Benefits & Services
Benefits At WesternU
We offer competitive salaries, paid time off, insurance plans, reimbursements, and retirement benefits.
WesternU offers each eligible employee
- Medical, Dental, Vision
- Health Savings Account (HSA), Flexible Spending Account (FSA)
- Basic Life Insurance, Accidental Death & Dismemberment (AD&D), Long Term Disability (LTD)
- Retirement – 403(b) (100% vested on first day)
- Paid Holidays (eligible employees) and a current policy for a paid two-week winter break (subject to change)
- Sick/Vacation Time
- Training/Professional Development
- Service Awards
- Tuition Reimbursement, Tuition Remission
- Employee Assistance Program (emotional well-being, parenting & childcare, education, and legal assistance)
- Vendor Discounts (entertainment, food, goods, services)
- Ride Share
- Wellness Program (Exercise Incentives, Reimbursements for Health Club/Gyms & Weight Watchers Memberships)
There are times when everyone needs a little help or advice, or assistance with a serious concern. The EAP through OPTUM can help you handle a wide variety of personal issue such as emotional health and substance abuse; parenting and childcare needs; financial coaching; legal consultation; and eldercare resources.
Best of all, contacting the EAP is completely confidential, free and available to any member of your immediate household.
For additional information, please visit the OPTUM web site.
Select “Browse as a guest with a company access code”
Enter Access Code: westernu
If you would like to talk to a person, call OPTUM at (800) 234-5465
Vendors Offering Discounts to WesternU Employees
WesternU is pleased to offer discounts to employees for fitness & gyms, food & entertainment, goods, and services.
Individuals who choose to use the links should understand that they are offered only as a convenience and WesternU takes no responsibility for the accuracy of the information provided at these sites.
Welcome to the WesternU Employee Rideshare Incentive Program!
Ridesharing is one of the strongest means in reducing smog emissions and improving the overall air quality in our communities. For this reason, Western University of Health Sciences encourages our employees to try out alternative methods of transportation to get to work!
Who is eligible to receive incentives through WesternU’s Rideshare Program?
– Regular full-time employees who use alternative means of transportation to get to work during “peak” commuting hours (Monday through Friday between 6:00am and 10:00am)
– Regular part-time employees who work at least 5 hours per week and use alternative means of transportation to get to work during “peak” commuting hours (Monday through Friday between 6:00am and 10:00am)
Who is ineligible to receive incentives through WesternU’s Rideshare Program?
– Temporary employees
– Student employees
WESTERNU’S RIDESHARE PROGRAM INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING INCENTIVES FOR ELIGIBLE EMPLOYEES:
WesternU offers two paid incentive programs: Bonus Pay and Public Transit Subsidy. Eligible employees may only participate in one WesternU-sponsored Rideshare incentive program per month.
All submissions for bonus pay and transit reimbursement are subject to verification and approval by WesternU’s Employee Transportation Coordinator in the Office of Human Resources.
BONUS PAY
Reimbursement Guidelines: A bonus pay of $3.00 per day will be granted to eligible employees who use alternative means of transportation (as listed below) to get to work during weekday peak morning commuting hours. The bonus pay will be included in employee paychecks on a monthly basis, provided that the employee submits their report by the stated deadline. Employees are not eligible for the bonus pay on weekends or paid University holidays.
You will receive a monthly email requesting that you electronically report your commutes using the electronic Rideshare Form. If you carpool with other WesternU employees a Rideshare submission must be entered by each person to receive the bonus pay.
If you experience an error when attempting to submit the electronic Rideshare Form, you will need to submit a JPROD Service Request.
Carpool* & Vanpool
Eligible employees who carpool* with one or more people for at least half of their drive to work during peak morning commuting hours qualify for the bonus pay. Carpool partners may include other WesternU employees, employees at other institutions, and friends/family members (including children being dropped off at school, day care, etc.).
Employees who wish to carpool or vanpool to work together may agree upon one person in their group to purchase a parking permit through WesternU, then split the cost among the group as they choose. It is the permit holder’s responsibility to make financial arrangements with the other carpoolers. Up to three vehicles can be registered on one parking permit. Employees who share a parking permit must continue to submit monthly reimbursement forms through the Office of Human Resources to continue receiving the bonus pay incentive. Email parking@westernu.edu for questions regarding parking permits.
