Benefits - City of Overland Park, Kansas

Health, Dental + Vision Insurance

The City of Overland Park offers a comprehensive benefits program for full-time employees and their dependents. Coverage is effective on the first day of the month following the date of hire.

Overland Park offers:

Medical insurance through Blue KC
Dental insurance through Delta Dental of Kansas
Vision insurance through Davis Vision

The City provides comprehensive health and dental insurance for retirees based on their years of service. Coverage goes into effect the first day of the month following their retirement.

Health, Dental + Vision Insurance Rates

A woman exercises on a weight machine while other individuals exercise behind her.

Wellness Program

The voluntary wellness program is available to all full-time employees, and includes a health and fitness assessment designed to help employees understand their health status and identify risk factors that may be related to future illness or injury.

Free assessment tests are performed annually at several city facilities. Family members also are eligible to participate in this program for a discounted cost.

Time Off

Vacation

Overland Park supports its employees with time away from the workplace to enjoy family and friends.

Employees working 40-hour workweek schedule accrue vacation time each pay period, based on the length of service:

0-4 years of service: 80 hours of annual vacation accrual
5-11 years of service: 120 hours of annual vacation accrual
12-19 years of service: 160 hours of annual vacation accrual
20 years of service or more: 200 hours of annual vacation accrual

Employees working 24-hour shift schedules accrue vacation each pay period, based on the length of service:

0-4 years of service: six days of annual vacation accrual
4-9 years of service: seven days of annual vacation accrual
9-14 years of service: eight days of annual vacation accrual
14-19 years of service: nine days of annual vacation accrual
19-24 years of service: 10 days of annual vacation accrual
24 years of service or more: 11 days of annual vacation accrual

Employees can carry vacation time from year to year, with a limit of two times the annual rate.

Holidays

The City observes the following paid holidays each year:

New Year’s Day
Martin Luther King Jr.’s Birthday
Memorial Day
Juneteenth
Independence Day
Labor Day
Thanksgiving Day and the day after
Christmas Day

Personal Days

Full-time employees are granted three paid personal holidays each year.

Sick Time

Employees working a 40-hour work week schedule accrue sick leave for personal illness or the illness of an immediate family member at 3.7 hours per pay period. Unused sick time may be accumulated, year-to-year, without limits.

Bereavement

Overland Park offers paid time off for deaths of immediate family members.

Military Service

Overland Park offers pay equal to the difference between an employee’s regular pay and military pay, up to 10 working days per year, for short-term military service.

Jury Duty

Overland Park offers paid time off for jury duty.

Disability Insurance

Short-term disability benefits go into effect when an employee is unable to work due to an illness or injury.

Off-the-Job Illness or Injury

Employees receive 60 percent of their base salaries beginning on the 91st day of disability leave. Beginning on the 181st day, an employee may be eligible to receive benefits provided by Kansas Public Employees Retirement System or Social Security.

On-the-Job Illness or Injury

Employees receive 100 percent of their base salaries, offset by any worker’s compensation benefits received, for the first 180 calendar days. Beginning on the 181st day, an employee may be eligible to receive benefits provided by Kansas Public Employees Retirement System or Social Security.

Voluntary Short-Term Disability Insurance

This insurance provides coverage until the employee becomes covered by one of the city’s disability plans. During the first 90 days off, the employee will receive 60 percent of their base monthly salary, should they become unable to work. Waiting periods are applicable before benefit payments begin. Employees must exhaust all accrued sick leave before they are eligible for benefit payments under each plan.

Education + Training

Full-time employees in non-probationary positions may qualify for reimbursement for educational expenses including tuition, fees and books for credit and non-credit classes taken at accredited colleges, universities, community colleges, trade or vocational schools.

The City will reimburse undergraduate tuition up to $2,500 for undergraduate and graduate tuition up to $3000 for graduate-level classes annually.

City Culture

A career at the City of Overland Park is more than just work.

Employment with the City provides an opportunity to connect with the community while working on meaningful projects that impact lives every day.

Among others, our core values of respect, stewardship, relationship building, and integrity encourage our professional staff to support one another and the community in our pursuit of excellence.

In practice, this means our employees rely on one another for day-to-day commitments to public service.

While we work hard to serve our community, we connect with one another and the people of Overland Park through a variety of events, programs, and services.

A group of Overland Park staff members wear Chiefs attire on Red Friday.

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City staff pose for a photo on Red Friday, celebrating the Chiefs before the Super Bowl.

