Periodically, former faculty and staff return to active employment at Washington University. Eligibility for the benefit plans/policies and consideration of previous employment towards service criteria varies by:
- the length of the break in service;
- the benefit plan/policy;
- whether or not they return as a full-time or part-time employee whose scheduled weekly hours on their job record are at least 20 or as a part-time employee whose scheduled weekly hours on their job record are less than 20 (i.e. 0 – 19.99); and
- whether or not they met the retirement requirements (Rule of 65) prior to their termination of employment.
The following summarizes the eligibility and enrollment requirements for returning employees.
Employees Returning as Regular Full-Time or Regular Part-Time Scheduled at Least 20 Hours per Week
Health and Insurance Plans
If an employee returns to active employment as a full-time or part-time employee whose scheduled weekly hours are at least 20 hours per week, they must re-enrolled in the following health and insurance plans within 31 days of the rehire date if they wish to participate:
- Medical/Dental
- Vision
- Flexible Spending Accounts
- Health Savings Account
- Optional Term Life and AD&D Insurance
- Variable Universal Life Insurance
- Retirement Medical Savings Account (RMSA)*
Coverage will be effective on their rehire date.
*Upon rehire, an employee with an RMSA will not be able to access their account for qualified medical expenses until they terminate employment again.
Basic Term Life Insurance
Coverage under the Basic Term Life Insurance plan is automatic and will be effective on the rehire date as a full-time or part-time employee whose scheduled weekly hours are at least 20 hours per week.
Short Term Medical Disability
If a former staff employee returns to active employment as a full-time or part-time staff employee whose scheduled weekly hours are at least 20 hours per week within 30 days or less, their previous eligible service will be recognized for determining whether they have met the 6-month service requirement to be eligible for Short-Term Medical Disability. If the former staff employee returns to active employment as a full-time or part-time staff employee whose scheduled weekly hours are at least 20 hours per week after 31 days or more, their previous service will not be recognized , and they will need to complete 6 consecutive months of eligible serbice for reinstatement of coverage.
Long-Term Disability (LTD)
If the employee is rehired as a benefits eligible employee within six (6) months as a full-time or part-time employee whose scheduled weekly hours are at least 20 hours per week, previous eligible service will apply to the six-month service requirement for coverage. If rehired after six months, they must satisfy a new 6-month service period for reinstatement of coverage. Enrollment will not be required for the LTD benefit.
Retirement Savings Plan
Employee Contribution
A former employee who returns to active employment will be automatically enrolled into the Retirement Savings Plan at a contribution level of 5% per pay period once they resume active employment. The rehired employee may change this contribution rate at any time after the rehire date.
University Contribution*
A former employee who returns to active employment will become eligible for the university contribution as of the pay period in which they contribute at least 5% of pay.
If the termination date was on or after July 1, 2023, and the rehire occurs on or before the one-year anniversary of their termination date, the employee will retain the same level of university contribution they had before their termination of employment. If the rehire occurs after the one-year anniversary of their termination date, the employee will have their university contribution set to 7%.
Years of vesting service accrued prior to termination are retained and combined with years of vesting service accrued after the rehire.
If the termination date was prior to July 1, 2023, but the rehire date is more than 20 days after the termination date and on or after July 1, 2023, the university contribution will be set to 7%.
*Applies only if the university is currently contributing to employee accounts and the employee is contributing at least 5% of their eligible pay.
Retirement Medical Savings Account (RMSA)
If an employee returns to active employment in a benefits eligible position after a break in service of less than 31 days, their contributions to the RMSA will continue according to their election prior to the break in service. Re-enrollment is not necessary.
If an employee returns to active employment in a benefits eligible position after a break in service of more than 30 days, they can re-enroll in the RMSA at any time after the rehire date if they wish to participate.
Upon rehire, an employee with an RMSA will not be able access their account for qualified medical expenses until they terminate employment again.
Dependent Child Tuition
If an employee returns to active employment as a full-time or part-time employee whose scheduled weekly hours are at least 20 hours per week within 90 days or less, they will not have a break in service for eligibility but the provisions of the Dependent Child Tuition Assistance plan in effect as of the date of rehire will apply.
