Definitions/Types of Employment   Email     Print   PDF

Policy Information

• Issue Date: July 1, 1989
• Primary Contact: Director of Human Resources
• Responsible Member of Directorate: President and Director
• Responsible Office: Human Resources

Contents

Overview

I. Regular Full-Time Employees are scheduled to work 8 hours per day, Monday through Friday, on a regular basis and are expected to be employees for at least one year. Security Guards, Marine and ALVIN personnel are included in this category although their regular hours may not follow a Monday through Friday schedule. Regular Full-time employees are eligible for all Institution benefits and paid time-off.

II. Regular Three-Quarter time Employees are scheduled to work at least 30 hours per week but less than 40 hours per week on a regular basis and are expected to be employees for at least one year. Regular 3/4 time employees are eligible for all Institution benefits and prorated paid time-off.

III. Regular Part-Time (1/2-Time) Employees are scheduled to work at least 20 hours per week but less than 30 hours per week on a regular basis and are expected to be employees for at least one year. Regular Part-time employees are generally not eligible for Institution benefits except Business Travel Accident Coverage but are eligible for prorated paid time-off for sick, vacation and holidays. However:

a. If a Regular Full-time or 3/4 time employee's schedule is reduced to less than 3/4 time but more than 1/2-time and the employee has been insured at all ten years under the Group Medical, Life and/or AD&D Insurance programs, he/she may continue in the applicable plan(s) by continuing to pay the regular employee's share of the premium.

b. If a Regular Full-time or 3/4 time employee's schedule is reduced to less than 3/4 time but more than 1/2-time and the employee has been insured for less than ten years under the Group Medical, Life and/or Insurance program, he/she may continue in this applicable plan(s) for up to three months by paying the regular employee's share of the program.

c. If a Regular Full-time or 3/4 time employee's schedule is reduced to less than 1/2 time (i.e. Casual) and the employee has been insured for at least ten years under the Group Life and /or AD&D Insurance programs or if a Regular Full-time or 3/4 time employee goes on an approved leave of absence, he/she may continue in the applicable plan(s) for up to one year by paying the full cost of the coverage(s).

d. If a Regular Full-time or 3/4 time employee's schedule is reduced to less than 1/2 time (i.e. Casual) and the employee has been insured for less than ten years under the Group Life and/or AD&D Insurance programs, he/she may continue in the applicable plan(s) for up to three months by paying the full cost of the coverage(s).

e. Under the Consolidated Omnibus Reconciliation Act of 1986, (COBRA), an insured employee whose schedule is reduced to less than 3/4 time may continue in the Group Medical Insurance program for up to 18 months by paying the full cost.

IV. Temporary Full-Time Employees are scheduled to work 8 hours per day, Monday through Friday, but are expected to be employed for at least three months but less than one year.

a. They are entitled to paid vacation, holidays, sick-time and maternity leave on the same basis as Regular Full-time employees. They are not eligible for other Institution benefits except Business Travel Accident coverage. However, Marine crew members filling regular openings on a temporary basis may enroll in Family Group Medical Insurance coverage.

b. Members of the Scientific and Technical Staff coming from outside the United States and expected to be employed for at least three months are eligible for Group Medical Insurance coverage by paying the full cost.

c. Temporary full-time appointments may be renewed on a temporary or regular basis. If temporary, benefits remain limited as indicated above. If the reappointment is regular, benefits will be computed with due credit given for previous temporary full-time employment.

 

a. They are entitled to paid vacation, holidays, sick-time and maternity leave to the same extent as Regular 3/4 or 1/2 time employees. They are not eligible for other Institution benefits except Business Travel Accident coverage.

b. Temporary part-time appointments may be renewed on a temporary or regular basis. If temporary, benefits remain limited as indicated above; if regular, benefits will be computed with credit given for previous temporary part-time employment.

 

a. If an employee insured under the Group Medical Insurance program changes status to Casual, he/she may continue in the plan for up to 18 months by paying the full cost of the coverage.

b. If an employee has been insured under the Group Life Insurance program for at least ten years and changes status to Casual, he/she may continue in the plan for up to one year by paying the full cost of the coverage.

c. An employee whose schedule is changed to Casual will, at his/her request, retain all accrued sick leave and vacation. When the employee returns to a status which would entitle him/her to resume sick-time and vacation accruals, the balance and accrual will be reinstated.

d. An employee in Casual status who has not worked during any calendar year will be considered for termination.

 

a. Persons holding appointments through the Education Office (e.g. Postdoctoral Scholars/Research Fellows, Joint Program Students including Graduate Research Assistants/Fellows, Special Students, Summer Student Fellows and Pre-doctoral Fellows) are not employees of the Institution and are not eligible for regular employee benefits. Questions regarding their status and the possible availability of group medical insurance coverage for those appointees expected to be at the Institution for at least one year should be directed to the Education Office.

 

a. Those investigators using Institution facilities but not being paid by the Institution are not employees and are not eligible for Institution benefits. If their stay is expected to be for a period of one year or more, they may participate in the Institution's hospitalization and medical plan at their own expense, picking up the full cost of their coverage.

b. Visitors and guests coming from outside the United States and expecting to be at the Institution for at least three months are eligible for Group Medical Insurance coverage by paying the full cost.

 

a. Children between the ages of 14 and 18 may be employed as Part-Time Helpers at the Institution in the laboratories and administrative offices, subject to provisions of Federal and State labor laws.

b. Whether paid or unpaid, participation in research cruises on board Institution owned and/or operated vessels is not permitted. In keeping with the Child Labor provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act, the Institution recognizes that all activities and equipment associated with these cruises can be particularly hazardous and may be detrimental to the health and well-being of minors.

 

a. If a regular full-time employee's status changes to regular 3/4 or part-time, accrued sick-time and vacation will not be forfeited. Future accruals will be on a pro-rated basis. All other benefits will be affected according to the new type of employment.

b. Except as noted in Section 3 above, they will continue to be eligible for Group Life Insurance, AD&D, disability income plan, and the hospitalization and medical plan only if they work at least 3/4 time.

c. If regular employee's status is changed to Casual, benefits will be the same as other Casual employees, except as outlined under Section 6 above.

 

Retirement benefits may accrue to all employees regardless of status. Membership in the Plan and accruals are based upon hours worked during particular time periods. Eligibility for benefits will be determined in accordance with the Retirement Plan for Employees of Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. Students, fellows, scholars and guests are not employees and, therefore, are not covered under the Retirement Plan.

Should you require assistance in the interpretation of this procedure, please contact your H.R. Representative.