Harvard offers a comprehensive package of benefits to help staff, faculty, and post docs meet individual and family needs. In addition to a wide range of options for core insurance benefits, Harvard paid employees may take advantage of flexible savings accounts and several retirement plan options, along with many other benefits and services—from tuition assistance to entertainment and retail discounts—that can enhance quality of life while protecting your wallet. While we’ve provided just a small overview of benefits and perks listed below, you’ll want to also visit the home for Harvard benefits information on HARVie.
Health Benefits & Wellness Services | Time Off | Retirement Benefits | Disability & Life Insurance | Employee Assistance, Services & Discounts
Health Benefits and Wellness Services
Benefits – Health, Dental, More encompass a wide range of health, vision and dental insurance options for employees and their dependents, spouses and qualified domestic partners, as well as programs to help you save money on such items as prescriptions and copayment.
Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA’s) that enable you to set aside money from your paycheck to reimburse yourself for certain expenses. Harvard offers both a medical/dental FSA and a dependent care FSA. The dollars you choose to set aside in FSA’s are taken out of your pay before taxes, so choosing this benefit may help reduce your income tax.
Wellness Benefits that include a collection of wellness resources; access to University’s Center for Wellness and athletics facilities for health education, exercise facilities and wellness classes; emotional health support; and financial assistance for health club memberships. Examples of these benefits include:
- Harvard Medical School and Harvard School of Dental Medicine have a partnership with BodyScapes in the New Research Building, 77 Avenue Louis Pasteur. HMS/HSDM paid faculty, staff and postdocs receive a discounted rate. Your membership allows you to workout in any location including Brookline!
- Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health’s fitness benefit provides financial assistance to faculty, staff and postdoctoral fellows who wish to enhance their well being through a membership to a health club of their choice. The benefit can be used to pay for individual or family memberships to health clubs. For additional information regarding the benefit, please visit the Frequently Asked Fitness Benefit Questions page.
- Fitness Reimbursement: Harvard’s two medical plans, HUGHP and BCBSMA, both provide a fitness reimbursement for members of up $150 per year for membership at gyms/fitness facilities or eligible weight-loss program. For 2021, this benefit will continue to cover cardiovascular-related online fitness class subscriptions; fitness equipment is not covered.
- Discounts & Savings: The entire Harvard community may enjoy services at the Center for Wellness. If you are a member of the Harvard University Group Health Plan (HUGHP), you can receive reduced rates at the Center for Wellness. The Center draws upon the wealth of expertise and resources in the Harvard community to offer a wide array of innovative programs and workshops designed to assist you in improving your own wellbeing.
- Use of Harvard’s Athletic Facility: Harvard’s athletics facilities and resources are available to staff, faculty, students, alumni and eligible family members
- Harvard Passport Membership with Boston Sports Club: Boston Sports Clubs (BSC) offers a discounted passport membership for Harvard employees and students to access all of their locations in Boston, New York, Philadelphia, and Washington DC. Please note: the Harvard Passport membership excludes our Elite location Waltham, Wellesley, and the Boston racquet club. BSC has a location at Fenway (1st floor of Landmark Center). If you decide to ONLY attend their Fenway location, there may be a cheaper rate than the Harvard passport membership – i.e. a couple of times a month they may offer a special rate. For more information, please contact tionne.talbot@tsiclubs.com.
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Time Off
Harvard’s generous paid time off benefits – including vacation, sick, and personal time, holidays and leave for new parents— is combined with a number of unpaid leave opportunities support a healthy balance of work and personal responsibilities.
Leaves of Absence: Harvard has a number of unpaid leave options for medical, personal or family reasons. If you are interested in taking leave, you should speak with your manager and HR officer well in advance of your desired leave date.
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Retirement Benefits
Retirement Benefits that include a University-funded retirement program, voluntary employee-funded tax-deferred accounts, a deferred compensation program for high earners, and for eligible retirees, continuing medical and dental coverage.
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Disability and Life Insurance
Disability and Life Insurance to help you take care of yourself and provide for your family in the case of loss of income. Some coverage is provided automatically and at no cost to you while others are optional and costs are based on the coverage you choose.
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Employee Assistance, Services and Discounts
Employee Assistance Program (EAP) Harvard’s Employee Assistance Program (EAP) offers immediate, free, confidential help for all Harvard employees and their household members. You can reach the EAP at 877-EAP-HARV (877-327-4278) any day, at any time for personal or work-related concerns about yourself, family, friends or coworkers.
Outings & Innings is a one stop convenient source of discounts on movies, museums, theaters, musical and dance venues, professional sports and amusement parks, and many other products and services.
Tuition & Education Assistance is aimed at fostering an environment of learning and development, by providing both academic and financial resources to make it easier for you to follow your dreams.
Transportation & Commuting Harvard offers subsidies on monthly bus, subway, commuter rail and commuter boat passes for benefits eligible employees, as well as a range of commute planning and transportation options and incentives to those who use modes of transportation other than driving alone in a car.
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