WellStar Health System

Benefits/Financial: Full- and part-time employees are offered a 403(b) plan with employer match and those working 20 or more hours per week are eligible for a defined-benefit plan. Employees may invest in lifecycle funds that automatically re-allocate assets based on age or proximity to retirement and those age 50 and over can make catch-up contributions to their plan.

Staff members, staff from the financial services firm that administers the retirement plan and external financial planning experts provide financial information and training to employees. The Guidance Resource Program, offered to employees, retirees and their families, provides financial resources including retirement and estate planning.

Paid time off as well as short- and long-term leaves of absence without pay are offered to allow for caregiving.

Full- and part-time employees are offered flu shots, health screenings, health risk appraisals, smoking cessation programs, health club discounts, physical activity and weight loss programs, employee assistance services (EAP) and stress management training.

WellStar offers on-site child care for children of employees and for grandchildren of employees with responsibility for grandchildren, as well as referral services and back-up care for children, grandchildren and elder care to its full- and part-time employees. On-site elder care is also offered to employees working 16 or more hours per week.

Benefits/Alternative Work Arrangements: The following alternative work arrangements are offered to full- and part-time employees: flextime and compressed work schedules. Job sharing and a formal phased retirement program are offered to employees working 16 or more hours per week. Mature employees interested in phasing into retirement are offered flexible scheduling options that  allow the employee to work as few as 16 hours per week while receiving full health, dental and vision benefits as well as accrued leave time. Full-time employees are eligible to move to part-time work on a permanent or temporary basis.  

Opportunities for Retirees: WellStar has 1,522 retirees and an individual directly responsible for retiree relations. The hospital stays connected with its retirees by communicating regularly, inviting retirees to organization events, providing retirees ongoing access to retirement planning workshops and information, and by formally acknowledging retirees when they retire. Retirees are offered work opportunities including temporary work assignments, consulting or contract work, telecommuting, full-time work and part-time work.  

Age of Workforce: Thirty-two percent of WellStar employees are age 50 and over. The average tenure of those employees is 12 years.

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