The resources below are great to know for your own purposes as a manager, but you can also guide employees to take advantage of them. Ensure that you and your team are getting as much as you can out of these available programs, and check out the INSPD employee experience page for additional resources. Taking advantage of these resources can improve job satisfaction, leading to better talent retention and productivity.
Optum EAP counseling visits
The Optum EAP is a free service for all full-time state employees and those in their households and can be a beneficial tool to improve overall well-being. The program includes 8 free face-to-face EAP counseling visits with a licensed therapist available per issue per year. These tools and resources are available 24/7 and are completely confidential. Individuals are paired with a clinical social worker, professional counselor, psychologist, or marriage and family therapist that best fits their needs. Examples of stressors they can help with include but are not limited to:
- Relationship problems
- Legal and financial concerns
- Workplace conflicts and changes
- Parenting and family issues
- Stress, anxiety and depression
- Elder care support
Contact Optum EAP by phone at 1-800-866-9747 or visit their website liveandworkwell.com (Access code: Indiana). You can find more health-related resources on investinyourhealthindiana.com.
Education Reimbursement & Tuition Assistance
All full-time employees who have been employed by a state agency for 12 continuous months may be eligible for reimbursements of up to $5,250 annually.
Education Reimbursement is when the employee pays the accredited school or professional organization for the desired course or program tuition up front and then they are reimbursed after completion.
Tuition Assistance is when the employer pays the school directly, eliminating the need for the employee to pay up front. A defined partnership with that university or college must be established in advance. Currently, Ivy Tech is the only school for which Tuition Assistance exists. The State of Indiana has a partnership with Ivy Tech Community College where employees can receive tuition assistance.
Institutions that provide educational discounts include Indiana State University, Indiana Wesleyan University, O’Neill School of Public Affairs (Indiana University), WGU Indiana and more. Find more information on tuition reimbursement and assistance on the INSPD continuing education webpage.
For any questions regarding education reimbursement, tuition assistance and education discounts, you can reach out to SPDtraining@spd.in.gov.
LinkedIn Learning
LinkedIn Learning is available to all state employees working within agencies that are supported by the Indiana State Personnel Department (not including contract employees). Employees can get started with the LinkedIn Learning Login Guide and some of the most popular LinkedIn Learning courses include:
There are also courses on data analysis, project management, cybersecurity, coding, graphic design, stress management, marketing, writing and more. In addition to both hard and soft skills for professional settings, employees can also find things to learn in their free time, like how to play an instrument or draw. Refer to the WHOLE policy for more information on flexibility regarding learning and development, employee engagement, and health and wellness activities.
Community Service Leave
Community service leave is a great way for employees to get involved in their local communities—whether you’re volunteering with your team or they have plans to give back on their own. Full time employees are eligible for up to 15 hours of community service leave per calendar year, and part-time employees are eligible for 7.5 hours. There are plenty of great 501(c)(3) organizations and a few examples that state employees have volunteered with include:
- Sorting food at Gleaner’s Food Bank
- Working on beautification projects with MLK Days of Service
- Picking up trash at White River State Park
- Making animal enrichment items at the Indianapolis Zoo (yes, it’s a 501(c)(3)!)
You can find more information and the leave request form at the end of the Community Service Leave Policy.
Employee discounts
The employee discount page lists all the vendors that have gone through INSPD to offer a discount to state employees (please note, a listing does not signify endorsement. Purchasers must examine, judge, and test for themselves). Some of the most popular discounts are for car rentals, amusement parks, fitness centers and more. Discounts are also regularly spotlighted in the Around the Circle and Torch newsletters.
Additional Questions
For questions about leave (like New Parent Leave or Family Medical Leave) and INSPD policies, contact the INSPD Employee Relations Team at 1-855-773-4647 and select option 4.
For questions about retirement, contact INPRS and Hoosier START.
For questions about benefits (like the state employee health plan) contact the Benefits Hotline at 317-232-1167 if you’re in the Indianapolis area or toll free at 1-877-248-0007. Their email is SPDBenefits@spd.in.gov.
Find more helpful contacts at: www.in.gov/spd/contact-us
Employee newsletters also help keep everyone in the loop. The Torch goes out to all state employees on the first Thursday of every month and Around the Circle goes out to Indiana Government Center employees every Wednesday. Learn more and see previous editions of the Torch at the INSPD publications website.