Benefits

Vacation Leave

All full-time employees and those part-time employees who qualify shall be entitled to vacation leave.  Seasonal and temporary employees shall not be entitled to vacation leave.  Vacation accrual begins on the date of hire.  Vacation leave shall accrue to full-time employees based on years of service.  The rate of accrual for full-time employees is as follows: 

Employees with less than five years of service shall accrue vacation leave at a rate of 6 2/3 hours each month (80 hours per year).

Employees with at least five years of service, but less that 10 years of service, shall accrue vacation leave at a rate of 10 hours each month (120 hours per year).

Employees with at least 10 years of service, but less that 15 years of service, shall accrue vacation leave at a rate of 11 1/3 hours each month (136 hours per year).

Employees with fifteen years of service, but less than 25 years of service, shall accrue vacation leave at a rate of 13 1/3 hours each month (160 hours per year).

Employees with at least 25 years of service or more, through the duration of their employment, shall accrue vacation leave at a rate of 14 2/3 hours each month (176 hours per year).

Employees starting their employment on or after the 16th of the month, or who terminate their employment on or before the 15th of the month, shall not be eligible to accrue vacation leave for that month.

Holidays

Regular full time non-union employees receive the following paid holidays per year:

Note: Some departments/positions may be required to work holidays

Medical Leave

All full-time employees shall be entitled to sick leave.  Full-time employees shall accrue sick leave at the rate of eight (8) hours per month of employment.  Employees may accrue up to one thousand one hundred (1,100) hours of sick leave.  Seasonal and temporary employees shall not be entitled to sick leave.  Sick leave shall be accrued for any month in which an employee is in pay status for more than half of that month.

Employees starting their employment on or after the 16th of the month or who terminate their employment on or before the 15th of the month shall not be eligible to accrue sick leave for that month.

Employees are not allowed to accumulate more that one thousand one hundred (1,100) hours of sick leave.  On the second pay day of January in each year, all employees who are not members of a collective bargaining unit, and who have accumulated more than one thousand one hundred (1,100) hours of sick leave shall be paid for twenty-five percent (25%) of any unused accrued sick leave over and above the one thousand one hundred (1,100) hours which may be carried over to the next calendar year.

Comp Time

Employees may choose to take their hours worked in excess of 40 hours in a work week (8 hours in a day for utility operation departments), in the form of comp time, rather than overtime.  This must be agreed to by both the employee and their supervisor.  Comp time is accumulated at one and one-half (1 1/2) hours for every hour worked in excess of 40 hours in a work week (8 hours in a day for utility operation departments).  The maximum number of comp time hours that may be accrued is 96 hours.  All overtime hours worked, whether planned or emergency, may be taken as comp time, as long as both employee and supervisor approve.

CITY GUIDELINES BROCHURE

Pay Information

Employees have their paycheck directly deposited into a checking or savings account at the bank of his/her choice. Paydays are bi-weekly on Fridays.

Part-Time Employees

Regular part-time employees who work at least 1560 hours per year earn benefits at 75% of those of a full-time employee.

Retirement

Employees join the mandatory retirement plan, (401a) on the first of the month following six months of employment.  Employees are required to work at least 1,560 hours per year, and must be at least 21 years of age. The employee contributes 4% of the first $25,000 gross pay and 8% in excess of $25,000.  Contributions are made with pre-tax dollars. The City will contribute an amount equal to the employee's contribution.  

Additionally, employees have the option to contribute to a 457(b) deferred compensation and/or Roth investment. 

Employee Assistance Program

EAP services are available to all regular full and part-time employees. Confidential services are available to each employee, employee's spouse, employee's minor children and any other family member who regularly resides with the employee and is a legal dependent of the employee. Each person receives six free visits annually for help with many personal and work-related issues.  Visit http://www.hmsanet.com for additional information.

Wellness Program

Upon successful completion of wellness program requirements, employees may be eligible for an insurance premium discount of $35 per month.

Non-union employees and Police union employee that subscribe to the City of Hastings health plan are eligible for a discount of $35 per month from their insurance premium upon successful completion of wellness program requirements. If an employee wishes to participate they must complete an annual Letter of Intent.

Fire union employees that subscribe to the City of Hastings health plan, or employees that are not health plan subscribers, may participate in the wellness program.  They will receive valuable health information for free, however they do not qualify for the discounted premium.  If an employee wishes to participate they must submit a Letter of Intent.

City of Hastings Insurance Costs

2024 Insurance Summary - Non-Union Employee
2024 Insurance Summary - Union Police Employee
2024 Insurance Summary - Union Fire Employee

Health and Dental Insurance

The City of Hastings offers health and dental insurance to all regular full time employees.  The health insurance is self-insured with claims administration provided by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Nebraska.  City of Hastings employees may choose one of the following options for health insurance:

2024 Dental Benefit Solutions

Preferred Provider Organization Health Plan (PPO)

The PPO plan gives employees the freedom to seek care from the provider of their choice. However, you will maximize your benefits and reduce your out-of-pocket costs if you choose a provider who participates in the BCBS network. The calendar year deductible must be met before certain services are covered.
Schedule of Benefits - Health PPO Plan

Qualified High Deductible Health Plan (QHDHP)

A Qualified High Deductible Health Plan (QHDHP) gives employees the freedom to seek care from the provider of their choice. Employees will maximize their benefits and reduce out of pocket costs if they choose a provider that participates in the BCBS network. The QHDHP comes with a health savings account (HSA) that allows employees to save pre-tax dollars to pay for qualified health care expenses as defined by the IRS.   
Schedule of Benefits - Health QHDP Plan

Vision Insurance

The City of Hastings offers Vision insurance with Ameritas VSP to all regular full time employees. 

2024 Vision Schedule of Benefits

Life Insurance

The City of Hastings provides a life insurance benefit equal to the employee's annual salary (Maximum $50,000) and Accidental Death & Dismemberment (AD&D) equal to the amount of the life insurance benefit, at no cost to the employee.

The City of Hastings offers voluntary life insurance and AD&D coverage for employees and their spouse, as well as life insurance for dependent children, through payroll deductions.  Employees pay 100% of  additional life and AD&D elected coverage.

The City offers many optional programs that an employee may elect to participate in as follows:

• Fitness Memberships: Discount memberships are available from three facilities when dues are paid by payroll deduction:  Anytime Fitness, Beauty and the Beast and Hastings YMCA.
• Deferred Compensation Plan: Employees can contribute pre-tax dollars into a 457(b) deferred compensation plan.  
• Roth Investment Plan:  Employees can contribute to a Roth investment plan.
• Aflac: Insurance programs are offered through payroll deduction at the employee's expense.
• Flexible Spending - FSA: Health care, Limited purpose and/or dependent care flexible spending accounts are offered.
• Health Savings Account - HSA:  Regular full time non-union employees that elect a qualified high deductible health plan may contribute to a HSA through pre-tax payroll deductions.