Employee Benefits | City of Bryan

The City of Bryan offers a variety of competitive benefits for regular full-time employees. The Human Resources Department and the Risk Management Department share oversight of employee benefits. Benefits include:

Human Resources Functions

Risk Management Functions

Life Insurance
Short-Term Disability
Long-Term Disability
Texas Municipal Retirement System
457 Deferred Compensation
Fitness Memberships
Employee Assistance Program
Workers’ Compensation
Flexible Benefits
Health Insurance (including):
- Medical Coverage
- Mental Health Coverage
- Prescriptions
- Dental Coverage
- Eye Exams

Vacation

Full-time employee shall be entitled to accrue vacation leave. The amount accrued is based on the number of years of service. Part-time and temporary/seasonal employees do not accrue vacation time.

Sick Leave

All regular full-time employees accrue sick leave at the rate of 10 days per year (80 hours). Maximum sick leave accrual is 120 days (960 hours). Classified Fire & Police shall accrue sick leave and be paid for any unused sick leave in accordance with Texas Local Government Code, Chapter 143. Part-time and temporary/seasonal employees do not accrue sick leave.

Paid Holidays

The City of Bryan offers full-time employees 12 paid holidays per year:

New Year’s Day
Martin Luther King Jr. Day
Good Friday
Memorial Day
Independence Day
Labor Day
Thanksgiving
Day after Thanksgiving
Christmas Eve
Christmas Day
Two floating holidays

Life Insurance

The City of Bryan provides basic life insurance for all full- time regular employees at no cost to the employee. Coverage is effective on the 1st of the month following 30 days of employment.

Employer-paid Basic Life

Coverage Option: Two times base salary, subject to a maximum of $400,000. Includes matching Accidental Death and Dismemberment (AD&D) benefit. Coverage decreases at age 70 to 50% of the coverage in force prior to age 70.

Employee-paid Supplemental Life w/AD&D

Coverage Options: $10,000 increments with maximum coverage $750,000. $300,000 coverage is guaranteed for new employees if elected within 31 days of initial eligibility. The accidental dismemberment benefit is based on the type of loss sustained. Coverage decreases at age 70 to 50% of the coverage in force prior to age 70. Premiums are based on age and amount of policy.

Employee-paid Spouse Life

Coverage Options: $20,000 or $50,000. All coverage is guaranteed if elected within 31 days of initial eligibility. Additional $100,000 with approved medical underwriting. Coverage decreases at age 70 to 50% of the coverage in force prior to age 70.

Employee-paid Child Life

Coverage Options: $10,000, $15,000 and $20,000. All coverage is guaranteed if elected within 31 days initial eligibility. Coverage from live birth to 26 years.

Short-Term Disability Insurance

The City of Bryan offers a short-term disability income insurance policy that helps replace a major portion of your income when you are sick or injured and unable to work. This benefit covers 60% of employee’s weekly base salary up to $1,500 per week. The benefit begins after 14 days or after exhaustion of accumulated sick time, whichever is later of injury or illness and last up to 26 weeks. Evidence of Insurability (EOI) is not required for newly eligible employees but EOI will be required if enrolled at a later time.

Long-Term Disability Insurance

The City of Bryan provides long-term disability insurance to all full-time regular employees. The coverage is intended to help assure an income when an employee is unable to work due to illness or injury. It covers disabilities on or off the job that last longer than six months. Employees may be eligible to receive a basic monthly benefit of up to 60% of their base salary.

Texas Municipal Retirement System (TMRS)

The Texas Municipal Retirement System (TMRS) is the qualified, deferred, retirement plan for all City of Bryan full-time employees and those part-time employees who regularly exceed 1,000 hours in a calendar year. These employees contribute 7% of their pre-tax pay that is matched on a 2-to-1 basis by the city. Participation is mandatory. Employees may qualify for retirement with 5 years of service at age 60 or 20 years of service at any age. Employees having public service at another entity may apply for time credit.

457 Deferred Compensation

The City of Bryan offers a supplemental retirement option that is fully employee-funded. Full and part-time regular employees may enroll, stop deductions and/or make changes at any time.

Training & Talent Development Program

The City of Bryan offers a holistic approach to training to focus on future development of each employee’s talents. This program was designed to promote and provide educational development and training to all City of Bryan employees that is strategic, measurable, and effective; thereby, improving and transforming quality and performance to meet the needs of citizens now and into the future.