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City staff and their families gather for the annual employee picnic at the Overland Park Arboretum & Botanical Gardens.

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City staff play yard games at an annual chili lunch benefitting the United Way at the Overland Park Fire Training Center.

Life Insurance

Comprehensive life insurance plans are available for employees and their dependents through Symetra. The city pays all of the cost of this coverage for the employee.

Coverage goes into effect the first day of the month following the date of hire.

The City pays for term life insurance coverage in the amount of 2.5 times an employee’s annual salary, rounded to the next higher $1,000 with a maximum of $300,000. Additional coverage for spouses and dependents is available, if elected and paid for by the individual employee.

Long-Term Care Insurance

This city-provided benefit provides a base plan of financial protection for care at home or in a facility when the employee is not able to perform at least two daily living activities (i.e., eating, bathing, dressing, continence, transferring or toileting).

The base plan pays a facility benefit of $1,000 per month for up to three years or $500 a month for professional home care up to six years. Other benefit options are available on a voluntary basis, and immediate family members may purchase this plan.

Service Award Program

Overland Park’s service award program provides recognition and rewards to full-time and part-time employees for every five years of continuous service.

Activities + Recreation Program

This employee organization sponsors and organizes charitable events as well as entertainment and recreational opportunities for staff and their families.

Employee Assistance Program

The employee assistance program supports Overland Park staff with mental health counseling, identity theft assistance, personal money management training, and more.

Part-Time Benefits

Part-time City employees have three separate benefit packages, depending on position classification.

Part-Time B Employees

Part-Time B employees work in positions that are projected to work at least 1,000 calendar hours per year, but work fewer hours than a standard work week and may work less than 1,000 hour per year. Department directors determine work schedules. Hours are monitored annually and may be reevaluated or reclassified.

Part-Time B employees are required to participate in the Kansas Public Employees Retirement System and may be offered other benefits.

Part-Time B employees are not considered temporary or seasonal employees.

Part-Time C Employees

Part-Time C employees work in positions that are projected to work less than 1,000 calendar hours per year and fewer hours than a standard work day or week. The 1,000 hour requirement does not mean an employee must work less than 1,000 hours per calendar year.

Part-Time C employees are not considered temporary or seasonal employees.

Part-Time D Employees

Part-Time D employees work in positions that are projected to work at least 1,000 calendar hours per year, but work fewer hours than a standard work week and may work less than 1,000 hour per year. Department directors determine work schedules. Hours are monitored annually and may be reevaluated or reclassified.

Part-Time D employees are required to participate in the Kansas Public Employees Retirement System and may be offered other benefits.

Part-Time D employees are not considered temporary or seasonal employees.

Part-Time B Benefits

Paid Time Off

Paid time off is available, up to 80 hours, provided the employee works at least 1,000 hours in the previous year. The amount of time earned is based on the number of hours worked during the previous calendar year. Those that have worked less than 1,000 hours will receive paid time off pro-rated on the number of hours worked.

Paid time off must be taken in time blocks equivalent to the employee’s scheduled hours. All earned time must be taken during the calendar year.

Wellness Program

This voluntary program includes a health and fitness assessment designed to help employees understand their health status and identify risk factors that may be related to future illness or injury. Free assessment tests are performed annually at several city facilities. Family members also are eligible to participate in this program for a discounted cost.

Retirement Plans

Federal Insurance Contributions Act

This federally required plan is administered through the Social Security Administration and requires all employees to contribute 7.65% of their gross salary; the city is required to contribute an additional 7.65% as an employer match.

This plan provides retirement, survivor, disability and health insurance benefits.

Kansas Public Employees Retirement System

Participation is mandatory for full-time and part-time B employees, who become members on the first day of employment and contribute six percent of their salary. Employees are vested after five years of service.

Employees enrolled in KPERS also receive term life insurance coverage equal to 1.5 times their annual salary. The employer contribution pays for this coverage.

Long-term disability benefits are provided by KPERS. If approved, an employee will receive 60 percent of their monthly base salary beginning with the 181st day of disability. This benefit may continue until age 65 or retirement.

Deferred Compensation Plan

This is a supplemental retirement plan. Participation is voluntary and there is no waiting period to begin contributing. Contributions are made on a pre-tax basis, thus reducing a participant’s immediate taxable income.

Employees are 100% vested at all times, although monies are not available until retirement or termination except in cases of extreme financial hardship.

There are no employer contributions to this plan.

Participants choose their own investment options from a choice of more than 60 mutual funds and similar investment products that are offered through two different deferred compensation providers, KPERS 457 (Empower) and Mission Square.

