MAKE IT YOUR MISSION
Human Resources Specialist Find YOUR Total Reward$ of a VA Career Help Improve Care for Veterans
CHOOSE VA for the Mission At VA, you have more than a job—you have a mission to serve Veterans who’ve borne the battle with honor.
At VA, as a human resources specialist you are responsible for a variety of duties that support the VA workforce. You have the opportunity to excel in recruitment and placement, classification, compensation, employee relations/labor relations, human resources information systems, and training and development, etc. You work with a diverse team to ensure VA workforce is appropriately staffed with highly qualified professionals to fulfil our Nation’s promise to care for those who’ve borne the battle.
Coverage Rest easy knowing that VA has you and your family’s insurance needs covered. Insurance coverage may follow you into retirement after 5 years of vested service and maintaining FEHB in the 5 years leading up to retirement (conditions apply).
Career and Growth Opportunities “The work I do in human resources for the VA isn’t just a job, it’s a passion to help serve Veterans like myself. Knowing that I can impact Veterans not only those seeking employment but in turn helping achieve the mission of helping facilities care for our Veterans. When you are a Veteran serving Veterans, it makes the mission very personal.”
Start your career at VA and benefit from opportunities to build your skills and promotion pathways to other careers in 300 different occupations.
Retirement Benefits Earn an amazing retirement package including a traditional (defined benefit) federal pension, a 401(k) Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) with employer matched contributions, and Social Security.
Christi Thoroughman Supervisor HR Specialist, Hire Right Hire Fast, SSU Team VISN 20 NWHRN
Credit for Military Service As a VA employee, you can choose to carry over eligible military service time that can be added to your total years of creditable service for retirement pension calculation purposes (conditions apply).
SAMPLE Total Reward$ of a VA Career as a Human Resources Specialist
SAMPLE
Let’s do the math!
This Total Reward$ sample is a generalized report reflecting the potential monetized value of a full VA compensation package.
Benefits 33%
Compensation + Benefits = Your Total Reward$* Sample Annual Total Reward$ Worksheet Full-time Employee* Direct Compensation Average Salary
$87,000
Compensation 67%
Total Rewards of Benefits Provided by VA
Benefits
Health Insurance Premium Subsidy Social Security Medicare Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
$11,024 $5,394 $1,262 $500
Basic Life Insurance Thrift Savings Plan Federal 401(k) (Employer Contributions) Federal Employee Retirement System (FERS) Student Loan Repayment Program (conditions apply, $40k max/yr.) Child Care Program (maximum benefit/conditions apply)
$230 $4,350 $14,442 $_____ $4,992
Annual Total Reward$
$129,193
*This calculation is a sample only and does not constitute a contract of employment or a guarantee of benefits or future employment. Certain elements vary and are based on specific circumstances. If your service includes part-time calculations, your total rewards and benefits will be proportionally prorated. For more information, please see www.opm.gov.
Compensation
Social Security paid by VA = 6.2% of taxable wages on behalf of the employee. If an individual has taxable wages over the taxable maximum of $147,000, VA will contribute $9,114. Employee Assistance Program (EAP) = free legal and medical services Medicare paid by VA = 1.45% on behalf of the employee. FSAFEDS Flexible Spending Account = you may contribute up to $2,850 a year to your health care FSA with a $570 max carry over and save up to 30% on dependent care expenses. Life Insurance = VA pays 1/3 of insurance cost for basic life insurance.
Take time off. At VA, you start your career with 37 to 50 days of paid time off each year. Paid vacation, unlimited accumulated paid sick leave and 11 paid federal holidays accrue right away.
Value of Paid Time Off Total annual combined value of paid holidays, sick leave and annual leave (37 – 50 days):
$12,339 - $16,675 Total value of parental paid leave (12 weeks, if taken):
$20,010 Paid leave is not an additional payment but is a value of your paid time off included in your annual salary based on an 8-hour day.
Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) Federal 401(k) = VA provides up to 5% employer matched/automated contributions to your savings plan.
Paid Parental Leave. VA provides up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave in connection with the birth, adoption, or foster care placement of a child for employees covered by Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) provisions.
Federal Employee Retirement System (FERS) = for employees hired after 1/1/2014, VA contributes 16.6% annually to FERS-FRAE basic/defined benefit.
Student Loan Repayment Program (SLRP). You may be eligible to apply for SLRP, and once approved you may receive up to $40,000 per year and up to $100,000 total toward student loans in return for a 1-year service agreement.
VHA National Child Care Program = assists VA employees in balancing work and family responsibilities. After 60 days of employment, full time employees with a total family income below $149,000 may be eligible for childcare subsidy program (conditions apply).
Veterans Canteen Service (VCS). VA employees enjoy tax-free shopping at VCS retail stores, cafes and coffee shops. Shopping online? Visit www.ShopVCS.com for exclusive deals on name brands like YETI, Dell, Under Armour and more. Take advantage of VCS’s interest-free employee deduction card PatriotPlus—accepted at VCS business lines.
Transit Benefit Program. You may qualify for transit subsidy monthly benefits of a max of $280/month; check with your local VA Medical Center (conditions apply).