Time Away From Work
Disability
If you have a non-work-related illness or injury and become unable to work for an extended period, the County offers disability benefits that partially replace your salary while you are away under certain circumstances.
California State Disability Insurance (SDI)
The State of California SDI program provides income replacement for eligible employees, due to their non-work-related illnesses or injuries, pregnancies, or childbirth.
The state disability insurance program pays weekly benefits ranging from $50, up to $1,540. The benefit paid is based on the highest wages you earn during one quarter in a 12-month base period, up to a maximum benefit amount. Your claim may begin when your doctor certifies that your disability prevents you from doing your regular or customary job duties. Depending on the type of disability claim, the benefit may be paid for up to 52 weeks The State of California makes all benefits and eligibility determinations.
Note: Employees represented by certain bargaining units have an automatic deduction, of 1.00% of salary, up to a maximum of $100,880 taken from their bi-weekly pay for this coverage. This appears on your paycheck as CA DASDI/EE (OASDI).
To learn more about eligibility and benefits covered through California SDI, go to www.edd.ca.gov/Disability/About_DI.htm.
There may be a seven-day waiting period for disability benefits to commence. You may use sick leave and/or vacation time during this period. Then, you may integrate state disability insurance with your remaining sick leave and vacation balances. One advantage of doing so is that you may be paid as close to or equal to your regular pay while you are away from work, depending on your salary. However, integration is not automatic. Before or within one week of your disability, you (or your designee) should notify your Department’s Employee Service Center to discuss your options. Otherwise, you may be placed on an unpaid leave of absence, which affects your pay and your medical, dental, vision, and life insurance benefits.
Paid Family Leave (PFL)
Paid Family Leave Plan is a part of California’s SDI program. PFL provides up to eight weeks of partial pay to employees who take time away from work to bond with a new child (including newly fostered and adopted children) or to care for a seriously ill family member.
The state pays a percentage of an employee’s eligible salary. The minimum weekly benefit is $50; the maximum weekly benefit is $1,540.
Note: Pregnancy disability claims for most employees are covered under California’s SDI program. The typical disability period for a normal pregnancy is up to four weeks before your expected delivery date and up to six weeks (for normal delivery) or eight weeks (for Cesarean section) after the actual delivery. Following your pregnancy disability period, you may also be eligible to take an additional six weeks of leave through the California Paid Family Leave program.
To learn more about PFL, go to: https://edd.ca.gov/en/disability/paid-family-leave/
Long-Term Disability Insurance (Provided by the Standard Insurance Company)
Most active hourly and salaried employees working one-half time or more per week are eligible for long-term disability coverage. This is a voluntary benefits plan - you pay the full premium cost for this coverage.
You may choose from two types of benefits:
- Base Plan: This covers 66 2/3% of your base salary. The maximum monthly salary amount considered for coverage is $22,500. The minimum monthly benefit is $216.67; the maximum monthly benefit is $15,000. Under the Base Plan, your benefit (and premium cost) automatically adjusts as your pay increases.
- Fixed Benefit Options: You select a benefit amount that is lower than what your monthly base salary provides. This is a fixed benefit amount and a fixed premium. If your salary increases, your benefit amount and premium will not change. Refer to your Benefits Guide (PDF) to see the different coverage options and their costs.
Here is how the plan pays benefits:
- Benefits begin following 60 days of disability.
- The plan provides income replacement up to age 65, or Social Security Normal Retirement Age, whichever is longest.
- An age-graded benefit schedule applies for disabilities beginning at age 60 or later.
Your long-term disability insurance benefit payment may be reduced by other forms of income (e.g., workers compensation insurance and California State Disability Insurance payments).
Making Your Long-Term Disability Insurance Election
- Your first opportunity to enroll occurs as you are a new hire - you may select any option and enroll within 30 days of your hire date. You are not required to provide “evidence of insurability” (defined in the plan’s Summary Plan Description) if you enroll within initial new hire window.
- As you continue employment with the County, you may enroll (or change your election) at any time. But if you missed your initial new hire window, you’ll be required to provide evidence of insurability to become insured.
Vacation/Scheduled Time Off (STO)
Depending on your bargaining unit, employees earn Vacation or Scheduled Time Off (STO). Vacation/STO is accrued on an hourly basis, based on an eight-hour work day. Your accrued Vacation/STO is based on your years of employment with the County and the maximum allowable balance. Refer to the memorandum of agreement for your bargaining unit to see how your benefit is calculated.
When planning and taking Vacation/STO, you should talk with and secure approval from your manager.
Sick Leave
Most coded employees are eligible to accrue up to 96 hours of sick leave per year. Refer to the memorandum of agreement for your bargaining unit to see how your benefit is calculated.
Additional Types of Leaves
Several other types of leave may be available to employees:
- Military leave - governed by the State California, for serving in the national or state military.
- Bereavement leave - in the event of the death of an immediate family member.
- Jury duty - to serve on a jury without a loss of pay.
- Leave Without Pay - may be granted to employees for up to one year.
Contact your Department’s Employee Service Center for more information.
Holidays
The County observes the following holidays:
- New Year's Day
- Martin Luther King, Jr. Birthday (third Monday in January)
- Presidents’ Day (third Monday in February)
- Cesar E. Chavez’s Birthday (March 31)
- Memorial Day (last Monday in May)
- Juneteenth (June 19)
- Fourth of July
- Labor Day (first Monday in September)
- Columbus Day (second Monday in October)
- Veterans’ Day (November 11)
- Thanksgiving Day
- Friday following Thanksgiving Day
- Christmas Day
Contact your Department’s Employee Service Center for more information.