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We are a workforce that is healthy, productive and engaged in advancing our mission. Our benefits program supports this by offering employees tools and resources to improve their physical, emotional and financial well-being while providing protection for unexpected life events. Our programs balance a shared responsibility between Northwestern Medicine and the employee for stewardship of our resources.

Medical insurance and prescriptions

  • NM PPO
  • NM High Deductible Health Plan with Health Savings Account

Workforce Physician Referral Service

  • Dedicated line to connect you and family members to Northwestern Medicine providers in all regions

Vision coverage through Vision Service Plan

Aetna dental plans

  • Lo Plan and Hi Plan

Flexible spending accounts

  • Health care, dependent care and transportation

Well-being Reimbursement Account

  • Paid reimbursement benefit for physical, emotional and financial well-being
  • Eligibility based on employees hired as of January 1
  • Full-time employees: $250 annually
  • Part-time employees: Up to $125 annually; and up to 4 hours prorated PTO

Paid Time Off

  • Full-time employees can cash out up to 40 hours annually; Part-time employees can cash out up to 20 hours annually. Cash outs can be made during open enrollment
  • Casual employees earn one hour of sick leave for each 40 hours worked

Paid maternity and parental leave

  • Six weeks maternity (birth mother) paid at 100 percent of base pay, including first week elimination period using your PTO
  • Four weeks parental bonding paid at 100 percent
  • Non-union, full-time employees are eligible if child is born on or after the 180th day of employment

401(k) plan

  • Matches 100 percent of the first 6 percent of employee pre-tax contribution per pay period (100 percent vested after first year of service)
  • Auto enrollment at 3 percent, with automatic escalation of 1 percent per year up to 6 percent
  • Set aside up to 80 percent of gross earnings
  • Multiple investment options through Fidelity

NM System Incentive Program

  • The staff incentive has a target payout of 2.5 percent with a maximum payout potential of 3.75 percent
  • Incentive compensation for staff is based on system and operating unit performance, and is calculated on the employee’s eligible earnings during the fiscal year
  • Separate incentive plans for managers and directors
  • Employees have to employed on June 1 to be eligible for this payout

Tuition assistance available for full-time and part-time employees

  • Eligible after 12 months of service. Employees pursuing a nursing degree are eligible after three months of service.
  • Full-time maximum benefit reimbursement: up to $10,000 per year
  • Part-time maximum benefit reimbursement: up to $5,700 per year

Student loan repayment services

  • Available for employees after 180 days from date of hire and for those that have graduated in the last 5 years and are currently making an active monthly payment on their education loan
  • Full-time employees are eligible for $100 per month up to a $10,000 lifetime maximum
  • Part-time employees are eligible for $50 per month up to a $5,000 lifetime maximum

Reimbursable professional development

  • Eligible after 90 days of continuous employment
  • Full-time employees: Up to $1,000 per fiscal year reimbursement
  • Part-time employees: Up to $500 per fiscal year reimbursement 

Childcare – three onsite locations (Chicago Northwestern Memorial Hospital campus, Northwest campus and Lake Forest campus)

  • Offered for children ages 6 weeks – kindergarten
  • Need-based financial assistance available

Onsite amenities (vary by location)

  • Variety of eateries
  • Gift shops/bookstores/florist
  • Credit unions
  • Pharmacies
  • Local/national discounts on retail, restaurants, parking, health clubs, etc.

Transportation (at Chicago main campus)

  • Parking – Available on a pre-tax basis through bi-weekly payroll deductions (daily discounted parking and monthly parking also available)
  • Shuttle bus service between Chicago main campus and Chicago train stations

Short-Term Illness and Injury Plan (STIIP) – provided at no cost to non-union, full-time employees

  • Eligible after 180 days of continuous employment
  • Seventy-five percent income protection up to 26 weeks after a one-week elimination period
  • Part-time employees may select a voluntary short-term disability plan during open enrollment

Long-term disability insurance – provided at no cost to full-time employees

  • Basic coverage provides 50 percent of monthly salary (up to $8,000 per month)
  • Additional coverage, up to 60 percent of monthly salary (up to $10,000 per month), may be purchased
  • Part-time employees are not eligible

Term life insurance

  • Full-time employees
    • Basic Life and Accidental Death and Dismemberment (AD&D) insurance coverage of 1.5 times their annual salary at no cost; maximum benefit up to $1.0M
    • May be eligible to purchase additional supplemental life up to eight times annual salary; maximum benefit $2.0M; evidence of insurability may be required
    • AD&D insurance may be purchased separately up to eight times the annual salary, maximum benefit $2.0M
    • Spousal life insurance may be purchased separately for $10,000, $25,000, $50,000, $100,000 or $150,000
    • Dependent life insurance may be purchased separately for $12,500 per child
  • Part-time
    • Provided with basic Life and Accidental Death or Dismemberment (AD&D) insurance coverage of $5,000 at no cost

Employee Assistance Program

  • Free confidential services through a third party (includes legal, adoption, etc.)