Health Insurance
The City of Gastonia offers a High Deductible Health Plan with Health Savings Account (HSA) to its benefits-eligible employees. Your premium is paid 100% by the City. You may also cover your legal dependents if you desire. Employee-paid premiums to add spouses or dependents are withheld on a pre-tax basis. Click here to see our Employee Benefits Booklet.
The following monthly rates are current for our 2024–2025 plan year:
Also, good news: The City of Gastonia makes a contribution of $1,000 to your HSA on your behalf! For new employees starting after the plan cycle (July 1st), a prorated amount is given.
You pay your costs up to your deductible ($1,600 individual/$3,200 family coverage), then 20% co-insurance up to your out-of-pocket max ($4,000 individual/$6,550 family coverage).
City of Gastonia Wellness Center
The Employee Health Clinic is available for sick visits, a variety of lab tests, first aid, flu shots, and other health issues. This benefit is available to all City of Gastonia employees. Visits are by appointment only. A $3.00 co-pay per visit will be withheld from the employee’s next paycheck.
In addition to our normal services, City Employees will be able to have dependents who are carried on the City's insurance plan, visit the clinic for the same $3 copay. Children as young as 5 can now be seen.
The City of Gastonia, awarded as one of the Healthiest Employers of Greater Charlotte area for 2022, is committed to our employees' physical and mental health and wellness. The Wellness Program offers such features as health coaching, a wellness center, interactive wellness activities, monthly challenges, health screenings, and wellness classes covering a wide variety of issues affecting mental and physical health.
We offer a variety of wellness activities and are adding more every day.
- Daily 15-minute Walk Groups
- Monthly Wellness Challenges
- Annual Health Fair
- Monthly Wellness Lectures
- Wellness Center
Employee Educational Assistance
The City of Gastonia is committed to providing its employees with the resources they need to develop their skills and knowledge. We believe that a well-trained and educated workforce is essential to our success as a city.
We offer a variety of employee development opportunities, including:
- On-the-job training: Employees are provided with opportunities to learn new skills and knowledge while on the job
- Tuition Reimbursement: Employees are encouraged to pursue further education and the City of Gastonia will help offset the cost of up to $2,000 per year
- Professional Development Courses: We offer a variety of professional development courses to help our employees stay up-to-date on the latest trends
Vacation
Vacation Days (for full-time employees only)
- Initial employment through 1 year: 12 days per year
- Beginning 2nd year through 4 years: 14 days per year
- Beginning 5th year through 9th years: 17 days per year
- Beginning 10th year through 14th years: 20 days per year
- Beginning 15th year through 19th years: 23 days per year
- Beginning 20th year: 26 days per year
Pay Days/Sick Leave/Holidays
City of Gastonia employees are paid on a biweekly basis throughout the calendar year. Pay periods begin on alternating Saturdays, and pay days occur every other Friday.
- Sick Leave: Full-time employees accrue 12 sick days per year, pro-rated per pay period. Sick time balances are able to be rolled into subsequent calendar years.
- Holidays: 11 holidays plus one floating personal holiday are allotted each calendar year to our full-time employees.
Dental Insurance
The City of Gastonia offers two dental plans to its full-time employees. Your individual base plan premium is paid 100% by the City. You may also cover your legal dependents and even buy up your dental plan option for an additional cost. Any premiums you elect to pay are withheld on a pre-tax basis.
Retirement / Deferred Compensation
Pension (Local Governmental Employees’ Retirement System)
The City of Gastonia participates in the Local Government Employees’ Retirement System (operated through the NC State Treasurer’s Office). This benefit can provide full-time employees and eligible part-time employees with a monthly retirement payment for the rest of their lives.
Current Contribution Amounts:
- All eligible employees will contribute 6% of their salary during each pay period
- The City will make contributions to the plan based on the following:
- Sworn Law Enforcement Officers: 15.04% per pay period
- All other eligible employees: 13.6% per pay period
401(k) (Empower – NC 401(k) Plan)
The City of Gastonia contributes 5% of benefits-eligible employees’ salary into their individual 401(k) accounts. Eligible employees may also make voluntarily contributions to the 401(k) on a pre-tax or after-tax / Roth basis, within annual IRS limits.
457 (ICMA-RC)
Full-time employees can voluntarily contribute, on either a pre-tax or an after-tax / Roth basis, to the 457, within annual IRS limits. Unlike the other retirement accounts, participants in the 457 plan do not need to qualify for an exception to avoid the 10% IRS penalty tax on withdrawals of contributions and associated earnings before age 59½. This plan additionally enables employees who will ‘max out’ the annual IRS contribution limit on their 401(k) to defer additional monies on a pre-tax (or Roth) basis into another retirement savings vehicle.
Voluntary Supplemental Benefits (prepared by Mark III Benefits Advisors)
- Pre-tax benefits: Vision, Dependent Care Reimbursement Account, Cancer, Accident, and Hospital Indemnity
- After-tax benefits: Disability, Group Critical Care, Term/Whole Life, Identity Theft Shield & Legal Shield Plan
- Enrollment in these supplemental plans is voluntary and premiums for these coverages are 100% paid by the employee.
Life Insurance
The City of Gastonia offers a fully-paid life insurance policy with accidental death and dismemberment to its benefits-eligible employees. The policy equates to one-times your annual salary in the event of death. Additional coverage is available for your dependents, listed below:
