California is the only state where a per diem nurse who works full-time hours must be offered health coverage. Per diem nurses here also earn paid sick leave. You might be tired of hearing why Monica and I moved to California. But this is one more reason it is the best state to work in.
These rules are from December 2023, when this was first written. Laws and hospital rules change, so check the current rules before you make a move.
Health coverage for per diem nurses
In California, if a per diem nurse works full-time hours, the employer has to offer them health coverage. If they don’t, it could lead to a labor dispute.
Under the Affordable Care Act, anyone who works more than 30 hours a week counts as full-time.
I first learned this from Eric, the nurse with the Lamborghini. I didn’t believe it until I looked it up myself.
The exceptions
University of California hospitals, like UCLA, UCSF and UC Davis, say they do not give health coverage to per diem staff. When you take a job with them, you agree to that. For more on how UC jobs work, read why nurses at UC Davis never quit.
Some hospitals with nursing unions bargain for benefits as a group. Some of these unions may have given up health coverage for per diem nurses to get other perks.
If you want a hospital system that does offer it, look at Sutter Health. Sutter Health is known for giving its per diem nurses health coverage.
Paid sick leave for per diem nurses
Per diem employees in California also earn and build up paid sick leave.
Starting January 1, 2024, your employer must let you use at least five days or 40 hours of sick leave, whichever is more. The Department of Industrial Relations gives two examples (see DLSE Opinion Letter 2015.08.07).
If you work 10-hour days, you get to use at least 50 hours of paid sick leave.
If you work 6-hour days and take five sick days, that is 30 hours. You would still have 10 hours left.
To get paid sick leave as a per diem nurse, you must meet both of these:
- Work for the same employer for at least 30 days within a year in California.
- Pass your 90-day probation period before you take any sick leave.
More reasons to think about per diem
Health coverage and sick leave are just two of the perks. Per diem nurses get a lot more. Monica and I made a video on our top 5 reasons nurses should or shouldn’t go per diem. Make sure you watch it.
To see how per diem and part-time work pays off for us, read how nurses can work 20 hours a week and still earn six figures.
Your next move
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Written by Jason, RN. I went from $37 an hour in New York to $143 an hour in California and paid off $128K of debt in under a year. I share our numbers in the Nurses to Riches newsletter and on YouTube.