Benefits Overview
Health & Wellness
Body, mind, and wallet—LaBella’s benefits support a holistic approach to your health and wellness, creating the foundation for physical, mental, and financial well-being.
Health Insurance
Medical insurance coverage is offered through Excellus BlueCross® BlueShield® (BCBS). If an eligible employee elects medical insurance, coverage begins upon date of hire. Employees can elect individual, two-person, or family coverage. Employee contribution for the premium is pre-tax, reducing overall cost.
• Signature Hybrid Plan
• Signature High Deductible 2200, 3600, 6000
LaBella Associates shares the cost of medical premiums for regular full-time employees. Full-time employees pay their share through pre-tax payroll deductions. Please contact the Benefits Team for information regarding current medical premiums.
Health Opt Out: if a regular fulltime employee does not elect medical insurance, a $25 taxable opt-out credit is provided as earnings per month.
Vision Insurance
LaBella provides optional vision insurance coverage through EyeMed’s Insight network. Employee pays the premium pretax.
Dental Insurance
LaBella provides two dental insurance options through Excellus BCBS. There is a basic plan and a plan that includes orthodontics for children. Employees pay the premium pre-tax.
Life Insurance/ AD&D Insurance
LaBella provides group term life insurance in an amount equal to 1.5 times the employee’s annual earnings to a maximum of $500,000 for all regular employees working at least 30 hours per week. Employees are also covered by accidental death and dismemberment insurance, which is additional life insurance equal to their basic group life, payable in the event of accidental death or dismemberment.
I have never worked for a company with so many health insurance options. Thanks to the wide spectrum of wellness benefits at LaBella, I have been able to truly take care of my family’s health and financial needs.
Supplemental Life
The supplemental life insurance program offers additional coverage for all regular employees working at least 30 hours per week. Employees can apply for coverage up to five times their annual earnings, not to exceed an overall maximum total of $500,000. Employees may also apply for up to $100,000 spousal coverage in $10,000 increments. Employees may elect $10,000 of supplemental dependent life insurance to cover dependents.
Long-Term Disability
Employees who are disabled for more than 180 days are eligible to collect long-term disability (LTD) benefits. The benefit paid is equal to 60% of annual earnings to a maximum monthly benefit of $10,000. LTD insurance continues until the employee is no longer disabled or reaches age 65. The employee pays the monthly premiums.
Short-Term Disability
Employees who are disabled for more than 7 days are eligible to collect short-term disability benefits. The benefit paid is equal to 60% of weekly earnings, capped at $1,200 per week, for up to 25 weeks. The monthly premiums are paid by the employee.
LaBella’s Take Charge Wellness Program creates opportunities for employees to proactively “recharge their batteries.”
The work of our Wellness Committee is varied, inclusive, and innovative. Others have taken notice—we received recognition from both the Charlotte Business Journal and the Rochester Business Journal in 2020 for best-in-class workplace wellness programs.
Of course, it felt a little strange to accept two awards for wellness in 2020, when the word took on a far-reaching new meaning. At the time, lunchtime yoga seemed like a thing of the past.
Though the programming of our Wellness Committee has changed, our approach has not. We focus on providing support for our employees in three broad categories: body, brain, and belonging. We track our progress in those areas using our Wellness “passport”—you can earn stamps for taking a lunchtime walk (body), working on your financial wellness (brain), or attending a firm social event (belonging).
Our Wellness Committee provides meaningful supports—not added pressure. Pet therapy day is a favorite!
LaBella’s benefits go home with you. The EAP provides confidential support from anywhere. Fitness reimbursements help balance your scale and your budget. Company holidays and customizable PTO banks give time for celebration.
Employee Assistance Program
The Employee Assistance Program (EAP) helps LaBella employees and their families obtain confidential, professional assistance for a wide range of issues that may affect their personal lives and job performance.
Fitness Reimbursements
The managers at LaBella don’t subscribe to the ‘live to work’ mentality. We are trusted and empowered to meet home and work responsibilities in a balanced way.
Receive a fitness reimbursement up to $200 per calendar year for eligible fitness facilities, memberships, and classes.
Holidays
LaBella observes eight holidays each year: New Year’s Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, Day After Thanksgiving, and Christmas Day. The eighth holiday is a floating holiday chosen by the employee.
Paid Time Off (PTO)
PTO can be used for vacation, personal, or sick time. Part-time employees accrue vacation on a pro-rated basis. Employees are permitted to buy and sell up to 5 days of PTO for the following benefit year.
Parking
For locations with paid parking, there is an employer contribution, which varies by location and parking area. Any remaining employee cost is a pre-tax deduction.
No matter how much road is ahead of you, we want you to see your future at LaBella. Whether your family is complete or growing, we have insurances, retirement funds, and wellness supports to help you build your plan.
401(k) Plan
LaBella provides a 401(k) Retirement Plan administered through ADP 401K. Employees are eligible to participate in the 401(k) Plan upon hire. Employees can contribute up to 90% of their salary on a pre-tax basis, up to a dollar limit set by the IRS annually. An optional after-tax savings component is also provided by the Plan in addition to a Roth 401(k) feature. Each year, LaBella determines a matching contribution amount for the Plan. Rollover contributions from other qualified plans are accepted upon approval by the plan administrator. A loan program is also provided through the Plan, allowing participants to borrow against their vested account balances.
