Other Benefits

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Workers’ Compensation

Workers’ compensation benefits are provided to you by law. Under workers’ compensation, you may be eligible for wage replacement and medical care. You must immediately report on-the-job injuries to your supervisor. An injury form (First Report of Injury) must be completed. Your agency may have other forms to complete to assist in accident investigation and injury prevention.

Workers’ compensation is designed to compensate you for work-related injuries and illnesses only. You should submit reimbursement for personal medical conditions to your group insurance carrier. Keep your supervisor informed of your progress if you are off work. Work with your agency to make arrangements for returning to your job as soon as possible.

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Iowa Public Employees’ Retirement System (IPERS)

Public employment provides most employees with regular membership coverage under the Iowa Public Employees’ Retirement System (IPERS). Your employer is required to deduct a specified amount from your gross pay. Your deduction is contributed on a pretax basis for federal and state income tax purposes. (Pretax contributions lower your taxable income.) In addition, your employer contributes a specified amount to IPERS on your behalf.

Even if you do not retire under IPERS, the contributions you make will always be your money. If you leave public employment before retirement age, you may withdraw your contributions and any accumulated interest, or you may leave them in your account and retire when you reach 55. If you are a vested member who receives refunds, you will also receive a portion of your employer’s contributions and accumulated interest. You may put the money into another retirement plan or into your own savings.

For more information, contact IPERS at 515-281-0020 or 1-800-622-3849 (Monday –

Friday, 7:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.), visit www.ipers.org, or e-mail info@ipers.org.

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Peace Officers’ Retirement System (PORS)

If you are a peace officer in the Iowa Department of Public Safety, you are provided coverage under the Peace Officers' Retirement System (PORS). Upon retirement, you are eligible for PORS, which has specific provisions regarding your sick leave balance. Contact your agency’s human resources associate for

more information.

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Employee Assistance Program

The Employee Assistance Program (EAP) provides professional consultation and referral services, short- term counseling, and life coaching to assist you with a broad range of personal problems, including substance abuse, family or marital problems, financial concerns, career issues, and emotional problems.

The services provided by the EAP are confidential and offered at no initial cost to you. The EAP is intended to promote a healthy and productive workforce.

A brochure describing EAP services is available from your agency’s human resources associate. For more information, please go to Employee Assistance Program.

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Benefits and Employee Well-Being Services

If you have questions about your State of Iowa benefits, DAS-HRE provides a user-friendly website at Employee Benefits Overview. Here you will find information about your benefits, a Benefits-at-a-Glance resource, program and provider summaries and comparisons, and more.

As a State of Iowa employee, you also have access to a variety of health and well-being services, found at Health and Well-Being. These services include:

  • Discounts to a variety of fitness centers throughout the state.
  • Different health events, such as flu vaccines, throughout the year.
  • Opportunities through the Healthy State of Iowa Employees initiative.
  • Livongo®, a CDC-recognized Diabetes Prevention Program.
  • Doctor on Demand® Behavioral Health Coaching.
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Training and Development

Performance & Development Solutions (PDS), through DAS-HRE, provides training opportunities to help you improve skills, knowledge, and abilities to improve performance and prepare for career advancement. From technical skills, such as computer classes and accounting, to supervision and management, to customer service and communication, PDS offers face-to-face workshops, online training, and special sessions. Course schedules and program descriptions can be accessed online at https://das.iowa.gov/human-resources/training-and- development. To register, contact your supervisor or training liaison.

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