Many California public employees ineligible for paid family leave
Summary
Many California public employees, including teachers and firefighters, do not qualify for state-paid family leave because they are exempt from the state disability insurance program that funds it. Governor Newsom wants to extend paid family leave for most workers, but this change would not automatically cover public employees without union agreement or separate action by their employers.Key Facts
- Around 95,000 California state employees are not eligible for paid family leave through the state’s disability insurance program.
- Public employees, such as teachers and firefighters, do not pay the 1% tax that funds State Disability Insurance (SDI) and therefore cannot receive SDI benefits.
- Most California workers get 6-8 weeks of disability pay after birth and an additional 6 weeks of paid family leave for baby bonding.
- Public employees must use saved sick or vacation days for leave, and once those run out, any remaining leave is unpaid.
- Governor Newsom proposes extending paid family leave by two weeks for most workers without raising taxes, using existing SDI funds.
- Public employees can gain paid leave if their unions bargain for it or choose to join the SDI program as a group.
- Newsom says public employee paid leave has not been prioritized but acknowledges it can be changed through bargaining.
- The governor’s long-term goal is for all parents in California to have six months of paid leave after having a baby.
Read the Full Article
This is a fact-based summary from The Actual News. Click below to read the complete story directly from the original source.
