Last week an agreement was reached to increase the number of professional development days for State of California Bargaining Unit 16 doctors from 1 day to 2 days per year.
Both sides also agreed to change the time frame for using the time from a calendar year to a fiscal year (ending in June) to ensure that all BU 16 doctors have time to schedule the additional day off of work.
The two annual professional development days are to be used for attending professional association activities, promoting professional growth, or enhancing professional goals. These activities are at the employees’ expense and therefore the choice of professional growth activity is at the employee’s discretion. The time is requested and approved in the same manner as vacation/annual leave. Such time shall not be accumulated. Professional development days are distinct from and in addition to days used for Continuing Medical Education (CME).