Benefits shouldn't be "one size fits all." That's why Rockwell Collins implemented the Flexible Benefit Choices program. It's an integrated approach to benefits that allows employees to choose the mix of benefits that's right for them and their families.

Flexible Benefit Choices

Flexible benefit choices are divided into four parts:

• My Health While Working focuses on health and well-being, providing choices in medical, dental and vision plans.
• My Time Away From Work includes vacation and explains how employees are protected if they're away from work because of illness or injury.
• My Personal Needs covers voluntary benefits including legal services and auto, home and personal liability insurance. All are available at competitive rates, due to the company's group buying power. Rockwell Collins continues to look for opportunities to use the company's buying power to provide access to services that meet employees' personal needs.
• My Long Term Security offers choices around saving and investing in the Rockwell Collins Savings Plan, and provides an overview of life insurance options.

Each area includes several different benefit options

Health is important, and having access to quality health care is one of our most valued benefits. But not everyone needs the same amount or type of coverage.

The medical, dental and vision plans are built on a foundation of company-paid basic coverage for everyone. In addition to basic coverage, employees can purchase more coverage if they need it.

Medical

Rockwell Collins offers two medical plan options through Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield (BCBS):

• My PPO Plus plan - a high deductible health plan utilizing a preferred network of providers (out-of-network benefits are available). Employees who choose My PPO Plus plan have the option of establishing a tax advantaged Health Savings Account (HSA).
• My EPO plan - a no deductible health plan utilizing an exclusive provider network (no out-of-network benefits) with a monthly premium.
• Where available, employees may select a Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) plan to cover their medical needs.
• Employees may also choose to waive their medical plan benefit and receive $50 per month in additional compensation.

Savings accounts for health and dependent care expenses

Rockwell Collins offers three different accounts to help employees save and pay for their health and dependent care expenses:

• Health Savings Account (HSA) - an account that allows saving payroll-deducted money pre-tax to pay for eligible health care expenses now, or in the future. The money in an HSA can roll over from year to year and is portable.
• Flexible Spending Account for Health Care Expenses - an account that allows saving payroll-deducted money pre-tax to pay for eligible health care expenses, including prescription (and some over the counter) drugs, dental and vision.
• Flexible Spending Account for Dependent Care Expenses - an account that allows saving payroll-deducted money pre-tax to pay for eligible dependent care expenses, including day care and nursing home care.

Dental and Vision

Rockwell Collins provides separate, company-paid dental and vision plans which cover basic and preventive care services. For more complex dental and/or vision needs, employees may want to consider buying up to the following, more comprehensive plans:

• My Dental Plus plan
• My Vision Plus plan

• Medical and prescription drugs
• Dental
• Vision

Whether it's for a vacation, or to recuperate from an injury or illness, people appreciate the option to take time off when needed. Benefits should help achieve that balance between work and personal life.

Rockwell Collins is among a small group of companies that offers up to five weeks of vacation for long service employees, as well as a company-paid winter holiday shutdown for most locations.

Vacation and Holidays

Most employees receive up to 14 paid holidays per year - including the winter holiday shutdown. The amount of vacation each employee accrues per year is based on his/her years of service with the company, as outlined below.

Note: for employees working outside the state of California, vacation hours are accrued monthly. For employees working in California, vacation hours are accrued in advance for the full year, 30 days after hire date, and on each subsequent employment anniversary date thereafter.

Vacation time can be used as it accrues. The Rockwell Collins vacation policy provides additional flexibility to those employees who have accrued at least 40 hours of vacation by the end of the calendar year but who can't - or don't want to - use it. In this situation, employees can choose to exchange vacation for pay as shown below.

In Case of Illness or Injury

While the Rockwell Collins workers' compensation program covers work-related injuries and illnesses, protection is also provided if the illness or injury is not work-related. Here's an overview of available coverages:

• Incidental absence covers short term illness of less than five days (in most locations).
• Salary Continuation is based on years of service, and covers employees (in most locations) at 100 percent of pay. Employees receive one week of coverage for each year of service, with a minimum of two weeks and a maximum of 26 weeks.
  Please note Incidental absence and Salary Continuation are not accrued benefits subject to payout. They merely provide available paid time off in the event of illness.
• Short-Term Disability coverage goes into effect after salary continuation is exhausted. Short term disability pays 60 percent of an employee's salary up to $1,385 per week and covers up to a total of 26 weeks (including time spent on salary continuation).
• Long-Term Disability goes into effect if an employee is disabled and away from work longer than 26 weeks. This benefit replaces either 50 percent of pay (up to $6,000 per month), or 66-2/3 percent of pay (up to $7,500 per month), depending on the coverage option (company-paid or buy-up) chosen.

• Vacation
• Holidays
• Illness

Everyone is busy. Most people juggle competing priorities at home and at work. Quality legal services can be a great help. The pre-paid legal services benefit provides access to a nationwide network of attorneys who can help draft a will, assist with paperwork involved in buying or selling a home, and more.

Rockwell Collins also offers auto, home, renter's, property, RV and boat insurance at competitive group rates, with the convenience of regular payroll deductions. Personal liability insurance can be added to auto or home insurance. Of course, it's a matter of choice. Insurance arrangements vary widely from state to state and employees are encouraged to compare their options.

• Auto, home and personal liability insurance
• Pre-paid legal services
• Long-term care insurance
• Veterinary insurance for pets

Everyone has different goals when thinking about retirement and their family's long-term financial protection. That's why the Rockwell Collins Savings Plan and life insurance programs include several options.

Saving for Retirement

Rockwell Collins offers a very competitive 401(k) Savings Plan and a generous company match.
Employees can currently choose from 29 investment funds and can contribute up to 50 percent of their pay. 
Rockwell Collins also makes a retirement contribution to the Savings Plan for all eligible employees, based on an employee's age and years of service.

In addition, the company offers investment and retirement planning workshops to help employees make the most of their savings and investment choices.

Providing Protection

No one wants to think about being injured or dying. However, it's comforting to know that financial protection is available if something happens. Rockwell Collins provides company-paid term life and accidental death and dismemberment insurance equal to one times an employee's annual base salary.

The company also provides the option for employees to purchase supplemental term or universal life insurance coverage at group rates up to a coverage level eight times their annual pay.

Coverage for Dependents

• Employees can cover their spouse for an amount between $10,000 and $100,000 in $5,000 increments.
• Employees can cover their children for either $10,000 or $15,000 per child.
• Employees can elect personal accident insurance for their dependents.

• Retirement planning and savings
• Life insurance
• Accidental death and dismemberment insurance

At Rockwell Collins, flexibility and choice are central to an integrated and comprehensive approach to providing employee benefits. Employees can take advantage of basic coverage in all benefit areas, as well as options to customize and enhance their benefits.