Benefits
Welcome to the Powerhouse!
The University of Houston offers a variety of benefit programs to benefits-eligible employees as part of its employment and compensation package. As an employee, you have the ability to select benefits that may be individualized to meet your needs and those of your dependents. Please be aware that dependent eligibility is subject to occasional audits by the Employees Retirement System of Texas or their designee.
Automatic state benefits include sick leave, paid holidays and a retirement program. Optional benefits include health and dental insurance, life insurance, disability insurance and supplemental retirement programs.
Benefits
Plans
Official Benefits Plans
Other Perks
Bright Horizon Back Up Care
Bright Horizons Back-Up Child and Elder Care
The University is pleased to announce a new benefit available to UH employees, Bright Horizons Back-up Child Care and Elder Care. Bright Horizons helps employees better manage their work, family and personal responsibilities by offering up to 10 days of emergency care per employee per year at subsidized rates for work-related reasons.
Center-based Back-up Child Care is $15 per child, per day or $25 per family per day. In-home care is $6 per hour for up to three care recipients, with a four hour minimum. Home-based Back-up Elder Care is $6 per hour for up to three care recipients, with a four hour minimum.
Assistance is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. For program details and to pre-register your family for future care needs, visit Bright Horizon’s Care Advantage website.
Back-Up Username: UH
Back-Up Password: care4you or Call: 877-BH-CARES (242-2737)Health Insurance
Benefits Eligibility
Faculty and staff who work 20 hours or more per week for a period of 4.5 months or longer in a fiscal year (September through August) are eligible for some benefits, while other benefits are available to employees with12 month appointments or who work an average of at least 30 hours per week.Benefits Elections
An employee has 30 days from the date of hire/benefits eligibility to elect optional benefits such as dental, vision, or life insurance. An employee has 60 days to select a medical insurance plan and add dependents,
otherwise their medical benefits will default to Health Select insurance for self only. These election windows are regardless of any state or university holidays, or university closures. It is the employee's responsibility to learn about their benefits options and make elections in a timely manner. Unless otherwise instructed, employees should make their benefits elections online at the ERS Website.Retirement Plans
All regular, benefits-eligible employees are required by state law to participate in one of two retirement programs offered by the university: Teacher Retirement System of Texas (TRS) or Optional Retirement Program (ORP).
In addition to these two programs, all benefits-eligible employees may participate in one or both of our voluntary savings options: Tax Deferred Annuity (TDA) Deferred Compensation
Retirement@Work Single Sign-on
Retirement WorkshopsPOWER UP Wellness
The University of Houston wants to be your partner in meeting and exceeding your wellness lifestyle goals. A number of programs and services to support employee health and wellness can be found throughout the campus. These include work/life support resources offered through the POWER UP Employee Wellness Program, the Employee Assistance Program (EAP), and an array of on- and off- campus Employee Perks!