Washington University in St. Louis benefits

Research university with six campuses in and around St. Louis, Missouri.

17 recorded benefits. Record edited: Mon Oct 05 2026 14:33:51 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time).

Recorded work model: Primarily on-campus; remote and hybrid arrangements require compatible duties and written department approval..

Health insurance

Multiple 2026 medical-plan options are administered by UnitedHealthcare; enrolled plans include prescription coverage through Express Scripts

Eligibility & sources

Plan options and availability depend on employee group: faculty, staff, Clinical Fellows, Postdoctoral Appointees and union employees. The POS option is closed to new entrants from January 1, 2025. Enrollment is required within 31 days of hire; coverage is effective from the first day of employment.

Sources & dates

  • Benefits page Health Insurance

    Read 2026-10-05T11:36:21.000Z

    Source context

    Current 2026 university health plan options; eligibility and options depend on employee group.

Dental insurance

Delta Dental: $2,000 calendar-year per-person maximum excluding orthodontia; $1,500 lifetime orthodontia maximum for employees and covered dependents up to age 26.

Eligibility & sources

Plan availability and rates vary by employee group and appointment. Stipend-paid Clinical Fellows and Postdoctoral Scholars pay the full monthly dental premium and receive a stipend health allowance equal to that premium.

Sources & dates

  • Benefits page Dental Insurance

    Read 2026-10-05T11:46:07.000Z

    Source context

    Current dental plan terms and employee-group/appointment-specific options, including the separately named stipend-paid Clinical Fellow and Postdoctoral Scholar terms.

Vision insurance

VSP Basic: $10 in-network exam copay and $50 annual contact-lens allowance. Buy-Up: $25 in-network glasses copay and $200 annual in-network frame allowance, or $200 for contacts instead of glasses.

Eligibility & sources

Euclid Power Plant Bargaining Unit employees are excluded from the Buy-Up option only. Buy-Up's $200 contact-lens allowance replaces glasses, rather than adding to the frame allowance; out-of-network reimbursements differ.

Sources & dates

  • Benefits page Vision Benefits

    Read 2026-10-05T12:01:59.000Z

    Source context

    Current VSP Basic and Buy-Up vision-plan terms; the stated Power Plant bargaining-unit exclusion applies to Buy-Up only.

Medical leave

Up to 26 paid weeks per rolling 12 months; the first 12 are at base salary and the following 14 at 60% of base salary

Eligibility & sources

FullTime, PartTime · Danforth Campus faculty: full-time faculty with a serious health condition preventing essential job functions. WashU Medicine faculty: full- or part-time faculty scheduled at least 20 hours per week with a serious health condition preventing essential job functions. Appointment-term, notice, documentation and concurrent-leave rules apply. Required healthcare documentation and 30 days' notice for foreseeable leave; otherwise notice as soon as possible. Leave cannot extend beyond the appointment unless a consecutive reappointment begins immediately. A healthcare return-to-work certification is required. Available leaves run concurrently when applicable; overlapping paid benefits are offset to no more than 100% of base salary. Danforth faculty are not paid during periods when salary is not normally paid. · Separate current faculty policies at Danforth Campus and WashU Medicine; these medical-leave terms do not extend to all university employees.

Sources & dates

Sick leave

Accrues 0.046154 hours per paid hour, up to 12 days per fiscal year; the 50-day full-time overall cap is prorated for eligible part-time staff

Eligibility & sources

FullTime, PartTime · Regular staff are eligible; regular part-time staff must be scheduled at least 20 hours weekly and accrue prorated sick time and maximum balances based on standard hours. Faculty, Washington University Clinical Associates providers (physicians, doctors of osteopathic medicine, physician assistants and nurse practitioners), temporary or non-employees, students, postdoctoral appointees and Clinical Fellows are excluded unless a collective agreement specifically provides eligibility. May be used for the employee's or a family member's illness, not child-bonding time.

