Holiday Informal Time Off. Over the past thirty years, the Governor has authorized ITO for up to 4 hours for all employees. With each holiday season, the Governor may or may not authorize the ITO. Therefore, departments do not have the authority to grant ITO prior to the Governor’s authorization.
In celebration of the 2024 holiday season and following historic tradition, the Governor has authorized ITO. Full time employes receive 4.00 hours of ITO. Part-time employees received 1.00-4.00 hours based on their time base.
For most employees, the paid ITO this year will be either the business day before December 25 or January 1. The time off should be granted in a manner consistent with maintaining necessary services to the public. Employees required to work these days, or who would be scheduled to work but are on paid leave, should be granted the time off prior to June 30, 2025, if administratively feasible.
1. All employees (excluding retired annuitants), who are scheduled to work are eligible for ITO. This includes temporary hires such as seasonal employees. Note: In compliance with the Public Employees’ Pension Reform Act, retired annuitants are not eligible for ITO even if they have worked in December and are scheduled during the holiday season.
2. For intermittent employees, the ITO is based on hours worked in the month of December and employees are given a prorated amount based on the chart above. Note: Intermittent employees are eligible for ITO if they have worked in December and are scheduled during the holiday season. Use the chart for intermittent employees to determine the amount of ITO an intermittent employee will receive. The ITO must be used and paid in the December 2024 pay period.
3. ITO is based on the employee’s time base and is not prorated.
4. Employees using ITO must report it on their absence report forms.
5. FLSA-exempt employees (WWG E/SE) may either combine their ITO with paid leave to equal a full day off, or they may use their ITO to leave early after working a partial day. Examples: A WWG E/SE employee takes the full day off. The employee’s timesheet should reflect 4 hours leave credits (e.g., vacation, annual leave) used and 4 hours ITO used to equal a full day. A WWG E/SE employee works 4 hours and leaves 4 hours early. The employee’s timesheet should reflect the use of 4 hours ITO.
6. ITO is not lost when employees transfer between agencies. Employees retain their ITO balances until the hours are actually used.
7. ITO is not available for cash-out upon separation. Agencies should allow employees to use their ITO prior to separation.
8. ITO can be used prior to PLP or furlough hours.
9. ITO does not count as hours worked for overtime purposes.
10. ITO is available as of the date authorized by the Governor.
Please check with your department for more details.
Judge of the Year. Congratulations to our very own CASE Board of Director Simon Hovakimian. Simon was honored as the 2024 Judge of the Year by the Workers Compensation Section of the California Lawyers Association Workers.
Simon Hovakimian was born and raised in Southern California. He obtained his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from UCLA in 2000 graduating in only three years. From there, he obtained his Juris Doctorate from Southwestern University School of Law in Los Angeles in 2003 with a heavy focus on Criminal Law. Although he tried his hand at Criminal Defense and Family Law, in 2006 he was given the opportunity to work at the State Compensation Insurance Fund.
While at State Fund, he earned a reputation for being able to settle cases but what also ready to go to trial if needed. He earned 10 Bravo Awards and the PACE Award for being a part of the Surgery Center Lien Project where over $100 million in liens were resolved.
In 2011, he left SCIF to be an associate at the Law Offices of McDermott Clawson, but this would not last long as in 2012 he became a Workers’ Compensation Judge at the Long Beach District Office. He has conducted close to 350 trials and is well-liked by applicant attorneys, defense attorneys, and lien claimants because of his demeanor towards the parties and his ability to get unsettleable cases to settle. He was elected to the Conference of California Workers’ Compensation Judges in 2015 has been President since 2018. In 2021, he was elected to the Board of Directors for CASE, the Union which represents over 5000 California state attorneys, judges, and hearing officers and was Co-Chair of the Bargaining Committee which negotiated the current contract. He has been married to his wife for 14 years and has three wonderful children that he cannot be prouder of. When he is not pontificating the wonders of workers’ compensation, he enjoys travelling with his
family, is a big fan of theme parks, and tries really hard not to hurt himself while playing lower division slow-pitch softball.
Judicial Endorsement Committee. Did you know CASE is creating a Judicial Endorsement Committee whose mission will be to endorse and assist applicants for judicial positions to ensure the promotion of the most qualified and diverse individuals to the bench? The Committee will endorse candidates for judicial appointments who in addition to demonstrating attributes of an excellent jurist are responsive to the needs and concerns of their fellow CASE members. Please contact Seaton Tsai at seaton.tsai@calattorneys.org to join the Committee!
Strengthen Your Union and Get a Little Gift for Yourself. It’s a good time of year to remind everyone about our Member Recruitment Incentive Program. When you invite a colleague to join CASE and they list you as the person who referred them, they get the protections and benefits of CASE Membership, and you get $100. (Referral must be listed on the new member’s application at the time of submission). Top referrers each quarter get a bonus reward, too.
CASE’s Ice Hockey Series Is Here! The CASE Board is pleased to invite you to an exclusive series of winter socials at the ice rink – just for CASE Members and their families. We are inviting members to join us at games across the state. For a discounted price of $30, you will get the chance to participate in a great tradition and build camaraderie with your fellow CASE Members. Here is the schedule:
San Jose Sharks vs. Nashville Predators: Thursday, January 23, 2025 at 7:30pm
Los Angeles Kings vs. Dallas Stars: Friday, February 7, 2025 at 7:30 pm
San Diego Gulls vs. Bakersfield Condors: Saturday, March 1, 2025 at 6:00pm
Anaheim Ducks vs. New York Islanders: Sunday, March 9, 2025 at 6:00 pm
Tickets are limited, so buy yours today at https://www.eventbrite.com/cc/case-hockey-events-3832383?just_published=true
If you are unable to purchase tickets, as they may sell out, please reach out to Katherine Regan at kregan@calattorneys.org as soon as possible, as additional tickets may be obtained.
REMINDERS:
MOU Suggestion Box. While we are still a few months away from the next round of bargaining, it’s never too soon to collect ideas for future negotiations. You have access to our MOU Suggestion Box, a place for members – and ONLY members – to contribute ideas for new or improved benefits and MOU terms at any time. We are, of course, aware of the need for the Governor to address continuing salary lags (both within the unit and between state service and local government jobs), so we are hoping to collect your ideas on non-salary MOU items. To complete a suggestion card, click here. (password: membersmatter22).