eligible employees will accrue sick leave benefits at the rate of twelve (12) days per year (one (1) day for every full month of service). Sick leave benefits are calculated on the basis of a "benefit year", the twelve (12) month period that begins when the employee starts to earn sick leave benefits.
C. 
Paid sick leave can be used in minimum increments of one-half (½) hour. Eligible employees may use sick leave benefits for an absence due to their own illness or injury or that of an immediate family member who resides in the employee's household (see definition of "immediate family" under bereavement leave policy).
D. 
Employees who are unable to report to work due to illness or injury should notify their direct supervisor before the scheduled start of their workday if possible. The direct supervisor must also be contacted on each additional day of absence. Before returning to work from a sick leave absence of five (5) calendar days or more, an employee must provide a physician's verification that he/she may safely return to work.
E. 
Sick leave benefits will be calculated based on the employee's base pay rate at the time of absence and will not include any special forms of compensation, such as incentives, commissions, bonuses or shift differentials. As an additional condition of eligibility for sick leave benefits, an employee on an extended absence must apply for any other available compensation and benefits, such as Workers' Compensation. Sick leave benefits will be used to supplement any payments that an employee is eligible to receive from State disability insurance, Workers' Compensation or the City of Albany-provided disability insurance programs. The combination of any such disability payments and sick leave benefits cannot exceed the employee's normal weekly earnings.
F. 
Unused sick leave benefits will be allowed to accumulate until the employee has accrued a total of ninety (90) calendar days (seven hundred twenty (720) hours) worth of sick leave benefits. If the employee's benefits reach this maximum, further accrual of sick leave benefits will be suspended until the employee has reduced the balance below the limit.
G. 
Sick leave benefits are intended solely to provide income protection in the event of illness or injury and may not be used for any other absence. At the time of voluntary termination or death, the surviving spouse or estate would be paid for accumulated sick leave on the following basis:
1. 
After working five (5) to nine (9) years — pay for five (5) days of accumulated sick leave.
2. 
After working ten (10) to fifteen (15) years — pay for ten (10) accumulated sick leave days.
3. 
After working fifteen (15) to twenty (20) years — pay for twenty (20) accumulated sick leave days.
4. 
After working twenty (20) years — pay for thirty (30) accumulated sick leave days.
H. 
Unused sick leave benefits will not be paid to employees who are hired after January 1, 1999, while they are employed or upon termination of employment.
[Ord. No. 98-43 §§1 — 2, 11-3-1998; Ord. No. 02-10 §§1 — 2, 7-23-2002]
A. 
The City of Albany encourages employees to fulfill their civic responsibilities by participating in elections. Generally, employees are able to find time to vote either before or after their regular work schedule. If employees are unable to vote in an election during their non-working hours, City of Albany will grant up to one (1) hour of unpaid time off to vote.
B. 
Employees should request time off to vote from their supervisor at least two (2) working days prior to the election day. Advance notice is required so that the necessary time off can be scheduled at the beginning or end of the work shift, whichever provides the least disruption to the normal work schedule.
[Ord. No. 98-43 §§1 — 2, 11-3-1998; Ord. No. 02-10 §§1 — 2, 7-23-2002]
A. 
Employees who wish to take time off due to the death of an immediate family member should notify their supervisor immediately.
B. 
Up to three (3) days of paid bereavement leave will be provided to eligible employees in the following classification(s):
1. 
Regular full-time employees.
2. 
Regular part-time employees.
C. 
Bereavement pay is calculated based on the base pay rate at the time of absence and will not include any special forms of compensation, such as incentives, commissions, bonuses or shift differentials.
D. 
Bereavement leave will normally be granted unless there are unusual business needs or staffing requirements. Employees may, with their supervisors' approval, use any available paid leave for additional time off as necessary.
E. 
The City of Albany defines "immediate family" as the employee's spouse, parent, child, sibling; the employee's spouse's parent, child or sibling; the employee's child's spouse; grandparents or grandchildren. Special consideration will also be given to any other person whose association with the employee was similar to any of the above relationships.
[Ord. No. 98-43 §§1 — 2, 11-3-1998; Ord. No. 02-10 §§1 — 2, 7-23-2002]
A. 
The City of Albany encourages employees to fulfill their civic responsibilities by serving jury duty when required. Employees in an eligible classification may request up to two (2) weeks of paid jury duty leave over any one (1) year period. Pay received from the court for such duty shall be returned to the City of Albany. Expense reimbursements shall be kept by the employee.
B. 
Jury duty pay will be calculated on the employee's base pay rate times the number of hours the employee would otherwise have worked on the day of absence. Employee classifications that qualify for paid jury duty leave are:
1. 
Regular full-time employees.
2. 
Regular part-time employees.
C. 
If employees are required to serve jury duty beyond the period of paid jury duty leave, they may use any available paid time off (for example, vacation benefits) or may request an unpaid jury duty leave of absence.
D. 
Employees must show the jury duty summons to their supervisor as soon as possible so that the supervisor may make arrangements to accommodate their absence. Of course, employees are expected to report for work whenever the court schedule permits.
E. 
Either the City of Albany or the employee may request an excuse from jury duty if, in the City of Albany's judgment, the employee's absence would create serious operational difficulties. The City of Albany will continue to provide health insurance benefits for the full term of the jury duty absence.
F. 
Vacation, sick leave and holiday benefits will continue to accrue during unpaid jury duty leave.
[Ord. No. 98-43 §§1 — 2, 11-3-1998; Ord. No. 02-10 §§1 — 2, 7-23-2002]
A. 
The City of Albany encourages employees to appear in court for witness duty when subpoenaed to do so.
B. 
