SPFPA (Security, Police and Fire Professionals of America) employees work as police or security supervisors, while POA (Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education Officers Association) employees are patrol offices, police specialists or security officers.
ESU offers an excellent benefits package for SPFPA & POA employees including health care, company paid life insurance, retirement benefits, and leave time.
See further details regarding State System employee groups SPFPA and POA.
SPFPA & POA Employees Benefits...
Health Benefits
Health care benefits are overseen by PEBTF (Pennsylvania Employees Benefit Trust Fund).
Employees are eligible to enroll in health care coverage from their first day of employment. There is a 90 day waiting period to enroll in supplemental benefits (dental/vision/hearing) and/or to enroll dependents into eligible plans.
Medical Benefits
Health care benefits are offered to POA & SPFPA employees and their families:
Medical Benefits
Medical benefits are provided via Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield, a PPO (Preferred Provider Organization).
Flu Shot Information
- ESU provides assistance with Flu Shot Opportunities
- ESU has a list of Pharmacy Vaccination Suppliers
Prescription & Hearing Benefits
An employee is automatically enrolled in prescription and hearing coverage once they are enrolled in a medical plan.
The Prescription Drug Program is administered by Highmark Blue Shield.
In order to receive hearing benefits, you must be enrolled in an active health plan.
Dental & Vision Benefits
- Dental Coverage - United Concordia
- Vision Coverage- NVA (National Vision Administrators)
Dental and Vision coverage may be picked up without electing medical benefits at no charge.
Annual Spouse Attestation
Each year, employees must verify their spouse/domestic partner eligibility to stay covered under their insurance plan. If their spouse/domestic partner has obtained employment, and can obtain their own insurance, spouse/domestic partner will be removed from employee’s coverage.
Complete the relevant Spouse/Domestic Partner Health Care Enrollment Attestation form:
- For these forms on how to enroll or re-enroll your spouse/domestic partner please email HR at askhr@esu.edu for the documents.
Life Events
A major life event allows employee to make a change in health insurance, without having to wait for Open Enrollment. Major life events include marriage, divorce, birth, adoption, death.
The employee will need to provide proof of verification to Human Resources within 60 days of the major life event, in order to make a change.
Healthy U
In an effort to encourage employees to learn about, and improve, their health, Highmark works with Sharecare to provide the “Healthy U” program. This program will allow employees to save money on their health insurance premiums.
To successfully complete the program, employees and their enrolled spouse/domestic partner must each earn a total of 70 points by:
- Taking a RealAge Test (worth 30 points) and
- Participating in various health related activities (each varying in points) to gain the additional 40 points
To participate in the Healthy U Program for the plan year of July 1 – June 30, employees and their enrolled spouse/domestic partners can begin earning their points on September 1 of the prior year, but the deadline for each to complete 70 points is May 31.
- For example: May 31, 2020 is due date, in order to participate for plan year July 1, 2020 – June 30, 2020.
See more information on Healthy U.
Flexible Spending Account (FSA)
There are two types of Flexible Spending Accounts: Healthcare FSA and Dependent Care FSA.
This benefit is a convenient way to set aside money on a pre-tax basis for eligible medical, dental, vision and dependent care expenses. Employees can sign up within 30 days of hire, or during open enrollment period. Once enrolled, the employee will be covered for one calendar year.
Detailed information, including lists of eligible and ineligible expenses can be found in the Flexible Spending Account Handbook. For the handbook please email us at askhr@esu.edu.
Life, Accidental Insurance & Long-Term Disability
ESU offers paid basic group life through MetLife for all permanent, full-time employees. Coverage amounts vary by employee group.
Voluntary Insurance programs are overseen by CIGNA. These benefits financially help families in case of an employee’s death, or if employee suffers a serious injury due to a covered accident. The following voluntary insurances offered are:
MetLife
At no cost to employee:
- Basic Group Life Insurance – permanent employees are automatically enrolled
- Group Life Insurance Summary Sheet email askhr@esu.edu
- To make any changes to your account, beneficiary, or to file a claim, visit MetLife.
Cigna
Employee pays bi-weekly premiums:
- Voluntary Group Life Insurance (VGLIP)
- Accidental Death and Dismemberment Insurance (AD&D)
- Voluntary Long-Term Disability (LTD)
Beneficiary Changes
To update/change beneficiaries for VGLIP and/or AD&D, complete and return the Beneficiary Designation Form to your Human Resource Business partner. To access the form contact HR at askhr@esu.edu or call (570) 422-3422.
Retirement
Retirement Plans are offered to ensure an employee begins to save and invest money for retirement. When an employee is first hired, it is required that they select a retirement plan. Once a decision has been made, the employee cannot change their plan.
