Guidance for HR Teams — Everything You Need to Feel Confident Sharing This Resource
Liability language, suggested scripts, answers to the questions HR professionals ask most often, and the full story behind SDI Advisor — so you know exactly what you’re sharing and why.
Does Including SDI Advisor in Exit Materials Create Any Liability?
This is the question HR professionals ask most often, and it deserves a direct answer.
Including an educational resource in separation materials is consistent with standard HR practice and does not constitute an endorsement of any particular outcome or benefit determination. HR departments routinely include informational resources about unemployment insurance, COBRA, employee assistance programs, and financial counseling in exit packages. SDI Advisor is designed to occupy exactly the same category — an informational resource that helps employees understand what may be available to them.
To further protect your organization, we recommend the following when distributing SDI Advisor materials:
- Include a brief note clarifying that the resource is provided for informational purposes only
- Avoid language suggesting your organization recommends filing a disability claim
- Use neutral language such as “additional resources that may be available to you”
- Direct employees to consult their own healthcare provider and the EDD for eligibility guidance
Suggested introductory language you can add to your exit packet cover sheet or email:
“The following resource is provided for informational purposes only. It is not an endorsement by [Organization Name] and does not constitute legal, medical, or financial advice. Employees are encouraged to consult their own healthcare provider and the California EDD regarding their individual circumstances.”
Will Employees Feel Pressured or Targeted?
SDI Advisor materials are written to inform, not to pressure. Employees are never told they qualify, never promised a specific outcome, and never encouraged to file a claim they may not need. The message throughout is consistent — learn about what may be available, speak with your doctor, and make your own informed decision.
In practice, the most common response from employees who receive these materials is simply that they were unaware the program existed. The information is received as helpful, not pushy.
Is There Any Cost to Our Organization?
No. There is no cost to your organization for including SDI Advisor materials in exit packages, for distributing them digitally, or for directing employees to sdiadvisor.com. SDI Advisor’s educational resources are available at no charge. The only time cost enters the picture is if you request a custom-branded version of the one-pager — and even then, there is no charge.
Suggested Scripts for HR Professionals
Many HR professionals find it helpful to have specific language ready when handing materials to departing employees. The following scripts require no additional knowledge about SDI on your part.
When handing materials during an in-person separation meeting
“Along with your standard separation materials, we are including information about a California benefit program that many employees are not aware of. This is for your information only — there is no obligation to do anything with it. If you have questions, the contact information is on the handout.”
When sending materials digitally after a separation
“Attached to this email you will find your standard separation documents, along with an informational resource about a California state benefit program that your HR team includes for all departing California employees. It is provided for informational purposes only. If you have questions about the program, contact information is included in the document.”
If an employee asks a question you cannot answer
“I am not the right person to answer detailed questions about that program. I would encourage you to reach out to SDI Advisor directly — their contact information is on the handout. They offer free informational guidance and can walk you through the process.”
If an employee asks whether they should file
“That is really a question for your healthcare provider and SDI Advisor — I am not in a position to advise on that. What I can tell you is that the information in the handout will help you understand your options, and SDI Advisor can answer any specific questions you have.”
The key principle across all of these: Your role is to make the employee aware that the resource exists and to hand it over. Everything after that is between the employee, their healthcare provider, and the EDD. You do not need to know anything beyond what is in the handout itself.
Questions HR Professionals Ask Most Often
Answers to the practical questions that come up before HR teams decide to include SDI Advisor in their exit materials.
Can we include SDI Advisor materials for all departing employees or only California employees?
SDI is a California-specific program. It is only relevant for employees who worked in California and had SDI withholding on their paychecks. For organizations with employees in multiple states, we recommend distributing the materials only to California employees. If you have a mixed workforce and find it easier to include the materials universally, the handout clearly identifies California SDI as the subject, so out-of-state employees will self-identify that it doesn’t apply to them.
What if we distribute materials and an employee later claims we implied they would qualify?
The SDI Advisor materials are written explicitly to avoid this. Every piece includes clear language stating that eligibility is determined solely by the California EDD and the employee’s treating healthcare provider — not by SDI Advisor and not by your organization. Including the suggested disclaimer language in your exit packet cover sheet provides an additional layer of protection.
