Employee Benefits

Manatee County Government offers a comprehensive benefits package designed to support employee health, financial security, work-life balance, and professional growth.

Employee Health Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance. Provides access to affordable coverage through the Manatee YourChoice Health Plan, including plan options that support preventive care, prescription coverage, and family coverage needs.

  • Medical plan options that include $0 deductible choices (including child preventive dental)

  • Prescription drug coverage

  • Employer premium contributions up to 91% for employee-only medical coverage and up to 84% for family medical coverage

  • Dental and vision plan options available

• Term-life insurance and accidental death and dismemberment coverage. Provides employer-paid baseline financial protection with optional additional coverage elections for employees and eligible family members.

  • Core term-life benefit equal to 1x annual base salary

  • Accidental Death and Dismemberment included with core coverage

  • Core plan premiums paid 100% by Manatee County Government

  • Optional supplemental life insurance for employees, spouses, and children (subject to plan rules)

• Long-term and short-term disability insurance. Provides income protection options that help maintain financial stability during qualifying medical events or periods of disability.

  • Long-term disability: 50% of base monthly salary, up to $3,000 per month

  • Optional long-term disability increase: 66.67% of base monthly salary, up to $5,000 per month

  • Short-term disability option: 60% of weekly salary, up to $1,000 per week (employee-elected)

• Wellbeing and behavioral health benefits. Supports whole-person wellbeing and behavioral health through counseling resources, wellness education, and fitness-related offerings that promote sustainable healthy habits.

  • Employee Assistance Program (LAMP) with counseling and support for employees and eligible family members

  • Five no-cost LAMP visits per year for each employee and covered family member

  • Wellness resources may include health coaching, stress management, and nutrition education

  • Fitness and wellbeing support may include onsite fitness resources, personal training, and group classes

Retirement Benefits

• Supports long-term financial security through the Florida Retirement System and optional supplemental retirement savings opportunities.

  • Florida Retirement System (FRS) participation

  • Employee contribution of 3% of earnings on a pre-tax basis

  • Choice of Pension Plan or Investment Plan options

  • Optional 457 Deferred Compensation Plan with Voya Financial via payroll deduction

Paid Time Off Benefits

• Provides paid time away from work to support rest, recovery, family needs, military obligations, and major life events, with accruals that recognize tenure and operational requirements.

  • Vacation accrual for full-time employees based on years of service: 0–5 years: 130 hours/year; 6–10 years: 156 hours/year; 11+ years: 182 hours/year

  • Year-end vacation balance management: vacation hours above 400 at year-end roll into sick leave

  • Vacation accrual is prorated for part-time employees and applicable shift schedules

  • Sick leave accrual up to 80 hours/year for regular employees and up to 112 hours/year for eligible EMS 24/48 employees

  • Sick leave may be used for illness, injury, and wellness checkups (annual physicals, dental checkups, and similar preventive visits)

  • Sick leave payout provisions for eligible employees who separate with five or more years of continuous service, including a lifetime maximum of 500 hours and payout percentages that increase with years of service

  • Sick Leave Bank participation for eligible employees

  • Paid holidays: 12 paid holidays annually, pending Board of County Commissioners approval

  • Personal holidays: three days per year

  • Bereavement leave: up to three scheduled workdays for qualifying deaths in the employee’s immediate family

  • Military leave: available for eligible reserve or National Guard duty, up to 240 hours

Professional Development Benefits

• Supports skill development and career growth through education assistance aligned to the employee’s current position and organizational needs.

  • Tuition reimbursement for GED, bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degree plans aligned to the employee’s current position

  • Reimbursement rates up to $200 per undergraduate credit hour and up to $400 per graduate credit hour

  • Reimbursement requires required documentation and a grade of C or better

Government Employee Discounts

• Employees have access to an internal savings site that consolidates employee discounts and special offers across major spending categories, helping reduce everyday costs through verified government-employee access.
• Discounts and savings available:

  • Clothing and accessories

  • Electronics and technology

  • Mobile and internet services

  • Home goods and appliances

  • Automotive products and services

  • Health, fitness, and wellbeing services

  • Travel savings (hotels, rental cars, cruises, vacation packages)

  • Entertainment (attractions, events, movies, tickets)

  • Dining and local merchant offers (when available)

  • Subscriptions and memberships

  • Limited-time promotions and seasonal deals