Benefits

Dental Insurance

Dental Insurance is available to benefited employees through a pre-tax deduction. For more information, call Ameritas Life Insurance Corporation at 800-487-5553.

Policy Provisions

• $50 annual (Calendar Year) deductible
• Maximum of 3 deductibles per family per calendar year
• Annual Maximum Individual Payment $1,000
• Benefit payments are subject to usual and customary

Preventive & Diagnostic (100% With No Deductible)  

• Cleanings (two per year) 
• Evaluations (two per year)
• Fluoride for Children (under age 19)
• Sealants
• Space Maintainers
• X-rays

Basic Procedures (80% and Subject to Deductible)

• Anesthesia
• Complex Oral Surgery 
• Denture Repair
• Restorative Amalgram and Resin
• Simple Extractions

Major Procedures (50% and Subject to Deductible)

• Endodontics (Root Canal) 
• Periodontics (Gum Disease) 
• Prosthodontics - Fixed Pontics or Abutments
• Prosthodontics - Removable Dentures, Partials
• Repair and recement Crowns
• Restorative - Crowns

Orthodontia - Adult & Child(ren) (50%)

• Lifetime Maximum of $1,000

Health Insurance

Rowan County provides a self-insured health plan for active employees which is administered through Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina (BCBSNC). Employee coverage is provided by the County and dependents’ coverage is available through payroll deduction. The plan is designed to protect employees and their families against catastrophic health expenses beyond the deductible and provide basic health services through their primary care physician. A primary care physician is a general internist, pediatrician, family physician, or gynecologist. Benefits are payable at 100% after a $30 co-payment.

Life Insurance

The County provides employees with a $32,000 life insurance policy. Employees may purchase additional term life insurance in $10,000 increments up to $140,000. You may purchase coverage for your spouse in $5,000 increments up to $25,000 coverage and for your children in $2,000 increments up to $10,000 through payroll deduction. The Local Government Retirement System also provides a Retirement Death Benefit through the Retirement System after one year of service. 

Voluntary Insurance Plans

Whole life, accident, short term disability, vision and cancer/critical care insurance is offered to County employees through Mark III Employee Benefits via payroll deduction.  For more information, visit the Voluntary Insurance Plan website or call 800-532-1044, ext. 307.

Civil Leave

Employees are given leave with pay to serve jury duty or when subpoenaed as a witness. This will not be charged against leave time.

Funeral Leave

When death occurs to a member of an employee’s immediate family, the employee shall be granted necessary time off for the purpose of attending the funeral. The employee may use accumulated sick leave (maximum 5 days). Funeral leave will be granted for:

• Brother(s)
• Brother(s)-in-law
• Children
• Father-in-law
• Grandchildren
• Grandparent(s)
• Members of an employee’s immediate family which is limited to the employee’s spouse
• Mother-in-law
• Parent(s)
• Sister(s)
• Sister(s)-in-law

Holidays

County employees generally observe the following holidays:

• New Year’s Day
• Martin Luther King, Jr.'s Birthday
• Good Friday
• Memorial Day
• Independence Day
• Labor Day
• Veteran's Day
• Thanksgiving (2 days)
• Christmas (3 days)

View 2024 Holiday Schedule (PDF)

View 2023 Holiday Schedule (PDF)

Policy

County employees receive 12 paid holidays each year. When a holiday is on Saturday, Friday will be taken as the normal holiday. When a holiday is on Sunday, the following Monday will be taken as the normal holiday. Because of the variety of County services, all employees do not observe holidays on the same day. If your work requires a change from the holiday schedule above, your supervisor will tell you. If an employee is required to work on a scheduled holiday, they will receive additional pay equal to one-half of their regular wage. The employee will also receive time off on another day. 

Military Leave

Reservists in the Armed Forces are entitled to leave with pay, not to exceed 80 hours in each calendar year, when order to federal or state duty. The employee must notify their supervisor, in writing, as far in advance as possible of scheduled call-ups or training. A copy of military orders must accompany the employee’s notification to the supervisor or be provided as soon as the employee receives them. Rowan County’s military duty policy is in accordance with the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA) of 1994 and subsequent revisions to that law. When employees are activated in the event of a national emergency, they may request the utilization of their accrued vacation and sick leave credits.  

