The City of Baytown

The City of Baytown offers its full-time employees a benefit package that rivals that of many municipal governments. The package includes major health care benefits, as well as the opportunity for financial security for you and your family, and…because we are a City government, our employees also have the advantage of preparing for retirement by participating in the Texas Municipal Retirement System.

Dental Insurance

Is available for purchase by the employee at pre tax dollars. There are two plans the employee may choose from, the City’s self insured plan which allows the employee to visit the dentist of their choice. The other plan, a Dental Maintenance Organization (DMO), the employee is required to choose a dentist that is in the directory, this plan is the more inexpensive of the two.

Direct Deposit

Is available for all full time and part time employees.

Emergency Leave

Up to three working days of paid emergency leave in the event of a death within the employee's immediate family or household. Emergency leave shall not be charged against vacation or sick leave.

Employee Assistance Program

The City of Baytown provides an extensive Employee Assistance Program for all employees (including part time) and their families at no cost and includes up to six visits per problem per calendar year. In addition, services as diverse as child/parenting support services, adult/elder support services, chronic condition support, legal assistance, financial services, life learning, and an interactive website are available in addition to the standard expert assessment and counseling.

Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA)

This is a Federal law that allows employees to request time off without pay for a limited period with job protection and no loss of accumulated service, provided the employee follows the guidelines and returns to work. It applies to an "eligible employee" who has worked for the City for at least 12 months and for at least 1250 hours during the year preceding the start of the leave.

There are two types of Leaves of Absence covered under this policy:

• Medical Leave – an employee may take time off because of a "serious health condition" that makes the employee unable to perform the essential functions of his or her position.
• Personal Leave – an employee may take time off if they need to care for a seriously ill child, spouse or parent, and also for the birth, adoption or foster care of a child.

FMLA may run concurrently with Workers’ Compensation leave, accrued sick leave, or accrued vacation leave.

Holidays

New Year's Day, Martin Luther King Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, Day after Thanksgiving, Christmas Day, and one additional employee holiday to be scheduled through their department.

Life Insurance (Death Benefit)

All full-time employees have life insurance through the Texas Municipal Retirement System (TMRS) at no cost to the employee. The amount is equivalent to approximately one year’s salary.

Life Insurance – Optional

Additional supplemental term life insurance may be purchased by the employee.

Medical Insurance

Effective date of coverage is the first day of the month coinciding with, or following, 30 days of continuous full-time employment. The employee contributes a minimal part of the monthly premium for his/her coverage, and a larger contribution for spouse or family coverage. Eligible dependents are the employee’s lawful spouse and children – birth to age 26.

There are two plans the employee may choose from. Plan A is the traditional deductible type plan with an 80/20 split. Plan B is a co-pay plan for all office visits with the deductible and 80/20 split for all non office visit services. Both plans utilize the same network and the percentage paid is better when an in-network provider is utilized.

Vision Insurance
Is available for purchase by the employee and may include employee only, spouse or family coverage.

Prescription Drugs
Is included under the medical insurance listed above. Co-pays based on type of prescription (generic, formulary, non-formulary). Mail order prescriptions are also available for a 90 day supply, employee pays co-pay for a 60 day supply.

Military Leave

The City of Baytown military leave policy is governed under State and Federal regulations. Upon meeting specific criteria, a returning service member is eligible for re-employment rights. Upon meeting these criteria, they will be reemployed with the same seniority, status, pay, accrual rate for vacation and sick leave, as well as other rights as though they had never left employment. The City will provide a paid leave of absence to employees who are a member of the armed forces or a reserve component for authorized training or duty which is ordered by official military authority for not more than 15 work days in a fiscal year.

Retirement

• Mandatory for full-time employees: Texas Municipal Retirement System (TMRS)
  • Employees contribute 7% of their pre tax gross salary. Contributions are tax-deferred.
  • 5 year vesting.
  • Retirement Eligibility: 20 years of service—any age, or 5 years of service—at least age 60.
  • City matches funds 2-1 (at retirement).
• Optional for full or part-time employees: ICMA 457 Deferred Compensation Plan
  • Maximum contribution amount: $16,500. Employee controls how their money is invested and may increase, decrease, stop and restart contributions without fees or penalties.
  • Employee can stop contributing at any time, but withdrawals are only allowed for unforeseen emergency cases as defined by the IRS, or upon termination.
  • City does not match ICMA funds.

Sick Leave

Fifteen (15) days of sick leave annually at the rate of 1.25 days per month. Up to three (3) days per calendar year of this sick leave may be used in the event of an illness within the employee’s immediate family or household. Accumulation of sick leave credits for use during employment shall be unlimited.

Non civil service employees who have completed five (5) years of service with the City, and are separated for nondisciplinary reasons shall be paid for one half of their accrued sick days up to a maximum payment of 45 days. Non civil service employees who have completed ten (l0) years of service who are separated from the City of Baytown for any reason other than death and retirement shall be paid for all accrued sick leave up to a maximum payment of 90 days; such employees separated due to death or retirement shall be paid up to a maximum of 120 days. Civil service employees who have passed their probationary period shall be paid for all time up to 90 days if other than retirement, or up to 120 days upon retirement.

Vacation

Employees are granted vacation leave based on years of service and ranging from 10 days per year to 25 days per year. The vacation is accrued monthly and may be taken after six months of employment. Vacation hours may be accrued up to a maximum accrual equal to but not greater than two times their annual rate.

Workers’ Compensation

The City of Baytown’s workers’ compensation program is self funded and administered by AS&G Claims Administration, Inc.