As caregivers, we know the value of rest and care when someone is sick. We spend much of our time looking after and caring for others, and don’t always have the time to care for ourselves, even when we are sick. That’s why UDW sought after changes that would help all of us have a little more time to recover—and this October our efforts finally paid off!
After months of tedious meetings and hundreds of hours of work, we successfully led the way in securing an additional two paid sick days for most California workers, including IHSS providers. This huge victory brings up the total paid sick days in California from three days to five days, or 40 hours, per year, and will help us better recover and care for ourselves so we can continue to provide the best care possible to our clients or loved ones.
“This bill will give IHSS providers the time to take care of their client AND take care of themselves, because the truth is you can’t do one without the other.”
– Jacquelene Cerquettini, IHSS Provider, Butte County
Governor Newsom signed the UDW co-authored bill, SB 616, in October, but the additional paid sick time will begin accruing in July 2024. The accrual and request process will remain the same for IHSS providers, meaning you will submit your request for sick time in the same way we’ve been doing for the past couple of years. You can find the instructions below.
Please note that sick time is accrued monthly through our worked hours, so although we begin accruing the extra time in January, we will not have it available immediately. Please check the California Department of Social Services’ eligibility requirements.
What you need to know
- Thanks to our union, IHSS providers will see an increase in available sick hours per year from 24 hours to 40 hours. Additional hours will begin accruing starting July 1, 2024.
- As of January 1, 2024, providers will be able to use their 24 hours of paid sick leave accrued between July 1, 2023, through June 30, 2024.
- To use sick leave, IHSS providers will need to complete a paid sick leave request on your Electronic Timesheet System (ETS).
- Unused sick leave will not be paid out upon leaving IHSS and must be used within one year.
Requirements
- All providers, both existing and newly hired will accrue annual sick leave after working 100 hours of providing authorized services for one or more IHSS recipients after their initial hire date.
- Providers can use the sick leave once they’ve worked 200 additional hours or 60 days after the earned sick leave, whichever comes first.
- At the end of each State Fiscal Year, June 30th, any unused paid sick leave will expire.
Submitting an electronic copy of the Sick Leave Request Form
If you have an account registered on the IHSS Electronic Services Portal website, you can simply fill out a request for sick leave electronically.
Step 1: Login to your electronic timesheet portal
Go to www.etimesheets.ihss.ca.gov/login and log in!
If you have not registered for timesheets, follow the “Registration” button on the righthand side and follow instructions.
Step 2: Click on “Time Entry” (left-hand upper corner of the menu section)
Choose the “Sick Leave Claim” option.
Choose your recipient.
Step 3: Verify your Available Sick Leave Claim
If you have claimed hours in the past, it will be indicated and subtracted from your total.
Step 4: Select the Pay Period, Recipient.
Click NEXT.
Step 5: Enter sick/absent date within the Pay Period selected
Enter the hours you’d like to claim, with a maximum of 8-hour days.
Click “ADD” if you need to claim more hours/days.
Click NEXT when done.
Step 6: Verify at bottom of page the hours claimed
If you made a mistake, click on the X next to the hours to start over.
A pop-up window will appear. Select “Continue” or “Cancel” to adjust.
Step 7: Click “Submitting Claim”
You will be guided to the final Signature Page
Final Step: Click on SQUARE next to your name.
This is your electronic signature, then click on “Sign to Submit for Payment,” and click on “OK” when verification window pops up.
Receiving payment for your paid sick leave
Payment for any sick leave requests is paid separately from your usual check but will be deposited into the same account or pay card.
Questions or problems processing your paid sick leave?
If you need additional assistance submitting your paid sick leave request, please reach out to your local UDW or call the Member Resource Center at 1-800-621-5016.
