Benefits Eligibility

Full-time Staff

Regular full-time staff may participate in the benefits program unless otherwise stated. Full-time staff are defined as:

  • Nonunion staff members scheduled to work 35 hours per week for 52 weeks a year.
  • Union staff members who work in the library and are scheduled to work 35 hours per week for 52 weeks a year.
  • All other union employees who are scheduled to work 40 hours per week for 52 weeks a year.

Part-time Staff

Regular part-time staff who work the following schedules may participate in the benefits program unless otherwise stated:

  • Nonunion staff scheduled to work 17.5 hours or more per week for at least 39 weeks a year.
  • Union staff members who work in the library and are scheduled to work 17.5 hours or more per week for at least 39 weeks a year.
  • All other union employees scheduled to work 20 hours or more per week for at least 39 weeks a year.

Faculty

Faculty members who have appointments of at least half-time status for one semester or more may participate in the benefits program unless otherwise stated.

Postdoctoral Scholars

  • Postdoctoral associates with appointments of at least half-time status for a period of three months or more and who receive salary through the university payroll may participate in the medical, dental and vision plans; flexible-spending accounts; and the basic life, supplemental life and long-term disability* insurance plans. Additionally, postdoctoral associates may elect to participate in the voluntary 403(b) retirement plan and are eligible for paid time off programs.

  • Postdoctoral fellows on Brandeis' payroll with appointments of at least half-time status for a period of three months or more and who receive salary through the university payroll may participate in the medical, dental and vision plans as well as the basic life, supplemental life and long term-disability* insurance plans. Additionally, postdoctoral fellows on Brandeis' payroll may elect to participate in the voluntary 403(b) retirement plan.

  • Postdoctoral fellows who receive a stipend (e.g., National Research Service Award fellows) are eligible to participate in the medical, dental and vision plans, but not the voluntarily 403(b) retirement plan.

* Long-term disability coverage requires full-time status.

Employees Not Eligible for Benefits

  • Appointments of at least half-time status for a period of three months or more, but are not paid directly by the university payroll.
  • Appointments at Brandeis University for a period of less than three months.
  • Ineligible Postdocs may enroll in health benefits through the Massachusetts Health Connector.