When you join our team, we have your back.
The Department of Corrections looks out for team members and their families, investing not just in salaries but also in health and wellness, education, retirement, and opportunities for personal and professional growth.
Watch this video for a breakdown of the value of your job in corrections:Total Compensation Package
State of Missouri employees are eligible for multiple benefits, including:
- Paid Pre-Service and In-Service Training
- Missouri State Employees' Retirement System (MOSERS)
- Major Health Insurance (provided for employees and available for families)
- Paid Life Insurance (amount equivalent to annual salary)
- Long-Term Disability Insurance
- Cafeteria Plan (health insurance)
- Deferred Compensation Plan (retirement investment)
- 12 Paid Holidays Per Year
- 10 Hours of Annual Leave Per Month
- 10 Hours of Sick Leave Per Month
- Credit Union
- Direct Deposit of Paycheck (required)
- Employee Health, Wellness and Safety Initiatives
- MOST 529 College Savings Program
- Savings Bonds
- Education Discounts
Learn more about benefits for all State of Missouri employees »
Check out the Missouri Department of Corrections Virtual Benefits Fair »
State-Sponsored Insurance Plans
Missouri State Employees' Retirement System (MOSERS) provides insurance options to its members. They include:
- Major Health Insurance (provided for employees and available for families)
- Paid Life Insurance (amount equivalent to annual salary)
- Long-Term Disability Insurance
- Missouri Voluntary Life Insurance Commission (MOVLIC)
- Optional Life Insurance (portable, with dependent coverage available)
Employee Benefits
The Missouri Consolidated Health Care Plan (MCHCP) manages the Employee Assistance Program, called “SELF”, for Missouri state employees. SELF includes resources that help individuals “Strive for Wellness.”
Medical benefits
- Medical/Anthem
- Prescriptions/ExpressScripts
- Dental/Delta Dental
- Vision/NVA
Support Resources
- Guidance Resources/Guidance Now app
- Sydney Health app
- Lark Diabetes Prevention Program (beginning in 2024) Click learn more
- Active & Fit Direct
- WelthSource
Check out this overview video from MCHCP to learn more: Introduction to MCHCP for State Employees.
SELF
The Strive Employee Life & Family (SELF) program (previously the Employee Assistance Program, or EAP) helps state workers reduce stress, improve health and enhance life balance. State employees eligible for Missouri Consolidated Health Care Plan (MCHCP) medical coverage, as well as members of their households, may use the SELF program 24 hours a day. Members can access tips and resources on diet, exercise, anxiety, grief, managing finances, finding child care and more. Register online through GuidanceResources.
Strive for Wellness
Strive for Wellness®, MCHCP's wellness program, is designed to encourage members to get and stay healthy. The program offers voluntary activities, such as quit tobacco and weight management courses, health educator exhibits, an annual 5K event and more including lower medical premiums for participation in the health incentive programs. More information can be located on the MCHCP.org website.
Enrollment
All employees should receive an enrollment password and login information for the Statewide Employee Benefits Enrollment System (SEBES) by email shortly after the start date if an email address has been provided to the human resource/payroll representative. Enroll within 31 days of your hire date or during open enrollment Oct. 1-31. Need help? Contact MCHCP for help accessing SEBES.
Please direct all questions regarding eligibility and program specifics to your work site personnel clerk or to the department’s Office of Personnel.
Cafeteria Plan
The Cafeteria Plan is a benefit option available to state employees that allows pretax dollars to be used for dependent care; state-sponsored medical, dental, and vision insurance premiums; and other flexible medical benefits as identified by the Cafeteria Plan. As a result, this may lower the employee’s tax obligation.
MO Cafe
Health Care FSA
The Health Care Flexible Spending Account is a tax-free account that allows you to pay for essential health care expenses that are not covered, or are partially covered, by your medical, dental and vision insurance plans. By contributing a portion of your payroll dollars into your Flexible Spending Account on a pre-tax basis, you can save from 25% to 40% on the cost of eligible expenses you are already incurring.
