Southern Research strives to ensure the comfort and security of our employees and their families through a variety of comprehensive, yet affordable, benefit programs. Our benefit programs offer a combination of health, life and wealth building options for our eligible employees and their families. Click on the links below to learn more.
Health
Life
Wellness Programs
Financial Programs
Tuition Assistance
Optional Benefit Programs
Medical Insurance — Southern Research offers eligible employees a comprehensive medical plan with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama, providing hospital, outpatient, and related expenses, with low out-of-pocket costs to you. Benefits for mental and nervous/substance abuse services are available through Behavioral Health Systems. Employees share the cost of the plan with Southern Research, and those who certify as nonusers of tobacco products pay lower medical insurance premiums than those who use tobacco.
Dental Insurance — Basic and preventive dental care is covered at 100% with no deductible; other coverages are provided once a small annual deductible is reached. Employees share the cost of the plan with Southern Research.
Rebate Program — Southern Research supports the wellness of eligible employees and their spouses through a variety of ways. Both qualify for rebates up to a specified amount each year toward the cost of membership in an exercise facility or weight management program, as well as for the purchase of tobacco use cessation aids.
Wellness Award - To encourage annual physicals, eligible employees and their spouses may receive a Wellness Award.
Wellness Education - Employees are invited to participate in lunch-and-learns on selected health topics and also have access to online resources that cover various health-related topics.
401(k) Plan — Southern Research sponsors a tax-deferred 401(k) program and automatically contributes to an account for eligible employees an amount equal to 4% of an employee’s base pay, which is fully vested after completion of three years of service. In addition, voluntary employee contributions of up to 4% are matched dollar-for-dollar by Southern Research, and are also vested in full after three years of service.
Flexible Spending Accounts — Employees may participate in either a health care or dependent care flexible spending account, allowing savings on income taxes for eligible expenses. Those who enroll in the health care spending account are provided with a prepaid FlexCard which can be used for paying out-of-pocket health-related expenses, such as physician visit co-pays, deductibles, purchase of prescription and over-the-counter medications.
Life Insurance — An employer-paid term life insurance coverage equal to 2 times annual salary is provided automatically to eligible employees. Optional employee-paid voluntary term life coverage is available as is the option to purchase coverage for the spouse and eligible children.
Accidental Death and Dismemberment Insurance -- AD&D benefits are provided at the employer’s expense; coverage is equal to the Life Insurance benefit described above. Optional employee-paid AD&D insurance is also available, with the option for family coverage as well.
Long-term Disability — This optional coverage provides, after 90 days of absence, income of 60% of salary (to a maximum of $8,000/month) in the event of a disability resulting from illness or injury. Eligible employees share the cost of this coverage with Southern Research.
Travel Accident Insurance — This employer-paid insurance coverage, which provides up to $500,000 of life insurance coverage while traveling on company business, is provided to all employees upon their first day of employment.
Employee Educational Assistance — Upon completion of one year of service, eligible employees may take advantage of this program, which reimburses employees up to $5,000 annually toward the cost of college tuition and fees associated with approved course work.
Educational Assistance for Employee Children - Eligible employee’s children may also participate and use up to $1,500 of the $5,000 available annually to employees.
Holidays — Employees have nine paid holidays each year. The holidays are New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King’s Birthday, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, the Friday after Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, and Christmas Day.
Vacation — Employees earn from two to five weeks of vacation annually, depending upon the length of service and position level.
Sick Leave — Employees earn 10 days per year. Sick leave may be taken for the employee’s own personal illness or injury, or when the employee is needed to care for an ill family member. With medical documentation, employees' absences for their own illness/injury in excess of 24 consecutive hours may be covered at 100% of regular salary under the extended sick leave program (Salary Continuation Plan).
Bereavement Leave — Employees may take up to 24 hours of paid leave in the event of the death of an immediate family member.
Southern Research offers optional benefit programs for group auto/homeowner's/rental insurance, long-term care insurance, and a group pre-paid legal plan.