Perks & Benefits

Regular full-time employees, or part-time employees in a position budgeted at 20 hours per week or more, are eligible for paid time off.*

• Non-Union Vacation Allowance
  • New hires will be eligible for 3 weeks of annual vacation after one year of service.
  • New hires will receive 1.5 weeks of vacation after six months of service and 1.25 days for each month of service thereafter until the subsequent January 1, when they will be credited with three weeks of vacation time.
    
    
• Non-Union Personal Days Allowance
  • Regular full-time employees, or part-time employees in a position budgeted at 20 hours per week or more, will receive after 6 months of service, 3 personal days during each calendar year.
    
    
• Non-Union Sick Days Allowance
  • Regular full-time or part-time employees in a position budgeted at 20 hours per week or more after 3 months will receive 3.75 days. After that, 1.25 days per month until the first of the year for 15 days.

• Union Vacation, Sick, and Personal Day Allowance
  • For information regarding paid time off for union positions, please review the Union Contracts associated with the position you are applying for.

* The City provides non-union, non-benefitted intermittent and temporary employees, 1 hour of sick leave for every 30 hours worked. Employees may not use earned sick time until they have completed 3 months of service. Exceptions to this policy include youth employed in a city, state or federally funded program during the summer or as part of a school to work seasonal/part time program; work-study programs; trainees who are given a stipend or wage as part of a job training program; individual employees whose employment is intended to provide a benefit or subsidy; and retirees of the City who work under GL Chap 32, Sec. 91. For more information, please view the Employee Manual.

Regular full-time employees and part-time employees in positions budgeted for at least 20 hours per week are eligible for paid Holiday leave without a waiting period after they begin employment with the City. Seasonal, temporary, and emergency employees are not eligible for paid holiday leave. For information regarding paid holidays for union positions, please review the Union Contracts associated with the position you are applying for.

2024 Holidays for Non-Union Employees

• New Year's Holiday (January 1)
• Martin Luther King Jr.'s Birthday (January 15)
• Presidents' Day (February 19)
• Patriots' Day (April 15)
• Memorial Day (May 27)
• Juneteenth (June 19)
• Independence Day (July 4)
• Labor Day (September 2)
• Indigenous Peoples Day (October 14)
• Veterans' Day (November 11)
• Thanksgiving Day (November 28)
• Day After Thanksgiving (November 29)
• Day Before Christmas (December 24)
• Christmas Holiday (December 25)

Generally, employees working a regular schedule of 20 or more hours per week are eligible for dental and vision coverage.  If you have any questions whether a position you are applying to is eligible for benefits, please contact the Human Resources Department.

Dental and vision insurance is provided through the Cambridge Public Employees Dental and Vision Fund.

• Dental Benefits Summary
• Vision Benefits Summary

Employees covered by Teamsters Local 25 collective bargaining agreements (with the exception of Public Works Supervisors) receive comprehensive dental and vision coverage through TeamstersCare. Information on plan coverage is available on the TeamstersCare website or by calling 617-241-9220.

If you have additional questions, please contact Cambridge Public Employee Dental and Vision Fund at 617-354-1110 or e-mail info@cdvfund.org.

Recognizing its workforce's diverse financial security needs, the City of Cambridge has taken proactive steps to offer comprehensive support to its employees. Understanding that each individual's circumstances differ, the City has established a valuable partnership with Boston Mutual Life Insurance Company.

Cambridge City employees can now access a Group Term Voluntary Life and Accidental Death & Dismemberment program through this collaboration. This initiative ensures that employees can tailor their coverage to their needs, providing them with a sense of security and peace of mind.

By offering this enhanced protection, the City of Cambridge demonstrates its commitment to prioritizing its valuable workforce's well-being and financial security.

View Voluntary Life and Accidental Death & Dismemberment Summary Sheet

Embracing the importance of work-life balance, the City offers eligible employees 16 weeks of paid parental leave. Union employees should refer to their respective Collective Bargaining Agreement. 

View Parental Leave Policy

The City provides employees with access to a Deferred Compensation Plan which allows employees to invest a portion of their wages through payroll deduction on a tax deferred basis in a variety of investment vehicles such as stock and bond mutual funds, guaranteed accumulation accounts, and money market funds. The purpose for this plan is to provide supplemental savings for retirement only. The plan should not be used for general savings or as a reserve against unanticipated expenses, as there may be significant restrictions as well as tax and other penalties for premature withdrawal. You can generally enroll or change your level of contribution at any time.

View Deferred Compensation Plan with Empower Retirement

View Deferred Compensation Plan with VOYA Financial

The City offers most regular employees the opportunity to set aside a limited amount of money each calendar year on a pre-tax basis, to pay for medical expenses not covered by health insurance (e.g., co-payments, glasses, hearing aids, etc.), or for qualified expenses in dependent (e.g., child or elder) care. For employees who can anticipate and plan for such expenses annually, this plan allows reimbursement for those expenses from wages, which are not subject to taxation after being set aside through payroll deduction for this purpose.

Employees can contribute up to $3,050 to their Flexible Spending Account. It is important to make a realistic assessment of expenses anticipated for reimbursement each year, because, pursuant to federal tax rules, any funds set aside for which there is no expense to qualify for reimbursement may not be refunded to the employee. Those monies are lost to the employee and revert to the City.

View Flexible Spending Plan with Cafeteria Advisors

The City sponsors a limited tuition assistance program for full-time employees and those working in regular positions budgeted at 20 hours per week or more. Each fiscal year, managerial and non-union employees may receive tuition reimbursement or advance payment up to $4,500 for courses taken at any accredited college or university that are job or degree related, pre-approved for payment, and successfully completed. There is also a $500 book reimbursement available.

This program may be different or not available to some unionized employees. For information regarding tuition reimbursement for union positions, please review the collective bargaining agreements associated with the position you are applying for or contact the Human Resources Department at humanresources@cambridgema.gov.

View Non-Union Tuition Assistance Process

Regular full-time and part-time employees in positions budgeted for at least 20 hours per week are eligible for the following transportation benefits:

• MBTA transit pass partial subsidy (65% up to $265)
• FREE Bluebikes Membership
• Access to the EZRide Shuttle Service for free. The shuttle connects Boston’s North Station and Cambridgeport via Kendall Square, serving North Point, Community College, Lechmere, East Cambridge, and MIT.
• The City has limited carpool spots available for City employees who share a ride into work every day during the work week.

View Transportation Benefits Sheet 

The Deer Oaks Employee Assistance Program (EAP) is a free service the City of Cambridge provides to its employees, their dependents, and household members. This program offers counseling, referral, and consultation services designed to assist employees and their family to resolve work and life issues to live happier, healthier, more balanced lives. From stress, addiction, and change management to locating childcare facilities, legal assistance, and financial challenges, our qualified professionals are here to help.

Deer Oaks offers confidential counseling services outside for you and your immediate family and household members. The City of Cambridge pays for up to 6 sessions authorized by EAP health and provided by EAP counselors.

View Employee Assistance Program Summary Sheet