If employees have been subpoenaed or otherwise requested to testify as witnesses by City of Albany, they will receive paid time off for the entire period of witness duty.
C. 
Employees will be granted unpaid time off to appear in court as a witness when requested by a party other than the City of Albany. Employees are free to use any available paid leave benefit (such as vacation leave) to receive compensation for the period of this absence.
D. 
The subpoena should be shown to the employee's supervisor immediately after it is received so that operating requirements can be adjusted, where necessary, to accommodate the employee's absence. The employee is expected to report for work whenever the court schedule permits.
[Ord. No. 98-43 §§1 — 2, 11-3-1998; Ord. No. 02-10 §§1 — 2, 7-23-2002]
A. 
The Federal Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA) gives employees and their qualified beneficiaries the opportunity to continue health insurance coverage under the City of Albany's health plan when a "qualifying event" would normally result in the loss of eligibility. Some common qualifying events are resignation, termination of employment or death of an employee; a reduction in an employee's hours or a leave of absence; an employee's divorce or legal separation; and a dependent child no longer meeting eligibility requirements.
B. 
Under COBRA, the employee or beneficiary pays the full cost of coverage at the City of Albany's group rates plus an administration fee. The City of Albany provides each eligible employee with a written notice describing rights granted under COBRA when the employee becomes eligible for coverage under City of Albany's health insurance plan. The notice contains important information about the employee's rights and obligations.
[Ord. No. 98-43 §§1 — 2, 11-3-1998; Ord. No. 02-10 §§1 — 2, 7-23-2002]
A. 
The City of Albany recognizes that the skills and knowledge of its employees are critical to the success of the organization. The educational assistance program encourages personal development through formal education so that employees can maintain and improve job-related skills or enhance their ability to compete for reasonably attainable jobs within the City of Albany.
B. 
The City of Albany will provide educational assistance to all eligible employees who have completed one hundred eighty (180) calendar days of service in an eligible employment classification. To maintain eligibility employees must remain on the active payroll and be performing their job satisfactorily through completion of each course. Employees in the following employee classification(s) are eligible for educational assistance:
1. 
Regular full-time employees.
C. 
Individual courses or courses that are part of a degree, licensing or certification program must be related to the employee's current job duties or a foreseeable-future position in the organization in order to be eligible for educational assistance. The City of Albany has the sole discretion to determine whether a course relates to an employee's current job duties or a foreseeable-future position.
D. 
Employees, with prior approval of the City Administrator, may enroll in courses of instruction which will benefit the employee and his/her service to the City. Tuition may be one hundred percent (100%) reimbursed and requests for reimbursement must request tuition reimbursement in writing to the City Administrator. Reimbursement costs included those conducted by correspondence or by attendance in classes during non-working hours. Tuition is the cost per credit hour including lab fees and cost of books.
E. 
Employees eligible for reimbursement of tuition costs must, upon completion of the course, furnish the City Administrator with the copy of official evidence of course completion and grades received must be a grade of "C" or its equivalent.
F. 
While educational assistance is expected to enhance employees performance and professional abilities, the City of Albany cannot guarantee that participation in formal education will entitle the employee to automatic advancement, a different job assignment or pay increases.
G. 
The City of Albany invests in educational assistance to employees with the expectation that the investment be returned through enhanced job performance. However, if an employee voluntarily separates from City of Albany's employment within one (1) year of the last educational assistance payment, the amount of the payment will be considered only a loan. Accordingly, the employee will be required to repay up to seventy-five percent (75%) of the original educational assistance payment.
[Ord. No. 98-43 §§1 — 2, 11-3-1998; Ord. No. 02-10 §§1 — 2, 7-23-2002]
A. 
The City of Albany's health insurance plan provides employees and their dependents access to medical insurance benefits. Employees in the following employment classifications are eligible to participate in the health insurance plan which is provided by MARCIT:
1. 
Regular full-time employees.
2. 
Regular part-time employees.
B. 
Eligible employees may participate in the health insurance plan subject to all terms and conditions of the agreement between City of Albany and the insurance carrier.
C. 
A change in employment classification that would result in loss of eligibility to participate in the health insurance plan may qualify an employee for benefits continuation under the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA). Refer to the Benefits Continuation (COBRA) policy for more information.
D. 
Details of the health insurance plan are described in the Summary Plan Description (SPD). An SPD and information on cost of coverage will be provided in advance of enrollment to eligible employees. Contact the City Clerk for more information about health insurance benefits.
[Ord. No. 02-10 §§1 — 2, 7-23-2002]
A. 
Any employee which has exhausted all available sick leave, compensatory time and vacation due to an extended illness is eligible to receive donated hours from other employees through the Leave Share Program.
B. 
Individual employees who so desire may donate hours they have accrued in sick leave, compensatory time or vacation to an individual they so designate. Hours which are designated to be transferred should be done on the request for absence form with the name of the employee to which the hours are being transferred to noted on the form.
[Ord. No. 98-43 §§1 — 2, 11-3-1998; Ord. No. 02-10 §§1 — 2, 7-23-2002]
Special leave may be granted at the discretion of the supervisor with pay, not to exceed one-half (½) of one (1) day, for an employee to serve as pallbearer.
[Ord. No. 98-43 §§1 — 2, 11-3-1998; Ord. No. 02-10 §§1 — 2, 7-23-2002]
A. 
The City of Albany provides pension benefits through the Missouri Local Government Employees Retirement System (LAGERS). Employees who work thirty-two (32) hours or more hours per week are mandated to participate in the program. Following the six (6) month probationary period, an automatic deduction of four percent (4%) of gross salary will be made from each paycheck. The City of Albany will contribute seven percent (7%) of the employee's total gross salary.
B. 
Information will be provided to employee at the time of membership or upon request from the City Clerk.