In addition to competitive salaries, the Commonwealth of Virginia offers a comprehensive total compensation package. The following benefits are available to classified employees in the Executive Branch. Click the link for a complete description of each benefit.

Benefit Descriptions

12 Paid Holidays

New Year’s Day • Martin Luther King, Jr. Day • Presidents Day • Memorial Day • Juneteenth • Independence Day • Labor Day • Columbus Day • Election Day • Veterans Day • Thanksgiving (2 days) • Christmas Day

Deferred Compensation

The Commonwealth’s Deferred Compensation Plan (DCP) is a voluntary tax-deferred retirement savings program that is available to individuals who are employed by the Commonwealth of Virginia in either a salaried or wage position. Additional information

Disability – Long Term & Short Term

The Virginia Sickness and Disability Plan (VSDP) provides state employees with income security when they cannot work because of a partial or total disability. The program includes sick, family and personal leave; short-term disability benefits; long-term disability benefits and a long-term care program. VSDP benefits cover non-work-related and work-related conditions.

The VSDP focuses on helping employees make a safe return to full duties following a disability. Return-to-work plans, such as job modifications or vocational/medical rehabilitation, may be developed in consultation with the employer and treating healthcare or medical professional to assist in an employee’s recovery and return to a regular schedule. Additional information

Educational Assistance

Virginia State Government provides provisions for educational assistance. Such assistance varies and is dependent upon the policies and procedures of individual state agencies. Additional information

Employee Assistance Program

The employee assistance program provided to health plan members offers up to four visits at no cost to you or members of your household for counseling in such areas as mental health, substance abuse, work and family issues, and financial or legal matters. Additional information

Flexible Benefits Program

Enrolling in a medical and/or dependent care flexible reimbursement account (FRA) allows employees who are health plan members to set aside part of their salary on a pre-tax basis each pay period to pay for certain out-of-pocket expenses. You can use a medical FRA to pay for medical, dental and vision care expenses not covered by your health plan. A dependent care FRA can be used to reimburse eligible child care or dependent self-care expenses so that you and your spouse can work or actively look for work. Additional information

Group Life Insurance

Upon employment full-time classified employees automatically are enrolled in a group life insurance policy at no cost the employee. This plan provides natural death, accidental death and dismemberment coverage. Coverage is the equivalent of two times the employee’s annual salary for natural death and four times the employee’s annual salary for accidental death. Additional information

Health Insurance

The Commonwealth of Virginia health benefits program offers the COVA Care and COVA HDHP (High Deductible Health Plan) statewide to full-time and part-time classified employees, early retirees and certain family members. The Kaiser Permanente regional health maintenance organization is available to members in Northern Virginia only. Additional information

Incentive Programs

In September 2000, the Commonwealth adopted a new compensation program that gives agencies several tools for rewarding employees’ development and accomplishments. The program includes annual performance increases, in-range salary adjustments of up to 10% per year, and recognition awards of up to $1000 per year. There is also a service award program, an employee suggestion program, and additional incentives for employees in hard-to-fill positions. Incentive programs are subject to the availability of funds.

Optional Life Insurance

State employees are eligible to apply for optional life insurance coverage to enroll themselves, spouse, and/or eligible children. The employee pays the premiums. Additional information

Retirement Plan

Unreduced Retirement

You are eligible for an unreduced retirement benefit when you reach your normal Social Security retirement age and have at least five years of service credit or when your age and service credit equal at least 90. Example: Age 60 with 30 years of service credit.

Reduced Retirement

You may retire with a reduced benefit as early as age 60 with at least five years of service credit. To determine your reduced benefit, VRS applies an early retirement reduction factor to the benefit you would receive if you retired with an unreduced benefit. Additional information

Telecommuting (Telework)

As part of the Commonwealth’s efforts to balance work-life issues, employees may be designated as eligible to telecommute some or all of a work week from home or an alternate work location. Additional information

Wellness Program

Changes in your lifestyle can have a big impact on your health. The CommonHealth employee wellness program strives to make a difference in the health of employees and the workplace by integrating health into the work culture. More than 40 different health promotion services are offered to state agencies, including on-site health screenings, fitness and stress management, personal health and safety, and weight control and nutrition. In addition, CommonHealth offers the special Future Moms prenatal program designed to help women have healthy pregnancies.