Benefits

The District offers a generous variety of benefits to promote health and wellness, work-life balance and financial security.

Florida Retirement System (FRS)

10 paid holidays  (nine designated holidays + one floating holiday)

Up to 104 hours of vacation and up to 104 hours of sick leave per year

Medical and dental insurance (91- 97% District paid)

Vision insurance 

Deferred compensation program

Basic and voluntary life and AD&D insurance

Long-term disability (District paid) 

Prescription drug coverage & mail order program 

Health savings & flexible spending accounts

Flexible schedule for work-life balance

Legal and identity theft protection

Wellness program

Public service loan forgiveness qualified employerTuition reimbursement ($5,250/year)

State adoption benefit qualified employer

Employee Assistance Program (EAP) 

Transfer in years of service for other public sector work – towards the FRS program and sick time

Remote and Flexible Work

The District supports employees who prefer a flexible schedule or a remote work schedule so that they can enjoy their time outside of the District through work-life balance.

Florida Retirement System

As a District employee, you will participate in the Florida Retirement System (FRS). Each pay period the District contributes 13.63% of your pay to your FRS retirement plan. The employee contributes a required 3% of their pay each pay period. In addition, employees may also enroll in a pre-taxed deferred compensation plan for additional retirement savings.

Paid Time Off

Employees accrue a certain number of hours of leave each pay period which accumulates to up to 104 hours of vacation and up to 104 hours of sick leave per year, approximately five weeks of paid time off annually.

Well-being

The District’s award-winning health and wellness program offers a variety of group activities and educational resources to encourage a healthy lifestyle. Discounted gym memberships and individual and group fitness challenges are offered throughout the year. You can earn rewards for completing wellness activities such as an annual biometric screening, wellness classes and annual preventive exams.

Pinky Mathew in chem lab

I really enjoy the health and wellness programs like yoga. 
– Pinky Matthew

Employee Assistance Program 

The Employee Assistance Program is a free service available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to employees and their immediate family members to access a range of confidential and professional services to help address personal and family matters. Assistance may include but is not limited to work and life balance, stress management, coping with family issues, financial advice, legal and workplace problems, addictions and other personal issues. 

Medical

You have two medical insurance coverage options including a copay plan and a high deductible health plan (HDHP). The District contributes 91- 97% towards your medical insurance premium. 

Health Savings Accounts & Flexible Spending Accounts

Health savings accounts (HSA) and flexible spending accounts (FSA) including health care FSA, limited purpose FSA and dependent care FSA are available. The District contributes up to $1,500 depending on the plan tier for those enrolled in the high deductible plan. 

Dental

The dental insurance helps pay for routine cleanings and oral exams in addition to many basic and major restorative services such as orthodontia. The District contributes 61–79% towards your dental insurance premium depending on the tier level you choose.

Vision

Vision insurance includes eye exams, eyeglasses, contact lenses and frames. Your monthly contributions range from approximately $6–18, depending on the tier level selected.

Life and Accidental Death & Dismemberment Insurance

As a full-time employee, you are automatically enrolled in the employer-paid Basic Term Life (Life) insurance and Accidental Death and Dismemberment (AD&D) insurance with a benefit amount equal to 1.5 times your annual salary. You have the opportunity to purchase additional Life and AD&D insurance to increase the financial security for your loved ones.

Disability

Voluntary short-term disability insurance is available to protect you against the loss of income, up to 60%, in the event of accident or illness. Long-term disability is provided at no cost to you and offers a benefit amount equal to 60% of your pay after 90 days of disability.

Supplemental

The District also offers supplemental group insurance to protect against loss of income due to accident, critical illness and hospitalizations.

Development and Tuition Reimbursement 

Employee development is encouraged through a variety of training classes including topics such as leadership, soft skills, job related and compliance. We also provide tuition reimbursement up to $5,250 per year for your to continued education.

Professional Geologist Kristina Mallams examining samples on the Weeki Wachee.

Without the District’s financial assistance and support, it would have been very costly and difficult for me to get my master’s degree in Hydrogeology and then my Professional Geologist license. 
– Kristina Mallams

Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program

The District is a qualified employer for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Program. As a District employee, you may be eligible for the federal PSLF program. The PSLF Program forgives the remaining balance on your Direct Loans after you have made 120 qualifying monthly payments under a qualifying repayment plan while working full-time for a qualifying employer.

Compensatory Leave

In a regular exempt full-time position, you are exempt from the provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), meaning you will not receive overtime pay. However, compensatory leave is earned if you exceed your normal 40-hour work week. Hours worked over 40 in a work week will be coded as compensatory leave earned and available for you to use for future time off.

Employee Discounts

As a District employee, you can receive discounts on products such as cellular service, computers and other items available through LifeMart.

Adoption Assistance

The District is a qualified employer for the State Adoption Program. As a District employee, you may be eligible for adoption assistance.


*This is a summary of benefits. See benefit plan documents and personnel guidelines for complete details. In the event of discrepancy between this document and the plan documents or guidelines, the plan documents and guidelines prevail.