Benefits

South Carolina Retirement System

All regular, full-time employees are members of the South Carolina Retirement System (SCRS). Employees contribute 9% of their gross wages into their SCRS account and Georgetown County contributes the equivalent of 18.56% of the employee's wages. Group Life Insurance and Disability Retirement benefits are provided and a deferred compensation plan is available to SCRS participants.

South Carolina Police Officers' Retirement System

Law enforcement officers, corrections officers and firefighters are members of the South Carolina Police Officers' Retirement System (PORS). Employees contribute 9.75% of their gross wages into their PORS account and Georgetown County contributes the equivalent of 21.24% of the employee's wages.

Paid Holidays

Regular full-time employees receive 13 paid holidays per year and earn annual leave at the following rates based on their years of service with Georgetown County:

0 to 5 years, 1 day per month
5 to 10 years, 1 1/4 days per month
10 to 20 years, 1 1/2 days per month
Over 20 years, 1 3/4 days per month

Additionally, all regular full-time employees have one day of sick leave per month (12 days per year) made available to them.

Direct Deposit

Our 26, two-week pay periods begin on Monday mornings and end on Sunday evenings. The county issues paychecks on Fridays following completion of a pay period. Direct deposit of pay, divided among as many as three financial institutions or accounts, is available.

Pay Raises

Employees receive across-the-board cost of living pay adjustments and performance increases annually as authorized/funded by County Council in the operating budget.

Health Care

After one year of full-time employment, employees are provided with the opportunity to establish tax-free medical expense and/or dependent care accounts.

The county provides employer subsidized health and dental insurance for all regular full-time employees through the County Health Plan. Employees may elect to cover family members in the following categories:

Employee/Spouse Coverage
Employee/Child Coverage
Employee/Family Coverage

Through the County Health Plan, Georgetown County maintains basic long-term disability coverage as well as a $3,000 life insurance policy on each regular full-time employee. After one year of participation in SCRS, designated beneficiaries also receive a refund of the deceased's contributions and one year's payment of the deceased's salary. The employees designate the beneficiaries. Employees may purchase, by payroll deduction, supplemental life insurance, supplemental long-term disability insurance, cancer coverage, accident coverage and vision care insurance through the group policy.

Workers' Compensation

Workers' Compensation coverage is provided for all employees through the South Carolina Counties Workers Compensation Trust.

Drug & Alcohol Policies

Georgetown County is an alcohol and drug-free workplace. New employees in safety sensitive positions are tested for illegal drug use and remain subject to monthly random testing. All employees are subject to testing when there is particularized suspicion that the county's policy has been violated. The county contracts the Alcohol and Drug Abuse Commission to provide an Employee Assistance Program. Employees can be referred, or they may anonymously refer themselves, for counseling related to marital/family problems, stress management, situational problems, as well as dependency problems such as alcohol and/or drugs.