A Resource Your Employees
May Not Know They Need
Most departing California employees know about unemployment. Very few know that California SDI may also be available when a mental health condition is affecting their ability to work. SDI Advisor helps bridge that gap — at no cost to your organization.
HR professionals are often the last point of contact between an organization and a departing employee. Including SDI Advisor as an informational resource in exit materials costs nothing and ensures employees leave knowing about a benefit they may genuinely need — one they paid for through every paycheck they ever earned in California.
What SDI Advisor Is — and Isn’t
HR professionals need to know exactly what they’re sharing before they share it. Here’s the complete picture.
✓ What SDI Advisor Does
- ✓Provides plain-language education about California SDI
- ✓Answers questions about the claims process
- ✓Helps individuals prepare to speak with their healthcare provider
- ✓Explains the difference between SDI and unemployment insurance
- ✓Provides downloadable materials for HR departments to distribute
- ✓Offers a free informational consultation — no obligation
✗ What SDI Advisor Does NOT Do
- ✗Diagnose medical or mental health conditions
- ✗Provide therapy, counseling, or medical advice
- ✗Determine or predict benefit eligibility
- ✗File claims on behalf of individuals
- ✗Have any financial relationship with the EDD or any provider
- ✗Charge employees or employers for educational information
Everything You Need — In One Place
We’ve organized all HR resources into four areas. Start wherever is most useful.
Understanding California SDI
What SDI is, how it works, and why so many departing employees miss it entirely. Includes a detailed SDI vs. unemployment comparison.
Read the guide →Employee Handoff Materials
A one-page overview, plain-language FAQ, and step-by-step guide — all ready to drop into your exit packages. Free to download and distribute.
Download materials →Guidance for HR Teams
Liability language, suggested scripts for handing materials to employees, and answers to the questions HR professionals ask most often.
Read the HR guide →About SDI Advisor
Who Michael Steiner is, why he built SDI Advisor, and what HR professionals should know before sharing these materials with their teams.
Learn more →Most Employees Miss This Benefit Entirely
Job loss is one of the most common triggers for depression, anxiety, and other mental health conditions. Employees who were functioning adequately before a layoff can find themselves genuinely impaired in the weeks that follow — not simply sad, but clinically affected in ways that interfere with daily life and their ability to find new work.
These employees often file for unemployment insurance and begin a job search they aren’t emotionally equipped to conduct. They never learn that California SDI may have been available — funded by their own payroll deductions throughout their employment.
They don’t find out because no one told them. SDI Advisor exists to fix that.
SDI vs. Unemployment at a Glance
| UI | SDI | |
|---|---|---|
| Must be able to work | ✓ | ✗ |
| Mental health qualifies | ✗ | ✓ |
| Duration | 26 wks | 52 wks |
| Funded by | Employer | Employee |
| Taxable | Yes | No |
Eligibility determined solely by the California EDD and the employee’s treating provider.
Ready to Add SDI Advisor to Your Exit Package?
There’s no cost, no commitment, and no complicated process. Request our free one-page handout and we’ll get it to you right away.
Or call Michael 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.