* Please note that private rides-for-hire such as taxis, Uber (including Uberpool), Lyft, etc. do not count as carpooling.
Bicycle & Walk
Eligible employees who bicycle or walk to work during peak morning commuting hours qualify for the bonus pay.
EV (Electric Vehicle) & PHEV (Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle)
Eligible employees who drive a PHEV to work during peak morning commuting hours qualify for the bonus pay, provided that their entire commute from home to work is made solely on electric power, without any use of a gasoline engine or cogeneration system. Hybrid vehicle drivers should check the vehicle manufacturer’s stated full-charge electric range to make sure this applies to their vehicle.
Motorcycle
Eligible employees who drive a motorcycle during peak morning commuting hours must be riding with one other person for at least half of their drive to work to qualify for the bonus pay. Single riders are not eligible for bonus pay.
PUBLIC TRANSIT SUBSIDY
Reimbursement Guidelines: Eligible employees will be reimbursed a maximum of $120.00 per month for their public transit passes that were purchased to commute to work during weekday peak morning commuting hours. Original public transportation receipts noting the employee’s name should be submitted electronically to the Office of Human Resources at RideshareOHR@westernu.edu for reimbursement.
RIDESHARE RECOGNITION
Employees that participate in WesternU’s Rideshare Program for each of the three consecutive months in a quarter will receive a $5 gift card* to the University Bookstore.
Other prizes will be gifted periodically in recognition of employees who regularly use alternative means of transportation to get to work. Prizes may include gift certificates, movie tickets, electronics, etc.*
*Some prizes will be subject to applicable taxation on the employee’s following paycheck. Talk to your income tax advisor or WesternU’s payroll department for more information.
RIDE GUIDES
Personalized Ride Guides can (1.) match potential Rideshare partners based on home proximity and work start and end times and/or (2.) provide a route between your home and work via public transportation. Employees can obtain ride guides can by:
- Emailing RideshareOHR@westernu.edu – The Employee Transportation Coordinator will conduct a search via email for other WesternU employees in your area who can potentially carpool to work with you.
- Creating a profile at Ridematch.info – This website matches commuters based on proximity and work start/end times. You can be matched with other WesternU students and employees or individuals who are not employed with WesternU; filter your results however you’d prefer. All WesternU employees, including those that are ineligible for Rideshare incentives, are encouraged to use this site to find Rideshare partners!
- Getting a guide from Los Angeles Metro and/or Inland Empire Commuter – These regional transit agencies offer free personalized public transit (bike, bus, train) ride guides based on your location and ride match services (carpooling).
THE FOLLOWING FREE RIDESHARE INCENTIVES ARE OFFERED THROUGH LOCAL TRANSIT AGENCIES TO ELIGIBLE EMPLOYEES AT WESTERNU’S POMONA CAMPUS:
Because local rideshare benefits are not connected to WesternU, eligible employees may participate in a local incentive program as well as a WesternU-sponsored incentive program.
All submissions for local rideshare benefits are subject to verification and approval by the local transit agency and/or WesternU’s Employee Transportation Coordinator.
$2/DAY START-UP INCENTIVE
Courtesy of Inland Empire (IE) Commuter, eligible employees located in San Bernardino and Western Riverside County that are interested in trying out ridesharing for the first time (i.e. carpooling, vanpooling, riding the bus or train, biking, walking, telecommuting) may be eligible to receive $2/day in gift card incentives for every day that they rideshare in the first three months! To qualify, participants must:
- Be brand new to ridesharing
- Have been driving alone at least 90 days prior to their rideshare arrangement start date
- Log a minimum of five roundtrip rideshares in their commute diary for three consecutive months
Eligible employees interested in switching their commute to ridesharing can sign up for IE Commuter’s rewards program and start logging their rideshares:
IE COMMUTER REWARDS PROGRAM
In addition to the $2/day start-up incentive and local merchant discounts, IE Commuter has a monthly drawing for their Rideshare Program Spotlight. Winners can take home a monthly prize valued up to $100 and a chance to share their Ridesharing story! To be included in the monthly drawings, eligible employees located in San Bernardino and Western Riverside County must log eight roundtrip rideshares in their commute diary per month. Each trip counts as a sweepstakes entry. Remember: All you have to do to take advantage of all three of IE Commuter’s incentives is sign up and regularly log your weekday rideshare trips!
