The following is a brief summary of the major benefits provided to new full-time, regular employees. Part-time, regular employees working more than 20 hours per week may be entitled to these benefits on a pro-rated basis in accordance with Rockville City Laws and personnel policies and procedures. Certain designated seasonal employees (working 9 months, 20 hours per week) are entitled to a limited benefits package. Benefits are not available to temporary employees. Details about benefits and costs for full-time and part-time employees are available by calling the Human Resources Department at 240-314-8470.
Health Insurance
Participation is available in one of a number of types of health plans. The City contributes toward each plan. Participation is optional. Detailed information about each plan and the associated cost is available through the Human Resources Department.
Employees may participate in one of the following plans: CareFirst Health Plan HMO, Kaiser Permanente HMO, MAMSI/M.D.IPA HMO or MAMSI/M.D.IPA POS. Start date of coverage is the date of hire.
CareFirst BlueCross/BlueShield
Rockville Group: 4S26 (HMO)
Member Services: 1-800-296-5555 or 202-484-6318
Web Site: http://www.carefirst.com
Kaiser Permanente
Rockville Group: 4205-4 (HMO)
Member Services: (301) 468-6000 or (800) 777-7902
TTY: (301) 816-6344
Web Site: http://www.kaiseronline.org
M.D.IPA
Rockville Group: 165*03 (HMO) / M1191*8 (POS)
Member Services: (301) 294-5100 or (800) 638-8898
TTY: (301) 360-8111
Web Site: http://www.mamsi.com
Dental Plan
Employees may join the City's dental program and through it receive dental benefits in addition to any such benefits provided by the group health plans. The City contributes a portion of the cost of each employee's dental coverage. If dental coverage is waived, the City's contribution is reallocated toward the employee's health plan cost. Start date of coverage begins based on payroll cycle for deduction.
DentaQuest Mid-Atlantic, Inc.
Rockville Group: 2088
Customer Service: (301) 937-4447 or (800) 879-0288
Group Life Insurance
The City provides life insurance equal to one and one-half times an employee's base salary. There is no cost to the employee for this benefit. Employees have the option of purchasing supplemental life insurance coverage equal to their base salary. New employees joining within their first 30 days will not be required to provide evidence of insurability. Life insurance booklets are available in the Human Resources Department.
Annual Leave
Annual leave ranges from 16 to 23 days per year depending upon the length of service with the City. Leave may be used as it is accrued with the permission of the employee's supervisor. Annual leave is paid at termination after completing six (6) months of service. An employee normally accrues annual leave in the following manner:
Months of Service | Monthly Vacation Accrual in Hours |
| (37 .5 hrs/wk) | (40 hrs/wk) |
1-24 | 10.00 | 10.40 |
25-60 | 11.53 | 12.40 |
61-96 | 13.08 | 14.00 |
97+ | 14.23 | 15.20 |
Holidays
Administrative and Police employees generally receive the following ten (10) holidays per year.
New Year's Day | Labor Day |
Martin Luther King's Birthday | Veterans Day |
Presidents' Day | Thanksgiving Day |
Independence Day | Thanksgiving Friday |
Memorial Day | Christmas Day |
The City also observes all days of general and congressional elections throughout the State of Maryland. This holiday falls on even numbered years. Union employees and certain other employees may receive different holidays in accordance with the terms of a contractual agreement.
Sick Leave
Sick leave is earned monthly at the rate of 1.25 days per completed month of service. There is no waiting period for using earned sick leave nor is there a limit to the amount of earned sick leave that may be used in connection with any legitimate illness.
Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account
The Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account allows employees to set aside up to $5,000 on a pre-tax basis for eligible dependent care expenses. Prior to the beginning of each calendar year, employees estimate the amount of these eligible expenses and agree to have this amount deducted from their annual salary on a bi-weekly basis. Employees avoid paying federal, state, and Social Security taxes on the total amount of their deferral. When expenses are incurred, employees submit a receipt and are reimbursed from their account. A detailed description of the plan is available in the Human Resources Department.
Medical Flexible Spending Account
The Medical Care Flexible Spending Account allows employees to set aside up to $3,000 on a pre-tax basis for non reimbursable health care expenses. Prior to the beginning of each calendar year, employees estimate the amount of these expenses and agree to have that amount deducted from their annual salary on a bi-weekly basis. Employees avoid paying federal, state, and Social Security taxes on the total amount of their deferral. When the expenses are incurred, employees submit a receipt and are reimbursed from their account. A detailed description of the plan is available in the Human Resources Department. This is permitted through Section 125 of the Internal Revenue Code.
