You must enroll in GIC insurance benefits within ten (10) days of your official hire
date.
When enrolled, GIC insurance benefits become effective sixty (60) days from the first full month of hire (ex: If you are hired September 1, benefits become effective November 1; If you are
hired September 2, benefits become effective December 1).
Deductions for Health Insurance will be split between biweekly paychecks.
Helpful Information to assist you in choosing an insurance plan and provider:
You may enroll in Optional Life Insurance for a coverage amount of up to eight times
your salary (for a max of $1.5M)
In order to enroll for Optional Life Insurance, you must be enrolled for basic life
insurance.
If you select coverage in an amount equal to a multiple of your salary, you will be
enrolled in the Automatic Increase plan, and your coverage will increase automatically
with increases in your salary.
While you may elect Optional Life Insurance at any time during your employment with
BCC, if you elect it within 10 days of hire, you will not be required to provide proof
of good health.
Deductions for Optional Life Insurnace are taken once per month, in one lump sum.
BCC Employees are eligible to enroll in Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA). FSAs allow
employees to set aside money every paycheck on an income tax-free basis for eligible
expenses.
You can enroll in the Health Care and/or the Dependent Care FSA.
The Health Care Spending Account covers expenses that diagnose, treat, cure, or mitigate an injury, illness, or condition.
The Dependent Care Assistance Program covers expenses such as day care; preschool, before- and after-school programs; and
summer day camps.
New state employees enroll for partial-year benefits. For the Health Care FSA, benefits
begin at the same time as other GIC benefits. For the Dependent Care FSA, benefits
begin on the first day of employment.
Commonwealth of Massachusetts employees save on average $300 for every $1,000 contributed
in the Health Care Spending Account (HCSA)
You pay a $1.00 monthly administrative fee for enrollment in one or both FSAs.
Your elections will be withdrawn from your pay and placed in your account before federal
or state income taxes, or federal payroll tax are applied.
The IRS imposes a use-it-or-lose-it rule on FSAs. This means that you must use all
the money in your account by the end of the plan year, or you lose that money, subject
to a 2 ½ month grace period. For the 2021 plan year, you have until September 15,
2021 to incur claims and until October 15, 2021 to submit them.
The Provider is Benstrat. For questions regarding the FSA, please contact 1.877.FlexGIC
(1.877.353.9442); or contact Benstrat at: 877-353-9442; commonwealth@benstrat.com.
FAQ and Helpful Resources, including the Participant Handbook, Expense Lists, and presentations. There is also
a live chat option available on this page.
BCC employees are eligible for dental benefits through Metlife and for vision discounts.
You must enroll in GIC insurance benefits within ten (10) days of your official hire
date.
For Non-Unit Professionals, GIC insurance benefits become effective sixty (60) days from the first full month of hire (ex: If you are hired September 1, benefits become effective November 1; If you are
hired September 2, benefits become effective December 1). For MCCC and AFSCME members, these benefits become effective 180 days following date
of hire.
Metlife VisionAccess is a discount program that helps you save and stay on top of
your care. This flyer will provide discount information on vision care services.
Employees must choose from one (1) of two (2) options for retirement contributions
(in lieu of Social Security):
1. Massachusetts State Employee Retirement System (MSERS)
MSERS is a defined benefit plan. New employees contribute 9% of gross salary, and
11% on salary over $30,000. These employee contributions are Federal tax-deferred.1.45%
is deducted for the Medicare portion of Social Security.
Those who entered state service after April 2, 2012 are eligible for a pension at
age 60 with 10 years of creditable service. State employees are eligible for a pension
at any age with 20 years of creditable service.
For more information, contact (617) 727-2310 ext. 2, or visit www.mass.gov/gic for an online contact form
BCC employees have options for additional retirement savings. You may opt for the
457 Deferred Compensation SMART Plan, a retirement “add-on,” for saving additional
retirement monies.
For 2020, anyone under age 50 can save $19,500 per calendar year, and $26,000 is you
are 50 or over.
You can enroll for the SMART Plan at any time.
Prior to enrolling, contact your local SMART Plan office at 877-457-1900 to obtain
a Plan Enrollment Code flier, which will include a specific code needed to enroll
online. Then, click the button below to enroll.
Employees of BCC get free access to the Paterson Field House where we offer use of an array of exercise equipment, a basketball court, a pool
(open seasonally; available for a small daily fee), and offer exercise and wellness
classes.
Berkshire Community College (BCC) has the distinction of being the first community
college established in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Nestled in the scenic Berkshire
Hills, our nearly 2,000 students have access to a wide range of career and transfer
programs on our newly renovated campus. Occupying a scenic 180-acre property, just
minutes from downtown Pittsfield, Massachusetts, BCC provides students from a broad
range of cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds with an intimate learning environment,
small class sizes, and much opportunity for interaction with faculty.
Berkshire County was home to many forward-thinking historic figures including, W.E.B.
DuBois, Susan B. Anthony, and Elizabeth (Mumbet) Freeman, all of whom were pioneers
of social justice. The Berkshires contain both rural and urban elements, combining
a beautiful natural environment with world class museums and other cultural opportunities.
Pittsfield and Berkshire County continue to evolve, with immigrants from over 70
countries now calling the Berkshires their home. BCC seeks to recruit diverse employees
who embrace, as well as demonstrate, a commitment to diversity and inclusion and whose
experiences and perspectives model the opportunities and success derived from a college
education.
Questions related to Title IX and the College’s Policy on Affirmative Action, Equal
Opportunity & Diversity; and for filing Title IX and Affirmative Action Discrimination
Complaints
Collective bargaining and contract matters (including generation of seniority lists;
questions related to tenure and changes of rank; and reclassification requests)
Employee complaints and grievances
Consultation on personnel and supervisory matters
Project and initiative planning in partnership with the Human Resources Department