When you enroll in a Flexible Spending Account, you decide how much to contribute to each account for the entire Plan Year. The money is then deducted from your paycheck, pre-tax (before Federal & State income taxes and FICA taxes are deducted) in equal amounts over the course of the plan year. After you incur expenses that qualify for reimbursement, you submit claims (reimbursement requests) to ASIFlex to request tax-free withdrawals from your Flexible Spending Account to reimburse yourself for these expenses.
The key to getting the most out of your Health Care Flexible Spending Account is to maximize your contributions based on the expenses you, or any of your tax dependents, anticipate incurring during the plan year. To plan your annual election amount:
- Review the list of Eligible Expenses.
- Review your medical expenses from last year.
- Write down any additional eligible expenses you anticipate incurring in the coming plan year.
- Be sure to include at least some money to cover your deductible expenditures.
- Estimate your cost for each of these Flexible Spending Account eligible expenses. (Don't forget that your tax dependents' expenses qualify, too, even if they are on a different health insurance program.)
Things to remember about the Health Care Flexible Spending Account:
- Your election amount is typically fixed for the entire plan year (unless you have a qualifying event)
- You must submit valid claims before the end of the claims run out period. Any unclaimed remaining funds will be forfeited to your employer, so estimate your expenses carefully and set money aside accordingly.
- Expenses for any of your tax dependents are eligible for reimbursement, even if they are not on your employer's health insurance program.
Dependent Care
Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts create a tax break for dependent care expenses (typically child care or day care expenses) that enable you to work. Additionally, if you have an older dependent who lives with you at least 8 hours per day and requires someone to come into the house to assist with day-to-day living, you can claim these expenses through your Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account. If you are married, your spouse must be working, looking for work or be a full-time student. If you have a stay-at-home spouse, you should not enroll in the Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account. The IRS allows no more than $5,000 per household ($2,500 if you are married and file a separate tax return) be set-aside in the Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account in a calendar year.
Please note that IRS regulations disallow reimbursement for services that have not yet been provided, so even if you pay in advance for your expenses, you can only claim service periods that have already occurred. For example, if you are required to pay for all of January's child care expenses on January 1st, you cannot claim the entire month's expense until the end of January. However, you may submit a claim every week, at the end of that week, for those expenses.
- Eligible expenses include day care, baby-sitting, and general purpose day camps.
- Ineligible expenses include overnight camps, care provided by a dependent, your spouse or your child under the age of 19 & care provided while you are not at work.
Expenses may only be claimed for dependents that are under the age of 13; or for older dependents that live with you at least 8 hours each day and are incapable of self-care.
Remember that your election is fixed for the entire year unless you have a qualifying event.
Retirement
Employees of the department who meet the eligibility criteria are covered under the Missouri State Employees' Retirement System (MOSERS).
Current publications that cover retirement eligibility, benefits, creditable service, contributions, early retirement, and other retirement issues are available from the work site personnel representative.
Deferred Compensation
Administered by MOSERS, the deferred compensation plan provides a convenient way to save for retirement through payroll deduction. Both pre-tax and aftertax (Roth) contribution options are available. Plan features include a custom yet affordable investment lineup, free seminars and consultation with local representatives, and convenient online account access. For instructions on how to register for a modeferredcomp webinar or a Web 1-on-1 consultation, click: MoDeferredComp How To 1-on-1 Instructions, or call 800-392-0925 for additional information.
Paid Leave
Full-time state of Missouri employees accumulate annual leave starting at 5 hours of annual leave each pay period (or 10 hours per month). Employees earn 6 hours of annual leave each pay period after completing 10 years of state service. Upon completing 15 years of state service, employees earn 7 hours of annual leave each pay period. There are limits to how much annual leave an employee is allowed to maintain on an annual basis. Those limits are 240 hours, 288 hours, and 336 hours, depending on how many years of state service the employee has. When employees separate from service, they are entitled to receive reimbursement for the amount of accrued leave that does not exceed the maximum allowable accumulation.