Sources & dates

  • Policy document Sick Time

    Read 2026-10-05T12:51:39.000Z

    Source context

    Current sick-time policy for regular staff, including regular part-time staff scheduled at least 20 hours weekly.

Parental leave

Up to 4 paid weeks at 100% of regular base salary per rolling 12 months, shared with other qualifying caregiver-related leaves

Pay
Paid
Duration
4 weeks
Eligibility & sources

FullTime · Regular full-time staff scheduled at least 37.5 hours weekly after 12 consecutive months of eligible employment; for rehires from January 1, 2025 after a break of one year or less, previous service counts. Bonding must occur within 12 months of birth or placement by adoption, surrogacy or foster care. The four-week pool is shared with caregiver, military caregiver and qualifying exigency leave. Use full-week increments; where leave follows STMD, release from STMD is required first and the subsequent parental leave cannot be interspersed with other paid time off without returning to work. FMLA runs concurrently when applicable. Written notice and documentation are required, with 30 days' notice for foreseeable leave. Pay is available only for normally paid periods and cannot exceed normal scheduled hours. · Faculty, regular part-time staff, non-eligible employees, postdoctoral appointees and Clinical Fellows are excluded unless a collective bargaining agreement specifically provides eligibility. Employees whose primary position is at WashU Medicine are limited to eight total weeks/two leaves over five years, not exceeding four weeks per rolling 12 months.

Sources & dates

  • Policy document Caregiver/Parental Leave

    Read 2026-10-05T12:49:10.000Z

    Source context

    Current regular-full-time staff caregiver/parental policy; at least 37.5 scheduled hours weekly and 12 consecutive months of eligible service; shared four-week paid pool.

  • Policy document WashU Medicine Faculty Medical, Parental & Caregiver Paid Leave

    Read 2026-10-05T12:50:33.000Z

    Source context

    WashU Medicine faculty only, effective July 1, 2025; full- and part-time faculty scheduled at least 20 hours weekly; parental and caregiver leave share a 12-week paid pool.

  • Policy document Danforth Campus Faculty Medical, Parental, and Caregiver Leave

    Read 2026-10-05T13:24:38.000Z

    Source context

    Danforth Campus full-time faculty; policy effective and last updated April 1, 2026; parental up to 15 paid weeks, medical up to 26 weeks and caregiver pay discretionary for FMLA-eligible faculty.

Up to 12 paid weeks per rolling 12 months at base salary, shared with caregiver leave

Pay
Paid
Duration
12 weeks
Eligibility & sources

FullTime, PartTime · WashU Medicine faculty scheduled at least 20 hours weekly. Routine childbirth recovery or bonding within one year after birth or placement by adoption, surrogacy or foster care; the 12-week paid pool is shared with caregiver leave. Absences of at least one week are intended. Required documentation and 30 days' notice for foreseeable leave; otherwise notice as soon as possible. Leave cannot extend beyond the appointment unless a consecutive reappointment begins immediately. FMLA and other available leave run concurrently when applicable; overlapping paid benefits are offset to no more than 100% of base salary. · WashU Medicine faculty only; part-time faculty must be scheduled at least 20 hours weekly.

Sources & dates

  • Policy document Caregiver/Parental Leave

    Read 2026-10-05T12:49:10.000Z

    Source context

    Current regular-full-time staff caregiver/parental policy; at least 37.5 scheduled hours weekly and 12 consecutive months of eligible service; shared four-week paid pool.

  • Policy document WashU Medicine Faculty Medical, Parental & Caregiver Paid Leave

    Read 2026-10-05T12:50:33.000Z

    Source context

    WashU Medicine faculty only, effective July 1, 2025; full- and part-time faculty scheduled at least 20 hours weekly; parental and caregiver leave share a 12-week paid pool.

