Employee Assistance Program. A short-term counseling service is available to help employees and their family work through personal problems, such as marital conflicts, grief issues, stress, legal problems, emotional difficulties substance abuse, financial troubles, plus more.
The services of the Employee Assistance Program (EAP) are confidential. Employees arrange a private and confidential appointment by directly calling EAP toll free at 1-800-666-8606. If there is no answer, call (402) 354-2710. Local counselors are available by appointment. Or visit the website at http://www.bestcareeap.org.
Loss of loved one (PDF)
Workmen's Compensation. The University's Workmen's Compensation program is self-insured. This means that the State of Nebraska pays all hospital and medical expenses resulting from an injury or occupational disease while on the job or in the course of employment. To receive this benefit, it is necessary to report all accidents immediately, no matter how slight, so that an accident report may be prepared recording the details. This report provides the basis for preparing a Workmen's Compensation report which must be submitted if an injured employee is to receive benefits. In the event of a serious or life-threatening accident, the employee should report to the nearest facility where emergency treatment is available. The physician and/or hospital providing treatment should be informed that it is a work-related injury.
Up to five workdays are authorized as injury leave because of injury or occupation disease arising out of the course of employment. Injury leave is not charged against accumulated sick leave. If, after these five workdays, the individual's injury still prohibits them from working, they may then elect to use any accumulated sick leave in conjunction with Workmen's Compensation benefits. Workmen's compensation benefits pay a portion of the employee's salary up to the current statutory maximum per week.
Checks for lost work time come directly from the Workers Compensation Insurance carrier and are sent to the employee. These checks make up about 2/3 of the employee's salary. The remaining 1/3 can be made up by utilizing sick leave or vacation.
Safety, Injury and Illness Prevention. Nebraska Law (LB757) requires employers subject to the Worker's Compensation Act to: 1) establish a safety committee, and 2) maintain an effective written injury and illness prevention program. Copies of the general safety policy approved by the Board of Regents may be secured from Human Resources.
Credit Unions. Employees are eligible to participate in two credit unions. Members of each credit union can maintain savings accounts and obtain various kinds of loans. Each has a payroll deduction plan and offers travelers checks to members at no cost. The credit unions, their addresses, and telephone numbers are as follows:
Kearney Federal Credit Union
2915 2nd Ave Kearney, NE 68848
Telephone: (308) 234-9311 or (308) 237-9993
Fax: Fax: (308) 234-5529 or (308) 338-9932
University of Nebraska Federal Credit Union
1630 Q Street
Lincoln, NE 68588
Telephone: (402) 472-2087
Cushing Coliseum. Faculty and staff have access to utilize Cushing Coliseum for their recreational needs. This includes participation in the intramural sports program, aerobics programs, racquetball, swimming and weight lifting. Please contact the Coliseum for the available hours.
Wellness Programs. UNK faculty and staff can volunteer to serve on the Wellness Task Force. The goal of this group is to promote health and wellness activities and information on the campus. For more information on the group, contact Human Resources or visit the website at http://www.unk.edu/wellness.
COBRA. COBRA stands for the "Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985." It is a Federal law that requires the University of Nebraska at Kearney to allow you and your covered dependents to continue being covered under your UNK group health insurance plan--at your expense--for a limited period of time upon the onset of a qualifying event. COBRA generally protects you if you are terminated from your job or if you lose your right to group health insurance coverage for certain other reasons, as discussed below. COBRA coverage is not automatic; you must let the Human Resources Office know if you want to continue your insurance coverage.
The law also requires the University of Nebraska at Kearney to inform you and your dependents of this right to coverage when UNK is aware of a triggering event. (See "COBRA Notice Period" below.) In some cases, such as a divorce or the growth of your children, the University of Nebraska at Kearney may not be aware of a change in status. In those cases YOU should inform the Human Resources Office. Be sure you are aware of such coverage limits in your group health plan.
Remember, the University of Nebraska at Kearney will require you to pay for the full cost of the coverage plus a small premium. UNK is not required to continue to pay for any part of your coverage. COBRA is simply a means of maintaining health insurance while you are between plans.
COBRA applies in cases where:
- Your employment is terminated;
- Your work hours are reduced;
- You find a new job that provides health care coverage, but you want continued coverage while waiting to become eligible for coverage in the new group health plan;
- You get a new job, but you want to continue coverage for preexisting conditions that would be excluded from coverage under your new employer's group health plan for a period of time;
- You are retiring;
- You are retired and your company enters bankruptcy;
- You die and are survived by a spouse or a dependent child;
- You continue working for UNK but are getting divorced and therefore your dependants;
- Your children become too old for coverage.
It is essential that you understand your rights under COBRA. This way both you and UNK can avoid misunderstandings or communication problems that can result in disputes about whether you or your dependents continued to be covered for health care.