Health and Medical
Medical Benefits
The California Public Employees' Retirement System (CalPERS) administers State Fund's Health Benefits Program. Coverage extends to both employees and eligible family members through a variety of insurance providers. State Fund contributes a majority of the health-care premium so that employees need only pay a portion. Certain plans require employees to pay a deductible in addition to their share of the premium.
Dental Benefits
Dental insurance is available through a variety of plans for employees and their eligible dependents. For most plans State Fund pays the monthly premium in full.
Vision Benefits
Vision insurance is available for all employees and their eligible dependents. State Fund pays the monthly premium in full. The plan offers a variety of benefits at minimal cost to employees.
Long Term Care Insurance
Provides coverage that may be necessary due to a chronic illness, frailty of old age, or a serious accident. Care may be provided at home, in an assisted living facility, or in a nursing home.
COBRA
Coverage of health benefits may be continued under COBRA for 18 months if lost based on a “qualifying event.”
Holidays and Leave
State Holidays
All employees receive 11 paid business holidays and one paid personal holiday per calendar year. All employees receive two paid professional development days per fiscal year, except attorneys, who receive five paid professional development days per fiscal year.
Personal Holidays
In addition to the regularly scheduled holidays, most employees receive one personal holiday per fiscal year.
Vacation
Employees receive between 7 and 16 hours of vacation each month, depending on years of service.
Sick Leave
All employees receive 8 hours of sick leave per month.
Annual Leave
Provides eligible employees a combined pool of “annual leave” credits instead of separate vacation and sick leave credits. Annual leave covers the same kinds of absences that otherwise would be covered by vacation or sick leave.
Bereavement Leave
Employees receive up to 3 days of paid bereavement leave due to the death of an immediate family member.
Military Leave
Members of the U.S. armed forces are eligible for a variety of benefits when called to active duty. The leave benefits may include:
- Thirty calendar days of State pay per fiscal year.
- Up to two years of salary compensation for the difference between military pay and State pay.
- Salary increases and continued vacation/sick leave accrual while receiving State pay.
- Continuation of medical coverage for up to 180 days.
- The right to return to the same (or similar) position.
State employees who are members of the California National Guard or a U.S. military reserve organization may also be entitled to certain benefits if ordered to active duty.
State Disability Insurance (SDI)
SDI is an employee-paid disability insurance program. Participating employees can have part of their wages covered under SDI if they have to stop working due to a non- work-related illness or injury. SDI also covers an employee if they take time off due to pregnancy or childbirth, to bond with a minor child (under age 18) within one year of its birth, adoption, or foster care placement. In addition, SDI covers time off to care for a seriously ill child, spouse, parent, or domestic partner. Certain supervisors, managers, and confidential employees are not covered under SDI.
Industrial Disability Leave (IDL)
Employees who are temporarily disabled due to a work-related injury are eligible to receive IDL in lieu of temporary disability benefits. IDL allows an employee to receive two-thirds of his or her gross pay during the period of disability for up to 52 weeks. Health and/or dental benefits continue while the employee is on leave due to a work-related injury.
Long Term Disability Insurance
Helps protect an employee from loss of income if an illness or injury prevents them from working for six months or more.
Nonindustrial Disability Insurance (NDI)
NDI is an employer-paid disability insurance program. Certain supervisors, managers, and confidential employees who are unable to work due to a non-work-related injury may continue to receive a portion of their wages through NDI (in lieu of sick leave or vacation leave). In addition, employees continue their health, dental, and vision benefits while receiving NDI benefits. Employees participating in the Annual Leave Program and non-represented employees (supervisors, managers, and confidential employees) may use annual leave or sick leave to supplement NDI benefits and receive up to 100 percent of their gross pay.
Maternity / Parental Leave
Employees are eligible for an unpaid leave of absence of up to one year for parental leave. Employees can elect to continue health, dental, and vision care coverage, but they may be responsible for the full payment of the premium during the period of leave.
Adoption Leave
Employees are entitled to an unpaid leave of absence of up to one year for the adoption of a child. Employees can elect to continue health, dental, and vision care coverage, but they may be responsible for the full payment of the premium during the period of leave.
Family Participation
Employees are entitled to use up to 40 hours of leave credits (such as vacation, annual, or personal leave) each year to participate in the school- and non-school-related activities of their children. This benefit is available to employees with children attending kindergarten or grades 1 through 12.
Family Crisis Leave
Employees are also eligible to use leave credits (such as vacation leave or sick leave) to attend to family-crisis situations. Qualifying situations include, but are not limited to: divorce counseling, family or parental conflict management, family-care urgent matters, and/or emergencies.
Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)
Under the FMLA, employees are eligible to receive up to 12 weeks of unpaid job-protected leave each calendar year for family and medical reasons. Employees may take the leave to care for an immediate family member, for the employee's own illness, or to care for a newborn or adopted child. State Fund continues to pay its share of health, dental, and vision premiums while employees are on FMLA Leave.
