City of Kannapolis | City of Kannapolis > Government & Departments > Human Resources > Employee Benefits

Employee Benefits

Kannapolis offers a competitive compensation structure with many benefit programs. Read more below for information regarding employment benefits.

Probationary Period

The probationary period for non-sworn employees is six months. Sworn law enforcement personnel serve a one-year probationary period.

Pay for Performance

Full-time and regular part-time employees may be eligible for performance pay increases annually. Funding for performance based pay is available as approved by City Council.

Market Adjustments

Pending City Council approval, the minimum and maximum salaries of the pay ranges may be based on market or other conditions. When approved and funded by City Council, market adjustments to the range will be considered annually and rounded down to the nearest one half percent of the economic indicator used. The market rate adjustment shall be applied to regular employees along with their annual performance increase and is based upon performance.

Sick Leave

Full time employees accrue 3.70 hours sick leave per pay period. (4.9 for fire personnel). Unused sick leave is cumulative for an indefinite period and may be counted as creditable service when applying for retirement with the North Carolina Local Government Retirement System. The City of Kannapolis accepts sick leave transfers from other N.C. local government employers if the governmental entity was the employee’s place of employment immediately preceding their employment with the City of Kannapolis. 

Vacation

Regular full time employees accrue 4.32 hours vacation per pay period (5.52 for fire personnel). The maximum accrual rate is 8.00 hours per pay period (10.42 for fire personnel). The monthly accrual rate increases each 5 years to a maximum equivalent to 16 hours monthly. Vacation leave accumulates unlimited; however, only 240 hours are carried to the next calendar year. Unused vacation leave hours in excess of 240 are transferred to sick leave at year end. New hires who transfer to the City of Kannapolis from another North Carolina municipality or County will receive years of service credit in determining eligibility for vacation accrual. Employees who were previously employed by a North Carolina local governmental entity may receive creidt with the City of Kannapolis for up to 80 hours unused accumulated vacation leave earned, provided the local governmental entity was the employees most recent employer immediately preceding the employment with the City of Kannapolis, the employee presents to the Human Resources Director a writen statement on agency letterhead confirming the employee's ending vacation leave balance, and the employee was not reimbursed for the unused hours. 

Holidays

The City observes the following holidays with pay for regular full time and regular part time employees (pro-rated based upon work schedule):

  • New Year’s Day
  • Martin Luther King Jr. Birthday
  • Good Friday
  • Memorial Day
  • Independence Day
  • Labor Day
  • Veterans Day
  • Thanksgiving (2 days)
  • Christmas (3 days)

Pretax Premiums

The City deducts premiums for voluntary benefits, such as dependent medical and dental insurance, employee contribution to flexible spending accounts, and other qualifying voluntary insurance products, on a pre-taxed basis thereby reducing the employee’s income tax liability.

Medical Expense Assistance

The City offers medical and dependent care reimbursement accounts to cover the employee and his/her family members. This plan allows employees to set aside money on a PRE-TAXED basis for any anticipated medical and childcare costs that the employee expects to incur during the year.

Additionally, the City contributes up to $2,110 toward the full-time employee's out of pocket medical expenses. The employer contribution can be deposited to a medical spending or reinbursement account or can be used to offset premiums for medical insurance coverage. The initial amound is pro-rated based on the date of hire for new employees and is offered anually thereafter with funding approval by City Council.

Alive and Well Wellness Program

As a Let’s Move! City, the City encourages employees to participate in the Alive and Well wellness program. Through Alive and Well, participants can receive their individual health insurance free of charge, gain free access to an onsite health and wellness clinic staffed by a physician assistant, free access to a dietician/nutritionist, onsite exercise programs, lunch ‘n learn educational opportunities

Medical Insurance

Full-time employees and part-time employees who work at least 30 hours per week who are hired on or after June 30, 2021 are offered a healthcare savings account option (HSA), available through Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina. The employee’s premium share is deducted on a pre-taxed basis. Medical insurance becomes effective on the first day of the month following the employee’s 30 days of employment.