Personal Leave

Employees are given an opportunity to visit their children or grandchildren in school and other personal events. Four hours of leave per fiscal year (July - June) will be granted. The leave shall be at a mutually agreed upon time between the Department Director and the employee. If possible, the employee should submit a written request at least 48 hours prior to the time of leave. 

Sick Leave

Full-time and part-time benefited employees accrue 0.05 hours for every hour worked. This is an average of 3.7 hours of sick leave per pay period for full-time employees. Emergency Medical Service employees working a fluctuating work week earn 5.3 hours per pay period. There is no maximum accumulation of sick leave. Sick leave may be requested for:

• Personal Illness.
• Death in the immediate family. (The family is defined as spouse, parents, brother, sister, children, grandparents, grandchildren. The step, half, and in-law relationships are included as appropriate based on this listing.)
• Illness of a member of the employee’s immediate family. (The family is defined as spouse, parents, children, mother-in-law, father-in-law, including step relationships. If other dependents are living in the employee’s household, sick leave may also be taken.)
• Actual period of disability connected with childbearing.
• Medical appointments.

Policy

Department Directors and/or supervisors may ask an employee to submit a doctor’s certificate to verify sick leave. When an employee retires, accumulated sick leave days can be changed into retirement credits. Twenty sick leave days or a portion thereof equal one’s month’s service. Rowan County will transfer accumulated sick leave to another governmental agency, providing the other agency will accept the time.

Vacation

Full time and part-time benefited employees accrue vacation on a biweekly basis determined by the number of hours the employee works in the pay period and by the length of County service. With the approval of your supervisor, annual leave may be used for personal reasons requiring absence from work. The minimum amount that can be taken is one-quarter hour units. The County wants you to use your vacation leave. However, the time must be approved by your supervisor. 

Rowan County Employees have access to:

• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Nurse Practitioner Services
• Wellness Program
• Health Risk Appraisals
• Fitness Memberships through payroll deduction

To learn more about wellness benefits, please visit the Wellness page.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Check out this list of Retirement FAQs to help you plan for your retirement.

401(k) Supplemental Retirement

Upon successful completion of a six month probationary period, the County will contribute 3% of the employee’s annual salary into a state and federal tax sheltered 401(k) plan administered by Prudential (5% for law enforcement officers). Employees may elect to contribute up to 80% of their salary, not to exceed $18,000 in 2016 through payroll deduction. Upon termination of employment with the County, the employee may close the 401(k) account and withdraw the funds, or the account may be held in suspension. Contributions to the fund may only be made by payroll deduction, therefore, an individual leaving employment with the County would not be able to continue contributing to the fund.

Benefits

• 100% vested immediately
• Choice of investment options
• Deferred state and federal taxes
• Loan provisions
• Solid retirement savings

Additional Information

For more information, you may call 866-627-5267 or visit the Prudential website.

Local Government Retirement

The County provides benefits for employees and their family in case of disability, retirement, or death after an employee has completed certain service requirements. The benefits are available in addition to Social Security. Employees contribute 6 cents of each dollar earned and no income tax is paid on this until you retire. The County adds almost an equal amount towards your retirement benefits.

After five years, an employee has a "vested interest." This means that if the employee leaves County service, they may leave their contributions in the system and draw a retirement income beginning at age 60. At age 65 and five years of creditable service, at age 60 and 25 years of service, or 30 years in the retirement system at any age, an employee can retire with full benefits.

Retirement Benefits

• An employee can retire with reduced benefits after age 50 with 20 years of creditable service, or at age 60 with five years of service.  
• Law Enforcement Officers can retire with full benefits age 55 with five or more years of service, or 30 years of creditable service at any age.  Reduced benefits can be attained by an officer at age 50 with 15 years of creditable service as an officer.  
• Estimate your retirement on the Orbit website.

Contributions

If you cease to be a County employee (except by death or retirement), you may withdraw all your retirement contributions. You will receive interest if you have at least five years in the retirement system. You may receive your contributions 60 days after you receive your final paycheck. Withdrawal will be subject to Federal and State tax withholding and a penalty for early withdrawal. If you return later to County service, you may buy back this time toward retirement.

