Employee Benefits

Lake Washington Institute of Technology (LWTech) offers a wide range of benefits to its permanent employees. We list many here; contact Human Resources for more details.

Medical, Dental, Life & Disability Insurance Plans

We offer eligible LWTech employees and their families a broad choice of medical and dental insurance options. All plans provide eligible family members coverage at a low monthly payment.

Medical plans cover office visits, hospital care, and preventative care. They also cover prescription drugs, vision care, mental health, substance abuse, and smoking cessation.
LWTech provides basic life, accidental death and dismemberment and disability plans. You may also buy enhanced coverage at low rates.

LWTech provides medical/dental benefits to qualified same-sex domestic partners. We also provide medical benefits to opposite-sex domestic partners in which one partner is age 62 or older.

Health Care Authority - Public Employees Benefits Board (HCA PEBB)

Notice of Health Benefit Exchange

Flexible Spending Accounts

Eligible LWTech employees may take part in an IRS approved, tax-free account that saves money on eligible medical expenses. You can authorize per-pay period deposits to your FSA from your before-tax salary. Then, when you incur eligible expenses, you request tax-free withdrawals from your account for reimbursement. Setting up a medical expense FSA saves valuable tax dollars on eligible medical expenses.

HCA PEBB FSA Plan

HCA PEBB HSA Plan

Retirement Plans

LWTech provides retirement plans to eligible employees. Your employee status determines which plan(s) you take part in.

Washington State Teacher's Retirement (TRS)

Public Employees Retirement Plan (PERS)

Teacher's Insurance Annuity Association/College Retirement Equities Fund (TIAA)

Deferred Compensation Program (DCP) - voluntary

Supplementary Retirement Account (SRA) - voluntary

Washington State Department of Retirement Systems

Sick and Vacation Leave

All eligible LWTech staff accrue sick leave at one day per month. Leave is prorated based on full-time employment percentage. LWTech staff accrue vacation leave every month. Bargained agreements or policies determine annual accrual rates. Leave is prorated based on full-time employment percentage.

Personal Leave

Eligible LWTech employees get at least one paid personal day per fiscal year based on bargain agreements and policy.

Family Leave

Eligible LWTech employees may take leave to care for family members based on bargain agreements, college policy, and state and federal laws.
Washington State Dept. of Labor & Industries - Family Care Laws

Holidays

Eligible LWTech employees get 12 paid holidays per year including:

New Year's Day
Martin Luther King Jr. Day
President's Day
Memorial Day
Fourth of July
Labor Day
Veterans Day
Thanksgiving & the day after
Christmas Eve
Christmas Day
New Year's Eve

Credit Unions

Eligible employees may join one of two credit unions. Both offer member services that include payroll direct deposit, automatic bill pay, savings and checking accounts, overdraft protection, personal lines of credit and low interest loans.

School Employees Credit Union of Washington

Washington State Employees Credit Union

Direct Deposit

All LWTech employees may sign up to deposit their paychecks directly into a checking or savings account. Once enrolled, you no longer get a paper check or stub but can view your earnings online.

Direct Deposit Authorization

Employee Earnings History

Professional Development

Eligible employees can get tuition waivers for most LWTech classes. You pay for books, supplies and applicable fees. LWTech also offers a variety of training and development activities for employees each year. Activities include workshops on diversity, teacher preparation, learning styles, communication skills, computer software skill building, conflict resolution, web design, health and wellness, and more.

Employees may access department and college funds to take part in off-campus professional development activities. Your supervisor must approve in advance the training and professional development you take during normally scheduled work time.

There are also opportunities for professional development. Workshops and trainings are available on a regular basis via the Professional Development center.

Professional Development

Living well at LWTech: photo of two LWTech employee women smiling.

Living Well @LWTech

Early Learning Center (Childcare)

LWTech's Early Learning Center provides a model learning environment for children of LWTech students and employees, with limited space available for community clients. Early childhood specialists staff the center and provide developmentally appropriate activities and exploration opportunities for children. The ELC also serves as the lab school for the college's early childhood education program. The ELC serves children between the ages of 18 months and six years. The center is open Monday - Friday 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more info, call (425) 576-5838 or visit:

Early Learning Center

Employee Assistance Program

LWTech offers free short-term counseling, assessment, and referral services to our employees. This program provides confidential assistance to employees and their families dealing with difficulties like drug and alcohol abuse, family and marital issues, legal problems, financial problems, anxiety, depression, nervousness, and more. A professional counselor can assist you with a referral.

Employee Assistance Program

EAP Orientation - WA Wellness