Full-time employees also earn 5 hours of sick leave each pay period as long as they are in pay status for at least 80 hours of that pay period. Employees can accumulate sick leave without limit. Sick leave can be converted to retirement credit upon retirement. If you have any questions concerning paid leave, please contact your personnel clerk.
Learn more about types of paid and unpaid leave »
Training and Job Development Opportunities
The department encourages employees to participate in professional development throughout their careers and offers multiple opportunities for employees to receive training in a classroom setting, online, and through virtual instructors.
Education
In the Department of Corrections, we want our staff to grow professionally and personally. As a staff member, you have access to multiple education benefits, including higher-education tuition discounts and the Missouri Savings for Tuition Program (MOST).
Learn more about education opportunities »
Credit Union
Services of the Missouri Credit Union are available to all employees of the department. This is a not-for-profit savings and lending institution, offering a variety of savings accounts, checking accounts, loan programs, travelers’ checks, credit cards, automatic teller machines, and investment options, etc. Application for membership should be made directly at the credit union office.
Savings Bond
The State of Missouri offers a savings bond program. Employees may designate a portion of their income for the purchase of a variety of savings bonds and may use automatic payroll deduction for their purchase.
Employee Recognition
The department takes great pride in recognizing outstanding performers. Employees can be recognized at their worksite and at the departmental and state level for performing their duties in an outstanding manner or accomplishing exemplary achievements in the performance of their duties in accordance with D2-7.2 Recognition Committee. The department acknowledges these accomplishments through the Employee of the Month selection process, the Award of Valor, Distinguished Service Award, and Lifesaver Award. Employees are encouraged to nominate co-workers for these awards.
We Save Info
To help State of Missouri employees stretch their household income, the Office of Administration entered into an agreement with the WeSave Employee Discount Program in May 2010. The program is based around the WeSave website where state employees go to find the discounts they want. Employees who elect to participate in this FREE program have opportunities to save money on direct-buy goods and services they purchase.
WeSave provides state employees:
Direct Buy Products
Employees can browse WeSave’s direct buy products for savings up to 40% off retail value.
Local Merchant Coupons
Employees can print coupons to redeem savings at local businesses that include area restaurants, auto service centers and more.
Opportunities for Charitable Giving
Employees save money while GIVING BACK! WeSave donates 2% of every purchase made back to the Missouri State Employees Charitable Campaign.
Workers' Compensation
Workers’ Compensation is a benefit payable to an all employees, full or part-time, by his or her employer without regard to liability in the case of injury, disability, or death as a result of occupational hazards.
A covered injury is an accident arising out of an in the course of employment if the accident was the prevailing factor in causing the medical condition and disability.
Additional information can be found in department policy D2-15.5.
ADA
Title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Amendments Act of 2008 prohibits private employers, state and local governments, employment agencies, and labor unions from discriminating against qualified individuals with disabilities in job application procedures, hiring, firing, advancement, compensation, job training and other terms, conditions, and privileges of employment. The ADA covers employers with 15 or more employees, including state and local governments.
Title I protects “qualified employees with disabilities.” The term “qualified” means that the individual satisfies the skills, experience, education, and other job-related requirements of the position sought or held, and can perform the essential job functions of the position, with or without accommodation. If you believe you are a qualified employee with a disability and want to request a reasonable accommodation, please refer to the department procedure that outlines the process, D1-1.3 Employee ADA Requests.
MOST
Missouri’s 529 education plan is an investment account you can use for education savings. Earnings grow federally tax-deferred, and qualified withdrawals are tax-free. 529 accounts can be used to pay for 2- and 4-year colleges, post-secondary trade and vocational schools, postgraduate programs, and K-12 public, private, and religious institutions (tuition only).