Pre-tax deductions for health insurance
Pre-tax payroll deductions may be made for the City's health insurance and dental programs. Pre-tax deductions enable employees to avoid paying Federal, State, and F.I.C.A. taxes on the amounts of these payroll deducted premiums. This is permitted through Section 125 of the Internal Revenue Code.
Retirement Plan
The City's retirement Thrift Plan consists of a Defined Benefit and a Defined Contribution portion. Administrative and Union employees may contribute between one (1) to five (5) percent of their base salary, on a pre-tax basis, to the defined contribution portion. The deferral election is made at the time of employment and may not be changed. Therefore, employees are advised to give considerable thought to their decision of what percent to contribute. The City will make a matching contribution of 50 cents for each dollar contributed. A minimum of one (1) percent participation is mandatory.
Employees have different investment fund options in which to direct contributions. The investment direction may be changed biweekly. Vesting in the Defined Contribution portion occurs on a schedule beginning at three (3) years with full vesting occurring at seven (7) years. Normal retirement is age 60.
The Defined Benefits portion of the Thrift Plan is based on a percentage of average annual salary multiplied by length of credited service. Administrative employees are required to make a mandatory one (1) percent contribution to the Defined Benefit portion of the plan. Vesting in the Defined Benefits portion occurs after ten (10) years.
Police Officers contribute 8.5 percent of their earnings on a pre-tax basis to a defined benefit pension plan. Normal retirement for police officers is permitted at the earlier of age 60 or after 25 years of service, regardless of age. Benefits at retirement are based on a percentage of final average earnings multiplied by length of credited service.
Retirement Plan Administrator:
The Principal Financial Group
Rockville Contracts:
4-45822 (Defined Benefit)
3-88767 (Thrift)
Member Services: (800) 255-6613
TeleTouch: (800) 547-7754
TTY: (800) 855-1155
Web Site: http://www.principal.com
Deferred Compensation (457) Plans
The deferred compensation plans are designed specifically for City employees, and make it possible to defer income and the payment of income taxes on the deferred investment. The plan is not meant for short-term savings or investment purposes as monies deferred are generally not available until termination or retirement.
The City presently has two plans, Nationwide Retirement Solutions and the ICMA-RC (International City Management Association Retirement Corporation) plan. Employees may defer the lesser of 25 percent of base salary or up to the current IRS limit on a pre-tax basis. This maximum amount is based on annual salary less contributions to the City's retirement plan described above.
457 Deferred Compensation Savings Plan Providers:
ICMA-RC
Rockville Group: 300173
Rosemary Knapp, Plan Rep: (800) 735-7202, ext. 5901 or knappr@icmarc.org
Participant Services: (800) 669-7400
(Spanish/Espanol): (800) 669-7400, ext. 8216
TTY: (800) 669-7471
Web Site: http://www.icmarc.org
Nationwide Retirement Solutions
Rockville Group: 2001
David Weir, Plan Rep: (301) 441-1078 or DW136@erols.com
Participant Services: (800) 545-4730 or (800) 221-7222
(Spanish/Espanol): (800) 649-9494
TTY: (800) 848-0833
Web Site: http://www.nrsforu.com
Social Security
Regular employees receive employer contributions to Social Security (also known as FICA). Social Security benefits are available in accordance with Federal law.
For more information about benefits, contact the Human Resources Department at 240-314-8470.
Employees may participate in the Montgomery County Employees Federal Credit Union, conveniently located at Courthouse Square in Rockville. This credit union also participates in Family Service Center with shared branches available throughout the metropolitan area. Services include savings and checking accounts, loans, payroll deduction, and direct deposit.
Montgomery County Employees Federal Credit Union
Member Services: (301) 279-1964
Legal Resources
Member Services: 1-800-728-5768
Web Site: http://www.legalresourcesplan.com
The City provides free, confidential counseling, assessment, and referral services to help employees deal with personal problems. Trained, certified employee assistance counselors are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The Employee Assistance Program (EAP) is also available for family members who are eligible health insurance plan dependents.
Menninger Care Systems
24 hour Assistance Line (800) 448-4434
The City's Income Protection Plan provides long-term disability benefits for both on and off the job injuries or illnesses. Coverage for off the job injuries or illnesses is provided after one year of employment with the City. Employees are eligible after one year of employment. Details are available from the Human Resources Department.
