Source: http://etf.wi.gov/employers/bulletins_state/ebs20030311.htm
Timestamp: 2018-01-17 01:17:39
Document Index: 396435764

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 40', '§ 40', '§ 40', '§ 40', '§ 40', '§ 40', '§ 40', '§ 40', '§ 40', '§ 40', '§ 40', '§ 40', '§ 40', '§ 40', '§40', '§ 40', '§ 40', '§ 40']

Vol. 20, State A
Important Information Regarding Employee Layoff
Information in this bulletin is effective immediately and is based on current law. Proposals in the governor's budget may impact these benefits. Also, there may be specific language in collective bargaining agreements that employers must consider.
In anticipation of questions related to benefits available to employees subject to layoff, the Department of Employee Trust Funds (ETF) has prepared this bulletin to provide guidance and assistance to you and your employees. Please read this information carefully, as it does not appear in any current editions of ETF's employer administration manuals, bulletins or brochures.
To ensure the consistent handling of state employee layoff situations, ETF and the Department of Employment Relations (DER) held discussions regarding the employment status of an employee who is laid off as well as the benefits available to employees upon layoff. In the case of a "permanent" layoff (this does not include temporary layoffs as defined under the applicable collective bargaining agreement or administrative code, seasonal layoffs, school-year employee summer layoffs, or leaves of absence), it is DER's position that the layoff will result in a termination of employment.
Based on DER's position, ETF completed a comprehensive review of the Statutes, rules, contracts, and policies governing ETF administered benefit programs to determine the impact of termination due to layoff on ETF benefit program eligibility. The results of this review are shown in the two charts attached to this bulletin.
The chart entitled State Employee Benefits Upon Termination Due to Permanent Layoff depicts the impact on benefits when a state employee is terminated as a result of permanent layoff. The chart entitled, State Employee Benefits During Leave of Absence or Temporary Layoff, depicts the impact on benefits when a State employee is placed on a leave of absence or placed on temporary layoff (i.e., temporary layoff as defined under the applicable contract or rule, seasonal layoff, school-year employee summer layoff, etc.). These charts replace the chart in Subchapter 1801 of the Wisconsin Retirement System Administration Manual, ET-1127 (REV 5/99).
The remainder of this bulletin applies only to employees who are terminated from employment as a result of permanent layoff.
Benefit Eligibility Status upon Termination Due to Layoff
Other than for group health insurance purposes, a state employee whose employment is terminated due to permanent layoff is to be treated, for benefit purposes, like any other employee terminating state service. However, for group health insurance purposes, an employee terminated due to permanent layoff will be treated as if on a leave of absence per § 40.02(40) and § 40.05(4)(bm), Wis. Stat.
The following provides a summary of the impact that termination due to permanent layoff has on an employee's eligibility for State benefit programs.
Employer and employee contributions will end on the termination date or on the last day the employee receives earnings for services rendered (if earlier than the termination date).
Note: Employees terminated due to permanent layoff are eligible to take a separation benefit before age 55 (50 for protective employees), or a retirement benefit after reaching retirement age. Refer to the benefit presentation portion of this bulletin for ETF resources available to your employees.
Life insurance coverage will continue through the end of the month following the month in which termination occurs. Example: If an employee is terminated on May 20, 2003, life insurance coverage will end on June 30, 2003.
Note: Employees insured for six or more continuous months at the time coverage ends may continue or convert life insurance coverage (depending on age and service circumstances). Employees who take a retirement benefit will be contacted by ETF regarding their life insurance upon retirement. For all others, Minnesota Life Insurance Company will bill eligible employees if they file a timely continuation or conversion application. Refer to subchapters 1603 and 1611 in the Group Life Insurance Administration Manual for details on life insurance continuation or conversion options, respectively.
Income Continuation Insurance:
Income continuation insurance (ICI) coverage ends on the day of termination. Employees who are receiving ICI benefits at the time of termination will continue to receive benefits for as long as they remain disabled under the terms of the ICI contract.
Upon termination due to permanent layoff, health insurance coverage may be continued under § 40.05 (4), Wis. Stat.
Specifically, § 40.05 (4) (b) provides that a state employee who retires on an immediate annuity (or who is eligible to retire on an immediate annuity and has 20 years of creditable service) shall have accumulated sick leave converted upon certification by the employer to ETF (see the section of this bulletin titled Conversion of Accumulated Sick Leave Under § 40.05 (4) (b), Wis. Stat.).
