Benefits & Perks

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 such as access to the University’s Center for Wellness and Health Promotion  for health education,wellness classes, emotional health support and more. Other examples of welless 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 plans for membership at gyms/fitness facilities or eligible weight-loss program.
• Use of Harvard’s Athletic Facility: Harvard’s athletics facilities and resources are available to staff, faculty, students, alumni and eligible family members

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  leave options for medical, personal or family reasons.

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.

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.

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.

Work/Life Programs are offered in conjunction with the EAP to provide support in managing your work/life commitments. Examples include childcare support, mindfulness programming and more.

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.