Our companies are very successful in large measure because of what our employees contribute to the organization. So, our compensation and benefits programs are designed to attract, retain and motivate world-class talent.  

Several recent, independent benefits benchmarking studies have confirmed that Altria and its companies offer among the strongest compensation and benefits packages in the Fortune 500.

Wages and Salary

We pay our employees well. In addition, many positions participate in an incentive program. By the way, the cost of living in the Richmond area – where most of our hourly and salaried employees work – is very favorable compared to most cities in the U.S.  So, you get paid well and you do not have to spend a lot to live well.

Now about your benefits…

We offer a benefit plan designed to meet your needs.  We’ve got you covered, and then some. 

For instance,

• Medical coverage that begins on your start date
• FREE preventive health care checkups
• Free generic prescriptions through mail order at select pharmacies 
• Dental coverage is provided up to $2,000 annually
• Orthodontia coverage is 50% up to a $2,500 lifetime maximum
• Eye exams and lenses are covered every 12 months; frames every 24 months
• An optional Health Care Flexible Spending Account is available to cover eligible out-of-pocket expenses such as deductibles with pre-tax dollars up to $5,000 annually

And, to meet your financial needs should you become disabled, we offer at no cost to you

• Business travel accident insurance (that pays on top of other coverage)
• A short-term disability plan (for up to 6 months, depending on your years of service), and
• A long-term disability plan (for periods longer than 6 months).

If you need it, the company provides...

• A personal Health Advocate to help you navigate the health care system to find the best doctors, get second opinions, work out billing issues, obtain approvals for services, and get your questions answered.
• An Employee Assistance Program (EAP) to help you resolve personal problems that may occur.  The EAP is available 24/7, and it’s a confidential and voluntary service to help employees through rough patches as such marital distress, family issues, financial problems, substance abuse, legal concerns, and mental/emotional events.  But, you can also use it to find dependent care, pet-sitting services, and more.

The company also provides benefits to give your family financial security if something unfortunate happens and you are no longer around.  We have a group life insurance plan for active employees that pays twice your annual base salary, and the company pays the premium. 

Speaking of security, we also help you build resources over your career, so you can retire and enjoy some of the profits you helped the company achieve.  We provide a deferred profit sharing plan (401k) that enables individuals in salaried positions to receive a company match of 100% of each dollar you contribute on the first 3% of pay you defer to the Plan.  From the day you start you can generally contribute 15% of your base salary to your retirement account on a pre-tax or after-tax basis.  After a year of service you are eligible to receive an additional company contribution of 13% or more of your base salary.  The company also provides web-based Financial Engines to enable you to receive ongoing investment advice about your investments. 

If your employment is terminated because of a reduction in force or for unsatisfactory performance, you are eligible to receive severance pay based on your salary and length of service.

Beyond the basics

An array of services is available to full time salaried employees to help them balance their personal and work lives. Examples include:

• Adoption Assistance (up to $3,000 per child)
• Backup Dependent Care Program
• Paid Time Off for Dependent Care (for a qualified child, parent, spouse, or domestic partner)
• Paid Time Off for a Child’s School Activities (for school-age children)
• Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account up to $5,000
• Three Weeks Paid Vacation to start (more after 10 years service)
• 14 Paid Holidays each year
• Vacation Buy Program (for more time off)
• Educational Refund Program (for tuition and fees)
• Scholarships for Employee Children (ranging from $500 to $5,000 annually)
• Service Awards for Anniversary Events
• Employee Stock Purchase Program
• Matching Gift Plan (up to $30,000 per employee annually)
• National Merchant Product and Service Discounts (on vehicles, electronics, and other items)

And finally, depending upon location, other benefits are also available:

• On-site cafeterias
• On-site fitness centers (four in all)
• On-site clinics
• On-site conference centers
• On-site company stores
• On-site copy and print centers
• On-site ATMs
• On-site hair salon
• Credit union memberships
• Additional healthcare discounts