Photo by Karen Hanrahan

Employee Benefits

​We prioritize employee wellbeing by offering a competitive and comprehensive benefits program.

Benefits vary by bargaining unit and employment status. Get a summary of benefits below or review the applicable Labor Agreements or E-Team Handbook. Please direct specific questions to Human Resources.

Health Benefits

Health benefits start the first of the month after hire date. Both full-time and part-time employees receive substantial employer contributions toward health benefits. 

  • Full-time employees receive contributions for themselves and eligible family members. 
  • Part-time employees receive contributions toward individual coverage and can add eligible family members to their medical coverage through pre-tax payroll deductions. 

Most employees have medical coverage through Regence Group Administrators. Police Guild employees have coverage through the Association of Washington Cities, and Fire 106/106S employees have coverage through the Whatcom Fire Trust. 

Find current benefit guides, employee cost share information, and summaries of benefits and coverage for each bargaining unit below. 

Most Employees 

Uniform Police Guild Employees 

Uniform Fire 106/106S Employees

Dental coverage for most employees is provided through Delta Dental. Police Guild and Fire 106/106S members have dental coverage through their bargaining units. 

2025 Delta Dental Plan Summary (PDF)​

Vision 

Vision coverage for most employees is provided through VSP Vision Care. Police Guild and Fire 106/106S members have vision coverage through their bargaining unit. 

2025 VSP Plan Summary (PDF)

Retirement Plans

We offer several plans to help employees save for retirement. All eligible City employees enroll and contribute toward a mandatory pension plan for public service employees provided through Washington State’s Department of Retirement Systems (DRS). Employees can also choose to participate in a 457(b) deferred compensation plan.    

Most employees (eligible, non-uniformed employees) become members of a Public Employees’ Retirement System plan (PERS).   

Uniformed Police and Fire personnel (including Fire/EMS Dispatchers) become members of a Law Enforcement Officers’ and Fire Fighters’ Retirement System plan (LEOFF). 

What-Comm Public Safety Telecommunicators (dispatchers) are members of Public Safety Employees’ Retirement System Plan 2 (PSERS 2).   

Learn more about these plans on the DRS website.

Employees may choose to participate in a 457(b) deferred compensation retirement savings plan in addition to their DRS retirement plan. 

  • Employees choose their contribution percentage. Most City positions receive a match to employee contributions. 
  • Funds from 457 deferred compensation are portable to and from a private sector 401(k) plan, IRAs and other tax-sheltered retirement plans. 
  • E-Team members are eligible for a 401(a) with an employer match.
  • City-sponsored 457 deferred compensation plans include a ROTH option. 

Paid Leave

We offer generous paid leave. New employees typically receive a minimum of two weeks of vacation per year. Paid vacation increases substantially over time.  

In addition to paid leave for vacation, the City provides: 

  • 12 paid holidays each year plus a floating holiday of your choice.
  • 12 days of sick leave per year (accrued at 8 hours per month based on 1.0 FTE). 

Review the applicable Labor Agreements or E-Team Handbook for specific paid leave accruals.

We understand that life circumstances may sometimes require extended time away from work. We work with employees to navigate paid and unpaid leave options in compliance with Federal and State laws and City policy. 

Washington State’s Paid Family and Medical Leave offers qualifying employees paid time off to care for themselves or their family members. 

Other Benefits

We offer Health Savings Accounts (HSA) for employees enrolled in a high-deductible health plan, with a generous employer contribution. Employees can use their HSA to pay for out-of-pocket medical, dental, and vision expenses, or they can invest HSA dollars for future medical expenses, including expenses after they retire.

The City offers Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) that allow employees to set aside pre-tax income. Employees can use their FSA to pay for health expenses not covered by insurance, or eldercare and childcare costs.   

The City pays for life insurance for eligible employees.

The City pays for Long-Term Disability Insurance for eligible employees, with a 60% benefit and a 180-day waiting period. Fire 106 and Police Guild members receive their Disability benefits through their bargaining units. 

Employees who live and work in Washington State also participate in the WA Cares Fund, our state’s long-term care insurance program, unless they have an exemption. Visit wacaresfund.wa.gov to learn more. 

Employees, their immediate family, and members of their household can access free confidential counseling, legal and financial consultation, work-life assistance, plus online tools and resources to support their well-being. 

Our employee perks include on-site fitness facilities, and – depending on your benefits plan – discounts at local fitness facilities. Employees who choose to walk, bike, or bus to work are also encouraged to participate in the Smart Trips program. We even provide City-owned e-bikes to get you between meetings! We also offer seasonal wellness programs to incentivize employees to take care of their physical, mental, and emotional health. 

Additional Resources

Have a question about benefits? Contact Human Resources. Current employees can access Staff Central.

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