City of Gainesville/GRU Inclusion Policies & Programs
Through development of family friendly policies that help our employees in times of need, to placement of women in non-traditional jobs, through developing student internships, and to the operation of the GRU Academy, GRU has become an employer of choice in Gainesville. Below is a brief list of some of our policies that we think makes GRU an attractive and diverse place to work.
Health Insurance - GRU offers, through the City of Gainesville, a full PPO health insurance plan that covers employees, spouses, and dependent children. In addition, employees who certify they have a domestic partner may also include their partners on their health insurance plan. This ensures that all employees may participate in the plan to the full extent that their lifestyle demands. We feel this makes for a more secure and productive workforce.
Life Insurance - Employees of GRU and the City of Gainesville are provided, free of charge, up to two times their annual salary (to a maximum of $50,000) in term life insurance. Employees may designate whomever they choose as a beneficiary in the event of the employee's death. Additional life insurance may be purchased by the employee through payroll deduction.
Paid Time Off - For all new employees, GRU offers a generous paid time off plan that allows employees to use their accrued paid leave for whatever purpose they deem appropriate, including time off for family-related (including certified domestic partners) illnesses.
Family & Medical Leave Act (FMLA) - As a public employer, GRU and the City of Gainesville participate in the FMLA, a program that provides qualified employees up to twelve (12) weeks of job-protected leave to care for a qualifying family member (including certified domestic partners) with a serious health condition, their own serious health condition, or following the birth or adoption of a child by the employee. This leave may be paid, unpaid, or a combination of paid and unpaid, depending on the circumstances of the leave.
Wellness Program - GRU and the City of Gainesville offer a wide variety of wellness programs and operate several wellness facilities to ensure that all employees maintain a healthy, active and balanced lifestyle. In addition, all individuals covered by the City's health insurance plan (including certified domestic partners) are also eligible to participate in the Wellness Program and may use the fitness facilities. Employees are also eligible to purchase personal fitness equipment or membership in fitness centers through a 3-year, no interest loan program offered by the City/GRU.
Bereavement Leave - Sadly, at times all of us experience the death of family members. Understanding the need for employees to attend funerals and grieve during such times of loss, employees are provided up to three days of paid leave (in addition to the paid time off leave provided above) to cover absences following the death of a qualifying family member (including certified domestic partners). Employees with certified domestic partners may also take bereavement leave in the event of the death of a partner or other qualifying individual.
Career Development - In addition to learning the basics of any job, GRU has a number of positions that participate in progression-through-training (PTT) programs. PTT programs provide individuals in such careers as electric lineworker, gas worker, water and wastewater construction (service operators), and power plant operations (from operator to electrician, instrument technician, process plant operators, etc.) to attend classroom training or participate in computer based training. In addition, on-the-job field training is provided to rapidly expand skills and knowledge and participants receive additional compensation as required skills and experience are gained. Within most programs, individuals have some control over how quickly they may progress so that highly motivated individuals can reach journey level in their field within two to five years. This provides GRU with a highly skilled and capable workforce as we move toward the future.
Certified Domestic Partner Benefits - GRU, through the City of Gainesville, extends full benefits to employees with certified domestic partners. Certification is accomplished by meeting established criteria such as showing proof of joint banking accounts or joint home mortgages. Individuals with domestic partners are encouraged to review all of the information on these pages and the link below for those benefits available to Certified Domestic Partners.
Employee Development & Tuition Reimbursement - The City will reimburse eligible employees one hundred percent (100%) of the cost of tuition and lab fees for 18 credit hours per fiscal year. The amount reimbursed will be equal to the State of Florida university system credit-hour rate for undergraduate or graduate courses, as applicable, for public colleges and universities.
Personal Computer Purchase Plan - Regular employees and elected officials who have completed the initial probationary period are eligible to participate in this plan. The City will finance the employee's purchase of computer equipment and software up to a pre-established limit, usually around $3,000. Loans to participants will be for a term not to exceed 36 months and will be interest free. Payments on the loans will be made through payroll deduction.
For a complete list of benefits available to GRU employees, please take a look at the City of Gainesville Employee Benefit Program brochure.
