So then what is that box “CA SDI” on my W2? Employee’s pay into it here in CA...
SDI is State Disibility Insurance.
You pay disibility, the employer pays unemployment.
Unemployment rates vary between employers, the State sets the base rate and the percent the employer pays is above or below the set rate depending on how many people they lay off/fire draw against their account.
The employer also pays a federal unemployment insurance based on your wages.