Benefits at High Tech High
Benefits
Benefit Enrollment
Eligible HTH employees have access to medical and dental health plans unless waived.
- For new hires or newly eligible employees, benefits:
- Enrollment must be within the first thirty (30) days of employment.
- Go into effect the month following your first work day.
- Applicable deductions will be reflected on the paycheck issued on the 15th of the month that benefits go into effect.
- For current eligible employees, changes to benefits can ONLY be made:
- If there is a qualifying “life change event” which includes marriage, birth, adoption, divorce, or death. If a “life change event” has occurred, then you have thirty (30) days from the date of the event to make the necessary change.
- During the annual open enrollment period in May and those changes go into effect August 1st.
Health
Benefits Folder (Medical, Dental, Vision)
HTH Benefits Information Guide (BIG) 2023-24
Supplementary Medical
Aflac provides “supplemental” insurance to help pay out-of-pocket expenses that major medical insurance doesn’t cover. It pays cash directly to you that you could use towards your medical expenses or your everyday living expenses such as your mortgage/rent, groceries, and car payment (see flyer for details).
Voluntary Life
HTH has partnered with New York Life Insurance to offer all active full-time employees, regularly working a minimum of 40 hours/week, voluntary term life insurance. This provides an additional layer of financial security to your loved ones if you are no longer there to support them.
Flexible Spending Account (FSA)
A flexible spending account (FSA) allows for pre-tax dollars to cover eligible healthcare and dependent care expenses. HTH offers two types of FSAs that can help reduce your taxable income when paying for eligible expenses for yourself, your spouse, and any eligible dependents.
- Dependent Care FSA (DCFSA) = used to pay for eligible dependent care services.
- Medical Care Reimbursement Account = used to pay for qualified health care expenses, including medical, dental and vision expenses.
- HTH employees who are eligible for health benefits through HTH may enroll in the FSA.
- For eligible employees, enrollment is a) at the time of hire or b) during open enrollment period: November 1st to November 18th.
Pet insurance
HTH has partnered with Nationwide to offer voluntary pet insurance to help cover veterinary expenses through an after-tax payroll deduction (see Pet Protection Plan Summary)
Retirement
STRS
HTH participates in the California State Teachers’ Retirement System (CalSTRS) for CA public school educators (certificated). CalSTRS offers a fixed monthly payment every month upon retirement.
- Visit http://www.calstrs.com/ or view the many webinars offered throughout the year.
PERS
HTH participates in the California Public Employees’ Retirement System (CalPERS) for CA public school employees (classified). CalPERS offers a fixed monthly payment every month upon retirement.
- For less than full-time or hourly employees, there is a mandatory 1,000 hour requirement within a fiscal year to qualify for PERS membership (ex: 125 eight-hour days = 1,000 hours). Note: New hires who are current members of CalPERS do not need to re-qualify for membership.
- Visit https://www.calpers.ca.gov/ or view the many in-person events or webinars offered throughout the year.
403(b) and 457 Plans
403(b) and 457 plans offer pre-tax retirement savings through payroll deductions. 403(b) and 457 plans are available to all employees. High Tech High offers these retirement savings plans through the Fringe Benefits Consortium of the San Diego County Office of Education. Information on the available options, enrollment forms, and other assistance can be found at https://www.403bcompare.com/employers/1111. HTH does not endorse any particular product or provider. Enrollment in a 403(b) or 457 can occur at any time of the year.
Time Away
Holidays
HTH observes 11 federal holidays:
- New Year’s Day (January 1)
- Martin Luther King Day (3rd Monday in January)
- President’s Day (3rd Monday in February)
- Memorial Day (last Monday in May)
- Juneteenth National Independence Day (June 19)
- Independence Day (July 4)
- Labor Day (1st Monday in September)
- Indigenous People’s Day (2nd Monday in October)
- Veterans’ Day (November 11)
- Thanksgiving Day (4th Thursday in November)
- Christmas Day (December 25)
Employee Leave of Absence
For an upcoming employee leave of absence, please contact HR at hr@hightechhigh.org and schedule an advisement appointment.
- Pregnancy
- Paternity
- Personal Illness/Injury
- Unpaid
Bereavement
Eligible HTH employees receive five (5) consecutive days paid time off for bereavement leave.
Jury Duty
Upon receiving a notice of jury/witness duty, employees are encouraged to notify their supervisor immediately so that arrangements to cover the absence can be made.
- Exempt employees (salaried) receive their regular salary while serving jury duty.
- Non-exempt employees (hourly) are provided five (5) days of paid time off and any additional time beyond five days is unpaid.
Either HTH or the employee may request an excuse from jury/witness duty if, in HTH’s judgment, the employee’s absence would create serious operational difficulties.
Military/Guard Duty
All employees who leave HTH for active military service or military reserve duty will be placed on an unpaid military leave of absence. Employees are entitled to reinstatement upon completion of such military service or duty provided an application for reinstatement is made within 90 days of discharge or as otherwise provided by law. See employee handbook for further details.
Time Off for Voting
Employees are encouraged to vote before or after their regular work schedule; however, if employees are unable to vote during their non-working hours or via absentee ballot, then HTH will grant up to two (2) hours of paid time off to vote.
Life Events
Resignation
Although employment at HTH is at-will, if an employee decides to terminate his/her employment, HTH requests the courtesy of at least two (2) weeks written notice prior to departure, whenever possible.
Retirement
Unit Members (see article 11.3.3) Upon retirement, unit members’ sick leave balance, if any, may be applied towards service credit in accordance with applicable regulations and laws.
Termination
In the event of termination of employment, employees shall be entitled only to the prorated salary or wages earned through the last date of actual service. Employees will not receive pay in lieu of unused paid sick leave (PSL).