UN job perks: What you need to know

Jobs at the United Nations are some of the most sought-after in international development. The reason: Perks are comparable to those in the private sector. “The U.N. looks after its employees well, regardless of whether they are in the HQ [headquarters] or in the field,” said Jasmina Popin, who currently works for the U.N. Industrial Development Organization. A U.N. employee’s position and location determines their benefits. Notable perks include health insurance, up to 30 days of paid vacation, education grants for dependent children, rental subsidies and a generous pension plan. Health benefits and other insurance U.N. organizations subsidize premiums of group health insurance plans, which are available to professional staff members and their dependents. Depending on where employees are located, medical insurance might complement public health insurance that is available locally. Some contractors may even receive health coverage. For instance, UNOPS offers optional health insurance to international individual contractors, who have the flexibility to arrange for insurance according to their needs. It also extends insurance to its local contractors. If a professional staff or general service staff member dies while working for the U.N., the global organization may pay a death grant to the employee’s survivors. In addition, the U.N. offers group life and accident insurance policies to employees. But because these plans are voluntary, staff members have to pay for them in full. Rental subsidies and deductions The U.N. helps cover expensive housing costs for employees stationed in larger cities such as New York, Rome and Tokyo. If a staff member’s rent is higher than a certain rental threshold, then the organization pays a rental subsidy. Typically, rent subsidies are not more than 40 percent of the rent, but the U.N. may waive this limit for employees in duty stations with very high rents. Sometimes organizations or a government will provide staff members with housing at well below the average cost of rental. In this case, there may be a deduction or a charge for rent. Education James Luko, who served at the U.N. for 12 years, described the global organization as “family friendly.” He said the U.N. offers to pay the bulk of children’s educational costs. “I never found the fact of having a family to be a problem,” he said. “It is overall a caring and understanding organization.” Internationally recruited staff who are serving outside their homelands can receive educational grants to help finance their children’s education. The grants are payable up through the fourth year of post-secondary studies for full-time students up to age 25. They cover 75 percent of allowable costs up to a certain amount. The U.N. will pay 100 percent of allowable costs up to a maximum amount for employees’ disabled children. Employees can also avail themselves of numerous training events. The U.N. Language and Communications Program at the New York headquarters has courses in Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish for staff members. Vacation and other leave time Professional employees enjoy generous amounts of vacation time. They can accrue two-and-a-half days of annual leave per month, or 30 days per year. Professional staff also get up to 10 holidays per year - which are not charged against annual leave — and sick leave. Maternity leave extends for 16 weeks and begins six weeks prior to the anticipated delivery date. Soon-to-be parents are also allowed to take paternity and adoption leave. Parental leave is also granted for a minumup of four weeks and up to eight weeks for staff serving at non-family duty stations. Usually, staff members who are posted outside their native lands are entitled to paid travel to their home countries every two years. The U.N. also pays for travel costs of a professional employee’s dependent children and spouse. Staff members on home leave need to use a certain amount of annual leave, usually seven days. If a staff member is serving in an especially difficult post, the U.N. may grant home leave every year. Pension plan Staff members for U.N. organizations contribute a percentage — 7.9 percent — of their pensionable income toward the organization’s pension fund. To collect pension benefits, an employee needs at least five years of service. The normal retirement age is 60. Individuals who are at least 55 years old may opt for an early retirement, but their pension benefits are reduced. Intangible benefits Even though perks are first-rate, employees are quick to point out that they do not work for the U.N. because of salary or benefits. Making a difference in the world, they say, presents the the biggest advantage. “People should remember, in the U.N. we are doing a public good, and we should not focus on the salary as our motivation to work for the United Nations,” Luko said. Those who have served at the U.N. consider working with their talented co-workers as another benefit. They say most U.N. employees are team-oriented and committed to their job. The work setting is also diverse. “I really enjoy working for them because of the environment,” said Jocelyne Rase, who has worked in human resources for the U.N. and is now an HR consultant. “You meet all kinds of people.”