Blue and Co.
Your Benefits
Pleasant working environment... enhanced by great benefits.
Blue & Co. is pleased to offer a competitive, thorough benefits package to its full-time employees.
Insurance Coverage
Health and Accident / Major Medical - Regular, full-time employees of the firm (and part-time employees with one year of service) are eligible to participate in the firm’s group health insurance programs. The firm will share the premium expense with those who participate in the program. This shared portion of the premium qualifies for inclusion in the flexible benefits plan premium expense withholding, which will decrease the true out-of-pocket cost for participants.
Employees have 2 Plans to choose from: Blue Cross/Blue Shield - PPO traditional plan and a High Deductible Health Plan paired with a Health Savings Account.
Vision Plan
The firm provides vision coverage to all regular, full-time employees at no expense to the employee. Employees wishing to extend coverage to eligible dependents may elect to do so at a nominal cost.
Voluntary Dental Plan
Dental insurance is an important benefit for employees and their families, and Blue & Co., LLC is happy to be able to provide our staff with this benefit. The Plan affords the employee and their dependents numerous services and offers flexibility in choosing the service provider at a reasonable premium.
Life Insurance and Long-Term Disability Benefits
The firm bears the total cost of this insurance coverage along with the total cost of our company-provided Long-Term Disability Plan.
Accidental Death and Dismemberment
Additional amount equal to life insurance coverage in the event of accidental death. Varying amounts for accidental loss of sight, hands or feet.
Employee Assistance Program
Recognizing the importance of having an accessible network of providers and a confidential avenue for seeking help for personal problems or difficult situations, the firm has engaged the services of Magellan Behavioral Health. Employees and their eligible dependents may call a toll-free number 24 hours per day, seven days per week, to receive a confidential referral for services ranging from stress management to child rearing to chemical dependency intervention.
Flexible Benefits Plan
Employees who meet the requirements may elect to participate in the Firm’s Flexible Benefits Plan. This plan consists of four different accounts.
- Premium Expense Account: For those enrolled for insurance coverage on the Firm’s group medical or vision plans, this allows for payment of the employee’s portion of the premiums with pre-tax dollars.
- Healthcare Reimbursement Account: This account allows pre-tax dollars to be set aside for reimbursement of certain medical expenses not reimbursed by the firm’s group health carrier.
- Dependent Care Assistance: This account allows pre-tax dollars to be set aside for reimbursement of qualifying dependent care expenses.
- Qualified Parking Program: This account allows pre-tax dollars to be set aside for reimbursement of qualifying parking expenses.
401 (k) Plan
The Firm strongly encourages our employees to plan for their retirement. To assist in this endeavor, we offer our employees a 401(k) Plan. This plan is available to all employees regardless of age, years of service or number of hours worked.
Meridian Investment Advisors
Frequently, employees are looking for investment vehicles to supplement the 401 (k). Employees of the firm may utilize the services of Meridian Investment Advisors.
Vacation
Vacations are based on the length of service the employee has accumulated with the firm and on their employment status. The firm expects every member of the organization to take advantage of his or her vacation each year. Additionally, the firm believes that a vacation should be an opportunity to get away completely from the work situation. An employee should return ready to take up assignments with renewed interest and enthusiasm.
Holidays
The Firm pays full-time employees for approximately seven (7) holidays each year. A schedule of holidays is presented late in the year for the following year so employees can plan accordingly.
Comp-Time
The firm provides up to eighty (80) hours of comp-time each year for full-time staff below the level of manager who are not otherwise compensated for overtime. Comp-time is designed to compensate such staff with up to eighty (80) hours of additional time off in recognition of meeting chargeable hours budgets during each calendar year.
Continuing Professional Education
The firm strongly supports compliance with established CPE requirements and helps each staff member in selection and scheduling of courses. Full-time, client service, professional staff attend seminars sponsored by the American Institute of CPA’s, the Indiana CPA Society, and other organizations. The firm will help select classes to be attended, pay the fees and provide the time to attend selected courses. The firm also provides an interactive computerized CPE training program to employees preparing for the CPA exam. Employees who newly enroll in courses designed to prepare them for professional certification exams will:
- Receive 50% of the cost of the preparatory class upon successful completion of the course. Documentation of successful completion and paid receipts are required consistent with our general practice for educational reimbursement.
- Receive the balance of the cost of the preparatory class upon passing the related exam. Once again, documentation will be required.
Education
The firm prides itself on being able to recruit highly qualified and intelligent individuals. We have historically considered ourselves leaders in encouraging significantly more continuing education than has been required by regulatory authorities. The future of our firm depends on the ability of our professionals to impact the profitability of our clients’ businesses. We all need to invest more in education if we are to digest and resell knowledge, particularly with the proliferation of information available. The firm is willing to share the cost if you are willing to invest the time.
Therefore, the firm will reimburse one-half of the cost of tuition at the conclusion of any semester in which you earn a grade of at least a B. In addition, we will reimburse current employees for the remaining one-half of the tuition on the five year anniversary date of the conclusion of the class. All classes are to be approved by the Director-in-Charge of your office for reimbursement. As you know, specialization is the future of our firm; therefore, you may want to consider taking a class that would enhance your knowledge of the specialty group in which you are a part. In addition, if you have always wanted to earn an MBA or take a class in foreign language, personal financial planning, music, etc., this is your opportunity. Classes that merely broaden your perspective, but don’t directly impact your current responsibilities are within the scope of the plan.
Personnel Savings Plan
All personnel may deposit funds in the firm’s personnel savings plan. A $500 initial deposit is required to enter, and a $500 minimum balance must be maintained. The interest rate paid under the plan is at least as great as the rate being paid for six month "money market" certificates of deposit and is adjusted quarterly.
Interest-Free Loans for Computers
In order to encourage increased proficiency on microcomputers, the firm will loan up to $1,800 interest-free to an individual for the purchase of a personal microcomputer. Since all Firm hardware is IBM compatible, the computer to be purchased must be IBM compatible. Our computer personnel will be happy to offer advice and assistance in the selection and set-up of such purchased computers.
Professional Dues
Staff members will be reimbursed the annual dues of the AICPA, ICPAS, N.A.A., the registration fee of the Indiana State Board of Public Accountancy, as well as for annual dues for other applicable professional societies.