5. Personnel Policy Handbook - Laserfiche WebLink

EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PROGRAMS Either Cass County or the employee may request an excuse from jury duty if, in Cass County’s judgment, the employee’s absence would create serious operational difficulties. Cass County will continue to provide health insurance benefits until the employee ceases to be eligible under the terms, conditions, and limitations of any applicable plans. At that time, employees will become responsible for electing COBRA continuation and paying the full costs of these benefits if they wish coverage to continue. When the employee returns from jury duty, benefits will again be provided by Cass County according to the applicable plans. WITNESS DUTY 307 Effective Date: 01/01/2016 Cass County encourages employees to appear in court for witness duty when subpoenaed to do so. If employees have been subpoenaed or otherwise requested to testify as witnesses by Cass County, they will receive paid time off for the entire period of witness duty. Unless a law would require otherwise, employees will be granted unpaid time off to appear in court as a witness when requested by a party other than Cass County. Employees are free to use any available paid leave benefit to receive compensation for the period of this absence. The subpoena should be shown to the employee’s supervisor immediately after it is received so that operating requirements can be adjusted, where necessary, to accommodate the employee’s absence. The employee is expected to report for work whenever the court schedule permits. BENEFITS CONTINUATION (COBRA) 308 Effective Date: 01/01/2016 The federal Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA) gives employees and their qualified beneficiaries the opportunity to continue health insurance coverage under Cass County’s health plan when a “qualifying event” would normally result in the loss of eligibility. Some common qualifying events are resignation, termination of employment, or death of an employee; a reduction in an employee’s hours or a leave of absence; an employee’s divorce or legal separation; and a dependent child no longer meeting eligibility requirements. Under COBRA, the employee or beneficiary pays the full cost of coverage at Cass County’s group rates plus an administration fee of up to 2%. Cass County provides each eligible employee with a written notice describing rights granted under COBRA when the employee becomes eligible for coverage under Cass County’s health insurance plan. The notice contains important information about the employee’s rights and obligations. Cass County 16