Employees who are not eligible to convert sick leave under § 40.05 (4) (b), Wis. Stat., may request that their employers convert accumulated sick leave for purposes of paying health premiums under § 40.05 (4) (bm), Wis. Stat. Also, § 40.05 (4) (a) 3, Wis. Stat., provides that these employees are entitled to an additional 3 months of state contribution toward the health insurance premium. This is in addition to the premiums that have already been deducted. This means that an employee who is terminated due to permanent layoff and who is not eligible for an immediate annuity (or who is eligible for an immediate annuity but has less than 20 years of creditable service) may receive up to 5 months of employer contribution towards premium after the termination date (i.e., 2 months of prepaid premium and 3 additional months). Any employee share must be paid in advance (by deduction from the employee's last check or by personal check) if the employee is not using converted sick leave (see the section of this bulletin titled Conversion of Accumulated Sick Leave Under § 40.05 (4) (bm), Wis. Stat.).
Conversion of Accumulated Sick Leave Under § 40.05 (4) (b), Wis. Stat.
An employee who is terminated due to permanent layoff and who begins an immediate annuity (or is eligible to begin an immediate annuity and has 20 years of creditable service), is eligible to convert accumulated sick leave under the provisions of § 40.05 (4) (b), Wis. Stat., as follows:
Conversion of sick leave under this provision is administered by ETF.
Accumulated unused sick leave (and any eligible additional sick leave provided under the Supplemental Health Insurance Conversion Credits program), upon certification from the employer to ETF, will be converted by ETF at the employee's current base pay rate to credits for payment of health insurance premiums. See Subchapter 903 of the Group Health Insurance Employer Administration Manual for instructions on completing the Accumulated Leave Certification form, ET-4306.
Note: For purposes of calculating basic pay rate, Wisconsin Administrative Code ETF 10.01 (1m) provides that "Current basic pay rate means…the hourly rate, or its equivalent, excluding any overtime or supplementary compensation, at which the employee is paid at the time of termination of employment." However, the calculation for converting sick leave under § 40.05 (4) (b), provides one exception to the definition as follows: " . . . any supplemental compensation that is paid to a state employee who is classified under the state classified civil service as a teacher, teacher supervisor, or education director for the employee's completion of educational courses that have been approved by the employee's employer is considered as part of the employee's basic pay . . . "
Sick leave may be used to fund the employee's premium contribution effective the first of the month following the date the layoff begins if there is an employee contribution due. After the three additional months of state contribution toward premium, the full amount of the required employee premium will be deducted from the credits until the credits are exhausted.
Note: Under § 40.05 (4) (b), Wis. Stat., the employee may elect to delay using converted sick leave credits if the employee is covered under a comparable health insurance plan. Comparable health insurance means a plan or policy that provides hospital and medical benefits that are substantially equivalent to the standard health insurance plan established under § 40.52 (1).
Conversion of Accumulated Sick Leave Under §40.05 (4) (bm), Wis. Stat.
An employee who is not eligible for an immediate annuity (or who is eligible to begin an immediate annuity but who does not have 20 years of creditable service) at the time of termination due to layoff is eligible for accumulated sick leave conversion through their employer under § 40.05 (4) (bm) as follows:
Conversion of sick leave under this layoff provision is administered by each employing agency according to DER Bulletins CC-18 (May 1984) and CC-27 (September 1984).
Accumulated unused sick leave may, upon request of the employee at the time the employee is subject to layoff (i.e., anytime between the date on which the employee receives notice of layoff and the layoff date), be converted by the employer at the employee's current base pay rate to credits for payment of health insurance premiums.
Note: For purposes of calculating basic pay rate, Wisconsin Administrative Code ETF 10.01 (1m) provides that "Current basic pay rate means…the hourly rate, or its equivalent, excluding any overtime or supplementary compensation, at which the employee is paid at the time of termination of employment." However, the calculation for converting sick leave under § 40.05 (4) (bm), provides one exception to the definition as follows: " . . . any supplemental compensation that is paid to a state employee who is classified under the state classified civil service as a teacher, teacher supervisor, or education director for the employee's completion of educational courses that have been approved by the employee's employer is considered as part of the employee's basic pay . . . "
Sick leave may be used to fund the employee's premium contribution effective the first of the month following the date the layoff begins if there is an employee contribution due. After the three additional months of State contribution toward premium, the employee is responsible for the full premium and sick leave credits may be used to pay the entire cost.
Note: The Supplemental Health Insurance Conversion Credits (SHICC) program is not available to employees terminated due to layoff who are not eligible for an immediate annuity. SHICC program benefits apply only to employees: a) who are retiring on an immediate annuity, or b) who are eligible to retire on an immediate annuity and have 20 years of creditable service.
