The Preferred Choice program provides comprehensive, insurance-related, flexible benefits and allows employees to select from among several choices to form a benefits package that fits their individual or family needs. Not all choices are available in every location either because of provider limits or local office size.

All full-time and part-time regular employees (employees working 24 hours or more per week on a regular basis) are eligible for coverage under the Preferred Choice program. Premium payments are processed on a pre-tax basis with the exception of cancer care, and critical illness, hospital confinement indemnity insurance, supplemental life, whole life, voluntary short-term disability (STD), and long-term care. The program is mainly self-insured and subject to the regulations of the Internal Revenue Code Section 125, ERISA, COBRA, and HIPAA. Although most benefits are effective on the first day of employment, some plan dates are subject to a waiting period and/or underwriting approval.

Cancer/Critical Illness Plan - Benefits may be payable to employee/dependent(s) if diagnosed as suffering from internal cancer or other life-threatening illness as defined by the plan.

Dental Plan - Based on their location, most employees are able to choose between two dental offerings: the Dental Preferred Organization (DPO) option or Dental Maintenance Organization (DMO) option.

Flexible Spending Accounts - Allows for reimbursement of health-related and dependent care expenses with pre-tax dollars through two individual accounts (Health Care and Dependent Care), each with a minimum contribution of $240 and a maximum contribution of $5,000 per plan year.

Hospital Confinement Indemnity Insurance - Elective program which pays a lump sum benefit if any covered person is confined to a hospital.

Life Insurance/AD&D - Provides financial protection for you and your family in case of death or serious injury. The Company currently offers basic and/or supplemental life coverage to all eligible employees and their dependents.

Whole Life Insurance - Elective program which provides guarantees, cash value, premium rates and death benefit.

Long-Term Care - Provides benefits to employees and eligible dependents that, while under medical attention, require long-term care due to cognitive impairment or loss of ability to perform routine day-to-day activities on their own.

Long-Term Disability - Offers employees financial protection if they are unable to work due to permanent and total disability. Coverage is automatic.

Medical Plan - Most employees are able to choose from at least two plans: a PPO and an EPO. Some plans are subject to pre-existing condition limitations. All plans provide prescription benefit.

Short-Term Disability - Provides income replacement during a period of total disability caused by a non-work related illness or accident. The Atkins plan is secondary to state-mandated plans. Coverage is automatic.

Vision Plan - This program provides employee/family coverage for routine eye care including eye exams, eyeglasses (lenses and frames), or contacts.

Time-Off Benefits and Flexible Work Schedules

The following time-off benefits are offered to all full-time employees, and are also extended to part-time regular employees on a reduced basis. Part-time temporary employees are ineligible for these benefits.

Absence with Pay - Employees are allowed up to three days in a calendar year for absences due to death in the immediate family and up to two days for professional registration examinations (licenses), one time only.

Holidays – The Company provides nine paid holidays per year: New Year’s Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, day following Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and one floating holiday.

Flexible Work Schedules - Full-time employees are afforded the opportunity to enroll in one of four alternative flexible schedules, including the nine-eighty, compressed workweek, and a flex-time option (participation is contingent upon manager approval and subject to the needs of the work group, project, and/or clients).

Jury Duty/Military Leave - Company assures no loss in pay when employees are called upon to serve: jury duty, up to ten days unless payment is extended by local regulations; military leave, depending on length of the active service term.

Paid Time Off - This program combines vacation and sick leave time which allows employees to manage their company-paid time away from work. Consists of a time-earned account based on tenure: up to 5 years, 15 days; from beginning of 6th year through 15th year, 20 days; thereafter, one day for each year over 15, up to a maximum of 25 days at 20 years. May be used for vacation, sick, or personal day. Can carry over to the following year.

Other Employee Benefits

Business Travel - Employees traveling on company business are afforded additional life insurance for accidental death, which is paid for by the company and starts at $100,000.

Commuter Expense Reimbursement Account - Allows employees to make pre-tax deductions into a reimbursement account for qualified commuter expenses such as costs for parking or public transportation.

Direct Deposit of Paychecks - The company offers direct deposit of paychecks to employees’ choice of bank or financial institution, as well as easy 24/7 access to paystubs and tax documents through the ADP I-PAY Internet portal.

Employee Assistance Program (EAP) - The EAP is a resource available to full-time and part-time regular employees and their dependents (through independent counseling services) for help with a variety of problems such as marital or family conflicts, emotional problems, stress, alcohol or drug abuse, and a number of other concerns.

Employee Courtesy and Recreational Benefits - Employees are offered discounts for various goods and services from participating vendors, including discounts for banking, computers, cell-phone service, travel clubs, automobile purchases, entertainment venues, and auto/home insurance.

Performance Evaluations - Conducted on a semi-annual basis. Employees are eligible for annual salary review consideration based on performance and goals achievement.

Professional Registrations - Company for professional registrations and licenses in the employee’s home state as well as in states where it is deemed a business necessity.

Retirement Plan - Employees are eligible to participate in the Atkins retirement plan upon hire through automatic enrollment. Vesting is according to schedule, with 100% after 5 years. Plan participation requires a minimum 2% deferral of compensation through a 401(k) account, and the company may make a discretionary matching contribution of 50% up to the first 6% deferred (range from 1% to 3% of compensation). The plan has the potential for additional company contributions depending upon the firm’s profitability.

Recognition and Employee Satisfaction Programs - The Company seeks to recognize and reward employees in a variety of ways, including: incentive and discretionary bonus programs, recognition of first professional registration or certificates by professional organizations, service awards program, and a spot bonus program.

Training, Educational Assistance, and Professional Development - Our employees can launch their success and sustain the success of the company through supported continuous learning. The University oversees the firm’s training and development activities for professional and personal development. Programs include our flagship classroom training for leadership, project management, and business development; online webinars and self-study courses; and local office activities. Continuing education opportunities for our many licensed and certified professionals is a key goal. In-house learning is complemented by company sponsored employee attendance at approved seminars and conferences as well as company-paid member-ship in professional organizations. Through its educational assistance program, the company reimburses up to 80% of approved costs (tuition and books) for college level courses that are job related.

IF THERE SHOULD BE A CONFLICT BETWEEN THE ABOVE OUTLINE AND THE OFFICIAL DOCUMENTS, THE LATTER WILL ALWAYS GOVERN.