SAMANTHA RIVERA vs. COUNTY OF ALAMEDA
The Workers' Compensation Appeals Board affirmed a prior finding that the County of Alameda violated Labor Code section 132a. The County had precluded an employee, Samantha Rivera, from using accrued sick leave to supplement temporary disability benefits or attend medical appointments related to her industrial knee injury. The Board found that the County's Memorandum of Understanding permitted employees to integrate sick leave with State Disability Insurance benefits, making their action discriminatory. The prior award of up to $10,000.00 was thus upheld.