Work and Life Benefits
Work and Life Benefits are a key part of your total rewards from Notre Dame. They are designed to address the holistic needs of you and your family. Along with take-home pay, medical benefits, retirement benefits, and the tuition benefit, they give you a comprehensive package that is competitive and geared toward helping you address many aspects of your life. Learn more about our Work and Life Benefits below.
Child/Elder Care Benefits Summary
We all have both work and family life demands we are juggling. Our goal is to manage them in a way that gives us balance in life. In this video, you can view the child and elder care resources that are offered to faculty and staff.
Visit our Family Services website for more specific information about benefits and resources that can assist you as you navigate the demands of caregiving.
Back-Up Care from Bright Horizons
Available to graduate students and benefit-eligible faculty and staff, the Bright Horizons Back-Up Care program provides back-up care for unexpected, short-term child and elder care services for low, University-subsidized co-payments up to 15* days per year. Back-Up Care also assists faculty and staff in securing ongoing family care solutions through an online directory of providers and services including childcare, elder care, pet sitters, housekeeping, and tutoring/test preparation.
Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account (Dependent Care FSA)
A Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account (Dependent Care FSA) allows you to set aside pre-tax dollars to pay for eligible dependent care out-of-pocket expenses (traditional daycare, latch-key programs, day camps for children under age 13, and elder care) that arise throughout the year.
Employee Assistance Program (EAP) from Carebridge
To assist employees in the maintenance of a productive and safe work environment, the University provides access to an employee assistance program (EAP) which provides cost-free diagnosis and referral services to all benefit-eligible faculty, staff, and family members. These services are for assistance in dealing with a variety of personal and family challenges. EAP consultants provide professional, experienced guidance that can assist individuals in both work and non-work-related situations. Employees may contact the EAP at their own discretion with the knowledge that their contact will be maintained in confidence.
Healthcare and Insurance Help (Health Advocate)
Health Advocate is a special benefit for faculty, staff, spouses, dependent children, and parents in law paid by the University of Notre Dame to help you and your entire family navigate the healthcare system and maximize your healthcare benefits. Their service will help you with clinical and administrative issues involving your medical, hospital, vision, dental, pharmacy, and other healthcare needs.
Work Location
The University of Notre Dame has a strong residential campus mission with in-person classes and robust research activities at its core. A key aspect of our residential campus experience for students is ensuring we provide a high-level of service to them as well as to our faculty, staff and guests. Offices should be readily available and open for regular, in-person visitors and campus colleagues during established department operating hours. Staff positions are deemed eligible by their division/school/college to potentially work remotely from an alternate work location than campus for up to 16 hours each week. A staff supervisor will determine which roles are eligible for an alternate work location arrangement as it suits their needs to serve campus, with some opting for two days per week while others may decide more frequent in-person staffing is necessary.
Adoption Benefit
Benefit-eligible may receive reimbursement of adoption expenses up to $7,500 per adoption, with a maximum of two (2) adoptions per year, for incurred expenses to legally adopt a child under age 18 who is not their biological child or their spouse’s biological child. Expenses related to surrogate births are not eligible for reimbursement. Adoption expenses will be reimbursed under this policy only if the faculty or staff member has one year of service at Notre Dame on the date the adoption is final.
Early Childhood Development Center (ECDC)
The Early Childhood Development Center (ECDC) is a nonprofit early childhood program serving young children ages 2 through age 6 (Kindergarten) during the school year and ages 2.5 through age 10 during the summer. ECDC offers preschool, Kindergarten, child care, and daycare offering full-time and part-time enrollment. Also, a vibrant summer day camp (summer daycare, daycare) with full and part-time enrollment schedules for children ages 2.5 through 10 is offered. Locations: ECDC offers two programs for young children, one on the beautiful Saint Mary’s College campus (ECDC-SMC) and the other on the lovely University of Notre Dame campus (ECDC-ND).
Support and Financial Incentives for Expectant Mothers (Building Heathly Families)
By joining the Building Healthy Families program, expectant mothers enrolled in our medical plan can get personal support from a registered nurse to follow their doctor’s plan of care and have a safe delivery and a healthy baby. By filling out health assessments at the beginning of their pregnancy, halfway through their pregnancy and post-birth, expectant mothers can receive up to $500 in financial incentives through a prepaid debit card. These funds can be used towards your medical expenses or towards other costs associated with welcoming a new child.
Discounts
The University is pleased to offer an employee discount program for a variety of products and services to its faculty and staff. These discounts serve as an additional benefit to being a valued faculty and staff member of the University of Notre Dame.
Lactation Rooms
The University of Notre Dame provides lactation areas on campus for faculty, staff, and students to support women balancing their work and study commitments with their needs as mothers of young children. Each campus location offers a clean and secure environment for women who need to express breast milk during their time on campus.
JOBoard
The JOBboard provides academic year employment opportunities as a service to University of Notre Dame students, departments, and affiliated employers. This resource can be used if employees need a Babysitter or even a Pet Sitter. Submit your form here and once your posting is no longer needed, remove your posting here.
Child/Elder Care Community Google Group
Available to faculty, staff and graduate students with an active Notre Dame email address, the Child/Elder Care Community Group helps its members exchange ideas and information on child and elder care needs. For example, you can find information on drop-in virtual learning assistance, care centers with availability and support from a community of parents facing what you are. If you would like to join, please click on the Notre Dame Child/Elder Care Community Google Group link and follow the instructions. Please note, you may need to sign into your Notre Dame account to access the group.
RecSports
RecSports enhances the overall Notre Dame experience and provides recreational and educational opportunities for transformative lifestyles. It offers on-campus exercise facilities, fitness classes, club and intramural sports and other lifestyle services.
Varsity Athletic Tickets
The University provides eligible employees with the opportunity to purchase two (2) season athletic tickets for football, men’s basketball, women’s basketball, and hockey games. Basketball and hockey tickets are offered at discounted rates subject to availability.
Calm App
The Calm app provides tools to help you relax, focus, and rest, offering guided sessions on sleep, meditation, and relaxation. Sign up for a free, premium subscription using your netID email by following these instructions.