Available to Robert Half and Protiviti employees and Full-Time Engagement Professionals — refer to your benefits guide for the plans available to you.

Overview

You can set aside pre-tax money through payroll contributions for commuting costs, such as public transportation, vanpools and parking. These accounts are administered by HSA Bank. For more information about commuter benefits, go to the Empyrean Benefits Enrollment platform​. Once you are enrolled, you can access your HSA Bank accounts through a quick link in the lower left corner of your Empyrean site, under "Additional Items to Explore." Commuter benefits are effective as of your hire date. You can start, stop, or reduce your contributions at any time during the year. Any changes you make will be effective within one to two pay periods.

Note: If you’re also enrolled in an HSA or FSA, the Visa debit card you receive is the same one that you’ll use for your commuter benefit transactions.

Who can participate

All regular full- and part-time employees. Commuter benefits are effective as of your hire date.

How much you can contribute pre-tax

How much you can contribute pre-tax

  • For parking, up to $315 a month
  • For mass transit (bus, vanpool, subway, train), up $315 a month

These amounts are subject to change each year.

Accessing your account

You’ll receive a commuter benefits Visa debit card to pay for eligible parking and transportation expenses. When you use your card, the amount is deducted automatically from your account, provided you have available funds. Please note: You must purchase transit tickets in advance using the HSA Bank debit card. HSA Bank will not reimburse you for out-of-pocket transit expenses. You will still be able to file claims for parking expenses. Commuter funds can’t be refunded or transferred between transit and parking accounts.

Funds rollover

If you have funds in HSA Bank, you must have an active 2024 commuter plan at Empyrean to use those funds. If you didn’t elect during open enrollment, you can use the life event “Enroll/Change parking or transit contribution” on Empyrean to elect $0 contribution, which will allow you to access those rollover funds.

Claims that Exceed Monthly Maximums

Monthly claims cannot exceed the IRS monthly maximum. If you try to use your Visa debit card to pay for an expense that exceeds the monthly maximum, the expense will be denied. If you manually submit a commuter claim for an amount that exceeds the monthly allowed maximum, the claim will be paid up to the monthly maximum amount and any amount above the maximum will be denied, and you will need to re-file for the denied amount.

Enrolling as a New Hire

If you enroll as a new hire, your coverage is effective as of your date of hire. Funds aren’t available until after deductions are taken. Please note: You must purchase transit tickets in advance using the HSA Bank debit card. HSA Bank will not reimburse you for out-of-pocket transit expenses. You will still be able to file claims for parking expenses.

If You Have a Large Balance

You can reduce your election or elect $0 on the Empyrean Benefits Enrollment platform​ and still use the funds already available in your HSA Bank account.

Claims at Termination

If your employment ends, or if you terminate the plan as part of a qualified life event change, your commuter benefits coverage ends on the termination date. You have 90 days from the termination date to submit parking claims for expenses incurred no more than 180 days before termination. Parking claims will not be approved for services incurred after your termination date, nor if the claim is older than 180 days.

You forfeit any funds remaining in your account after all qualified claims have been paid.