A Life Well Lived: CalHR Benefits Newsletter — March 2026
March is about thriving at work and feeling valued, supported and equipped to do your best. This month’s highlights focus on balance, workplace wellbeing and tools that support your health, growth and success at work.
Prioritize Your Workplace Wellbeing This Month
This month take an opportunity to focus on habits that support how you feel during the workday. Wellbeing at work looks different for everyone, but a few intentional check–ins can help support balance, focus and resilience.
This month, consider taking time to:
- Check your comfort at work, including posture and screen setup.
- Take short breaks to reset during busy days.
- Use benefits that support mental and emotional health.
- Pay attention to sleep, rest and stress levels.
- Reach out for help when you need support.
Prevent and Manage Burnout with Self-Care
Learn more about how to recognize burnout and start feeling better at home and at work.
Workplace Eye Wellness Month
Your eyes work hard every day. March is Workplace Eye Wellness Month and a reminder to protect your vision and reduce eye strain, especially if you spend time on digital devices.
Digital screens are a major source of blue light and can contribute to digital eye strain. Taking breaks, adjusting screen settings and using proper eye protection can help support long-term eye health.
Did you also know that more than 2,000 people injure their eyes at work every day? With the right eye protection, most of these injuries could have been prevented or the severity lessened. Whether you work in the office or out in the field, it’s important to protect your eyes.
With VSP, routine eye exams are available at little to no cost. Regular eye exams can help detect vision changes early and support your overall wellbeing at work. Visit vsp.com to find a VSP network doctor near you.
Live Well – Supporting Healthy Workdays
Live Well, CalHR’s Employee Wellness Program offers on-demand free tools to support your wellbeing at work and beyond.
This month, explore Live Well content focused on:
- Workplace ergonomics to support comfort and prevent strain.
- Prioritizing sleep to improve focus, mood and energy.
Small changes, such as improving your workstation setup or building better sleep habits, can make a big difference in how you feel during the workday.
Click the tile below to learn more and register for Live Well.
Benefit Highlight: Employee Assistance Program
Taking care of your mental and emotional health helps you show up to work your best. This month is a perfect time to take advantage of the Employee Assistance Program (EAP).
As a State of California employee, you and your eligible dependents have access to EAP at no cost. EAP encourages proactive use of support and tools to help you maintain your wellbeing and feel your best at all times. EAP is a confidential resource that provides assessment, short-term counseling and referrals. It can help with everyday stress, work challenges, relationships and other situations that affect your wellbeing at work and at home.
This month you can join the EAP live webinar Getting You Help on March 11 at 11:00 a.m. Register here for the webinar or watch the recording afterward under the Monthly Learning Events tile.
Join EAP’s live webinar: Getting You Help
Watch the webinar to learn how to check in on your mental health, spot anxiety and get practical tools and resources to stay grounded and prioritize your wellness. Navigate to Monthly Learning Events to register or watch the recording of the webinar.
Financial Tip: Don’t Forget Reimbursements
Managing your finances is an important part of wellbeing. If you participate in FlexElect Reimbursement Accounts, now is a good time to review your balance and submit any eligible claims.
If you were enrolled in 2025, you must submit claims for services you received last year by June 30, 2026. Any money left in your account after that date will be forfeited, so be sure to submit your claims on time.
If you are an excluded employee currently enrolled in Long-Term Disability (LTD) coverage, this voluntary insurance benefit replaces a portion of your income if you are unable to work for six months or more due to a covered illness or injury. This automatically includes Accident Insurance (AI) and Critical Illness Insurance (CI) through Standard Insurance Company, which provides a Health Maintenance Screening (HMS) benefit of $100 per plan per calendar year when you visit the doctor for a covered wellness screening, such as a routine exam, mammogram, or certain infectious disease tests (including COVID-19). Most screenings cost you nothing under your medical insurance.
If you are an SEIU member, they offer a CSEA Group Long-Term Disability Insurance Plan to help protect your income if an accident or illness keeps you from working. The plan also includes an Accidental Death and Dismemberment benefit that can pay up to $5,000 for death or certain serious injuries from a covered accident, in addition to any disability benefits.
Be sure to schedule your exams and submit your claims to take full advantage of these benefits.
Live Well in 2026
Thriving at work means caring for your wellbeing and using the support available to you. This March, take time to explore resources, check in with yourself and focus on habits that help you feel your best at work.
For more information about state employee benefits, visit the CalHR Benefits website. For questions about your benefits eligibility or enrollment, contact your departmental personnel officer. For health benefits information specifically, visit the CalPERS website.
