Ever heard of a per diem nurse with benefits?

This is the only state that offers it

Author

Jason Nunez
December 13, 2023

What would you say if I told you it's possible to work in a state where, as a per diem nurse, your employer is required to offer health insurance and paid sick leave?

Don't think it's possible? Think again.

You might be tired of hearing why Monica and I moved to California, but California is the best state to work as an employee.

Let me explain: California is the only state in the country where, if a per diem employee works full-time hours, employers are required to offer them healthcare coverage. Failure to offer health insurance coverage when a per diem employee works full-time could result in a labor dispute. And under the Affordable Care Act, any employee who works more than 30 hours a week is considered a full-time employee. I first learned this from Eric, the nurse with the Lamborghini, and I didn't believe it myself until I looked it up.

There is an exception to this rule: University of California Hospitals (such as UCLA, UCSF, UC Davis, etc.) explicitly mention that they do not provide healthcare coverage to their per diem employees. When you decide to work with them, you are essentially agreeing to these terms. Additionally, some hospitals with nursing-union representation negotiate benefits collectively and may have opted to forego healthcare coverage for per diem nurses in favor of other benefits. However, if you are seeking a hospital system that offers healthcare coverage, you don't need to search any further than Sutter Health. Sutter Health is renowned for providing health insurance coverage to their per diem nurses.

In addition to healthcare coverage, per diem employees in California also earn and accrue paid sick leave.

Starting on January 1, 2024, an employer must allow an employee to use at least five days or 40 hours, whichever is more (refer to DLSE Opinion Letter 2015.08.07).

Therefore, for example, if an employee works 10‑hour days, the employee will be entitled to use at a minimum 50 hours of paid sick leave.

Alternatively, if an employee works only 6 hours a day and takes five days of paid sick leave, for a total of 30 hours, the employee will still have 10 hours remaining.

Department of Industrial Relations

To qualify for paid sick leave as a per diem employee, you must meet two of the following criteria:

  1. Work for the same employer for at least 30 days within a year in California.

  2. Pass your 90-day probation or employment period before taking any sick leave.

In addition to these two benefits, per diem nurses have access to so many more. Monica and I made a video discussing our top 5 reasons why nurses should or shouldn’t consider going per diem. Make sure you watch that video, and I’ll see you on the next one.

✌️Jason

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