Activities + Recreation Program

This employee organization sponsors and organizes charitable events as well as entertainment and recreational opportunities.

Employee Assistance Program

The employee assistance program includes mental health counseling, identity theft assistance, personal money management training, and more.

Service Award Program

The service award program recognizes and rewards employees every five years for completion of continuous service.

Part-Time C Benefits

Federal Insurance Contributions Act

This federally required plan is administered through the Social Security Administration and requires all employees to contribute 7.65% of their gross salary; the city is required to contribute an additional 7.65% as an employer match.

This plan provides retirement, survivor, disability and health insurance benefits.

Deferred Compensation Plan

This is a supplemental retirement plan. Participation is voluntary and there is no waiting period to begin contributing. Contributions are made on a pre-tax basis, thus reducing a participant’s immediate taxable income.

Employees are 100% vested at all times, although monies are not available until retirement or termination except in cases of extreme financial hardship.

There are no employer contributions to this plan.

Participants choose their own investment options from a choice of more than 60 mutual funds and similar investment products that are offered through two different deferred compensation providers, KPERS 457 (Empower) and Mission Square.

Activities + Recreation Program

This employee organization sponsors and organizes charitable events as well as entertainment and recreational opportunities.

Employee Assistance Program

The employee assistance program includes mental health counseling, identity theft assistance, personal money management training, and more.

Part-Time D Benefits

Paid Time Off

Paid time off is available, up to 80 hours, provided the employee worked at least 1,000 hours in the previous year. The amount of time earned is based on the number of hours worked during the previous calendar year. Those who have worked less than 1,000 hours will receive paid time off pro-rated on the number of hours worked.

Paid time off must be taken in time blocks equivalent to the employee’s scheduled hours. All earned time must be taken during the calendar year.

Wellness Program

This voluntary program includes a health and fitness assessment designed to help employees understand their health status and identify risk factors that may be related to future illness or injury. Free assessment tests are performed annually at several city facilities. Family members also are eligible to participate in this program for a discounted cost.

Retirement Plans

Federal Insurance Contributions Act

This federally required plan is administered through the Social Security Administration and requires all employees to contribute 7.65% of their gross salary; the city is required to contribute an additional 7.65% as an employer match.

This plan provides retirement, survivor, disability and health insurance benefits.

The City of Overland Park offers a comprehensive benefits program for Part Time D employees and their dependents. Coverage is effective on the first day of the month following the date of hire.

Overland Park offers:

Medical insurance through Blue KC

Kansas Public Employees Retirement System

Participation is mandatory for full-time and part-time D employees, who become members on the first day of employment and contribute six percent of their salary. Employees are vested after five years of service.

Employees enrolled in KPERS also receive term life insurance coverage equal to 1.5 times their annual salary. The employer’s contribution pays for this coverage.

Long-term disability benefits are provided by KPERS. If approved, an employee will receive 60 percent of their monthly base salary beginning with the 181st day of disability. This benefit may continue until age 65 or retirement.

Deferred Compensation Plan

This is a supplemental retirement plan. Participation is voluntary and there is no waiting period to begin contributing. Contributions are made on a pre-tax basis, thus reducing a participant’s immediate taxable income.

Employees are 100% vested at all times, although monies are not available until retirement or termination except in cases of extreme financial hardship.

There are no employer contributions to this plan.

Participants choose their own investment options from a choice of more than 60 mutual funds and similar investment products that are offered through two different deferred compensation providers, KPERS 457 (Empower) and Mission Square.

Activities + Recreation Program

This employee organization sponsors and organizes charitable events as well as entertainment and recreational opportunities.

Employee Assistance Program

The employee assistance program includes mental health counseling, identity theft assistance, personal money management training, and more.

Service Award Program

The service award program recognizes and rewards employees every five years for completion of continuous service.

Temporary Employee Benefits

Temporary employees are hired for a specific time period or assignment, to fill a vacancy during vacations or recruitment, or on an as-needed basis.

Temporary employees may work a standard or non-standard work week. They may be classified as temporary regardless of the number of hours of work required for the position. At the end of a temporary employee’s assignment, their employment may be terminated, reclassified, or extended.

Temporary Employee Benefits

Federal Insurance Contributions Act

This federally required plan is administered through the Social Security Administration and requires all employees to contribute 7.65% of their gross salary; the city is required to contribute an additional 7.65% as an employer match.

This plan provides retirement, survivor, disability and health insurance benefits.

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