  • Policy document Danforth Campus Faculty Medical, Parental, and Caregiver Leave

    Read 2026-10-05T13:24:38.000Z

    Source context

    Danforth Campus full-time faculty; policy effective and last updated April 1, 2026; parental up to 15 paid weeks, medical up to 26 weeks and caregiver pay discretionary for FMLA-eligible faculty.

Up to 15 paid weeks per rolling 12 months at the faculty member's base salary rate

Pay
Paid
Duration
15 weeks
Eligibility & sources

FullTime · Full-time Danforth Campus faculty. Bonding within one year after birth or placement by adoption, surrogacy or foster care, or routine childbirth recovery. Consecutive weeks may be split into two blocks; summer break does not count against parental leave. Absences of at least one week are intended. Required documentation and written notice to the Dean and applicable Department Chair, with 30 days' notice for foreseeable leave and otherwise notice as soon as possible. No leave pay for periods when salary is not normally paid. Leave cannot extend beyond the appointment unless a consecutive reappointment begins immediately. FMLA and other available leave run concurrently when applicable; overlapping paid benefits are offset to no more than 100% of base salary. · Danforth Campus faculty policy only.

Sources & dates

  • Policy document Caregiver/Parental Leave

    Read 2026-10-05T12:49:10.000Z

    Source context

    Current regular-full-time staff caregiver/parental policy; at least 37.5 scheduled hours weekly and 12 consecutive months of eligible service; shared four-week paid pool.

  • Policy document WashU Medicine Faculty Medical, Parental & Caregiver Paid Leave

    Read 2026-10-05T12:50:33.000Z

    Source context

    WashU Medicine faculty only, effective July 1, 2025; full- and part-time faculty scheduled at least 20 hours weekly; parental and caregiver leave share a 12-week paid pool.

  • Policy document Danforth Campus Faculty Medical, Parental, and Caregiver Leave

    Read 2026-10-05T13:24:38.000Z

    Source context

    Danforth Campus full-time faculty; policy effective and last updated April 1, 2026; parental up to 15 paid weeks, medical up to 26 weeks and caregiver pay discretionary for FMLA-eligible faculty.

Caregiver leave

Regular full-time staff: up to 4 paid weeks per rolling 12 months; WashU Medicine faculty: up to 12 paid weeks shared with parental leave; Danforth faculty eligible for FMLA: up to 12 weeks, with pay at the Dean's discretion

Eligibility & sources

Staff policy: regular full-time staff scheduled at least 37.5 hours weekly after 12 consecutive months of eligible employment; the 4-week pool is shared with parental, military caregiver and qualifying exigency leave. WashU Medicine policy: full- or part-time faculty scheduled at least 20 hours weekly; the 12-week paid pool is shared with parental leave. Danforth policy: full-time faculty eligible for FMLA may receive up to 12 weeks; whether and to what extent the leave is paid is at the school Dean's discretion. Staff leave requires full-week increments, requested documentation and written notice (30 days for foreseeable leave), is unavailable during normally unpaid salary periods, and runs concurrently with applicable FMLA. Staff primarily at WashU Medicine are capped at eight weeks/two leaves over five years. The staff rehire-service exception applies to rehires from January 1, 2025 after a break of one year or less. Faculty leave requires documentation/foreseeable 30-day notice, does not extend beyond the appointment absent immediate consecutive reappointment, and runs concurrently with other available leave; overlapping paid benefits are offset to no more than 100% of base salary. Danforth faculty receive no pay during periods when salary is not normally paid. · Policy-specific populations and pay differ across regular staff, WashU Medicine faculty and Danforth Campus faculty; the limits are not interchangeable.

Sources & dates

  • Policy document Caregiver/Parental Leave

    Read 2026-10-05T12:49:10.000Z

    Source context

    Current regular-full-time staff caregiver/parental policy; at least 37.5 scheduled hours weekly and 12 consecutive months of eligible service; shared four-week paid pool.

