I work in an air hub. You get credit for 4 hours toward insurance and pension every time you show up and punch in. You may only work 1.5 hours on a low volume night but you get 4 hours credit. I work an average of 12 hours a week, I get 20 hours credit toward insurance.
I believe New England is the same. Part-timers get four hours just for punching in, (but I've never seen this in writing.)
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Every plan is different. Check your Summary Plan Description (SPD). My plan requires 225 hours per quarter for inferior part-time coverage, and 400 for regular full-time coverage.
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Short-term Disability is 26 weeks. Long-term is an additional five years maximum. You probably have to be very closely related to the principal officer of the local to get nine years.
Normally, when the HR representative says, "one minute," it just means they are putting you on hold, not extending your coverage for a year!!!