Governor Authorizes Informal Time Off (ITO).
Governor Newsom has continued the historic tradition of authorizing up to four (4) hours of Holiday ITO for all employees, based on time base. If you do not use your ITO during the holiday season, you may keep it until the end of the Fiscal Year. You can read more about Holiday ITO in the CalHR Manual here.
Vacation/Annual Leave Cap.
As a result of the COVID-Recovery Side Letter Agreement from June 9, 2021, the Vacation/Annual Leave CAP for CAPS members was expanded to 832 hours through June 30, 2025. Members’ PLP 2020 balance does not affect this leave cap. If your balances exceed the cap, or will exceed it by the end of the calendar year, your supervisor can require you to create a leave reduction plan. So, if your balance is expected to exceed 832 hours by the end of the calendar year, now might be a good time to consider taking some vacation time to lower those balances on your own preference. If your department is requesting you to lower your leave balance below 832 hours before 2025, contact CAPS (caps@capsscientists.org).
Job Required Training Expense Reimbursement.
CAPS MOU, Section 15.3, authorizes the State to reimburse State Scientists for “expenses incurred as a result of attending departmental approved and authorized job-required training.” It also ensures that your attendance in these trainings is done “without loss of compensation,” including authorized training that State Scientists attend during off-duty hours. If you incur additional expenses for these pre-approved trainings for registration fees, course-required books and materials, mileage or transportation, tolls and parking, and/or lodging or meals, you can receive reimbursement. This section of the MOU also ensures that management must respond to State Scientists’ request for training within twenty-one (21) days. If you encounter issues with being reimbursed for departmental-approved training expenses or getting responses to your training requests in a timely manner, contact CAPS (caps@capsscientists.org).
In Review.
Check out what you may have missed from past CAPS Updates here:
November 22, 2022. Scholarshare529 Holiday Gift Card Promotion.
Scholarshare529, a state-sponsored, tax-advantaged 529 college savings plan that can help families and individuals plan for the cost of higher education, is giving away $50 gift cards for opening a Scholarshare529 plan starting December 7, 2022. To be eligible for the promotion, state employees must: open a new ScholarShare 529 account with a minimum initial contribution of $50, and set up an automatic contribution plan of at least $25 per period for a minimum of six months (payroll deduction is available for State of California employees). Gift cards will be mailed to eligible participants on or before June 30, 2023. Visit www.scholarshare529.com/holidayoffer for details about the special promotion including complete terms and conditions.
Read the rest of the entries, or see what else you may have missed on the CAPS Website here: http://capsscientists.org/members/caps-member-updates/ The password is ChooseCAPS! – it is case-sensitive.