METRO REWARDS PROGRAM
Courtesy of LA Metro, eligible employees located in LA County can win gift cards and Metro passes in monthly drawings for reporting their rideshare trips to work! There is no minimum amount to qualify; the more you rideshare the more chances you have to win prizes! Create a profile at ridematch.info, then log your rideshare trips using the Commute Calendar to participate.
FREE METRO TO WORK
Courtesy of LA Metro, newly hired eligible employees located in LA County can apply for a free 7-day Metro pass and transit information! Email the Employee Transportation Coordinator at RideshareOHR@westernu.edu to request an application.
GUARANTEED RIDE HOME
Worried about carpooling to work and losing your ride home? WesternU partners with the regional Guaranteed Ride Home Program (GRH), which benefits ridesharing employees who have lost their ride home due to an unforeseen emergency during normal working hours. Emergency circumstances that qualify for a ride under the GRH Program include:
- Personal illness/emergency
- Unexpected illness/emergency of an immediate family member
- Your carpool/vanpool driver has an emergency or unexpected overtime
- Your supervisor requires you to work unexpected overtime
IE Commuter and LA Metro reimburse emergency rides home via Lyft. If you find yourself stranded without a ride home from work, contact WesternU’s Employee Transportation Coordinator* at RideshareOHR@westernu.edu or University ext. 3751. The ETC will handle the logistics and payment; just sit back, relax, and be assured that your Lyft driver will get you home safely!
*As a courtesy, the Office of Human Resources asks that you give at least 30 minutes-1 hour of notice when requesting a guaranteed ride home.
Reimbursement amount and usage limits apply, as determined by the regional Guaranteed Ride Home Program handbook. Contact the Employee Transportation Coordinator for details.
OTHER QUESTIONS?
Contact WesternU’s Employee Transportation Coordinator in the Office of Human Resources at RideshareOHR@westernu.edu or campus extension 3751.
To promote the wellness and health of our employees, Western University of Health Sciences offers several benefits and incentives to encourage our employees to exercise.
These are available to all regular full-time employees actively working a minimum of 30 hours per week.
Earn a $350 annual medical premium discount for 2026/27!
Prioritize your physical well-being with our new wellness incentive program, Personify Health! This platform encourages healthy living upon signing up, including but not limited to fitness challenges, nutrition guides, and regular health screenings.
Achieve your health goals and enjoy the rewards of an improved lifestyle with the support and motivation you need. Start your journey to better physical health today!
When you reach Platinum Level in the Personify Health program during the 2025/26 benefit plan year (by February 28, 2026) you will earn a $350 annual medical premium discount during the 2026/27 benefit plan year. (Currently- must be enrolled in a WesternU medical plan)
For more information see our Personify Program Guide & FAQs
Get started! Sign up for better health Visit the Personify Health web site Enrollment passphrase: Thrive4Wellbeing
Need motivation or assistance with navigating the platform? Meet Crystal Rivera, your friendly campus Wellness Champion!
Health Club Reimbursement
Employees can be reimbursed up to $100.00 annually (on a rolling 12-month calendar), for their health club membership.
To receive this reimbursement, simply complete the Health Club Membership Reimbursement Form, attach a copy of your receipt or proof of payment that details who the membership was for, the date of the payment, and the amount that was paid and e-mail to HRBenefits@westernu.edu.
What is One Pass Select?
One Pass Select is a fitness and well-being subscription service that’s designed around you and your goals. There are FIVE membership tiers to choose from, with the option to change tiers monthly.
One Pass Select provides access to over 19,000 gyms and studios. Members have multi-location access, which allows subscribers to join multiple locations at a time. We’ll say it again, this means you can use multiple fitness locations during the same month! You will need to present your member code to each new participating fitness location you want to use. The location will enroll you in the gym, providing access to a standard membership and classes at no additional cost. You can even use locations while traveling. If you are so inclined, this means you can go to LA Fitness on Monday, Fitness 19 on Tuesday, 24 Hour Fitness on Wednesday, Crunch on Thursday, Esporta on Friday, Chuze on Saturday, and Gold’s Gym on Sunday as long as the locations are within your tier. As you go up in tier, it encompasses all the tiers below it!