The full amount of the required employee premium shall be deducted from the credits until one of the following situations has occurred: a) The credits are exhausted, b) The employee is re-employed at any public or private job that makes him/her ineligible for unemployment compensation, c) Five years have elapsed from the layoff date.
The use of sick leave conversion under § 40.05 (4) (bm) during layoff is the record keeping and funding responsibility of the employer. The employee is to be reported to ETF the same as any other employee participating in the group health insurance program.
Note: For an employee utilizing sick leave conversion under this provision (i.e. due to layoff), the employer will not submit an Accumulated Leave Certification Form, ET-4306.
Health insurance continuation coverage (in compliance with COBRA) using the Continuation-Conversion Notice, ET-2311, must be offered when the available sick leave contribution toward premium ends.
Employee Reimbursement Accounts (ERA):
If an employee participates in a medical expense reimbursement account under the ERA program, he or she may continue the account (through the end of the plan year) upon layoff by:
Paying the remainder of the annual election amount out-of-pocket after layoff. Employees choosing this option must be given a Continuation of ERA Medical Expense Account Coverage form, ET-1518, within 14 days of their termination date.
Filing a Change in Status form within 30 days of the layoff date. A Change in Status will allow an employee to reduce their annual election amount for the remainder of the plan year. The reduced contribution amount may be deducted from the last paycheck or paid out-of-pocket as noted above.
If employees participate in a dependent care reimbursement account, contributions end with the last paycheck, but employees may continue to claim eligible expenses until the dependent care account is exhausted.
Commuter Benefits Program:
Employees at risk for layoff should be reminded to make changes to their Commuter Benefits election by the 10th of the month prior to the coverage month to avoid being charged for parking or transit benefits they may not want after the layoff. Contact Bill Aye with Fringe Benefits Management Company at (608) 829-0435 for questions about Commuter Benefits coverage in a permanent layoff situation.
Contributions will cease upon termination. Employer and employee questions regarding options under the Wisconsin Deferred Compensation program should be directed to Sue Oelke or Mike Jeffery at (608) 256-6200, or toll free at 1-800-257-4457.
EPIC Supplemental Benefit Plan:
Continuation should be offered to all terminated employees currently covered by EPIC. Continuation applications are available from EPIC Life Insurance Corporation at (800) 520-5750. Continuation coverage should be offered for 36 months with an effective date beginning the first of the month following the month through which premium is already paid. If you have specific continuation questions, contact Wendy Sanders-Travis at (608) 226-7857.
ETF to Offer Onsite Benefit Presentations
ETF will conduct special onsite benefit presentations for state agencies to help get WRS benefit information to employees subject to layoff. A minimum of 25 people will be required to schedule an onsite presentation. You may contact other agencies about holding a combined session if your agency is unable to meet the minimum attendance requirement.
To schedule a benefits presentation for your employees contact Luana Schneider, Field Services Coordinator, at (608) 266-3463. You will need an approximate count of the number of attendees and how many are at or near retirement age (over 50). ETF is willing to host sessions or present them at your agency. Employees and their spouses are encouraged to attend the presentations.
ETF will also have individual counseling appointments available for employees being laid off. Employees should contact the Madison office at (608) 266-5717, or the Milwaukee office at (414) 227-4294 to make an appointment. It is important that employees identify themselves as subject to state layoff when requesting appointments and/or their retirement estimate packets.
Employees within one year of minimum retirement age must have their WRS retirement benefit estimates in hand prior to their appointment. Employees may request their estimate and appointment on the same day. Employees can receive estimates by:
Calling ETF toll free at 1-877-533-5020 or local Madison at (608) 266-3285
Completing the "specially labeled" Benefit Information Request form, ET-7301 (copy attached) and returning it by mail to Employee Trust Funds, P.O. Box 7931, Madison, WI 53707-7931 or by faxing it to (608) 267-4549. These forms will receive priority handling upon receipt at ETF.
Summary of Where to Call for Benefit Information Employer Inquiries
ETF Employer Communication Center
(608) 264-7900
Income Continuation Ins. Coverage
WI Retirement System Coverage
ETF Field Services Coordinator
(608) 266-3463
Employer Onsite Benefit
Bill Aye, Fringe Benefits Management Co.
1-800-257-4457 or
(608) 256-6200
EPIC Life Insurance Corp.
1-800-520-5720
EPIC Continuation Questions
EPIC Continuation Forms
Kathy Kopp, Manager
DER Labor Relations
(608) 266-0711
Employment Status upon Layoff
ETF Benefit Questions
Toll Free: 1-877-533-5020
Madison: (608) 266-3285
(including Retirement Estimates)
Madison: (608) 266-5717
(608) 223-2100 Supplemental Benefit Plan