Employee Benefits

As a full-time employee at North Shore Community College , you will be eligible for a comprehensive benefit package offered through the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

The following information summarizes some of the benefits available to full-time employees. Benefits are also contingent on legislation, collective bargaining agreements and administrative policies. More detailed information can be found in the appropriate collective bargaining agreement, in benefit plan brochures, or by speaking with a member of NSCC’s Human Resource staff. This information is meant as an overview only and is subject to change.

Health Insurance

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts offers a number of health care plan choices, including two indemnity plans, a Commonwealth PPO plan, and several HMO plans. The Commonwealth contributes 80% of the premium; the employee contributes 20%.
Coverage begins on the first of the month following 60 working days or more depending on date of hire.

Dental Insurance

Dental insurance is offered to all full-time employees. The cost, waiting period and insurance carrier vary based on the employee’s job category.

Life Insurance

The Commonwealth requires $5,000 of Basic Life Insurance ($1.37 per month) for all active full-time state employees and retirees who have health coverage. Optional life insurance is also offered with a maximum of eight times the employee’s salary. The premium cost depends on the employee’s age and salary.

Long Term Disability

Long Term Disability Insurance is an income replacement program providing tax-free benefit of up to 50% of the full-time employee’s gross monthly salary if an illness or injury renders him or her unable to work longer than 90 days. This is offered to all eligible full-time employees. The premium cost depends on the employee’s age and salary.

Massachusetts State Retirement

Each pay period, 9% of the employee’s salary (plus an additional 2% of any earnings over $30,000) will be deducted from his or her pay and contributed to the State Employees Retirement System. Each year, employees will receive a statement from the Massachusetts State Board of Retirement showing the contributions, interest earned and balance in your account. State employees do not contribute to social security retirement.

Employees may not access these monies until they retire or leave the Commonwealth of Massachusetts employment.

Faculty, President, Vice Presidents and Deans are eligible to enroll in an Optional Retirement Program as an alternative to the State Employees Retirement System.

Leave Time

Holidays

The college observes 13 paid legal holidays in a calendar year.

Sick/Vacation Accruals

Full-time employees accrue leave time (sick and vacation) in each pay period based on the number of hours worked.

Sick days per year: Faculty – 10 sick days; All other job classifications – 15 sick days per year; Unused sick days may be carried over from year to year.

Vacation accruals vary with job category. Personal Days are granted each calendar year.

Tuition Remission

The Tuition Remission Program provides tuition remission benefits for full-time employees, their spouses and dependent children at public college and universities. New full-time employees are eligible for tuition remission six months after their date of hire. Details regarding this program are available from the Human Resource Department.

Employee Assistance Program

The Employee Assistance Program (EAP) is a benefit which offers counseling and referral services to employees and eligible family members.

Pre-Tax Options

Health Care Spending Account

A plan that allows employees to pay for non-covered health related benefits on a pre-tax basis, reducing their state and federal income taxes.

Dependent Care Assistance Program

A pre-tax benefit that allows participants to contribute up to $5000 per family annually for certain employment-related dependent care expenses, such as childcare.

Deferred Compensation

Employees have the option of deferring a portion of their earnings on a pre-tax basis into a qualified custodial account, a plan administered through ING. The amount employees may contribute per year is limited.

Tax Sheltered Annuity

Tax Sheltered Annuities are deferred retirement plans available to full-time employees. Employees can contribute a portion of their salary into a TSA plan before taxes up to certain limits.

For more information, please contact us at (978) 762-4106 or jobs@northshore.edu.