  • Policy document WashU Medicine Faculty Medical, Parental & Caregiver Paid Leave

    Read 2026-10-05T12:50:33.000Z

    Source context

    WashU Medicine faculty only, effective July 1, 2025; full- and part-time faculty scheduled at least 20 hours weekly; parental and caregiver leave share a 12-week paid pool.

  • Policy document Danforth Campus Faculty Medical, Parental, and Caregiver Leave

    Read 2026-10-05T13:24:38.000Z

    Source context

    Danforth Campus full-time faculty; policy effective and last updated April 1, 2026; parental up to 15 paid weeks, medical up to 26 weeks and caregiver pay discretionary for FMLA-eligible faculty.

Adoption assistance

Up to $5,000 for qualified adoption expenses.

Eligibility & sources

FullTime · Full-time faculty or staff who are non-union employees.

Sources & dates

  • Benefits page Adoption Benefit

    Read 2026-10-05T13:00:11.000Z

    Source context

    Current adoption financial-assistance benefit for full-time faculty or staff who are non-union employees; qualified adoption expenses up to $5,000.

Remote work

Remote work may be approved where job duties and operational needs permit.

Eligibility & sources

US · Compatible job duties, suitable remote-work circumstances and written department approval are required; occasional on-campus attendance may be required. Employment outside Missouri or Illinois requires advance Human Resources review. This policy does not cover employment outside the United States.

Sources & dates

  • Company website Remote Work

    Read 2026-10-05T13:09:41.000Z

    Source context

    General remote-work guidance for a university with varied jobs/work settings; identifies remote arrangements as one conditional flexible-work option, not universal remote eligibility.

  • Policy document Flexible Work Arrangement Policy

    Read 2026-10-05T13:09:41.000Z

    Source context

    Current served flexible-arrangement policy (updated July 23, 2020; revised April 30, 2021); remote/hybrid arrangements and flexible/compressed schedules are conditional on suitable roles, operational needs and written arrangement.

Hybrid work

Hybrid arrangements may be approved where duties and operational needs permit.

Eligibility & sources

US · Compatible job duties and written department approval are required. The policy describes remote and hybrid arrangements as exceptions based on role and departmental needs; out-of-Missouri/Illinois employment requires advance Human Resources review, and employment outside the United States is outside this policy.

Sources & dates

  • Policy document Flexible Work Arrangement Policy

    Read 2026-10-05T13:09:41.000Z

    Source context

    Current served flexible-arrangement policy (updated July 23, 2020; revised April 30, 2021); remote/hybrid arrangements and flexible/compressed schedules are conditional on suitable roles, operational needs and written arrangement.

Flexible schedule

Flex time can adjust start, end or meal times, typically around a designated core period.

Eligibility & sources

US · Departmental needs and written approval apply. Non-exempt employees must record actual hours, follow meal/break rules and receive overtime for work over 40 hours in a workweek.

Sources & dates

  • Policy document Flexible Work Arrangement Policy

    Read 2026-10-05T13:09:41.000Z

    Source context

    Current served flexible-arrangement policy (updated July 23, 2020; revised April 30, 2021); remote/hybrid arrangements and flexible/compressed schedules are conditional on suitable roles, operational needs and written arrangement.

Retirement plan

403(b): faculty/staff excluding WashU Community Specialists receive 7% for hires or rehires from September 1, 2006, rising to 10% after 10 contribution years, with at least 5% contributed each pay period.

Eligibility & sources

Plan enrollment is available to university employees regardless of hours, except student workers and nonresident aliens. WashU Community Specialists receive 2% after contributing at least 5% each pay period. Power Plant bargaining-unit terms vary by hire date, service and age. Temporary staff must contribute at least 5%, complete 1,000 service hours in a calendar year and remain employed December 31 for the university contribution. Wage-paid Clinical Fellow Research Associates and Postdoctoral Research Associates receive an automatic 2% of base pay. Employee contributions are always fully vested. Faculty/staff university contributions vest after two years for initial hires before July 1, 2023, or three years from that date; Facilities Maintenance union employees use a November 1, 2024 cutoff. Power Plant union employees and the named wage-paid research associates are automatically vested in university contributions.

