WestEd Benefits

WestEd offers generous benefits to its employees and a workplace that promotes growth, development, and creativity.

Learn about the many benefits for full- and part-time WestEd employees (working a minimum of 20 hours per week).

Health & Wellness

Medical: WestEd offers employees a choice of three medical plans: HMO, POS, and EPO. WestEd pays a significant portion of the monthly premiums on behalf of its employees and their dependents.

Dental: WestEd employees can enroll in a Dental PPO plan in which employees choose in-network dentists or a dentist of their choice. WestEd covers a significant portion of the monthly premiums for its employees and their eligible dependents.

Vision: WestEd employees can enroll in the VSP in-network vision plan in which WestEd pays a significant portion of the monthly premiums for its employees and their eligible dependents.

Short-Term Disability: WestEd pays 100% of the premium for a short-term disability plan. This plan covers eligible disabilities ranging from 15-90 days by providing income replacement of 66⅔ of an employee's salary up to a maximum of $2,500 per week.

Long-Term Disability: WestEd pays 100% of the premium for a long-term disability plan. This plan covers eligible disabilities after 91 days by providing income replacement of 66⅔ of an employee's salary up to a maximum of $17,000 per month.

Group Life/Accidental Death & Dismemberment Insurance: This plan is offered at no cost to employees and covers up to 3 times the employee's annual salary to a maximum of $500,000.

Flexible Spending Plan: Employees can participate in the Health Care Reimbursement Flexible Spending Account and/or the Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account. Money is deducted from enrolled employees' paychecks on a pre-tax basis to cover eligible out-of-pocket medical and/or dependent care expenses.

Employee Assistance Program: This program, offered at no cost to employees, offers confidential assistance to employees and their families. A variety of work, personal, and referral programs — including mental health counseling, and legal and financial assistance — are available.

CareCounsel: This independent health care advocacy group can answer employee questions regarding WestEd benefits, assist with health and welfare plan claims resolution, and provide information and guidance on a variety of medical topics such as Medicare and coordination of benefits.

Supplemental Insurance: WestEd employees can purchase supplemental insurance products, such as personal cancer indemnity and hospital plans directly through AFLAC by use of pre-tax payroll deductions.

Ergonomics: WestEd is committed to providing a safe and ergonomically sound work environment. As such, we offer consultations with ergonomics specialists.

Retirement and Savings

Defined Contribution Retirement Plan: WestEd contributes 15% of each eligible employee’s base salary, as allowable under IRS guidelines, into an individual Defined Contribution Retirement plan account beginning with the employee’s first paycheck. Employees are 100% vested in this plan from date of hire.

403(b) Tax Deferral Account: Eligible employees can participate in this supplemental retirement plan by making pre-tax payroll deductions as allowable under IRS guidelines. Employees are 100% vested in this plan from date of hire.

Retirement Consultations: WestEd offers one-on-one consultations with a retirement plan specialist.

Credit Union: WestEd employees are eligible to join Provident Credit Union to open checking, savings, and other accounts.

Time Away

Personal Floating Holidays: Employees receive two personal floating holidays if hired between January 1 and June 30, and receive one personal floating holiday if hired between July 1 and December 31. Both days must be used within the calendar year (will not be accrued).

Vacation: WestEd employees accrue 20 days of vacation per year.

Holidays: WestEd typically provides 10 holidays per year in addition to the 2 personal floating holidays noted above.

Sick Time: WestEd employees accrue up to 12 days of sick leave per year to cover absences related to illness or injury.

Family/Child Care

Flexible Work Schedules: WestEd promotes work-life balance and may allow alternative work arrangements such as flexible schedules, telecommuting, or compressed workweeks. Requests for alternative work arrangements are considered on an individual basis and must be approved by the department manager.

Dependent Care Account: Employees can participate in the Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account through pre-tax payroll deductions as allowed under IRS guidelines.

Paid Family Leave: California-based employees are eligible for up to six weeks of paid family leave through the Employment Development Department for newborn/newly placed child bonding or to assist with the care of eligible family members with serious medical conditions.

Eligible Dependents: WestEd extends medical, dental, and vision plan participation to an employee's eligible dependents. Eligible dependents include spouses or domestic partners and children up to age 26.

Community Building

Employee Referral Program: Employees who refer a friend, relative, or colleague for full- or part-time employment with WestEd may be eligible to receive a referral reward if the referred person is hired.

Office Activities: Each WestEd office has a social committee responsible for planning community-building events, company picnics, and holiday parties.

Length of Service Awards: WestEd’s strength is its staff. Employees who have been at WestEd for 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, and 40 years are recognized by the agency at an annual community meeting.

Peer Recognition: The Staff Awards program recognizes the effort and excellence of WestEd employees, both as individuals and as teams based in single offices or spanning locations nationwide. While applauding the accomplishments of our programs, projects, and people, the Staff Awards program offers additional opportunities for staff to learn about their colleagues' work and supplement staff networking agencywide.

Additional Benefits

Professional Development: WestEd offers a range of professional development opportunities targeted to increase staff effectiveness. Employees are encouraged to improve their professional skills by attending workshops, seminars, and conferences as approved by their department manager.

Commuter Checks: Employees can deduct funds from their paycheck on a pre-tax basis to participate in a public transit commuter check program.

Internal Transfers: All open career positions are posted internally before they are submitted externally, thus giving employees a first-hand opportunity to apply.