Employee Benefits
For a more comprehensive guide to employment benefits , please read the Hardee BOCC Benefits Guide for 2022-2023
Employment Highlights
- Probationary Period – All new employees serve a 90 day probationary period from date of hire. Fire Rescue personnel serve a 1 year probationary period from date of hire.
- Working Hours – Most full time employees work 40 hours per week, unless otherwise indicated. Schedules vary by location.
- Pay Checks – Employees are paid on a bi-weekly basis for a total of 26 pay periods annually.
- Insurance Coverage – United HealthCare for medical, dental, and vision coverage.
- Medical Coverage – Fully paid for individual employee. Dependent coverage available at a reduced cost to the employees.
- Dental & Vision – Paid fully by the employer *** Effective date – first day of following month after 30 days of employment (example: November 1st hire date, December 1st benefits begin )
- Life Insurance – $10,000 life insurance and $10,000 accidental death/dismemberment policy paid by Board of County Commissioners, additional life policies (including dependent life options ) , are available at an additional cost to employees.
- Retirement – Florida State Retirement (FRS).
- Holidays – The County observes (11) eleven holidays per year as declared by the Board of County Commissioners.
- Personal Day – All full time employees earn one (1 ) personal day per calendar year. This personal day, cannot be used until after successful completion of the probationary period. This personal day does not carry over from one year to the next.
- Vacation Time – All full time employees are afforded vacation leave on a monthly basis. This leave program is documented in the Rules & Regulations.
- Sick Leave – Full time employees earn (8) eight hours sick leave per month, part time employees earn (4) four hours per month. Fire Rescue employees earn eleven and two-tenths (11.2 ) hours per month which accumulate and roll over into the next year if not utilized. A Medical Leave Bank and Compassionate Leave program is also available.