Can we distribute these materials during a large reduction in force?
Yes — in fact, this is one of the most appropriate contexts. Large layoffs often affect employees simultaneously, many of whom may be experiencing significant emotional distress. Ensuring all departing California employees receive information about SDI at the point of separation is exactly the kind of thoughtful offboarding practice that reflects well on an organization.
What if multiple employees contact SDI Advisor after receiving our materials?
That is the intended outcome. SDI Advisor handles those contacts directly and independently. Your organization is not involved in any follow-up conversations between employees and SDI Advisor, and you receive no information about who contacts us or what they discuss.
Can we get a version of the one-pager branded with our organization’s name?
Yes. Contact Michael Steiner directly at 213-716-2364 or through the contact form at sdiadvisor.com to request a customized version. There is no cost for customization and no obligation to continue using the materials afterward.
Can SDI Advisor present a short informational session for our HR team or departing employees?
Yes. Michael is available for brief informational calls with HR professionals, benefits coordinators, and workforce transition teams. For larger reductions in force, a short webinar or informational session for departing employees can also be arranged. Contact Michael directly to discuss.
About Michael Steiner and SDI Advisor
SDI Advisor was not built by an insurance company, a law firm, or a marketing agency. It was built by someone who has personally experienced both job loss and major depression — and who understands firsthand how disorienting and isolating that combination can be.
Michael Steiner founded SDI Advisor in 2016 after filing for California SDI three times for major depression. During his third claim, walking one night, he felt genuinely grateful that California had a program that had helped carry him through the hardest times of his life. And then a second thought followed: almost nobody knows this program exists.
That was the moment. He couldn’t stop thinking about how many Californians were struggling — filing for unemployment, taking far less money, for half as long — simply because no one had told them SDI was an option. So he built something to fix that.
Since 2016, Michael has helped more than 1,000 Californians navigate the SDI process. He is not a lawyer or a doctor. What he is, is someone who has lived this — and who has spent nearly a decade learning exactly how the California EDD system works, what it takes to get a claim approved, and how to make the process as manageable as possible for people who are already exhausted.
SDI Advisor operates alongside Michael’s full-time work. He runs it because the work matters to him — not because he has to.
What SDI Advisor Stands For
Four principles that have not changed since 2016.
Honesty Above Everything
We never tell someone they qualify when we don’t know that they do. We never promise outcomes. We never encourage someone to file a claim that may not be appropriate for their situation.
Respect for the Process
The EDD and the treating healthcare provider are the appropriate decision makers in the SDI process. We help individuals arrive at that process informed and prepared — not by trying to work around it.
No Pressure, Ever
Every person who contacts SDI Advisor is encouraged to learn, ask questions, speak with their doctor, and make their own decision. There is no sales process and no obligation.
Education as a Genuine Service
The information SDI Advisor provides is available from public sources — but navigating those sources during a period of emotional distress is harder than it sounds. We believe that helping someone understand a process clearly during a difficult time has real value.
Important Disclosures
We believe in being completely transparent about what SDI Advisor is and is not. HR professionals should feel fully informed before sharing our materials with employees.
- SDI Advisor is an educational resource — not a legal, medical, or financial services firm
- We do not provide legal advice, medical advice, or financial advice
- We do not determine eligibility for any benefit program
- We do not have any affiliation with the California EDD or any healthcare provider
- We do not receive referral fees or compensation from any third party
- All eligibility and benefit determinations are made solely by the California EDD and the individual’s treating healthcare provider
- Including SDI Advisor materials in employee exit packages does not constitute an endorsement of any specific outcome or benefit determination
- There is no cost to your organization for distributing SDI Advisor educational materials
Ready to Get Started?
Request free materials, ask a question, or schedule a brief call. There is no sales process and no obligation — just a conversation about whether this resource makes sense for your organization.
Or call directly: 213-716-2364
SDI Advisor is an educational resource only. We do not provide legal, medical, or financial advice, and we do not determine benefit eligibility. All eligibility and benefit determinations are made solely by the California Employment Development Department (EDD) and the individual’s treating healthcare provider. Including SDI Advisor materials in employee exit packages does not constitute an endorsement of any specific outcome or benefit determination.