Employees who retire with at least 5 years of service with the City of Kannapolis are able to remain on the City’s health plan. Employees who retire with at least 10 years of service receive a 50% monthly premium reduction for individual coverage, and those who retire with at least 20 years of service receive a 75% monthly premium reduction.

Dental Insurance

The choice of two dental insurance plans is available through the North Carolina League of Municipalities Municipal Insurance Trust (MIT) for all full time employees. The employee coverage on the base plan is available at no cost to the employee. Employees who elect Dental Plan III coverage, which has a richer benefit, pay the difference in premium cost for the plan. The employee’s premium share is deducted on a pre-taxed basis. Dental insurance becomes effective on the first day of the month following the employee’s 30 days of employment.

Employees who retire with at least 5 years of service with the City of Kannapolis are able to remain on the City’s dental plan. Employees who retire with at least 10 years of service receive a 50% monthly premium reduction for individual coverage, and those who retire with at least 20 years of service receive a 75% monthly premium reduction. Retirees who elect to continue coverage under Dental Plan III are responsible for the additional cost of the plan.

Life Insurance

All full time employees receive a term life/accidental death and dismemberment insurance policy. The benefit amount is equal to your base annual salary (twice the annual salary for accidental death). The benefit provided is at no charge to the employee and becomes effective thirty days following employment. The employees may purchase additional coverage for themselves, their spouse, and/or dependent children.

Supplemental life insurance coverage is also available through Standard Insurance Company at the employee’s expense. Dependent and/or supplemental coverage is paid through payroll deduction.

Short Term Disability Insurance

Full time active employees working 30 or more hours per week in an eligible class are eligible to purchase short term disability coverage through Standard Insurance Company. The voluntary short term disability plan pays 60% of your gross weekly income up to a maximum of $500 per week. Benefits begin on the first day after an accident or the eight day of an illness. Benefits are payable up to 13 or 26 weeks after sick time leave is exhausted, depending on the option selected. Benefits are paid on a tax-free basis.

Long Term Disability Insurance

Full time active employees working 30 or more hours per week in an eligible class are eligible to purchase long term disability coverage through Standard Insurance Company. The voluntary long term disability plan pays up to 60% of your gross monthly income up to a maximum of $5,000 per month. Benefits begin after 180 days of disability. Benefits are payable for either 2 years, 5 years or to retirement age. Benefits are paid on a tax-free basis.

Retirement

Full time employees and employees who work 1000 hours or more per year are members of the North Carolina Local Governmental Retirement System. Employer and employee required contributions are mandated by state legislature. Employees are vested with five years of creditable service.

For details about the plans, check your balance, or update your beneficiaries, click here

Supplemental Retirement Plan 401(k)

Full time employees have an opportunity to participate in the North Carolina State Employee’s 401k plan. Provided by Prudential Retirement, administered by the NC Department of State Treasurer and sponsored by the State of North Carolina, the NC 401(k) Plan is a defined contribution plan, which means you may contribute a certain amount to the Plan. Plus, you get to choose how you want to invest your money based on your unique retirement goals and how many years you have until you retire. This is a state mandated benefit for sworn law enforcement officers. You also have the option to use GoalMaker, a free program that easily helps you select the investments that meet your needs.

Sworn police personnel receive an employer-paid 401k contribution equivalent to 5% of compensation; however, sworn police personnel do not participate in the Social Security program.

Up to 3% Employer Match: All full-time employees who voluntarily contribute to the 401k plan are eligible to receive an employer contribution match up to a maximum of 3%. Sworn Police Officers receiving the statutory 5% employer contribution are also eligible for the employer contribution match.

For details about this plan, access your personal account, enroll and make changes, click here

Supplemental Retirement Plan 457

Full time employees also have an option to participate in a 457 Deferred Compensation plan. A 457 Deferred Compensation plan, adopted by the US Conference of Mayors (USCM), is a program that allows you to defer compensation on a pre-tax basis through payroll deduction. This pre-tax advantage allows you to defer federal and (in most cases) state income taxes until your assets are withdrawn.

