Contributions must be agreed upon and written into a collective bargaining agreement, Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), or personnel policy. Participation is mandatory for employees covered under the collective bargaining agreement or personnel policy unless they qualify and are approved to waive participation.
Due to the tax-free nature of the HCSP, there is no individual choice. Employees cannot decide on the contribution amount or eligibility to participate.
Contributions can be derived from a variety of sources as indicated in the bargaining agreement, MOU, or personnel policy. For example:
- Severance
- Employee ongoing contributions (either a percentage or dollar amount deducted each pay period)
- Employer contributions of a fixed dollar amount
- Vacation or PTO conversion
- Early retirement incentives
- Excess leave balances
Questions regarding contribution amounts or participation should be directed to your employer or bargaining unit.