About Limited Term Employment
In our efforts to become a more agile organization, the County of San Mateo created limited term employment. Limited term employees are employees who serve the County for a period of up to 6,240 hours. Limited term employees are typically brought on to work on special projects, help the department address a significant spike in workload, or backfill for a regular employee who is on leave or working out of class. Limited term employees subject to the AFSCME/SEIU Extra-Help MOU can only be used in circumstances outlined in the AFSCME/SEIU Extra-Help MOU. To the extent limited term employees are hired to facilitate work on planned projects, Departments are encouraged to, and the County may exercise its discretion to, assign such project work to regular employees while the limited term employees backfill Regular Employee job duties. Limited term employment offers individuals the opportunity to experience and learn about the County without making a long-term commitment to the organization. At the end of the term, an employee may choose to either apply for a regular County position or explore the external job market. Since 2013, limited term employees have greatly helped the County diversify and maximize its staffing resources. Limited term employees have enabled departments to significantly expand their operations and pilot new systems and processes aimed to enhance service delivery.Limited Term vs. Extra-Help
Limited Term employees differ from extra-help employees in the scope of work, length of service, and retirement and health benefits*. Below is a chart outlining the differences between the two worker types.| Limited Term | Extra-Help | |
| Scope of Work | Primarily used for special projects, pilot programs, implementation of new organizational and technological changes, or to backfill for an employee on extended leave. | Primarily used to staff seasonal assignments and assist departments during brief periods of heightened workloads. |
| Span of Work | At most 6,240 hours | Length of assignment may vary – maximum of 1040 hours unless additional time is approved |
| Health Benefits | Full health benefits | Eligible for Kaiser high-deductible plan only if employed 30 hours or more per week |
| Retirement Benefits | Defined contribution retirement plan (401a); Eligible to enroll in County’s deferred compensation plan | No retirement benefits included |
01. Employment
Employment At-Will All limited term employees are at-will employees, and their assignments can be terminated at any time, with or without cause. The phrase “limited-term” refers to a maximum length of employment with the County and is not a guarantee of employment for the length of specified term. Because limited term employees are at-will, there is no probationary period for limited term employees. Limited term employees subject to the AFSME/SEIU Extra Help MOU may have the right to the Reconsideration
02. Compensation
Standard Work Time All limited term employees occupying full-time positions are expected to work a standard work week of 40 hours, unless otherwise specified by their supervisor. Vacation Time Limited term employees are entitled to vacation with pay and accrue vacation hours at a rate of 4 hours for each bi-weekly pay period. The time at which limited term employees shall be granted vacations is at the discretion of their supervisor. When a limited term employee separates from County service,
03. Health Benefits
Limited term employees are eligible to sign up for all of the health benefits available to regular permanent County employees which include health, vision, and dental plans. All employees are given 14 calendar days from the start of their first day with County to enroll in their preferred benefits plans. To learn more about employee benefits, please visit: http://hr.smcgov.org/employee-benefits Note: Limited term employees are not eligible for retiree health benefits once they leave the organization.
04. Retirement Benefits
Limited term employees receive a 401(a) retirement plan and a 457 deferred compensation plan, which is a different retirement package than a regular permanent County employees. This retirement package is not part of the County’s pension system. 401(a) Retirement Plan Limited term employees receive a 401(a) retirement plan which includes: An employer contribution of 2% in year 1 of employment (2,080 hours), 3% in year 2 (4,160 hours), and 4% in year 3 (6,240 hours). An additional employer matching contribution
05. Other Benefits
The County offers a wide variety of programs geared towards employee health, development, and overall work-life balance. Limited term employees are eligible for all of the following County-sponsored employee programs. Wellness Program The County’s Wellness Program is dedicated to creating healthy workspaces and supporting healthy employees. The program hosts a wide variety of activities from County softball and volleyball tournaments, to meditation and nutrition classes. Limited term employees are welcome to participate in any of the County’s Wellness classes, events,
06. Other County Information
Disability Pay and Accommodations The County offers short-term disability (STD) insurance for limited-term employees working 20 or more hours per week and who are not enrolled in State Disability Insurance (SDI). New employees enrolled in SDI may also enroll in the basic short term disability program for their first seven months on the job. After seven months, when SDI benefits become payable, the basic STD benefits will be cancelled. STD insurance is designed to pay a weekly benefit in the