A 457 plan offers many benefits:

  • You reduce your current income taxes while investing for retirement.
  • Your earnings accumulate tax-deferred.
  • You can dollar-cost average through convenient payroll deductions.
  • If you are 50 (or older) or within three years of your normal retirement age and already contributing the maximum to your plan, you are allowed to make additional “catch-up” contributions.
  • It’s portable. If you change jobs, you can consolidate your savings in another public sector employer’s 457 plan, a qualified 401 plan, a tax-sheltered 403(b) annuity plan, or a Traditional IRA.
     

For details about this plan, access your personal account, enroll and make changes, click here

Credit Union

Employees and their family members are eligible to join the North Carolina Local Government Federal Credit Union (LGFCU) at any State Employees Credit Union branch. The Credit Union offers a variety of very competitive services and programs.

Direct Deposit

The City requires direct deposit and is able to accommodate multiple bank account deposits.

Educational Assistance

Tuition reimbursement assistance and education incentive pay are just two opportunities available to full time employees who have completed their probationary period. General employees are eligible for tuition reimbursement for coursework provided the course will better equip the employee to perform job related duties. Sworn and fire personnel are eligible for incentive pay as they complete degreed programs in criminal justice or fire protection service fields of study.

Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

All employees and their immediate family members have free access to an employee assistance program. Through the EAP, members have access to individual, family or group counseling, referral services, online resources, and a discounted purchasing program.

Bereavement Leave

Full-time employees who have a member of their immediate family taken by death shall receive up to forty (40) hours (42 for 12-hour personnel and 53 hours for fire suppression personnel) off with pay as bereavement leave to arrange and/or attend funeral services.

Employee Volunteer Hours

Eligible full-time employees are encouraged to pursue volunteer opportunities in Cabarrus and Rowan County as a means of giving back to the local community. The City is committed to creating partnerships with its employees and local non-profits to provide volunteer opportunities. The intention of this program is to create meaningful and purposeful community engagement opportunities for employees through helping others and to enrich and inspire the lives of our employees.

All full-time employees are eligible for 8 hours (regular employees), 8.4 hours (12-hour employees) and 10.6 hours (fire suppression personnel) of paid time off ("birthday leave") during their birth month.

Special Separation Allowance

All full-time employees who meet the minimum age and service requirements established by General Statute are eligible for Special Separation Allowance upon retirement. Special Separation Allowance is paid to eligible employees until the last day of the month in which the employee become 62 years of age. Under City Policy, there are no work restrictions for retirees who receive the Speicial Separation Allowance, except that the retiree cannot be re-employed with the City of Kannapolis in any capacity while receiving Special Separation Allowance.

Incentive Pay

The City offers a variety of incentive pay opportunities for employees. These include bi-lingual pay, shift premium, education incentive pay, FTO pay, and certification pay for approved job classifications. Classifications that may be eligible for certification incentive pay include sworn positions in both the Fire and Police Departments, construction maintenance classifications in the Water Resources Department and Water Treatment Plant job classifications.

Wellness Benefits

The City of Kannapolis is committed to helping its employees achieve their wellness goals and maintain healthy lives. All employees have free access to onsite fitness facilities. In addition, employees who are covered by the City’s health insurance program are eligible for paid individual YMCA membership with discounted family membership fees. Employees have free access to an onsite health clinic and free access to an onsite Nutritionist and Diabetes Dietitian.  Employees are not required to use personal paid leave to attend appointments with the onsite Nurse Practitioner or Nutritionist/Dietitian.

Cannon Ballers Suite Tickets

Employees are eligible for limited suite tickets to attend Kannapolis Cannon Ballers games and other events at the beautiful Atrium Health Ballpark in the heart of downtown Kannapolis.

Continuation of Health Insurance at Retirement

Employees hired after July 1, 2021 and who retire with at least 10 years of service with the City of Kannapolis are eligible to continue on the City’s medical and dental plan at retirement until age 65 with an employer paid contribution to the insurance premium based on the following schedule.  An employee is eligible for this benefit provided that at the time of retirement the employee has completed the requisite years of service with the City of Kannapolis.

20 or more years of service:                                                75% of total premium

15 but less than 20 years of service:                                   50% of total premium

10 but less than 15 years of service:                                   25% of total premium

Less than 10 years of service:                                                0% of total premium