Employees who receive SDI or PFL payments have no protected leave of absence rights — including no rights to transfers, continued employment, employee benefits and reinstatement — unless those rights exist under some other law (such as FMLA/CFRA/PDL) or your company’s policy or practice.
If an employee receives SDI or PFL benefits during a protected leave (PDL, FMLA, and/or CFRA), the employee would continue to receive employer-provided insurance benefits at the same level as if they were actively employed. See Family and Medical Leave, and Pregnancy Disability Leave, for more information on the requirement to continue health benefits.