The digital membership tier provides you discounted access to thousands of on-demand and livestreaming exercise classes through different online fitness partners.
Select tiers of One Pass Select offer free access to grocery and household delivery services that provide the convenience of having healthy foods delivered to your home (included in all membership except ‘Digital’).
Please read all of the details below to determine if this benefit is right for you.
Step 1: Do your Research
As part of One Pass Select, participating gyms and fitness studios will provide access to the standard services, amenities, or number of classes normally part of the participating fitness location’s standard membership offering. Contact the specific location(s) you are interested in joining to learn more.
You will receive a standard membership or class package with your One Pass Select enrollment. Extra services that consist of additional fees (such as personal training, fee-based group fitness classes or additional classes outside of the standard membership offering) are not included and will have to be paid for out of pocket through your gym or fitness center. Contact the specific location(s) you are interested in joining to learn more. Other restrictions may apply as set forth in the applicable Terms and Conditions.
While most locations are unlimited, some fitness studios such as Pure Barre, Orangetheory and Club Pilates have monthly visit limits by location. This will be noted on One Pass Select | Locations under the location’s “Details”. Call your location or the member support number for specific membership details.
Visit the One Pass site to see if it’s right for you. Search available locations, familiarize yourself with the tiers, review the family member options and the grocery delivery benefit (included in all membership except ‘Digital’)
Explore locations: One Pass Select | Locations
Search by zip code, read the description and note the tiers for the various gyms
Review the: One Pass Overview Presentation
Very helpful overview of the benefit. Required reading!
FAQs: One Pass Select | FAQs
All of your questions are answered on this page – bookmark it and review it before purchasing
Step 2: Understand How Billing Works
Membership is instant, and you will be charged for the full current calendar month on the day you sign up (One Pass Select does not offer proration). On the 1st of each month, your payment method on file will be charged a recurring monthly membership fee at your chosen tier level, for the current month.
One Pass Select members can add individuals ages 18+ onto their primary account. These additional subscriptions will receive a 10% discount on their tier of choice. You can access this feature in the One Pass Select experience, under “Manage Membership”. The primary account holder will be billed for all memberships on their account (i.e. one credit card is used for all memberships).
Step 3: Choose your tier + learn the perks
Important note: As you go up in tier, it encompasses all the tiers below it!!
- Elite $159/month + $29 registration fee + applicable tax
- Premium $109/month + $29 registration fee + applicable tax
- Standard $69/month + $29 registration fee + applicable tax
- Classic $34/month + $29 registration fee + applicable tax
- Digital $10/month + $10 registration fee + applicable tax
Change in fees: Optum may modify participant chargers and will provide no less than 60 days’ notice prior to the change in fees going into effect.
Included Services (except with digital-only tier):
Groceries and household goods can be delivered straight to your home. Under the “Your Perks” tab, use the links to access Shipt or Walmart+. Then enter your One Pass Select member code to enroll with a free membership.
- Walmart +
Members receive a complementary Walmart+ membership including free shipping with no minimum order. Members receive free grocery delivery with no item markups. Members will have access to the standard W+ membership, extra services may include additional fees that are not included. - Shipt
Free delivery on orders over $35.00. National and local retailers: Costco, CVS, Office Depot, Target, and so many more.
For details on the tiers please see the: One Pass Overview Presentation
Step 4: Purchase your membership
Let’s get you registered – One Pass Select (healthsafe-id.com)
Enter your Employee ID number for the “Employee Assigned ID” . The Optum system does not accept special characters so replace the “@” with a “0”
Need Help?
Call One Pass Select toll-free at 1-877-515-9364, M-F, 8 am-9 pm CT.
Step 5: Submit for reimbursement
You are also able to get reimbursed up to $100 per year under the Health Club Reimbursement.
Step 6: Consider a family/friend membership
One Pass Select members can add individuals ages 18+ onto their primary account. These additional subscriptions will receive a 10% discount on their tier of choice. You can access this feature in the OnePass Select experience, under “Manage Membership”.
- Family member and friends will receive and email once their account has been set up.
