Care & compensation

The cooperative pays 100 percent of the health care coverage for each employee and 85 percent of the employee’s eligible dependents’ coverage. Coverage begins on the first day of employment.

The cooperative pays the full premium for employee-only dental coverage for nonunion employees. The employee may elect (and pay for) dental coverage for their eligible dependents. Union employees have the opportunity to elect dental coverage for themselves and eligible dependents.

The cooperative pays the premium for employee basic life and accidental death & dismemberment insurance. Employees may purchase additional life insurance coverage for eligible dependents.

All premiums are paid by the cooperative. This plan pays 66-2/3 percent of your base salary should you become disabled and unable to perform your job duties.

All premiums are paid by the cooperative. This plan pays 70% of base salary for nonunion employees and 66.6% of base salary for union-represented employees should they become disabled and unable to perform their job duties.

PTO can be used when an employee is sick, for a vacation, or for any other personal business. All new nonunion employees shall earn forty (40) hours of PTO on their date of hire. After the initial accrual, nonunion employees shall earn 13.33 hours per month after their third month of service. Union employees accrue 13.33 hours per full month worked and have a six-month waiting period before accrued PTO may be used.

1. New Year’s Day
2. President’s Day
3. Good Friday
4. Memorial Day
5. Independence Day
6. Labor Day
7. Veterans Day
8. Thanksgiving Day
9. Day after Thanksgiving
10. Christmas Eve day
11. Christmas day

In addition to these paid holidays, Associated provides nonunion employees the option to float two holidays -- President's Day and Labor Day, giving employees flexibility in how and when they use these two holidays.

Other leave benefits include court leave, voting, death in family, funeral leave, Family and Medical Leave and military leave. Nonunion employees also may be provided paid leave for family planning, including adoption.

Nonunion employees are eligible to enroll the first of the month following their first 30 days of service and have worked at least 84 hours in a calendar month. Associated Electric Cooperative will provide a base contribution of 6 percent of salary after 30 days of service. After one year of service, the cooperative will match 100 percent of employee contributions up to 7 percent of base salary. Employees may elect to invest in a variety of investment funds.

Union employees are eligible to enroll the first of the month following one year of employment. After one year of service, the cooperative will provide a base contribution of 6 percent of salary and match 100 percent of employee contributions up to 7 percent of base salary after the appropriate waiting periods. Employees may elect to invest in a variety of investment funds.

To assist in planning for retirement, Associated partners with the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) to provide employees with retirement and financial planning seminars. 

After one year of employment, the cooperative will reimburse employees for tuition and required book fees. The class must be taken at an accredited institution, and the employee must complete the course with a grade of “C” or above. Employees must remain employed at AECI for three years or a reimbursement to AECI will be scheduled.

The Employee Assistance Program (EAP) provides confidential resources, support and counseling services to help all employees and their family members resolve issues affecting the quality of life at home or work. The EAP also includes up to six free counseling sessions annually per health plan participant.

To support our employees involvement in the community, Associated offers a matching funds program to enhance employee giving. Employees who donate to support qualified 501(c)3 public charities are eligible for matching support up to $100 from the cooperative.