Mentoring Leave
To encourage employees to help today's youth, State Fund provides participating employees with paid Mentoring Leave. For every hour that an employee participates in mentoring activities through a qualified organization, State Fund matches an hour of paid leave for use in future mentoring assignments. Employees can receive up to 40 hours of paid Mentoring Leave per calendar year.
Retirement Benefits
CalPERS Retirement Program
Employees of State Fund participate in the California Public Employees Retirement System (CalPERS). Benefits are based on years of service, final average pay, and an age-based benefit factor. More information is available at CalPERS.
CalPERS Supplemental Contribution Plan
Employees may also contribute after-tax funds to the CalPERS Supplemental Contributions Plan. CalPERS invests the contributions in its portfolio, with some exceptions, and the earnings are tax-deferred until withdrawn.
Savings Plus Program (SPP)
The Savings Plus Program (SPP) offers employees a way to save and invest for retirement with tax-deferred contributions and earnings. Employees may participate in a 401(k) or (457) plan, or both. Participants can contribute twice the maximum allowed with one plan. SPP participants manage their own accounts. Participants in SPP can also open a Personal Choice Retirement Account (PCRA) with Charles Schwab, allowing for investment in common and preferred stock, bonds, and other mutual funds.
Other Benefits
Alternate Work Schedule
The alternate work week schedule allows employees and supervisors to mutually agree upon a varied distribution of their normal work hours. It does not change number of hours worked, but simply allows each individual the flexibility to rearrange their work schedule to better meet their personal needs while also considering the needs of the office.
Death Benefits
In the event a covered employee dies before retirement, the State of California pays death benefits. These benefits consist of a lump sum payment of $5,000 and/or a monthly allowance, payable to the employee's beneficiary. The amount of the allowance depends upon various factors, such as the deceased employee's retirement plan, age at the time of death, and years of State service.
Direct Deposit
ALL payments, including regular pay, shift differential, premium pay, overtime, awards, bonuses, etc., are transferred through Direct Deposit once an employee is enrolled. It is a voluntary program available to State Fund employees who meet minimum eligibility requirements. Direct Deposit participants will receive a non-negotiable Direct Deposit Advice in lieu of a payroll warrant.
Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
Employees who desire counseling or assistance in resolving personal issues have access to State Fund's confidential EAP program. This free service is available to all employees and certain family members who may require assistance with matters ranging from day-to-day concerns to serious issues. EAP counselors work with the employee to provide professional assessment, problem solving, and referral services.
Employee Recognition Program
As part of State Fund’s efforts to build a workplace culture that recognizes great performance and, most importantly, rewards it. State Fund also has various employee appreciation events to recognize all employees for the work they do throughout the year.
FlexElect
This is a voluntary program that may offer you significant tax advantages and increase your take home pay. If you are eligible for the Flex Elect cash option, you may elect to enroll in the Reimbursement Accounts. You can pay for certain medical and dependent care expenses with untaxed earnings.
Group Legal Services
This program allows for personal legal representation for State Fund employees and their dependants for certain covered services including will preparation, divorce, adoption, bankruptcy, and civil actions. The employee is responsible for the full payment of premiums.
Professional Development Day (PDD)
The State can provide PDDs to employees in certain bargaining units for activities such as professional association activities, professional and/or personal development seminars, and activities that promote professional and/or personal growth or enhance professional and/or personal goals.
Scholarship Program
State Fund’s Scholarship Program is administered by a third-party, and is available to dependents of State Fund employees. Scholarships are awarded based on outstanding academic accomplishments and are for use in paying educational fees. Funds are paid directly to educational institutions accredited by the Accrediting Commission for Schools.
Term Life
The Basic Group Term Life Insurance Program is a State-paid benefit provided for managerial, supervisory, confidential, and other specified, excluded employees. Eligible employees may apply for supplemental coverage for themselves as well as dependent coverage for their spouse, registered domestic partner and/or eligible children.
Transportation Incentive Program
Employees who work in areas served by mass transit (rail, bus, or other commercial transportation) may receive a subsidy from State Fund to cover a portion of their transit costs.
Tuition Reimbursement
The Employee Tuition Program helps State Fund employees pursue educational goals that could lead to greater career opportunities in the future.
Wellness Program
State Fund’s Wellness program facilitates health and wellness events for all employees, provides education on health and physical fitness, and offers health activities geared to improve physical conditioning, develop positive health habits in the workplace, and build psychic reserve to meet life and work challenges.
Workers’ Compensation Insurance
If an employee is injured on the job, State Fund provides the medical treatment necessary to cure or relieve the effects of the injury. If temporarily disabled from work, the employee may receive Industrial Disability Leave. This benefit pays up to two-thirds of the employee's gross wages.
Youth Mentoring
State Fund’s Mentoring Program is supported by participation in the Governor’s Mentoring Partnership (GMP). The program provides employees an opportunity to assist at-risk youth whose environment increases their chances of exposure to academic failure, gangs, violence, use of alcohol and drugs, and other at risk behaviors.
