Work and Life Benefits
Beyond core benefits like healthcare and retirement plans, we also offer dozens of benefits and perks that enhance our employees' experiences with life at work and home.
For details, consult our 2024-25 Employee Benefits Guide / en Español. For definitions, see the Glossary.
Scheduling and Time Off
Vacation Time
Cal Lutheran provides paid vacation for all regular and long-term temporary staff employees. The accrual rate is based on the employee’s job classification, full-time equivalent (FTE), and years of service with the university.
| Years of Service | Biweekly Accrual Hours | Monthly Accrual Hours | Annual Accrual Days |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1-3 | 3.08 | N/A | 10 |
| 4-5 | 5.23 | N/A | 17 |
| 6+ | 6.15 | N/A | 20 |
| Years of Service | Biweekly Accrual Hours | Monthly Accrual Hours | Annual Accrual Days |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1-3 | 3.08 | 6.67 | 10 |
| 4-5 | 5.23 | 11.33 | 17 |
| 6+ | 6.15 | 13.33 | 20 |
| Years of Service | Biweekly Accrual Hours | Monthly Accrual Hours | Annual Accrual Days |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1+ | 6.15 | 13.33 | 20 |
Eligible full-time employees accrue paid vacation leave in accordance with the following tables up to the maximum accrual limit of 240 hours. Eligible employees who work less than full-time (40 hours per week) accrue paid vacation leave on a pro-rated basis in accordance to their FTE status to the maximum accrual limit on a pro-rated basis dependent on their FTE (e.g., FTE 0.75 accrual limit is 180 hours). The change in accrual rate occurs at the beginning of the service year.
Sick Time
Employees who work at least 30 days within a year are eligible to accrue paid sick leave. The amount of paid sick leave an employee is eligible to accrue is determined by their employment status.
Regular full-time employees, including faculty, accrue one day (8 hours) per month worked to a maximum of 120 days (960 hours). Regular part-time employees earn a pro-rated amount based on their full-time equivalent (FTE). Accrual maximums pro-rate in accordance with the FTE.
Temporary, adjunct, and student employees accrue paid sick leave hours based on hours worked. Accrual maximums vary by employee type.
Holiday Time
Regular and long-term temporary staff employees receive paid time off for roughly twelve (12) holidays in the calendar year, as well as Winter Break (the days between Christmas Day and New Year's Day).
Additionally, a floating holiday is designated to give faculty and staff an occasion (or an additional holiday) to honor their ethnic, cultural, civic, religious, familial, and personal holiday celebrations. All requests must be made in advance with reasonable notice to the supervisor.
Hybrid Schedule Requests
An employee in "good-standing" may request to work remotely up to 40% of their full-time equivalent (FTE) and agreements do not require an end date. Employees who wish to work remotely may submit a Remote Work Request Form to their supervisor. If the request is approved, the employee, supervisor, and Vice President complete and sign a Remote Work Agreement and return the completed agreement to Human Resources.
Casual Fridays and Summers
Employees may wear appropriate casual attire on Fridays throughout the academic year, and daily throughout summer. Clothing should reflect a professional image, be clean and neat in appearance and fit in a manner that is appropriate for a university environment.
Transportation
Free Parking
Free and accessible parking is available on all Cal Lutheran campuses in lots designated for faculty and staff. Please register your free vehicle permit using the parking details link below.
Electric Vehicle (EV) Charging
Four electric vehicle (EV) charging stations are available for use by students, staff, faculty, and visitors. Access to the EV charging program is administered through the ChargePoint App and the Campus Safety office. The ChargePoint App is free to download and users are charged a per-kilowatt hour fee while actively charging their vehicle.
Please check back for more updates to our EV charging facilities in Spring 2025.
Pre-Tax Public Transit Account
This benefit provides a pre-tax account to pay for public transportation as part of your daily commute or qualified parking, administered by WEX Benefits. You can use these funds to pay for public transit and parking at or near work. To purchase passes for the first day of the month, you must elect your payroll deductions and place an order by the 10th day of the previous month. You can start, change, or cancel anytime and there is no "use-it or lose-it" provision.
All employees are eligible the first day of the month following the effective date or date of hire.
Wellness
Sports and Fitness Center
Our on-campus sports and fitness center provides free access to our on-campus gym, pool and fitness classes and is open to all faculty and staff members. Employees are not required to submit an application in order to enter but need to have an Campus ID and submit a Recreational Activities Waiver.
Spouses and Registered Domestic Partners are also eligible for membership with an annual fee of $50. (Please note that individuals under the age of 18 are not permitted to use the fitness center.) To take advantage of this offer, complete a Membership Application and Agreement.
On-Campus Childcare and Camps
Discounted childcare at our on-campus childhood center is available to exempt staff and faculty who have half-time annual contracts as well as non-exempt staff who work 30 hours per week (benefiting proportionately to their hours of employment). These discounts are limited to the above amounts specified regardless of the number of parents employed by the university. For the 2024-25 academic year, employee rates will remain the same as the 2023-24 academic year. There is no waiting period to be eligible for this benefit, and this discount does not apply to other fees. To sign up, submit a Tuition Discount Application.
Cal Lutheran also hosts camps and sports clinics available for community youth during summer.
Explore the Fredrickson Family Early Childhood Center
Meals and Dining
On-campus dining locations are open to all faculty and staff, per daily venue hours. Additionally, several rewards and discount payment programs are available:
- Munch Money — This is a payment method that can be electronically created for any faculty or staff member and is accepted at all campus dining locations. Munch Money comes with a 10% bonus and the funds are accessed through the individual’s Campus ID. To add funds, sign in to eAccounts.
