Leaving Sandia

What you need to know

Before Your Last Day

Leading up to your last day of work, you should be following Sandia’s separation process to ensure things are in order before you leave.

Managers are welcome to write a personal reference letter for you; however, you must contact employee relations before requesting a letter of recommendation.

Also make sure your personal information (address and phone) in HR Self Service is correct.

After You Leave

If you voluntarily leave or retire from Sandia, you will be contacted by a third party called Exit Right, to set up an exit interview. This service is set-up to learn about your experience here at Sandia, so we ask that you be open and candid.

Your final paycheck will be sent on the first payday following your last day of work. (California employees will be paid on their last day of work.)

Information about continuing your benefits will be mailed to your home address.

Your W-2 will be sent to the address on file with Sandia. Contact HR Solutions if your mailing address changes after you leave Sandia.

Benefits After You Leave

Generally, your benefits end at the end of the month in which you last worked at Sandia. Some benefits, such as flexible spending accounts, end on your last day of employment. Contact HR Solutions for further details.

Health Benefits (COBRA)

You will be offered continued access to medical, dental, vision, prescription benefits, and potentially flexible spending accounts through the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA).

Insurance Benefits

If you are enrolled in voluntary insurance benefits, you will have the opportunity to convert your policies to individual policies within 31 days. You pay the premiums for this individual coverage.

Health Savings Account (HSA)

If you are enrolled in the Health Savings Plan, you have a health savings account (HSA) through Optum Bank. Like any other savings account, your HSA is your personal account. It’s yours to manage and keep, even after you leave Sandia.

Health Reimbursement Account and Flexible Spending Accounts

Health Reimbursement Account and Healthcare and Dependent Care FSAs

If you are enrolled in Sandia’s flexible spending accounts (healthcare or dependent care), you may submit claims up to 90 days following your last day worked. All dates of service must fall between the beginning of the plan year and your last day worked at Sandia. All balances remaining in the account will be forfeited after that. Continuation under COBRA may be an option. Contact Inspira Financial or Kaiser (CA only) for details and instructions.

If you are enrolled in Sandia’s health reimbursement account (HRA), you may submit claims up to 90 days following your last day of coverage on the medical plan. All dates of service must fall between the beginning of the plan year and your last day of medical coverage. All balances remaining in the account will be forfeited after your last day of medical coverage. Continuation under COBRA may be an option. Contact Inspira Financial or Kaiser (CA only) for details and instructions.

Transportation Spending Account

If you are enrolled in the transportation spending account, access to your account will end on your termination date. You will lose any remaining funds.

Retirement Benefits

If you participate in the pension plan:

If you are not yet eligible to begin receiving your pension benefits, you may be eligible for a deferred vested pension, payable in the future.

If you participate in the 401(k) plan:

Your own contributions to the plan are always vested; Sandia’s contributions to your account vest over a three-year period.

Your vested 401(k) balance is portable. You can decide to keep your money saved and invested in your current Fidelity account (with a balance over $5,000).

Or, you can roll over your balance to another employer’s plan or to a qualified retirement account (e.g., an IRA). There are no tax consequences for this rollover.

Vacation Time

Your accrued, unused vacation time will be paid to you, according to a schedule based on years of service and if you worked full-time or part-time.

Vacation Sell Program

If you terminate your employment before the payout in May, your eligibility for the vacation sell program will end and all the hours collected to that point will be returned and combined with your regular accrued vacation hours. The total will be paid to you in your final paycheck, subject to the standard accrual cap rules.

Resources

For general separation questions contact HR Solutions.

For security related questions contact Sandia Security Connection Helpline 505-845-1321
security.sandia.gov

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