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Postdoctoral Benefit Related Policies and Procedures

Policies regarding Postdoc Investigators can be found on the Human resources Web site at: http://www.whoi.edu/HR/benefits. Individual questions should be addressed to your Benefits Specialist.

To the extent feasible, Scholar and Fellow benefits emulate employee benefits.

Health Care Benefits

Scholars:

  • The WHOI Portion of the health plan costs are covered by the funds allocated for the postdoc scholar support.
    • Not eligible for Flexible Spending

Fellows:

  • Fellows will fall under the guidelines of their fellowship granting agency.
    • In the event that the granting agency doesn’t provide health care benefits, all or a portion of the institutional allowance, if applicable, may be used to pay the WHOI portion of costs of the WHOI group plan related costs.
  • Fellows receiving a WHOI supplement to their fellowship will first fall within their granting agency’s guidelines.  Any application of supplements to health care costs will be on a case by case basis with approval from the Dean.

 

Dental

Scholars and Fellows:

  • Eligible

 

Employee and Student Assistance Program (ESAP)

Scholars and Fellows:

  • Eligible

 

Dependent Care Flexible Spending

Scholars and Fellows:

  • Not Eligible

 

Bereavement Leave

Scholars and Fellows:

  • Absences for three to five days for bereavement leave may be arranged through the postdoc’s advisor.

 

Loans – Computer, Employee Education and  Education Loans for Children

Scholars and Fellows:

  • Not Eligible

 

Holidays

Scholars and Fellows:

  • The Institution observes nine annual holidays, which are listed below.
    • New Years Day
    • Martin Luther King Day
    • Presidents Day
    • Memorial Day
    • Fourth of July
    • Labor Day
    • Veterans Day
    • Thanksgiving Day
    • Christmas Day

Jury Duty

Scholars and Fellows:

  • If called for jury duty, the postdoc should make their advisor aware of any absences necessitated.

 

Military Leave

Scholars and Fellows:

  • Handled on a case by case basis

 

Unpaid Leave of Absence

Scholars and Fellows:

  • Handled on a case by case basis

 

Vacation

Scholars and fellows:

  • During the normal course of the postdoc’s appointment, scholars and fellows and their advisors will arrange a mutually compatible schedule of vacation.  Total vacation time will equal 16 days per year.

 

Short-term Disability

Scholars:

  • Up to 6 weeks of disability pay at 100% stipend (or up to 12 weeks at half-time)
    * Appointment may be extended appropriately at this time
  • Must provide a physician’s written statement of the period of time needed to be out of work
  • Any additional leave and/or extensions due to health related issues will be considered by the Academic Program Office in consultation with the WHOI Human Resources Office

Fellows:

  • Fellows will fall under the guidelines of their fellowship granting agency
  • Fellows receiving a WHOI supplement to their fellowship will first fall within their granting agency’s guidelines and then any leave or additional supplements will be on a case by case basis

 

Maternity and Adoption Leave

Scholars:

  • 6 weeks at 100% stipend
  • Any additional leave and/or extensions due to health related issues that may arise during and after this pregnancy will be considered by the Academic Program Office in consultation with the WHOI Human Resources Office
  • Any additional, non-health related leave will be considered an unpaid leave of absence and must be approved by the postdoc’s advisor and APO
    • Appointment may be extended appropriately at this time
    • The Institution’s portion of postdoc’s health benefits is discontinued and it is their responsibility to contact Human Resources to arrange to continue your coverage through COBRA Health if necessary. (note: COBRA Health can only be in place for 18 months)
  • Change to ¾ time or ½ time is allowed
    • Appointment can be extended to the equivalent of the complete appointment length at full time
    • Raises will not be considered/issued until the equivalent of 12 months at full time has been completed.
  • Open ended leave of absence is not allowed
  • If you are not the primary caregiver, you may receive up to five days of stipend continuation. You must take these days within the first six months of the birth or adoption.

Fellows:

  • Fellows will fall under the guidelines of their fellowship granting agency
  • Fellows receiving a WHOI supplement to their fellowship will first fall within their granting agency’s guidelines and then any leave or additional supplements will be on a case by case basis