- Meal Punch Cards — Discounted meals are available at Ullman Dining with the purchase of a Meal Punch Card. Meal Punch Cards typically offer one free meal with the purchase of a 10-meal package, and meals must be used by a specified date at the time of purchase. Munch Money may be used to purchase the Meal Punch Card for an added bonus. For details, please inquire at the front desk of Ullman Dining.
- Discounted Dining — Faculty and staff can enjoy $1 off lunch at Ullman Dining on Wednesdays. During these days, faculty and staff may also sit in a reserved area in the alcove and choose from a special selection of exclusive desserts.
- Starbucks Rewards — The on-campus Starbucks is fully integrated with the Starbucks corporate payment system. Accordingly, faculty and staff can use Starbucks Rewards to pay for purchases, as well as Starbucks gift cards.
Employee Assistance Program: Estate Guidance, Identity Theft, Legal Support and More
Administered by by ComPsych GuidanceResources®, our Employee Assistance Program provides a range of services including, but not limited to:
- One free, 30-minute in-person consultation with a network lawyer per legal issue; 25% off subsequent meetings
- In-person counseling with up to three sessions per person, per issue, per year
- Financial guidance on household budgeting and short/long-term planning
- Information and referrals on family matters such as finding care for children, elders and pets
- Additional services for estate guidance, identity theft and more
All regular faculty and staff with an FTE of 0.75 (30 hours per week) or greater are eligible the first day of the month following the effective date or date of hire.
To access the program, please login to ComPsych GuidanceResources® with the username LFGsupport and password LFGsupport1 and then follow the prompt to create your personal account. You can also speak with a specialist 24/7 at (888) 628-4824.
Login to ComPsych GuidanceResources®
Faith and Spirituality
Sabbath Hour
As a church-related institution, Cal Lutheran is committed to providing a rigorous learning environment of the whole mind, soul, body and spirit. We do this, in part, by devoting the period of time each Thursday from 11:15 a.m.-12:15 p.m. for rest, reflection and rejuvenation.
Sabbath Hour is a gift of time when no meetings, classes or labs are scheduled. During this hour, you are invited to attend University Chapel, participate in faith and spirituality activities, or honor your own structured or unstructured practice.
Meditation Chapel
People of all faiths are invited to use the Wennes Interfaith Meditation Chapel as a place for prayer, contemplation, and reflection. It is available daily as a space for all.
Visit the Wennes Interfaith Meditation Chapel
Mindfulness Activities
There are many ways to honor faith and spirituality as an employee at Cal Lutheran. We offer a variety of spaces and practices — including a labyrinth and a number of dedicated quiet spaces — in the hopes that one or two of them may be useful during moments of contemplation in your spiritual journey.
Professional Development
Reduced Tuition
As an institution of higher education, Cal Lutheran proudly offers various education benefits, including tuition remission for eligible faculty and staff, their spouse, their same sex domestic partner, and eligible dependent children. Academic programs include Bachelor's Degree for Professionals — which caters to working adults who want to complete their undergraduate education — as well as traditional undergraduate and graduate degree programs. Please see education benefit policy for complete eligibility information.
To apply for reduced tuition, please submit an application below:
- Application for Education Benefits: Employee | Qualifying Relative
- Application for Tuition Exchange: Dependent (please submit dependent documents such as birth certificates and tax documents separately to clubenefits@CalLutheran.edu by the deadline of Friday, December 13, 2024)
- Application for ELCA Tuition Exchange Scholarship: Dependent
Career Services
Looking to level up your career? Faculty and staff enjoy free access to all of the resources offered by our Career Services office, including career counseling and coaching, workshops, career fairs and more.
Visit the Career Services office
Course Auditing
In the spirit of learning and professional development, Cal Lutheran offers faculty and staff the option to audit any academic course by "sitting in" for no cost. There is no credit earned for auditing a course, however, the experience can be enlightening and educational for any individual interested in the subject matter or seeking to explore academic program options.
Lifelong Learning Programs
Cal Lutheran's Center for Lifelong Learning and Center for Nonprofit Leadership offer various trainings and workshops throughout the year that support professional development. Faculty and staff are encouraged to view the schedules of programming and attend any events of interest.
See the Center for Lifelong Learning
See the Center for Nonprofit Leadership
Online Learning Platforms
Cal Lutheran offers subscriptions to a variety of online learning platforms, including Rosetta Stone, LinkedIn Learning, eBooks, and additional tools that help faculty and staff learn new languages and skills.
Access information is available through our staff development resources.
View staff development resources
Retail and Entertainment
Online Shopping Program
If you like to shop online, then our employee discount program is just for you! Administered by Working Advantage, this program can help you save up to 60% on qualifying purchases, including theme park tickets, Broadway shows, ski passes, movie tickets, sporting events, hotels, health and fitness memberships, museum and city passes, merchant gift certificates and much more. See our Program Brochure for details.
To register for your free account, visit the link below and enter your CalLutheran.edu email address to create your password. If asked for a Member ID, please enter #486537560.
Register for your free account
Bookstore Discount
Do you love to show off your passion for Cal Lutheran?
In case you don't already have enough campus swag, faculty and staff receive a 10% discount on most items at our Campus Store, excluding textbooks. Shop the store for clothing, gifts and accessories, alumni gear, and more!
To claim your employee discount, simply show your Campus ID card when making a purchase at the register.
Movie Ticket Discount
Movie buff? Faculty and staff can enjoy a cinematic experience with Regal Cinemas by taking advantage of our discounted price for movie tickets and other attractions.
Arts and Athletics Events
No matter your area of interest, Cal Lutheran hosts a variety of events throughout the year, ranging from holiday performances to Shakespearean plays, Scandinavian festivals, music recitals, dance productions, educational lectures, athletic events, and more. All faculty and staff are welcome and encouraged to attend.