California Paid Leave Blueprint
Course module structure — click any module to expand lessons
Begin Here
Start Here
Before you do anything else
1
The Full Picture
Understanding what you're actually entitled to
2
Protecting Your Job
What your employer is and isn't required to do
Job protection basics — PDL, CFRA, FMLA explained plainly
What your employer has to do — and what they don't
How to talk to HR — scripts and templates for every conversation
Employer-sponsored leave — how company pay and state pay interact
Third-party administrators — Sedgwick, Unum, MetLife and how to work with them
Navigating employer policies
Legal resources — when you need them and where to find them
3
Filing Correctly
The step-by-step process most people get wrong
The 2026 EDD application guide — disability and paid family leave
The 49-day deadline — what it is and why it matters
Filing for SDI — step by step
Transitioning from SDI to PFL — how to avoid the payment gap
EDD pay coordination — when your employer pays you at the same time
Filing by mail
Tips for getting through to EDD
Common EDD issues and how to resolve them
4
Maximising Your Leave
Getting every week and every dollar you're entitled to
5
Special Situations
If your situation isn't straightforward
Reference Library
Resources
Come back to these whenever you need them
Prepared by Systems with Charlotte · charlottegoss.com