Westborough Public Schools Health and Dental Insurance Information

The above link provides information about

• Health and Dental Insurance plans
• Rates
• Enrollment forms
• Opt Out forms, and
• Definition of Qualifying Events

Health Benefits and Other Benefit Offerings (Item #9)

Select the above link and navigate to item #9 for the following additional information:

• Insurance coverage overview
• Retirement Health Insurance information contact person
• Flexible spending information (Item #10)
• Employee Self Service (ESS) login to see personal and sick day balances (Item #13)
• Health care reimbursement form (Item #14)
• Employee Assistance Brochure (Item #15) – access needed to form (contact HR)
• Sick Leave Bank Application Form (Item #18)
• Maternity, Parental and Child rearing Leave of Absence (Item #16) – contact HR for document access

Important Legal Information

Maternity Leave
“Pursuant to the Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 149, Section 105D, every female employee who has completed the initial probationary period of three (3) consecutive months is entitled to up to eight (8) weeks leave for the purpose of giving birth, or for adopting a child, provided she gives at least two (2) weeks notice of her expected departure and return dates… Teachers who have completed one year of service may request a twelve (12) week Maternity Leave consistent with the Family and Medical Leave Act (2017-2020 Contract, V. F.1., p.18).”

Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA)
“A teacher who has been employed for one complete year shall be entitled to a leave of absence without pay for up to 12 consecutive weeks for birth, adoption, foster care placement of a child or if a serious health condition affects the employee or the employee’s spouse, child or parents in accordance with the Family Medical Leave Act (2017-2020 Contract, V.H., p.19).” Poster of FMLA rights and responsibilities.

Childrearing Leave of Absence
“A teacher will be granted a childrearing leave of absence without pay upon application. A teacher may return to his/her teaching duties at the start of the following school year in September or the subsequent September if he/she notifies the Superintendent in writing on or before February 1 of the school year in which the childrearing leave commenced. The Superintendent will send the teacher a reminder letter by January 1. Such leaves cannot be consecutive except as required by law. If both parents teach in the Westborough Public Schools, only one at a time may take leave under the term of this Article.

A domestic partner or spouse will be entitled to use up to 12 consecutive days of accrued sick time for a childrearing leave of absence for the birth or adoption of their own child. The sick leave bank may not be accessed for this leave (2017-2020 Contract, V.G., p.18).”

Massachusetts Pregnant Workers Fairness Act
The Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination requires employers to provide notification of the Massachusetts Pregnant Workers Fairness Act. Effective April 1, 2018, the Act will amend and expand Massachusetts’ anti-discrimination law by prohibiting pregnancy-related discrimination in the workplace and in hiring.

Please see the attached MCAD Guidance sheet and the MCAD Q & A, which summarize the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act. The full text of the law is available on the MCAD website: www.mass.gov/mcad/.

Healthcare “Opt-Out” Program
“3) The Town will continue the “Opt-Out” program for employees who opt-out of the Town’s health insurance, under the following conditions.
a) The Town will pay $1,500 per year for an individual employee or $4,000 per year for a family, upon proof of other health insurance.
b) The employee must have had Town health insurance for 2 continuous calendar years before being eligible.
c) The Town will pay the Opt-Out benefit in a lump sum at the end of each fiscal year.
d) If there is a qualifying event which requires an employee who has opted-out to opt back onto Town insurance, the Town will pay a prorated opt-out benefit based on the number of months the employee had opted out of Town insurance.” (February 2014, Memorandum of Agreement)