Compensation & Benefits - CantBeatTheExperience.com

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. Each employee’s total compensation and benefits package consists of a variety of elements which may vary depending upon the specific employment situation.

Several recent, independent benefits benchmarking studies have confirmed 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 annual preventive health care checkups
Free generic prescriptions
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 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), 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, so you can be sure 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 the means to give your family financial security if something unfortunate happens and you are no longer around. We have a group life insurance plan which pays twice your base salary, and the company pays the premium. We have an additional benefit called a survivor income benefit program. Four years after your death as an active employee, your spouse will receive 25% of your base salary, and your eligible children will receive a percentage as well. Also, you can buy additional life coverage at a discounted group rate for yourself and your family. You can insure yourself up to six times your annual base pay.

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 up to 3% of salary, dollar for dollar, after their first 90 days of service. 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 that ranges from 10% to 15% of your base salary. The company also provides web-based financial engines to enable you to receive ongoing investment advice about your investments. Company employees, by the way, are provided healthcare coverage even after they retire; they are provided life insurance too.

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 Reimbursements (up to $50 per day for 6 days annually)
Paid Time Off for Dependent Care (for a qualified child, parent, spouse, or partner)
Paid Time Off for a Child’s School Activities (for school-age children)
Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account (up to $5,000 with a 10% company match)
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 annually)
National Merchant Product and Service Discounts (on vehicles, electronics, and other items)