Sources & dates

  • Benefits page Retirement Savings

    Read 2026-10-05T13:26:31.000Z

    Source context

    Current university 403(b) plan; participation and university-contribution tiers vary by employee group, service, appointment and bargaining-unit status.

Financial counseling

In-person and virtual one-on-one retirement-savings counseling through TIAA

Eligibility & sources

Sources & dates

  • Benefits page Retirement Savings

    Read 2026-10-05T13:26:31.000Z

    Source context

    Current university 403(b) plan; participation and university-contribution tiers vary by employee group, service, appointment and bargaining-unit status.

Vacation & time off

Full-time staff hired, rehired or transferred to eligible status from July 1, 2019 accrue 20 days annually in service years 0–3 and 22 days from year 4; part-time accrual is prorated, with carryover capped at 1.5 times annual accrual

Eligibility & sources

FullTime, PartTime · Regular full-time staff are scheduled at least 37.5 hours weekly. Eligible regular part-time staff are scheduled 20 to under 37.5 hours and accrue proportionally. Staff hired before July 1, 2019 accrue 22 days annually; vacation scheduling requires supervisor approval. Faculty, Washington University Clinical Associates providers (physicians, doctors of osteopathic medicine, physician assistants and nurse practitioners), temporary or non-employees, postdoctoral appointees, Clinical Fellows and student/graduate-student employees are excluded; collective bargaining employees qualify only where their agreement provides the benefit. Accrual excludes overtime and unpaid time off. Prior service counts for rehires from January 1, 2025 after a break of one year or less; other rehire cases do not receive that recognition.

Sources & dates

  • Policy document Vacation

    Read 2026-10-05T12:52:22.000Z

    Source context

    Current staff vacation policy; regular full-time staff and eligible regular part-time staff scheduled 20 to under 37.5 hours weekly.

Company holidays

10 official paid holidays

Eligibility & sources

FullTime, PartTime · Part-time employees scheduled at least 20 hours weekly receive holiday pay only during their regular scheduled work period. Pay is capped at normal daily hours. Non-exempt employees must work their last scheduled day before and first scheduled day after the holiday unless excused or on approved FMLA leave. Employees on unpaid leave are ineligible except during unpaid FMLA leave.

Sources & dates

  • Policy document Holidays

    Read 2026-10-05T12:53:10.000Z

    Source context

    Current official holiday policy; 10 official paid holidays, with eligibility conditional on work schedule and leave status.

Tuition reimbursement

Tax-free tuition assistance.

Eligibility & sources

FullTime, PartTime · Regular full-time employees other than WashU Community Specialists may receive employee, spouse/domestic-partner, dependent-child and nursing-program assistance after service requirements. Regular part-time employees other than WashU Community Specialists may receive dependent-child assistance only.

Sources & dates

  • Benefits page Tuition Assistance

    Read 2026-10-05T13:04:05.000Z

    Source context

    Current tuition-assistance summary; regular full-time and part-time employee eligibility differs, with applicable service requirements and plan limitations.

Compressed work schedule

A traditional 37.5–40-hour workweek may be compressed into fewer than five workdays.

Eligibility & sources

US · Departmental needs and written approval apply. This option is more readily applied to non-exempt employees; exempt employees may use it under appropriate circumstances. Non-exempt employees must record actual hours, follow meal/break rules and receive overtime for work over 40 hours in a workweek.

Sources & dates

  • Policy document Flexible Work Arrangement Policy

    Read 2026-10-05T13:09:41.000Z

    Source context

    Current served flexible-arrangement policy (updated July 23, 2020; revised April 30, 2021); remote/hybrid arrangements and flexible/compressed schedules are conditional on suitable roles, operational needs and written arrangement.