Employee Benefits
The City of Cleveland Department of Human Resources is responsible for administering the benefits program for City of Cleveland employees who are eligible. In order to attract, motivate, reward, and retain a capable workforce, the City offers a competitive and comprehensive employee benefits package. The benefits package includes, but is not limited to the following:
Medical Coverage
Full-time employees are eligible to cover themselves and eligible family members for health care insurance. Timely enrollment is required for coverage, which becomes effective the first of the month following the date of hire. This benefit requires employee contributions.
Employees may select one of our two (2) plans as follows:
- Medical Mutual of Ohio – SuperMed Plus PPO
- Anthem Blue Cross & Blue Shield – Blue Access PPO
A Prescription Drug Plan is provided through CVS Caremark. It is combined with each Medical Mutual and Anthem Blue Cross & Blue Shield enrollment.
Dental Coverage
Full-time employees are eligible to cover themselves and eligible family members for dental care insurance. Timely enrollment is required for coverage, which becomes effective the first of the month following the date of hire. This benefit requires employee contributions.
Employees have a choice between two dental plans provided by Cigna Dental:
- Cigna PPO – In-Network or Out-of-Network coverage up to $2,000 per year
- DHMO – Assigned dental office, no per-year maximum, preset treatment cost schedule
Vision Coverage
Full-time employees are eligible to cover themselves and eligible family members for vision care insurance. Timely enrollment is required for coverage, which becomes effective the first of the month following the date of hire. Coverage provides one eye exam every 12 months for the employee and each eligible family member, and a variety of choices for the purchase of eyeglasses or contact lenses through in-network providers.
This benefit requires employee contributions, except for AFSCME Local 100 positions, whose coverage is restricted to the AFSCME Eye Care Plan. All others who enroll are covered by the EyeMed Vision Care Advantage Network.
Please note: Employee contributions to the medical, prescription drug, dental, and vision care premiums are at very competitive rates and are payroll-deducted twice per month on a pre-tax basis. Click here for current regular full-time employee health plan details and costs.
Life Insurance
Regular full-time employees of the City of Cleveland are eligible for $25,000 in group life insurance coverage at no cost to the employee. These employees may purchase additional group term life insurance up to $300,000 through the Optional Life Insurance Plan, subject to the underwriter approval for amounts over $50,000 or requested after your initial enrollment period. The current Optional Life Insurance policy provides accidental death & dismemberment benefits and offers free Will preparation. Group life insurance enrollments become effective after a 90-day waiting period.
In addition, regular full-time employees may purchase $10,000 in Spouse Life Insurance for the legal spouse. For eligible dependent children, the employee may purchase Child Life Insurance which provides $1,000 in life insurance for a child that is less than six (6) months and $5,000 in life insurance for a child that is less than 23 years old or 25 years old if a full time student.
Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)
Full-time employees who are eligible for health care benefits are also eligible to participate in the Flexible Spending Account program. Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs) are valuable tax-advantaged plans. Through FSAs, an employee may set aside money pre-tax from his or her paycheck to pay for eligible out-of-pocket expenses, saving money on federal and state taxes. There are two (2) types of FSA plans under this program:
- Healthcare FSA – use pre-tax dollars to pay for eligible out-of-pocket medical, dental, and vision care expenses not covered by the insurance, such as co-pays, deductibles, and medications.
- Dependent Care FSA – use pre-tax dollars to be reimbursed for eligible for child day care or elder day care expenses.
Restrictions apply if your spouse participates in Health Savings Account (HSA).
Voluntary Benefit Plans
Employees may opt to participate in voluntary benefits, which are individual policies offered at a group rate negotiated by the City of Cleveland. The employee owns these policies and can keep them even when City of Cleveland employment ends. The premiums for voluntary benefits are 100% employee paid and are deducted from the employee’s paychecks after-tax on a biweekly basis.
- Disability Income Insurance
- Accident Insurance
- Critical Illness Insurance
- Universal Life Insurance
Retirement Pension
Each City employee will become a member of one of two of the State of Ohio retirement plans for public employees, depending on the position. The majority of City of Cleveland employees participate with the Ohio Public Employees Retirement System (OPERS). Department of Public Safety uniformed police officers and fire fighters participate with the Ohio Police & Fire Pension Fund (OP&F). Each employee becomes vested in his or her pension plan after completing five (5) years of credited service.
Currently OPERS members contribute 10% of their earned salary to OPERS, and the City of Cleveland contributes 14% based on the employee’s earned salary. The City’s contribution becomes available after the employee becomes 100% vested and has left employment with the City. For more information, visit the OPERS website at www.opers.org.
