A federal government shutdown will not immediately impact any Ramsey County services.
Employee Benefits and Policies
Contact us
Permanent, probationary, provisional and unclassified employees who work at least 40 hours per pay period on a regular basis are eligible to earn benefits.
Temporary, seasonal and intermittent employees are not eligible.
Health insurance
Ramsey County offers a health plan through HealthPartners Distinctions Plan for single or family coverage. Ramsey County pays a significant portion of the monthly premium. Coverage is effective on the first of the month after 30 days of employment. More detailed plan information is available in the Distinctions Plan Summary (PDF).
Dental insurance
Ramsey County offers employees two voluntary dental coverage plans managed by HealthPartners with a wide network or a narrow network and with varying benefits between the two plans. Employees can pick the plans that best suits their needs. Ramsey County pays a portion of the monthly premium. Coverage is effective on the first of the month after 30 days of employment. More detailed plan information is available in the Ramsey County Tiered Network (PDF) or the Ramsey County Narrow Network (PDF).
Vacation, sick leave and holidays
Most new eligible full-time employees can earn an annual accrual of 12-15 days of vacation leave and 15 days of sick leave. Most new eligible full-time employees also have one floating holiday to use throughout the calendar year.
Eligible part-time employees generally earn a leave accrual prorated based on their work schedule. Temporary employees do not earn leave accruals.
Paid parental leave
The paid parental leave policy provides three weeks of paid parental leave to qualifying employees after 30 days of employment. The purpose of paid parental leave is to give parents additional flexibility and time to bond with their new child following the birth of an employee’s child or the adoption or placement for adoption within an employee’s home, to adjust to their new family situation and balance their work obligations.
Life insurance
Ramsey County provides basic life insurance to eligible employees in an amount equal to their annual salary, up to a maximum of $50,000.
Several optional life insurance programs are also available to employees.
Long-term and short-term disability
Long-term disability insurance is county-paid and provides a benefit of 40 percent of an employee's gross pre-disability income if they are disabled for more than six months. Employees may purchase an additional 20 percent income replacement at their own expense.
Optional short-term disability insurance is available for employees to purchase and provides 60 percent of gross pre-disability income. Employees can choose a 30, 60 or 90-day elimination period.
Retirement benefits
Public Employees Retirement Association (PERA)
Employees are required by Minnesota law to become members of a statewide pension system called PERA based on salary. Employees and the county share PERA contributions. (Coordinated Plan: 6.5%-employees and 7.5%-county). Employees in Police or Correctional Officer Plans pay a different contribution.
Deferred compensation
Ramsey County's 457(b) Deferred Compensation Plan offers employees a way to make the most of each dollar they set aside for retirement.
Two contribution options are available: a traditional pre-tax option and an after-tax Roth option. You have two different vendor options to choose from, the Minnesota Deferred Compensation Plan (MNDCP) or Nationwide.
Most Ramsey County employees are eligible for an employer match. Matching dollars are only available if you participate in the pre-tax plan. The match amount varies based on bargaining agreement. Employees who are not represented by a union are eligible for a $35 per month employer match. Employees covered by a union should check their bargaining agreement for information on the employer match for their group.
Health Care Savings Plan
All benefits-eligible employees hired by Ramsey County on or after January 1, 2006, contribute 1% of gross regular salary to a Health Care Savings Plan (HCSP) account.
The Health Care Savings Plan (HCSP) is an employer-sponsored program approved by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). The HCSP allows qualifying employees to set aside money completely tax-free into an account to use to pay for eligible health care expenses after termination of employment with Ramsey County. The plan is administered by the Minnesota State Retirement System. Participants may choose among different investment options. Assets in the account accumulate tax-free, and since payouts are used for approved health care expenses, they remain tax-free. HCSP's may only be implemented for groups of employees; to qualify for tax-free status, the IRS requires that everyone in a particular group participates in the plan at the same level.
Ramsey County contributes toward the employee's HCSP beginning with the employee's five-year anniversary date with Ramsey County. The employer contribution is $530.40 per year for employees with 5-9 years of service; $634.40 per year for employees with 10-14 years of service, and $738.40 per year for employees with 15 or more years of service. The contribution is paid on a per pay period basis, and is pro-rated based on the number of hours on paid status in a pay period for both full-time and part-time employees.
Pre-Tax programs
Ramsey County flexible spending accounts offer employees ways to pay for eligible expenses using pre-tax dollars deducted from salary. Employees may also use pre-tax dollars to pay their portion of medical and/or dental insurance premiums for the county-sponsored insurance programs.
Health Care Reimbursement Program
Employees who are benefits-eligible and who have worked for the county for at least six months are eligible to have money deducted from their paychecks on a pre-tax basis and be reimbursed for eligible medical expenses.
Dependent Care Reimbursement Program
Permanent, probationary or unclassified employees who work at least 40 hours or more per pay period on a regular basis are eligible to have money deducted from their paychecks on a pre-tax basis to be reimbursed for eligible dependent care expenses.
Transportation Expense Reimburse Program
Employees can set aside money for transportation expenses on a pre-tax basis and submit claims for reimbursement.
Metropass Program
Metropass is an excellent transit benefit offered to all full-time and regularly scheduled part-time Ramsey County employees. The pass is a subsidized monthly bus pass, good on all regional transit system routes 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and is offered for $48.50 per month.
Tuition reimbursement
The Tuition Reimbursement Program allows employees who take courses for credit and approved in advance which have a direct relationship to their job or which provide advancement opportunities within the county, to request tuition reimbursement upon successful completion of coursework and proof of payment. This program is only available for reimbursement of tuition for course credit at accredited educational institutions. Eligible employees can receive up to $4,000 in reimbursement each calendar year.