- Family member and friends will click “Get Started” in the email.
If you need to select a different membership tier or cancel the membership tier for my family member or friend: Go to the Manage Membership page, locate the Family Memberships tile and there you can Edit the member information or cancel the member.
If a family member or friend wants to change or cancel their One Pass Select membership remember that all updates to the family member or friend One Pass Select membership are controlled by the Primary Account holder on the Primary Account holders One Pass Select manage membership page.
Unlimited family members/friends: As of January 2024, it is unlimited family members/friends on the primary account as long as the member is over the age of 18. But remember, all accounts are billed to the primary member’s credit card.
SamFit Membership Agreement (Oregon Campus ONLY)
WesternU has negotiated special rates for memberships to SamFit as shown below.
Membership Fees:
| Membership Type | Pricing |
| Primary Member | $30.00 / month |
| Secondary Member | $20.00 / month |
| Additional Members | $15.00 / month |
Membership benefits include:
- No enrollment or activation fees
- Free access card upon enrollment
- Free new member consult, wellness-life coaching consult
- One Complimentary InBody Composition Scan
- Up to 20% discount on all additional services (e.g. personal training, nutrition/health coaching)
- Free unlimited access to the onsite health, wellness & fitness educational sessions
- Free unlimited access to select group exercise classes
- Free unlimited access to virtual classes
- Free access to Newport racquetball courts and Albany SamFit racquetball courts, and classes
- 24/7/365 access to all SamFit facilities (including Newport, Corvallis, Lebanon, Albany, etc.)
- Discounted 1st Family Add-on: $20.00/month
- Discounted Additional Family Add-ons: $15.00/month
- For the avoidance of doubt, SamFit will honor the rates/services set out in this Section 11. In the event this Agreement is terminated, WesternU may remove all such postings from its website.
A valid WesternU ID is required to receive these discounts. All members under the same account must live within the same household and be at least 16 years of age.
Locations:
| SamFit of Lebanon 35 Mullins Dr. Ste 3 Lebanon, OR 97355 (541) 451-6990 |
SamFit of Corvallis 777 NW 9th St. Ste. 310 Corvallis, OR 97330 (541) 768-5850 |
SamFit of Albany 380 NW Hickory Ave Albany, OR 97321 (541) 812-3300 |
SamFit of Newport 1111 SW 10th St. Newport, OR 97365 (541) 574-9062 |
In order to promote the balance of employee work and personal life, WesternU offers a 50% reimbursement for dues/membership fees paid to Weight Watchers when you join at work, online, or at a physical location.
To receive this reimbursement, simply complete the Weight Watchers Reimbursement Form, attach documentation stating your current membership status and a copy of your receipt, cancelled check/s, or statement and return it to Human Resources. This reimbursement is taxable and will be added to your paycheck.
For general questions regarding Weight Watchers and information on meetings held on campus please contact Benefits, HRBenefits@westernu.edu.
Exercise Incentive
The University offers a financial incentive to employees for exercising. To take advantage of this incentive, employees should keep track of each day they exercise for at least 30 minutes. At the end of each 18-week period, an e-mail will be sent from the Office of Human Resources that includes a hyperlink and instructions on how to electronically submit your exercise days.
You may be paid up to a total of $54.00 ($1.00 per day) if you exercise at least 30 minutes, an average of 3 times per week, for a total of 54 days during an 18-week period. The money is taxable and will be included in your paycheck.
For questions regarding these wellness incentives and reimbursements, please contact Human Resources at HRBenefits@westernu.edu or 909-706-3751.
Reimbursement forms can be found on the Human Resources’ Forms page.
Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) is a program that forgives the remaining balance on federal student loans. If you are employed by a government or not-for-profit organization, you might be eligible for the PSLF program.
Holidays Observed
The University recognizes the following holidays (campus closed on day of holiday or an observed day):
- Christmas Day
- Independence Day
- Indigenous People’s Day
- Juneteenth Day
- Labor Day
- Martin Luther King Jr. Day
- Memorial Day
- New Year’s Day
- President’s Day
- Thanksgiving
- Friday after Thanksgiving
- Veterans’ Day
For more information on the annual University calendar including holidays, orientation, convocation, commencement, and fall, winter, spring recess, refer to the academic calendar.