Health Savings Account
Employees who enroll in a HDHP health plan can elect a Health Savings Account (HSA), which allows employees to pay for qualified healthcare expenses on a pre-tax basis. The maximum contribution per calendar year is determined annually by the IRS. If the employee is age 55 or older, they may elect to contribute an additional $1,000 per calendar year. HSA funds remain in the account indefinitely until depleted.
Flexible Spending Accounts
Employees can enroll in a Flexible Spending Account (FSA), which allows employees to pay for qualified dependent care and healthcare expenses on a pre-tax basis. Employees can open a Health Care FSA, a Limited FSA, and/or a Dependent Care Reimbursement Account. The maximum contribution per calendar year is determined annually by the IRS.
Incentive pay & ownership
Year-End Incentive Pay
Our employees’ growth is what cultivates LaBella’s success. So each year, LaBella sets a firmwide target revenue goal. There are no secrets, and the goal posts don’t move.
When we exceed that goal, anything over our target goes back to our employees in the form of year-end incentive pay.
Employee Ownership Opportunities
Take your professional growth further with stock ownership. LaBella is 100% employeeowned. Our employee owners (over 200 of them!) elect the Board of Directors and engage with Board-led committees and action teams.
Ownership has historically offered a return-on-investment that has outpaced other traditional investment opportunities.
Propel Leadership Development Program
Employees who have at least 5 years of professional experience can apply to the Propel Leadership Development program. LaBella accepts a cohort of 16–18 students annually for a transformative program that combines training, coaching, and self-directed projects. The program is taught by a mix of internal and external instructors from within the A/E/C industry, as well as outside of it.
Watch a video synopsis of our program.
Professional development
LaBella’s longevity is built on the “train your successor” mentality. At every level, you’ll find today’s leaders prioritizing knowledge— sharing with the leaders of tomorrow.
Professional Memberships
Two professional memberships of your choice are reimbursed by LaBella.
Professional Licenses/ Certifications
LaBella is committed to the continuous professional development of our employees. After 6 months, full-time employees can receive reimbursement for certification exam fees when an exam is passed. And employees will be reimbursed for the cost of one (1) prep course and one (1) certification OR one (1) licensing exam once the exam has been passed.
Tuition Assistance
The Tuition Assistance Program helps employees maintain and develop their skills. Full-time employees who have been employed for at least 6 months are eligible. Courses must be in a field of study that has direct application to an employee’s present position or a foreseeable future position within the company.
LaBella will reimburse up to $5,250 per calendar year for coursework in which the employee receives a letter grade of ‘C’ or better.
LaBella University
Read our profile in Training Industry magazine.
You have skills, interests, and career goals. We empower you with the environment and opportunities to make the most of them. LaBella University (LaBella U) offers trainings, workshops, guest speakers, and other educational experiences that foster career development and continuing education. A training plan tailored to your career goals will guide you on a continuous journey of personalized growth.
Values & culture
At LaBella, our core values shape our corporate culture. Our values are the essence of our identity as a company. Simply stated, they truly reflect the way we do things around here. We hold each other accountable for these values, and we hire people that reflect them.
Our Core Values
Employee Leadership at All Levels
Our company’s success depends on every member of the organization being empowered to practice their profession and demonstrate leadership within the community.
Honesty & Integrity in All We Do
Everyone knows that partnership takes compromise. But there are some things that can never be compromised, and we believe honesty and integrity must always rule the day.
Stewardship of Resources
Whether we are trusted with a client’s resources or our own, every LaBella professional provides the management and care of an owner.
Seeking Growth & Embracing Change
Because we seek growth, we must embrace change. We search for opportunities, adopt new technology, and cultivate novel solutions.
Corporate Social Responsibility
We have initiated measurable reporting on our firm’s impacts through our projects, firm practices, and philanthropy. We directly support a diverse group of not-for-profits in all of the communities where we live and work. Our corporate philanthropy typically supports K-12 and higher education (particularly introductions to STEM and our professions), local social service agencies, arts and culture, and community development.
LaBella is proud to be the recipient of the 2022 ETHIE Award. The award recognizes businesses and organizations that strive to promote ethical principles in business.
“This is wonderful recognition for our dedication to our core values and the efforts we undertake to continually treat each other and our clients with professionalism and care,” said CEO Steve Metzger.
Employee Recognition Programs
Our mantra is “what gets celebrated gets repeated.” Check out our four recognition programs:
Atta Person awards allow supervisors to recognize team members that have gone above and beyond normal job duties with a cash bonus and company-wide recognition.
Cheers for Peers provides a live feed on our intranet where employees can give a shout-out to their peers in appreciation of daily efforts.
Marketing Pursuit gives employees the opportunity to earn cash and prizes for contributing to our marketing and business development initiatives.
Safety Superstar recognizes employees that proactively build our safety culture.
Values &culture
Employee engagement feeds a commitment to community connection, camaraderie, and inclusivity.
LaBella in the Community (LINC)
LINC organizes employee-led community service, fundraising, and philanthropy. LINC has achieved repeat CANstruction wins and broken the elevator from the weight of our Thanksgiving food baskets.
Sunshine Committee
The Sunshine Committee focuses on employee morale and camaraderie. From interoffice trivia to ice cream socials, the Sunshine Committee has the Easter Bunny on speed dial and takes an oath to protect the integrity of the Cutest Pet Contest voting process.
Inclusion Council
It’s true—the A/E/C industry has long failed to reflect the communities we serve. But our strength is in our diversity. We facilitate a culture where diversity, equity, and inclusion are respected, valued, and celebrated. LaBella’s Inclusion Council implements thoughtful and practical strategies to support our employees.
