Benefits

In addition to monetary compensation, employers are often obliged to offer their employees certain benefits such as:

• Overtime
• Vacation Pay
• Medical Leave

However, not all employers are obligated to provide such benefits just as not all
employees are eligible to receive them.

How do I know if I qualify for benefits?

Qualification for benefits often depends on the employer.

There are some benefits (such as minimum wage, overtime, disability, unemployment, etc.) that are government mandated – meaning a company is legally obligated to provide these benefits to its employees.

However, benefits such as vacation pay, group insurance, and
tuition assistance programs, are at the employer’s discretion.
If you have questions about your benefit eligibility, contact
your employer or human resources department.

What benefits are my employer required to provide?

Employers in the United States are required, by law, to provide the following benefits to their employees:

• COBRA
  Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA) gives employees and their families the option of continuing to participate in health benefits for an extended period of time in the event of special circumstances. The benefits are typically extended for a period of 18 months following unemployment due to death, involuntary job loss, etc.
• Minimum Wage
  All employers are required to pay their employees the standard hourly minimum wage as defined by the United States Department of Labor. 
• Unemployment Insurance
  Employees who have been fired or lose their job due to lack of work or other circumstances are entitled to unemployment insurance. Unemployment insurance provides monetary assistance to an employee for a specified period of time, or until the employee finds a new job.
• Social Security Disability Insurance
  Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits are given to employees who have a medical condition that prevents them from working in the form of monetary compensation.
• Overtime
  Employees that work more than 40 hours in a given week must be compensated no less than one and a half times their standard pay rate.
• Workers' Compensation
  Each state has different laws regarding workers’ compensation eligibility and benefit details. If an employee is injured on the job, or falls ill on the job, employers are required to compensate the employee for medical bills related to the employee’s condition, as well as be paid a portion of their salary.
• Family and Medical Leave Act
  Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) Employers are required to pay eligible employees (who have to take time off from work due to family obligations, such as maternity leave) 12 weeks of unpaid FMLA leave during any 12 month period.

 What other benefits do employers provide?

In addition to providing the government mandated benefits due to employees, employers will often also provide competitive benefits packages in order to attract better employees. Some of those benefits are:

• Health Insurance: Private health insurance is extremely expensive. Therefore, employers often offer their employees group benefits packages including health, dental, vision, and mental health benefits. Each employer is different, however. Some employers cover all your premiums, whereas others deduct a small percentage of their employees’ paycheck to put towards their medical benefits.
• Other benefits include vacation and sick days, flex time, wellness programs, raises, tuition assistance programs, life insurance, etc.
• Holiday Pay: Holiday pay is when an employer compensates you for a day of work on which the business might otherwise be closed, such as Christmas or Thanksgiving.
• Some employers also offer discounts at companies with whom they have a professional relationship. GAP employees often receive discounts at their partner stores Banana Republic and Old Navy.