Payroll and Benefits
Our mission is to deliver quality services to you, to ensure the accurate and timely provision of your compensation and benefits.
We are a team committed to working in partnership with you for continuous improvement in the delivery of services.
Employees will find information on Health, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance, leave benefits, payroll, savings plans, retirement plans, taxes, forms to complete, and helpful web sites.
Things to Know
- Employee Assistance Program - The employee assistance program (EAP) is designed to provide professional assistance to state faculty, staff and their families (dependents and permanent household members) in assessing and resolving personal problems that may be affecting well-being or job performance.
- ADA Program - Sonoma State University seeks to assist applicants and employees with disabilities by providing reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals in order to support performing the essential functions of the position safely and fully.
- Workers' Compensation - The purpose of workers' compensation is to provide medical care to employees who are injured at work as well as compensation if the employee cannot work due to the injury.
- Employee Wellness - SSU promotes a culture of wellness among faculty and staff to encourage personal and professional productivity, physical and mental well-being, and promote a healthy lifestyle.
- Ergonomics - The Ergonomics Program supports employees by providing training, ergonomic evaluations, and recommendations.
- Tuition Waiver - Fee waiver (or tuition assistance) entitles eligible CSU employees (and in some cases their spouse, domestic partner or dependent child) to enroll in courses at any CSU campus and have fees waived or reduced.
- Employee Discounts - There are several discounts available to employees, including savings off the price of admission tickets to amusement parks, museums, and more.
Announcements
This year's Open Enrollment period begins on September 15th and ends on October 10th. The on-campus health fair will be held on Tuesday, September 23rd from 12pm - 2 pm in the Student Center Ballrooms. Visit our website for information on changes occuring in 2026!
The benefits of a myCalPERS account don't stop at retirement-they continue well beyond. Join CalPERS on Thursday, September 18th at 12 pm for a helpful walkthrough designed specifically for retirees, beneficiaries, and survivors. Learn how to set up your account, view retirement checks and tax statements, update direct deposit and contact info, manage beneficiaries, and more. Whether you're newly retired or supporting a loved one's benefits, this video will help you take full advantage of everything myCalPERS has to offer.
Updated payroll calendars for the 2025-2026 fiscal year are now available.
The current schedule of activities can be found here.
This September, unlock exclusive savings with Working Advantage! Get ready for fall with unbeatable deals on back-to-school essentials, autumn travel, and more. In celebration of National Women’s Health and Fitness Day on September 25th, Working Advantage will be honoring wellness all month long with special discounts on health and fitness favorites, designed to help you feel your best this season.
Check out: Patelco's Guide to Member Benefits, September 17th at 5:30 p.m.; and Making College Affordable, September 18th at 5:30 p.m. Missed a recording? View the following past webinars on-demand! - Budgeting Like a Boss; Paying Down Debt; Building Generational Wealth; Understanding Social Security; Estate Planning 101; Federal vs. Private Student Loans; and Savings Strategies.
This month's promotional content includes World Mental Health Day; Post Traumatic Stress Disorder; and The Warning Signs of Teen Suicide. Upcoming webinars for 2025 can be found here. As a reminder, you may download The LifeMatters® App for convenient access to materials.
The State Controller’s Office (SCO) has produced a tool that will allow employees to view their earnings statements and W-2’s, along with personal information. Learn more on how you can be a part of the program.
Review plan features for 2025.
To understand the various retirement benefits available to State employees please review this comparison worksheet. Additional information about all the retirement plans can be found on our website.
Access your myCalPERS account to verify your account balance, learn how to run retirement estimates, and generate a verification of income or member account balance letter.
Working over the summer may impact your enrollment. Learn more about the Part-time, Seasonal and Temporary (PST) Employees Retirement Program and how to get started with saving for retirement