The retirement plans offered to employees are:
- SERS (State Employees’ Retirement System)
- A5 Hybrid
- A6 Hybrid
- Straight Investment
- ARP (Alternative Retirement Plan)
- TIAA
- Fidelity
If employee does not choose within 30 days of hire, they will automatically be enrolled in the SERS (A5 Hybrid) retirement plan.
Voluntary Retirement Plans
Employees are offered additional options to save and invest money with Voluntary Retirement Plans.
- Deferred Compensation – 457 (b) Plan
- Tax Sheltered Annuity (TSA) – 403(b) Plan
- TIAA
- Fidelity
Prospective Retirees
In order to be eligible for retirement, employee must qualify under one of the following criteria:
- If hire date is prior to July 1, 1997:
- Age 60, with 10 years of credited service
- Any age, with 25 years of credited service
- Any age (with approved disability retirement), with 5 years of credited service
- If hire date is between July 1, 1997 – June 30, 2005:
- Age 60, with 15 years of Commonwealth/State System Service
- Any age, with 25 years of Commonwealth/State System Service
- Any age (with approved disability retirement), with 5 years of Commonwealth/State System Service
- If hire date is On/After July 1, 2005:
- Age 60, with 20 years of Commonwealth/State System Service
- Any age, with 25 years of Commonwealth/State System Service
- Any age (with approved disability retirement), with 5 years of Commonwealth/State System Service
Employees that are considering retirement, should make an appointment with their Human Resource Business Partner to discuss all retirement options.
Refer to the Retirement Guide for a quick look at retirement options. For the retirement checklist & guide email HR at askhr@esu.edu.
Sick Time & Leave
POA & SPFPA employees are eligible for the following leave:
Annual Leave
- Up to 3 years of service – 2.70% of hours paid, 7 days per year
- 3-15 years of service – 5.77% of hours paid, 15 days per year
- 15-25 years of service – 7.70% of hours paid, 20 days per year
- Over 25 years of service – 10% of hours paid, 26 days per year
Sick Leave
- 5% of regular hours paid, 13 days per year
Bereavement and Sick Family Leave
- Death of relative 3-5 days depending on relationship
- Sickness of immediate family – 5 days per calendar year
Personal Leave
- Depends on number of years of employment
Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) / Sick, Parental, or Family
FMLA allows employees who are eligible to take up to a 12 weeks of leave (with or without pay) with benefits for:
- the birth or adoption of a child,
- recovery from a qualifying medical illness,
- providing care for a seriously ill family member.
To request FMLA contact the Human Resources office at askhr@esu.edu, call at 570-422-3422, or stop by the office located in room 105 of the Reibman administration building. The required two forms to be submitted to Human Resources are:
- FMLA – Request for FMLA/SPF Absence – (this form needs to be completed by the employee)
- and the applicable certification form, completed by the health care provider:
- FMLA Employee Serious Health Condition Certification
- FMLA Family Member Serious Health Condition Certification
Workers Compensation
If an employee suffers a work related injury, Worker’s Compensation provides wage loss and medical benefits to employee.
Immediate Care
For an injury or illness that requires immediate care, go directly to the hospital emergency room. After treatment, follow the required steps listed below.
1. Report the injury
When an employee suffers a work related injury, employee must report it to their supervisor.
Please contact HR for the Accident/Incident Report at askhr@esu.edu, call at 570-422-3422,
or stop by the office located in room 105 of the Reibman administration building.
2. Submit Accident/Incident Report form to HR
The Accident/Incident Report Form needs to be submitted to Human Resources Business
Partner (HRBP), who will provide employee with claim number. The HRBP will provide
the workers compensation employee notification and workers compensation forms for
you to review, sign and return.
3. Seek Treatment
If employee has not already gone to emergency room for treatment, HRBP will instruct
employee to see one of the doctors from our Panel List of Physicians.
4. Provide Doctors Note to HR
The doctor will provide documentation to the employee, which must be submitted to
HR. It is very important that the employee provides this documentation, to determine
if the employee is okay to return to work, or needs to be placed on any type of restrictions.
Tuition Waiver
A waiver of tuition to the fourteen State System universities is available to eligible employees and their dependents. Eligibility guidelines differ according to the employee’s collective bargaining agreement or non-represented status. Please review the Tuition Waiver policy for complete eligibility rules.
Please connect with the HR Office to receive the tuition waiver policy along with the forms that must be completed each semester. We can be reached at askhr@esu.edu, call at 570-422-3422, or stop by the office located in room 105 of the Reibman administration building.
Please see the various types of tuition waivers ESU has to offer:
- Application for Dependent Tuition Waiver
- Faculty/Staff Application for Tuition Waiver
- Staff/Faculty Tuition Waiver for other State System University
State Employee Assistance Program (SEAP)
Contact Us
Campus Address
Reibman Administration Building
(570) 422-3422
(570) 422-3450 (Fax)
Human Resources Office
askhr@esu.edu
(570) 422-3422
