Benefits

The County of Blue Earth provides a comprehensive, balanced, and competitive benefits package as part of your total compensation. The County's benefits programs address both the immediate needs that you and your family may have, such as medical coverage or dependent care assistance, and your long-term needs, such as retirement savings.

The following outline of County-offered benefits serves as an overview and does not provide all provisions, limitations, and exclusions. If there is a contradiction between this and the official plan documents, the plan documents will prevail.

Vacation:


Vacation accruals, utilization, and payouts vary within each collective bargaining agreement and/or the employee handbook. The following is the general overview of your vacation benefit:

Years of Service Biweekly Accrual Rate (based on 80-hour pay period)

 
0 – 5 years 3.85 hours
6 – 9 years 4.77 hours
10 – 13 years 5.69 hours
14 – 18 years 6.62 hours
19 - 24 years 7.54 hours 
25+ years 8.46 hours
 

Sick Leave:

Employees may earn 8 hours of sick leave per month.

Paid Holidays:


Most employee groups observe the following holidays:

New Year’s Day
Labor Day
Martin Luther King Day
Veterans Day
Presidents Day
Thanksgiving Day
Memorial Day
Friday after Thanksgiving
Independence Day
Christmas Day 
 

Health Insurance:


Eligibility begins on the first day of employment. Employees may choose between single or family coverage.

Life Insurance:


Employees are provided with the following term life insurance benefit at no cost to them.

Union: $20,000 term life/$20,000 AD&D
Non-Union/Supervisory: $35,000 term life/$35,000 AD&D
Department Head/Elected: $50,000 term life/$50,000 AD&D

Retirement:


The County and the employee contributes to PERA (Public Employees Retirement Association)
• Employees must participate as directed by Minnesota statutes.
• Contribution rates vary depending on position.
• Employee may obtain refund of employee contribution upon termination of service.

Variable Benefits Available:


The following benefits are available on an elective basis at the employee’s choice:

• Dental
• Long Term Disability 
• Health Savings Account (HSA) 
• Flexible Spending Reimbursement Accounts (FSA)
• Deferred Compensation (457b)
• Roth IRA
• 529 Educational Roth
• Supplemental Life
• AFLAC Plans

Other Benefits:


• Direct Deposit
• Employee Discounts
• Employee Assistance Program
• Tuition Reimbursement Program
• Training Opportunities 
• Payroll Deductions:
      o YMCA Membership Program
      o Lake Crystal Recreation Center
      o United Way

Questions regarding benefit information can be directed to Human Resources at (507) 304-4289.