California Prison Industry Authority (CALPIA)

Employer Description

California Prison Industry Authority (CALPIA) offers exciting opportunities statewide! CALPIA has a variety of roles for individuals with experience and expertise in specialty trades.

With over 150 different job classifications, we want you to make a career at CALPIA! We have positions ranging from marketing professionals, a full cost accounting department, Human Resources, IT support, Web and graphics designers, legal services, contracts and procurement analysts, and 84 operational specific enterprises, allowing for endless possibilities with our agency.

California State employment provides you with career responsibilities and challenges. It also provides you with exceptional benefits:

You can find out the specific cost for health, dental, and vision plans for State employees by using the CalHR Benefits Calculator. Please refer to the “Employee Contribution” column for the monthly cost to you.

Health and Well-Being

• Health Insurance – Choose from a variety of health benefit plans for you and your family. The State may pay up to 100 percent of the premiums depending on the plan selected. If you already have qualifying medical and/or dental coverage through another source, such as a spouse, you can receive cash in lieu of your health and/or dental coverage.
• Dental Insurance – Employees and their eligible dependents can choose the dental plan right for them. The State may pay higher percentages of the premiums depending on the plan selected.
• Vision Insurance – As a State employee, you are automatically enrolled in the State’s Vision Program through VSP.
• Medical Reimbursement Accounts – Set aside money to reimburse your eligible medical expenses.
• Long-Term Care – The State offers a variety of affordable, comprehensive plans.
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP) – EAP is an assessment, short-term counseling, and referral service designed to provide you and your family with assistance in managing everyday concerns. It is offered at no charge to the employee and provides a valuable resource for support and information during difficult times, as well as consultation on day-to-day concerns.

Savings and Retirement Plans

• Retirement Plans – A choice of plans to help you meet your retirement goals. Your pension grows as your career grows with CALPIA and the State.
• Savings Plus – In addition to the Retirement Plans, the State offers 457(b) and 401(k) Deferred Compensation plans for customized savings.
• ScholarShare Program – Tax-deferred college savings for your children.

Job Flexibility and Advancement Opportunities

• Transfer, Training, and Advancement Opportunities – Make the most out of your State service with a wide range of desirable career options and transfer, training, and promotional opportunities throughout California.
• Flexible Work Arrangements – In some cases, alternative work arrangements such as flextime, alternative, and telework work schedules can help employees balance career and family life.
• Merit Salary Adjustment – Annual 5 percent increase after 12 months of satisfactory performance, as certified by your supervisor, until maximum salary is reached for your classification.
• Staff Development – CALPIA offers a robust staff development program to help you reach your current and future career goals.
• Telework – Telework opportunities, whether remote-centered or office-centered, are available for positions and classifications that promote effective and efficient business operations. 

Discounts and Other Financial Incentives

• Discounted Public Transit – Employees commuting to work by mass transit are eligible for a 75 percent discount on public transit passes up to a maximum of $65 per month.
• Bicycle Commuter Program – Employees may claim $20 for each month in which they commute a substantial portion (at least 50 percent of the days employees are scheduled to work in a calendar month) by bicycle.
• Group Legal Services Insurance Plan – Affordable services that cover many legal situations.
• Dependent Care Reimbursement Accounts – Set aside money to reimburse dependent daycare expenses.
• Public Student Loan Forgiveness – CALPIA is a qualified employer for purposes of forgiving the remaining balance on your Federal Student Direct Loans after you have made 120 on-time monthly payments under a qualifying repayment plan while working full-time.

Paid and Unpaid Leaves

• Holidays – 11 paid holidays per year, plus on personal holiday.
• Sick Leave – Earn sick leave each month to provide income protection in the event of illness or injury.
• Vacation – Earn vacation leave each month based upon years of employment. Accrued vacation cannot be used until you have completed the first six months of State service.
• Annual Leave – Eligible employees accrue a combined pool of “annual leave” credits instead of separate vacation and sick leave.
• Bereavement Leave – As a State employee, you are allowed paid time off if a member of your immediate family dies.
• Family, Parental, and Other Leave – Up to one year of unpaid leave.
• Jury Duty – In general, if you are called for jury duty, you serve with no loss of pay as long as you remit to the state any fees received for jury duty.
• Military Leave – Up to 20 calendar days with pay for military leave each year if you meet specific requirements.
• Pregnancy Disability Leave – Female employees disabled by pregnancy, childbirth, or a related medical condition can take up to four months of unpaid, job-protected leave.
• Mentoring Leave – Up to 40 hours of leave per year, on a matching basis, to employees who mentor at-risk youth (grades K-12).
• Union Leave – Leave to participate in union activities, varying among bargaining units.