Currently Department of Public Safety OP&F members contribute 12.25% of their earned salary to OP&F, and the City of Cleveland contributes 19.5% based on the employee’s earned salary. The City’s contribution becomes available after the employee becomes 100% vested and has left employment with the City. For more information, visit the OP&F website at www.op-f.org.
City of Cleveland employees do not contribute to Social Security for retirement or disability income.
Ohio Deferred Compensation (ODC)
The Ohio Deferred Compensation Program offers employees the option of participating voluntarily in a tax-deferred supplemental retirement plan. The goal is to save for retirement while deferring taxes on your earnings. If an employee elects to participate in the deferred compensation program, he or she decides on the amount to be contributed biweekly, which can be increased or decreased at any time. That amount will be deducted from the employee’s paychecks on a pre-tax basis and deposited to the account the employee has established with Ohio Deferred Compensation. Effective August 2021, City of Cleveland employees have the option to participate in a ODC Roth 457 account, which deducts contributions from paychecks on an after-tax basis. For more information, visit the ODC website at www.ohio457.org.
Paydays
City of Cleveland employees are paid every other week on Wednesday. Elected officials are paid twice per month on the 15th and last date of the month.
Holidays
Regular full-time employees are eligible for 12 paid holidays per year: 10 observed holidays and 2 paid personal holidays. The City of Cleveland observes the following paid holidays:
- New Year's Day
- Memorial Day
- Thanksgiving Day
- Martin Luther King Day
- Juneteenth Day
- Christmas Day
- President's Day
- Independence Day
- Good Friday
- Labor Day
After completing ninety (90) days of the probationary period, regular full-time employees also receive two (2) Personal Holidays per calendar year.
Sick Time
Under this benefit, City of Cleveland regular full-time employees are eligible to earn sick time at the rate of 10 hours per month. Sick time is to be used in accordance with the attendance policies, related employment policies, and collectively-bargained union contracts as applicable.
Vacation
The City offers vacation to most of its regular full-time employees. Under this benefit package, most regular full-time employees may have the right to earn vacation at the rate of 1 day each month not exceeding 10 days in a year. After 8 years, vacation will accrue at a rate of 1 ½ days per month not to exceed 15 days. After 12 years, 2 days per month not to exceed 20 days, and after 22 years 2 ½ days a month not to exceed 25 days.
Longevity Bonus
Longevity pay is an annual payment based on an employee’s continuous service with the City. To be eligible to receive longevity pay, an employee must have completed the indicated years of service on or before March 1st of the year in which eligibility is achieved, and the employee must have been an active employee at some time between January 2nd and March 1st of that year. Collective bargained (union) employees must refer to the applicable collective bargaining agreement for eligibility details.
- The following City of Cleveland employees are not eligible for Longevity Pay:
- Elected Officials
- Board and Commission Members
- Employees who have a collective bargaining agreement that specifies they are ineligible, or the position is ineligible under an ordinance
- Part-time employees
Current Longevity Pay Schedule
- 5-9 years of service completed: $300.00
- 10-14 years of service completed: $475.00
- 15-19 years of service completed: $575.00
- 20-24 years of service completed: $700.00
- 25 years + of service completed: $800.00
Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
Employees and their dependents have access to a wide array of services through the Employee Assistance Program (EAP) on a voluntary basis, at no cost. The EAP provides counseling and other resources to help deal with life adjustment; emotional or mental health; diet/nutrition, fitness; marital, family, financial, and legal issues. All services are confidential between the individual and the EAP.
Service Credit
Any employee may be able to transfer previous service from another governmental employer in the State of Ohio to the City of Cleveland to increase their ability to earn vacation time. Sick time balance can also be transferred under this benefit; however, certain limitations exist.
RTA Advantage
The City, through partnership with RTA, makes it possible for all employees to purchase RTA passes via payroll deduction. This is an optional program for all City of Cleveland employees.
Pre-Tax Parking
This benefit provides that City employees have the option to pay for available parking at the City’s Facilities on a pre-tax basis via payroll deduction. Parking at Muni Lot is free to all employees who work in the Downtown Cleveland area.
This information is presented as an abbreviated summary for illustrative purposes only. The actual City of Cleveland policies, contracts, certificates, and documents provide details that will prevail in the event of any discrepancy or omission. All benefits are subject to revision or discontinuation, with notice as may be required by statute and/or collective bargaining agreements.
Federal Transparency in Coverage Medical Plan Information
No Surprises Act Public Notice– Effective 7/1/2022