If an employee returns to active employment as a full-time or part-time employee whose scheduled weekly hours are at least 20 hours per week after a break in service of 91 days or more, they must complete seven (7) consecutive years of full-time service, or its equivalent, from the rehire date to meet the service requirements. The tuition remission percentages under the plan as of the date of rehire will apply. (Please note: If employed at another accredited university in a comparable position during a break, service may count prior to and during the break.)
Employee and Spouse Tuition Assistance
If an employee returns to active employment as a full-time employee (i.e. scheduled weekly hours on their job record are at least 37.5) within 90 days or less, their participation in the Employee and Spouse Tuition Assistance plans will continue according to their previous benefits eligibility status. After a break of 91 days or more, the employee must complete one year of service before the first day of classes for that semester and must complete a new request for tuition assistance form.
Vacation
A former staff employee who is rehired as a full-time or part-time staff employee with scheduled weekly hours of at least 20 hours per week will be subject to the vacation policy that applies to those hired into a benefits eligible role on or after July 1, 2019. Prior years of service are not recognized under the vacation policy.
Sick Time
A former staff employee who is rehired as a full-time or part-time employee with scheduled weekly hours of at least 20 hours per week within 30 days or less will have their accrues unused sick time as of their termination date restored. If the rehire occurs 31 or more days after termination, prior accrued sick time is not recognized.
Service Awards
If an employee returns to active employment as a full-time or part-time employee with scheduled weekly hours of at least 20 hours per week within 30 days or less, service accrued prior to termination will be recognized under the Service Awards program. If the return to active employment occurs 31 or more days after termination, prior service is not recognized for Service Awards.
Retiree Medical
An employee who terminated employment prior to meeting retirement eligibility and who is rehired must complete five (5) consecutive years of service as a faculty or staff employee with scheduled weekly hours of at least 20 hours per week after the rehire date to meet the service requirement for retiree eligibility. Prior years of service are not recognized in determining eligibility for retirement.
Employees Returning as a Part-time Employee with Scheduled Wekkly Hours less than 20 on their Job Record (0 – 19.99)
The following summarizes the eligibility and enrollment requirements for returning employees who were not eligible for retirement (i.e. had not met the Rule of 65) when they terminated employment. Retirees returning to employment on a part-time basis with scheduled weekly hours less than 20 hours per week should refer to the Retirees Returning to Work Less than 20 Hours employment event.
Health and Insurance Plans
An employee who terminated employment prior to retirement and who is rehired as a part-time employee with scheduled weekly hours of less than 20 hours per week, may be eligible for the university’s active medical, dental and vision benefits if they met the average minimum paid hours requirement under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) prior to their termination and their rehire date was within six (6) months of their termination.
If they did not meet the annual average minimum paid hours requirement under the ACA prior to their termination and they are enrolled in COBRA coverage when rehired, coverage under COBRA will continue provided the employee continues to make the required contributions in a timely manner and their COBRA period has not been exhausted. If the rehired employee subsequently satisfies the minimum paid hours requirement during the applicable lookback measurement period, the employee will be eligible for medical coverage at part-time rates and dental and vision coverage at full cost. Learn more.
Retirement Medical Savings Account
Employee Contribution
A former employee who is rehired as a part-time employee with scheduled weekly hours of less than 20 on their job record, may elect to contribute to the plan at any time after rehired. The employee will not be automatically enrolled.
University Contribution*
A former employee who returns to active employment on or after July 1, 2023, will become eligible for the university contribution upon the rehire date*.
If the termination date was on or after July 1, 2023, and the rehire occurs on or before the one-year anniversary of their termination date, the employee will retain the same level of university contribution they had before their termination of employment. If the rehire occurs after the one-year anniversary of their termination date, the employee will have their university contribution set to 7%.
If the termination date was prior to July 1, 2023, but the rehire date is on or after July 1, 2023, the university contribution will be set to 7%
Years of vesting service accrued prior to termination are retained and combined with years of vesting service accrued after rehire.
If the employee has a Retirement Medical Savings account, the rehired employee will not be able to access their account for qualified medical expenses until they terminate employment again.
*Applies only if the university is currently contributing to employee accounts and the employee is contributing at least 5% of their eligible pay.
Vacation/Sick Time/Services Awards
A former employee who is rehired as a part-time employee with scheduled weekly hours of less than 20 on their job record is not eligible for vacation, sick time or Service Awards.