Education Reimbursement

The City of Bryan offers Education Reimbursement to employees for eligible tuition and other education-related expenses up to a maximum of $1,500 per semester (dependent upon availability of funds) based on course grades.

Spot Bonus

The city’s Spot Bonus Program recognizes and rewards contributions of employees, essentially “on the spot,” rather than waiting to incorporate the reward into an annual review of performance, pay, or other recognition initiative. Recommended awards may vary from a low of $50 to a maximum of $500; other amounts may be considered based on circumstances and merit.

Longevity Pay

The City of Bryan offers Longevity Pay as a benefit to further incentivize and reward employees for their tenure and dedication. Employees “earn $4 per month for every year of service (after year one); i.e. a one-year employee would receive $48 annually, not to exceed $1,200 annually (cap is at 25 years, $100/mo.), paid in an annual lump sum.

Fitness Membership

In an effort to minimize health costs and promote wellness, the City of Bryan offers a discounted fitness membership for its employees. For enrollment information, please contact Risk Management at 979-209-5055.

Employee Assistance Program

The City of Bryan Employee Assistance Program (EAP) is a confidential service designed to help employees and their immediate family members with problems such as relationships, legal, finances, drug/alcohol, depression or anxiety. Employees and/or immediate family members are allowed six (6) free counseling sessions per issue per year unless long-term care is recommended, then sessions will be applied toward health insurance. Legal assistance consists of a free 30-minute consultation with an attorney per issue per calendar year and/or a 25% price discount of the attorney’s hourly rate. Call EAP at 1-888-881-5462 or visit their website at www.supportlinc.com.

Workers’ Compensation

Workers’ compensation is a state-regulated insurance program that pays your medical bills and replaces a portion of you lost wages if you become injured at work or have a work-related disease or illness. In the event of death, benefits are paid to eligible family members.

Flexible Benefits

The City of Bryan offers a Flexible Spending Account Plan that allows employees to have money taken out of their paycheck pre-taxed and set aside to use for medical and/or dependent care expenses.

Health Insurance

The City of Bryan offers medical health coverage to all regular full-time employees. Coverage is effective on 1st of the month following 30 days of employment. See complete section on health insurance for more information.

Health Insurance Overview

The City of Bryan offers medical health coverage to all regular, full-time employees. Coverage is effective on the first of the month following 30 days of employment. Blue Cross Blue Shield is the claims administrator for the City’s self-funded health plan. Blue Cross Blue Shield is the Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) for medical care in the Brazos Valley and surrounding area. A list of network facilities/providers, medical claim forms, and other benefit-related information are available on line at the Blue Cross Blue Shield website.

Medical Coverage

PPO Plan

The Plan pays 100% after a $30 co-pay for in-network office visits. There is $60 co-pay for Specialist/Urgent Care Office Visit. The hospital emergency room in-network co-pay is $300, and coverage is 80% after meeting deductible. The co-pay is waived if admitted. There is a calendar year $1,000 individual / $2,000 family deductible applied to most other in-network expenses. The Plan then reimburses at 80% of eligible charges.

High Deductible Health Plan

There is a calendar year $1,650 individual / $3,300 family deductible then the Plan reimburses at 80% of eligible charges. The family’s medical and prescription costs are combined to meet the deductible.

Prescriptions

Prescriptions are covered through Blue Cross Blue Shield/Prime Therapeutics. There is a $10 co-pay at participating pharmacies for generic prescriptions. The co-pay for preferred brand prescriptions is $25 or 20% of the price, whichever is greater, and for non-preferred brand prescriptions it is $40 or 20%, whichever is greater.

Dental Coverage

Dental coverage has a $50 individual deductible, limited to $150 per family. Preventative dental care includes two cleanings per year and is reimbursed at 100%, deductible waived. Basic care is reimbursed at 80% and Major care is reimbursed at 50% after the deductible is met. The maximum benefit per calendar year is $1,500. Orthodontics is reimbursed at 50%, after deductible, and there is a $1,500 lifetime benefit.

Eye Exams

Each Blue Cross Blue Shield participant is allowed one routine eye exam per year. The annual eye exam is reimbursed at 100% and no co-pay applies. Participants must go to a Blue Cross Blue Shield provider for the in-network benefit.

Mental Health Coverage

Serious mental illness is covered on the same basis as any other illness. Other mental health treatment is covered as follows: In-network in-patient/day facility care at 80% after the individual deductible is met.