Example Parental Leave Timeline and Information

Detailed Information about Leave Types

We know how difficult it is to understand the various parental leave options. The Fort Sutter section has created resources to help our members understand what options are available to them.

An overview of how much leave you can expect, an example timeline, and human resources contact information for your agency can be found here. For a more detailed summary of the types of leave available, click here. Parental leave depends on individual circumstances, so to develop your specific plan we recommend you reach out to the appropriate contact in your agency.

Effective July 1, 2023, Unit 9 rank and file members will be eligible to participate in the Non-Industrial Disability Insurance – Family Care Leave (NDI-FCL) program at no cost. NDI-FCL is the same no cost paid family leave benefit provided to the State’s supervisors and managers in 2019. The program closely mirrors paid family leave by providing Unit 9 employees (on annual leave), with significant wage replacement for up to six weeks each year to bond with a new child (including adopted children or foster care placements), and to care for a seriously ill family member. A family member under NDI-FCL means child, parent, parent-in-law, grandparent, grandchild, sibling, spouse, or registered domestic partner. Employees who exhaust their Family Care Leave (NDI-FCL) benefits within any 12-month period, remain eligible to participate in the ENDI program.

The PECG is proud to offer up to 15 scholarships, ranging from $300 to $3,000 each, as a member-only benefit for PECG members and their dependents in their continuing education.Student must be a PECG member; PECG retired member; and/or a PECG member dependent.

A dependent is considered a spouse or child of a PECG member or a PECG retired member. Student must be currently enrolled and attending an accredited college or university. This includes associate’s degree, bachelor’s degree, master’s degree, or doctorate. Student must be pursuing a degree in a PECG related field of study — engineering or related professional field represented by PECG. Student must hold at least a 2.5 overall grade point average (GPA).

A good rule of thumb to follow: if someone asks you questions about something that happened in the past – why you did or didn’t do something – you have the right to have a representative with you before you answer questions.

Sometimes, a meeting can change, right in the middle, from a counseling session to one where you should have a representative present. If that happens, simply (politely) let the person asking questions know that you would like to invoke your right to have a representative present and leave the room to call PECG immediately.

The contract or “Memorandum of Understanding” is negotiated by bargaining teams from PECG and the California Department of Human Resources (CalHR). The contract covers wages, benefits, working conditions, and related topics.

The process typically begins with a Bargaining Priorities Questionnaire distributed to PECG members so that they can establish the issues and their priorities for the PECG Bargaining Team. The PECG Bargaining Team prepares and presents the initial proposal for a new contract to CalHR.

The PECG Bargaining Team prepares and presents the initial proposal for a new contract to CalHR during the spring. In theory, CalHR should respond and the parties should attempt to negotiate an agreement to present to the Legislature before the budget is finalized.

In practice, CalHR has historically (under every administration) waited until after the budget passes and then begins negotiating, once the state budget’s financial picture is clearer. Thus, bargaining can drag on after a contract’s term has ended, through the summer or even into subsequent years before agreement is reached.

After an agreement is reached between the PECG and CalHR Bargaining Teams, it is presented to the PECG Unit 9 members for their approval or rejection. Once a contract is approved by the PECG membership and the Legislature, it is printed and distributed to PECG members and management.