Americans with Disabilities Act
The federal Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) protects permanently disabled employees and job applicants from discrimination based on their disabilities.
The ADA requires employers to provide reasonable accommodations to enable individuals with disabilities to apply for and perform their job.
California's Fair Employment and Housing Act provides civil rights protections similar to, and in some cases broader than, the ADA.
Drug Testing
The state enforces a drug-free workplace policy, including drug testing for employees in sensitive positions. Some state agencies also are required to meet federal drug and alcohol testing requirements for commercial drivers. All excluded and exempt state employees who are peace officers, and newly hired Bargaining Unit 6 employees who are peace officers, are subject to random drug and alcohol testing.
Read the state's drug testing policy.
Equal Employment Opportunity
The state is an equal opportunity employer. It is the policy of the state that its workforce must be representative of California's diverse population. All efforts to ensure a representative workforce are consistent with state civil service and merit system principles and regulations.
All state employees are entitled to a work environment free of discrimination based on race, color, age, religion, sex, disability, national origin, ancestry, marital status, sexual orientation, or political affiliation. It is illegal to retaliate against an employee for filing a discrimination complaint or participating in the complaint process. For information concerning the complaint process, contact your departmental EEO/AA Officer or your personnel officer.
Family Medical Leave
The federal Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 and the California Family Rights Act entitle eligible employees to take up to 12 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave each year for specified family and medical reasons.
Pregnancy
Pregnant employees are allowed to continue to work as long as the employee's health and the health of the unborn baby are not adversely affected. The employee must be able to adequately perform essential job duties in a safe manner.
An employee who is disabled because of pregnancy, childbirth, or a related medical condition is entitled to take a pregnancy disability leave for up to four months.