Retirement Death Benefit

After one year of employment, members of the Local Government Employees Retirement System automatically are eligible for a death benefit. It is free, but cannot be transferred if you should leave County service. The beneficiary is paid an amount equal to the employee’s highest 12 months' salary in a row during the 24 months before death, but no less than $25,000 and no more than $50,000.

Credit Union

Rowan County employees are eligible to join the Local Government Credit Union. The Credit Union is a cooperative, member owned financial institution that is operated by and for the benefit of Local Government Employees and their families. Deposits made in the Credit Union are insured up to $100,000 by the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA), a federal agency. The Credit Union offers a wide variety of financial services to meet our needs. There are branches and Automatic Teller Machines located throughout North Carolina. 

Services

• Automated Teller Machine
• Certificates of Deposit
• Direct Deposit
• Free Notary Services                      
• Home Mortgage Loans
• Individual Retirement Accounts      
• Loan Services                              
• Money Market Savings                  
• Online Banking
• Share Drafts                                  
• Statement Savings                        
• Travelers Checks
• VISA Card                                      
• Wire Transfers
   

Additional Information

You may contact the local branch in Salisbury at 704-633-7005 regarding services. Banking is available online or by calling 888-732-8562.

Direct Deposit

Direct deposit is required for all new employees. Payroll checks may be deposited at any participating banking establishment. Once your check is set up for direct deposit, it cannot be changed. You may, however, change your direct deposit to a different banking institution.

Discounts

Please log into your Employee Self Service account to access the Rowan County Discount Marketplace and other local and regional discounts.

Flexible Spending Accounts

Flexible Spending Accounts allow you to set aside your "before tax" dollars into one or more reimbursement accounts which are similar to savings accounts to reimburse you for expenses not covered by health insurance or for dependent care. After your spending account has been established, as your expenses occur, you submit a reimbursement claim along with an explanation of benefits if you have insurance, or a bill or receipt if you don’t have insurance. Reimbursement will occur in your payroll check on the next payday; account statements are issued monthly.

Types of Accounts

It is important to remember that there are two distinct kinds of Flexible Spending Accounts. One is a miscellaneous Medical Reimbursement Account (for medical, dental, and vision expenses not paid by insurance). The other is a Dependent Care Reimbursement Account. These accounts are not interchangeable. Money set aside for one account must be used for that account. Expenses must be incurred in the Plan year in which you have the pre-tax deduction. 

Plan

In planning for your Flexible Spending Accounts, you should be conservative. Plan to include money only for known expenses. At the end of the plan year, any funds not used will be lost. The plan year for the Flexible Spending Accounts is July 1 through June 30. You cannot make changes to your Flexible Plan during the plan year unless you have a change in your family status. Changes in family status include: 

• Birth or adoption of a child
• Changes in spouse’s employment status
• Death
• Divorce
• Legal separation
• Marriage

Flexible Benefit Administrators (FBA) will be the plan administrator for the Flexible Spending Program Accounts (debit card) beginning July 1, 2011. You may contact FBA at 800-437-3539 or visit their website.

Longevity

Rowan County’s Pay for Performance Plan rewards employees for length of service with the County. Merit pay is issued annually to employees in the payroll period that includes August 1st. Employees who have been employed for a year as of June 30th are eligible for an increase in their base salary. 

Service Awards

To reward employees for their years of service, cash gift cards are given to eligible employees on an annual basis. The awards are given for five years of service and in increments of five years thereafter. Years of service are based upon service as of June 30th of the current year.

Social Security

The County matches the employee's contribution to the Federal Government program. 

Worker's Compensation

If you suffer a job-related injury or illness, the County will provide Worker's Compensation for lost time and medical attention.  It is your responsibility to claim compensation. You must report an accident or occupational disease immediately to your supervisor. A claim will be filed with the North Carolina Industrial Commission.

Sick or vacation leave may only be used for the first seven days of absence. Medical benefits will be received under the Worker's Compensation Act. Any unused sick or vacation leave will be kept for future use.