Paid Leave

Currently, unaffiliated employees accrue eight (8) hours of vacation leave per month with increases up to 22 days per year, based on length of City service. They accrue eight (8) hours of sick leave per month and 13 holidays (including two floating holidays) per year. Vacation, sick leave, and holiday provisions are determined through collective bargaining for affiliated employees.

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Retirement

All regular City employees are required to participate in the State of Washington Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS) except Police employees who are members of the Law Enforcement Officers' and Firefighters' Retirement (LEOFF). Employees and employers jointly contribute to the plans. In addition, employees may participate in a deferred compensation plan (Section 457) in which the employee may contribute, pre-tax to any of five available programs.

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Insurances and Healthcare & Child/Elder Care Reimbursement

The City offers medical, dental, and vision insurance benefits to employees and their families. Employees contribute a modest amount toward the medical premiums. The City pays the full premium for family dental and vision, and employee life, and long-term disability insurance. In addition, employees may participate in the Section 125 Health Care Expense Reimbursement and/or Child/Elder Care Expenses options. Collective bargaining agreements determine the different insurance coverages for union-affiliated employees.

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Tuition Reimbursement

After one year of employment, employees may be eligible to receive up to $3,000 per year for tuition reimbursement toward a formal college degree.

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Commuter Program

Whether employees live in Auburn or in a surrounding community, the City can assist in setting up car pools, vanpools, and identifying bus routes. As part of the commuter program, employees can currently receive up to $75 per month for bus passes or van pool vouchers. For those employees driving to work, free parking is available.

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Employee Assistance Program

The City provides a confidential Employee Assistance Program (EAP), through the Association of Washington Cities Benefit Trust, to all its regular employees. This confidential service (even the City does not receive the names of those employees utilizing the program) is available to regular employees and their dependents for help with personal, family or job-related problems. Initial consultation (up to three visits) is available without cost to the employee. Counseling or treatment costs following initial counseling is the responsibility of the employee, but may be covered by health benefits.

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Long Term Health Care

The City provides unaffiliated employees a base, long-term health care plan, with the option of employee-paid "buy-up". Immediate family (spouse, mother, father, mother-in-law, father-in-law, and children over the age of 18) may also apply (at time of hire or during open enrollment) and if qualified receive the same group rate as the employee.

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Volunteer Employees' Beneficiary Association (VEBA)

The City's unaffiliated employees participate in a VEBA. VEBA is a group, tax-free, pre-retirement and post-retirement medical savings account that covers many out-of-pocket medical expenses. It is tax-free upon contribution, tax-free when growing, and tax-free when withdrawn. It does not include a "use-or-lose" provision like the Section 125 Flex Plan. Employees contribute to the their VEBA accounts through payroll deduction. Collective bargaining agreements determine VEBA coverage for union-affiliated employees.

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Long-Term Disability Insurance

The City pays 100% of the premiums for unaffiliated employees' long-term disability insurance through the Standard Life Insurance Company.Disability insurance for affiliated employees is governed by the appropriate collective bargaining contract.

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Life Insurance

The City pays 100% of the premiums for a life insurance policy through The Standard Life Insurance Company for all employees.

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Professional Development

The City is invested in making sure our community is served by top talent, which is why we invest in our employees. We offer a variety of in house development opportunities as well as pay for skill training related to the positions.