What is happening to employee benefits?
Because no one s employer is going to change until January 1, 2003, there will be no change in benefits until that date, with one key exception: as of July 1, 2002, PHEC will begin to increase its matching contribution for those employees who decide to put money into their retirement accounts. The new schedule is still being worked on, but should be announced by the end of the month; and information sessions will be scheduled. Health benefits will change a bit, though each program will stay mostly the same. A third plan will be started for all employees hired on and after January 1, 2003 and this will be the plan into which both existing plans are phased over the next two years. Any current employee will be able to opt into this third plan. There will be materials and information sessions regarding the new health benefit plans during the enrollment periods in November.
