All paid, full-time graduate staff are eligible to participate in MSK’s benefits program. You choose the benefits that best meet the needs of you and your family. The cost is shared between you and MSK. Most contributions toward your share of the benefits are paid with pre-tax dollars, which means they will be deducted from your pay before payroll taxes are applied.

Click here to learn more about benefits for Clinical Trainees, including:

When do benefits take effect?

Once you make your benefit elections, your elected/waived medical coverage will take effect the first day of the month coinciding with or following your first day of training, based on whether your training begins on the first of the month. (Example: If your first day of training is July 1, your benefits will be effective on July 1. If your first day of training is July 15, coverage will be effective August 1.)

If your first day of training is after the first of the month, you will be assigned temporary medical coverage for the duration of that month until your benefit choices take effect at the start of the next month. If you are reporting for orientation prior to your first day of training and wish to arrange interim medical coverage, you may contact the HR Resource Center.

When do you make your benefits elections?

You must enroll in or actively waive benefits within 31 days from your first day of training. You will learn how to enroll during orientation. You can’t make your elections before your training start date, but you can visit the MSK Benefits page to explore your options.

Who is eligible for coverage?

In addition to covering yourself, you can choose to cover your eligible dependents under your medical, dental, vision, and AD&D coverage. Eligible dependents include:

Work/Life & Recognition

MSK’s Work/Life & Recognition Department can connect you with resources to help you balance your career with life’s hurdles as you care for yourself, children, parents, partners, and even pets. Here’s a sample of what we have to offer:

Time-Off Policies and Procedures

Vacation

House staff vacation policy is set by each training program director, consistent with institutional policies. Contact the education coordinator within your department/program for specifics regarding vacation time as well as instructions on how to request and schedule vacation time.

Sick Leave (including Pregnancy and Childbirth)

Sick leave is provided when an employee becomes ill or is injured and, as a result, is unable to work. If this leave causes a trainee’s time in a program to fall short of the program requirement, the situation will be discussed with the program director and human resources to address its impact on completion of training. Pregnancy and/or bonding leave is coordinated through sick leave and the additional leave and pay policies described in the Graduate Staff Handbook.

Short-Term Disability

When an extended illness or injury causes absence from work for more than seven consecutive days, MSK’s short-term disability plan provides for the continuation of regular salary for up to twenty-six (26) weeks. In order to receive continued pay, leaves must be reviewed and approved by MetLife, MSK’s disability administrator. The short-term disability benefit is 100% of pay for 13 weeks, followed by 85% of pay for an additional 13 weeks. As per the Notification Procedure, trainees must coordinate a leave through their Program Director and MetLife (this includes absences related to pregnancy).

Salary continuance lasts for up to 26 weeks during a 52-week rolling-back period and may not be taken intermittently or in increments of less than one work week, except in cases where MetLife and your department have approved you for an eligible reduced work schedule.

Staff remaining in housing will be required to maintain rent payments. In situations of documented disability, short-term disability will be maintained for a maximum of 26 weeks or until the conclusion of your appointment, whichever is less. 

Short-term disability runs concurrently with other types of leave that you may be eligible for, including FMLA. Short-term disability does not cover leave time taken to bond with a newborn (following the disability period) or newly placed adopted or foster child. 

MSK’s GME Paid Parental Leave for Full-Time House Staff

Benefits-eligible trainees receive two (2) weeks of fully paid leave for the following covered events:

Qualifications: Benefits-eligible, full-time house staff who work at least 20 hours per week are eligible to receive this fully paid benefit once they have worked 26 consecutive weeks. There is no obligation to exhaust eligible vacation time before the paid parental leave time begins.

LifeCare

LifeCare is a comprehensive information and referral service that offers personalized information and confidential referrals on a wide range of work/life issues. For example:

MSK Employee Wellness Program

You are our greatest asset, and we care about your well-being. At MSK, you’ll have access to a wide variety of wellness opportunities, most of which are offered at no cost to you. Your family is also eligible for some portions of the program. Learn more about MSK’s Employee Wellness Program.

For questions, please contact the HR Resource Center at (646) 677-7411 or hrrc@mskcc.org.